3rd November – Coronavirus News Updates

UK STATISTICS

There have been more than 9 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and sadly over 140,000 people have died, government figures show. Around 87% of people in the UK aged 12 and over have had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and around 79% have had their second. A booster campaign is also underway.

Total UK Cases: 9,130,857 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 33,865 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 9,538, 228 more than on previous day
New deaths across UK: 293
Total UK deaths: 140,964
England Cases per 100,000: 432
R number in UK: 1.1 to 1.3

Vaccine data:

Total 1^st doses given: 50,025,020 – 87% of UK aged 12+
Total 2^nd doses: 45,731,565 – 79%
Daily 1^st doses: 37,695
Daily 2nd doses: 19,214
Daily Booster doses: 273,453 (8,356,172 total booster doses)

Latest Cheshire East data:

Total Cheshire East cases: 49,510
New cases in past 7 days: 2,332 to 17 Oct
Total deaths: 870
Cases per 100,000: 603.1

Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics
The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, cases and deaths in the UK. The way deaths are reported is based on a 28-day limit between the date of a positive lab-confirmed test and date of death.

Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Slides, datasets and transcripts from press conferences at 10 Downing Street in response to coronavirus

COVID-19: background information
Information on COVID-19 including epidemiology, virology and clinical features – updated with latest global case numbers.

The R value and growth rate
The R range for England is 1.1 to 1.3 and the growth rate range for England is -1% to +2% per day as of 29 October 2021

UK NEWS UPDATES:

Shipping Boss: Christmas will be safe from shortages
Christmas trading will be safe from supply chain problems, the boss of shipping firm Maersk has told the BBC – adding, “at least that’s what I’m hearing from our customers”. The company handles almost 20% of the world’s shipping containers.

MPs are being told to wear face masks and tours of Parliament are being cancelled, following rising Covid cases on the parliamentary estate.

Committee chairs will also be asked to take a stronger role in ensuring MPs comply with coronavirus rules. A parliamentary spokesperson said that “recent increases in Covid across the country… are also being reflected in Parliament”.

The measures will be reviewed in two weeks’ time. Last week, face coverings became mandatory for staff employed by the House of Commons, unless they have a legitimate exemption – but it was left up to individual MPs to decide whether to cover their faces or not. MPs are not employed by the Commons authorities and cannot be forced to wear masks – although they have been encouraged to do so by the Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and unions representing parliamentary workers.

Over eight million people in the UK receive COVID-19 booster jabs
More than 820,000 boosters have been administered in the last three days, as the government urges people to get their booster as soon as possible

Boosters available at walk-in-sites across UK
Boosters are now being given at walk-in vaccination sites with no appointment needed as the NHS aims to ramp up jabs uptake ahead of a “challenging” winter. People are advised to use the NHS online walk-in finder to check where their nearest centre is and whether it is offering boosters, vaccines for 12-15 year-olds, or anyone aged 16 and over.

REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:

North-West Cyber Resilience Centre (NWCRC) launches Cyber Security Guide for Small Businesses
The North-West Cyber Resilience Centre (NWCRC) has launched a new Cyber Security Guide for Small Businesses based in the North-West. The new guide helps small business owners to improve their knowledge of cyber security and significantly reduce the chances of businesses becoming victims of cybercrime. In today’s increasingly digital-first world, small businesses face lots of risks operating online. Cybercrime can impact a business through lost time, financial losses or reputational damage. Without the correct precautions in place, cyberattacks on small businesses are wide-reaching.

Stepping Hill Hospital suspends in-patient visisting due to rise in cases of Covid
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has announced it will be suspending visiting on inpatient wards at Stepping Hill Hospital in response to the challenges of high Covid-19 case rates in the hospital in the wider community. Routine hospital visiting will be suspended from today, 3^rd November, for a minimum of two weeks, and it will be subject to regular review. Some visits, pre-arranged with nursing staff, may be allowed on a case-by-case basis on compassionate grounds, such as for those at end of life, and for relatives collecting patients being discharged. On the Children’s Ward and children’s emergency department, one parent or guardian can visit or stay with a child, except under special circumstances, pre-agreed with the nurse in charge. In maternity areas, mothers should nominate a single birthing partner or visitor to accompany them during their stay. For patients and any allowed visitors, face coverings also remain mandatory.

COP26:

North West pension funds sign up to COP26 commitment
The Greater Manchester and Merseyside pension funds are part of a $130bn commitment to be invested in clean energy and climate projects by 2030
The deal was announced at COP26 in Glasgow by CEOs of Nordic and UK pension funds who will also report annually on the progress of their climate investments.
The Climate Investment Coalition (CIC) includes asset owners in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and the UK. The Greater Manchester Pension Fund and Merseyside Pension Fund have both signed up to the deal.

Low carbon planning for UK firms to hit 2050 net zero target
Today is finance day at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow and Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to set out plans to encourage large firms to work towards the UK’s 2050 net-zero target. Under new Treasury rules most big UK firms and financial institutions will be forced to publish details, by 2023, of how they will move to low-carbon emissions. Though not mandatory, the government said the aim is to increase transparency and accountability. However, green groups say the proposals do not go far enough. This announcement comes as deals such as cutting methane emissions and boosting green technologies were agreed on Tuesday.

What is net zero? What is the UK and other countries doing?
Net zero means not adding to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Achieving it means reducing emissions as much as possible and balancing out any that remain by removing an equivalent amount.

This is important because greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) are released when we burn oil, gas and coal for our homes, factories and transport. This causes global warming by trapping the sun’s energy. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, 197 countries agreed to try to keep temperature rises “well below” 1.5C to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Experts say that to achieve this net zero must be reached by 2050.

During COP26, nations are setting out the steps they are taking.

South Africa’s deal to end coal reliance

To help end its reliance on coal, South Africa is set to receive $8.5bn (£6.2bn) from wealthier nations in what President Cyril Ramaphosa says is a “watershed moment”. The deal could have global and local implications as the country is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, which cause the planet’s temperature to rise. South Africa uses coal to generate electricity.

The US and the EU have announced a global partnership to cut emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by 2030.

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden made the announcement at the COP26 summit on Tuesday. The Global Methane Pledge aims to limit methane emissions by 30% compared with 2020 levels. It is one of the most potent greenhouse gases and responsible for a third of current warming from human activities. More than 100 countries have signed up to the initiative. The main focus of efforts to curb global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is emitted as a result of human activities such as generating power and clearing forests.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has launched an international plan to deliver clean and affordable technology everywhere by 2030, backed by over 40 world leaders.

SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:

CARE:

Workforce Capacity Fund for adult social care
Information for local authorities and adult social care providers on the £120 million Workforce Capacity Fund during coronavirus (COVID-19) – added 3 attachments: ‘Workforce Capacity Fund: outcomes and findings, October 2021’, ‘Local authority spending data (WCF)’ and ‘Feedback survey results (WCF)’.

Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund for adult social care
Information for local authorities and adult social care providers on the £162.5 million Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund.

Review of the adult social care COVID-19 winter plan 2020 to 2021
The Social Care Sector COVID-19 Support Taskforce’s independent review of the government’s winter plan 2020 to 2021 for the adult social care sector in England.

EDUCATION:

How to complete the educational setting status form
This data will help the government monitor the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on settings, focus support more effectively and keep children safe – addition of questions into the ‘Questions for schools: educational settings status form’, including questions on tutor funding.

HEALTH & WELLBEING:

COVID-19: letter to patients on end of shielding programme
Reference-only version of letter from the government to patients on the end of the shielding programme.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19, 3 November 2021
Characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey. This survey is being delivered in partnership with University of Oxford, University of Manchester, UK Health Security Agency and?Welcome?Trust.?This study is jointly led by the ONS and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) working with the University of Oxford and Lighthouse Laboratory to collect and test samples.

COVID-19: guidance on protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
Information for protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from coronavirus (COVID-19).

PROPERTY:

HMRC debt-chasing as thousands of property firms hit ‘financial distress’
Despite the roaring housing market, a new report says that no fewer than 70,500 real estate and property businesses are showing ‘significant financial distress’.
The construction industry – which is separately classified – is faring even worse with around 72,500 businesses in the same predicament. The figures relate to the third quarter of this year and comes from specialist insolvency consultancy Begbies Traynor, which monitors the financial health of UK businesses.
Across all sectors it has recorded 562,550 businesses in ‘significant financial distress’ with a 139 per cent uplift in County Court Judgments in the past year. However, despite this gloomy total, the overall number of businesses in significant financial distress has fallen 14 per cent since earlier this year.

RETAIL:

Next warns on stock availability issues despite sales rise
Next has recorded an uplift in sales for the third quarter but has warned on demand slowing down and availability issues for the remainder of its financial year.
The fashion retailer saw a 17 per cent increase in sales in the 13 weeks to October 30 compared with 2019 levels, with sales in the final five weeks of the period up 14 per cent on pre-pandemic levels. This is ahead of the retailer’s forecast of a sales rise of 10 per cent on pre-pandemic levels during its third quarter.

TRANSPORT:

Transport use during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
To monitor the use of the transport system during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. DfT provides statistics on transport use by mode.

Haulier coronavirus testing
To monitor the number of tests delivered and the positivity rate of the tests.

TRAVEL:

NHS COVID Pass
How to get the NHS COVID Pass and demonstrate your coronavirus (COVID-19) status when travelling abroad and domestically at events and venues in England – added information about COVID-19 booster vaccinations: The NHS COVID Pass for travel does not currently include COVID-19 booster vaccinations. You do not need a COVID-19 booster vaccination to get an NHS COVID Pass for domestic use in England. Also updated to reflect the UK linking with the EU Gateway. Your NHS COVID Pass can be scanned to check and validate your COVID-19 vaccination status in venues in over 40 countries, including those in the EU.

Useful links:

Publishing information about your claimsIn January HMRC published the list of employers who claimed under the CJRS for periods from December onwards, on GOV.UK.

Repayment period for Bounce Back Loans extended to ten yearsBusinesses that took out government Bounce Back loans to help them through the Coronavirus crisis now have more time to repay. Companies will be contacted with options to extend the length of the loan from six to 10 years as part of a new ‘pay-as-you-grow’ initiative. The new proposals give businesses three new options:

1. Extending the length of the loan from six years to 10;

2. Making interest-only payments for six months, then repaying the principal on a phased basis with other interest-only periods;

3. Delaying repayments entirely for up to six months.

COVID-19 Winter Plan
The government’s plan for managing COVID-19 through the end of 2020 and into the start of 2021.

Government extends JRS furlough scheme at 80% for period of lockdown
The government has said the furlough scheme, due to have closed on 31^st October, would now be extended until December.

Check if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Check which employees you can put on furlough to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Calculate how much you can claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Steps to take before calculating your claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

New National Restrictions from 5 November
Information on the new national restrictions, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available.

Job Retention Bonus (JRB)
Employers are able to claim a one-off payment of £1,000 for every eligible employee furloughed and claimed for through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), kept continuously employed until at least 31 January 2021 and who meets the other eligibility criteria. Claims can be made between 15 February and 31 March.

Become a Green Homes Grant Supplier II – Trustmark and PAS 2030The new Green Homes Grant will give over 600,000 homeowners in England up to £10,000 to install insulation, heat pumps, draft proofing and more to help households cut energy bills.

Check if you’re eligible for the coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) supports businesses that have been required to close due to temporary COVID-19 local lockdown restrictions imposed by the government.

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension
The grant is being extended from 1 November 2020. Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can get.

Hospitality venues in England are now legally required to enforce the rule of 6 or face a fine of up to £4,000.
Designated businesses and organisations, including hospitality, close contact services and leisure venues, will also be legally required to log details of customers, visitors and staff for NHS Test and Trace and required to display official NHS QR code posters under law

NHS Test and Trace service in the workplace
Guidance on the NHS Test and Trace service for employers, businesses and workers updated to reflect the new legal requirements for designated venues to collect contact details and display official NHS QR code posters from 24^th September

Claim money back through the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme
Find out how to claim the reimbursement for discounts given to diners with the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme closed on 31 August 2020 – the page updated with removal of registration links.

Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.

Kickstart Scheme employer resources
If you’ve been offered Kickstart Scheme funding, you can use these resources to show your support for the scheme.

Kickstart Scheme employer contacts
List of regional contacts for employers applying for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme.

Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
Frequently asked questions on what you can and can’t do during the coronavirus outbreak – guidance updated in line with new regulations coming into force on 4 July

Business Survey:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-coronavirus-impact-business-survey/dcms-business-survey-headline-measures

Apply for the coronavirus Future Fund
The Future Fund will provide UK Government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme set to launch
Employers will be able to make claims through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme from 26 May.

Government – Guidance on Returning to Work safely
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Government – Setting out of Road Map to recovery – 11^th May 2020
Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s 60 page COVID-19 recovery strategy
The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread.

Coronavirus Act 2020: status
A table setting out the status of each measure in the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Government – Financial Support
New 100% government backed loan scheme for small business

Government – Financial Support
CBILS – A guide to whether it may be the best options for a business

Government – Financial Support
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – online claims portal open

Government – Business Support:
Government launches new coronavirus business support finder tool

Government – Business Support Hub:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

Government – Financial Support: HMRC has published guidance on how it will work out income and profits for the self-employed or those in a partnership who have lost profits due to coronavirus.

Government – Business Support:
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/

Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

Government – Financial Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding

Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

Bank of England – Financial Support: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2020/march/the-covid-corporate-financing-facility

Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub