Latest data:
Testing: 763,387 people have now been tested for the virus
UK Cases: 161,145 have tested positive, + 4,309 on previous day
Loss of life: In hospital, 21,678 people have died + 586 on previous day
Government Daily Briefings
Tuesday 28th April
Delivered by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:
- Future briefings to include reporting on deaths outside of hospital
- 4,434 deaths in care homes since Easter
- No changing to social distancing rules until 5 tests have been achieved
- Testing capacity currently stands at 73,400 per day
- The Government is rolling out testing to millions more people
- Testing of existing drugs in treatment of coronavirus
- Six drugs in clinical trials, one to progress to next phase
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 28 April 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by Professor Angela McLean, Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser.
Monday 27th April
Delivered by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:
- The public can now submit a question to the daily briefing – www.gov.uk/ask
- New £60,000 life assurance scheme for frontline staff in NHS & Social Care 42% of oxygen-supported beds now empty
- Urged those who are in urgent need of treatment for other illnesses to visit A&E
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 27 April 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by Professor Chris Whitty.
Friday 24th – 26th April
- NHS: number of deaths and hospitalisation are reducing as result of social distancing and ‘tentative signs’ in progress in slowing the spread of the virus
- Current restrictions are unlikely to be revised prior to 7th May
- A tri-lateral commitment with France & Ireland to keep freight routes open; £17m to protect ferry routes with Northern Ireland and £10.5m for links with Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly
- 8,500 specialist volunteers across transport sector
- 9,000 vehicles to help national effort – aircraft, helicopters, ships and trains
- Greenlight for drones to trial delivery of medical supplies
- Funding to keep tram network operating
- 500,000 food parcels delivered to shielded group
- Supermarkets have increased number of home delivery slots to 2.6million
- Prime Minister has returned to Downing Street and to work
- No imminent changes will be made to the current lockdown restrictions
Secretary of State for Transport delivers daily coronavirus update (24 April 2020)
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 24 April 2020
Environment Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 26 April 2020
Coronavirus Survey:
To better understand the extent of the COVID-19 impact on business, and inform government what help businesses across Cheshire and Warrington need, Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub are asking as many of the region’s businesses as possible to complete a short survey. Please take a couple of minutes to do this if you can, to help the Growth Hub and Local Enterprise Partnership understand what support is needed.
HEADLINE NEWS:
Testing rolled out to millions more people in England
The Government is rolling out testing of asymptomatic residents and staff in care homes in England, as well as patients and staff in the NHS. It is also making testing available to all over-65s and their households if they have symptoms, and all workers who have to leave home to go to work and their households if they have symptoms.
From today, the grim total will include deaths that occur in care homes as well as hospitals. A jump in numbers is inevitable, given that a third of all coronavirus fatalities in England and Wales are now happening in care homes.
New 100% Government-backed ‘Bounce Back’ loans for small businesses
A new Bounce Back Loans scheme will allow businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days. Loans will be interest free for the first 12 months, and from Monday 4 May, businesses can apply online through a short and simple form.
The Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee for the loan and pay any fees and interest for the first 12 months. No repayments will be due during the first 12 months.
New guarantee on death in service benefits for frontline health and care staff during pandemic
The families of health and care workers on the frontline in England will benefit from a new life assurance scheme during the pandemic, developed after discussions with health and social care unions. The scheme recognises the increased risk faced by staff during the crisis and will cover coronavirus related deaths of workers in frontline health and adult and children’s social care roles during the outbreak. It will cover staff who provide hands-on personal care for people who have contracted coronavirus or work in health or care settings where the virus is present. Bereaved family members will receive a £60,000 lump sum worth roughly twice the average pensionable pay for NHS staff, with the cost met by the government.
Update on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)
The Government is also taking additional steps on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to ensure that lenders have the confidence they need to process finance applications quickly, including removing the per lender portfolio cap for the government guarantee, and changing the viability tests that so that all banks will need to assess is whether a business was viable pre COVID-19.
AGRICULTURE / FARMING / HORTICULTURE:
The Horticultural Trades Association has published a new study showing that a third of UK growers will be insolvent by the end of June, even with the Government’s support packages.
It is calling for a compensation scheme for the industry as current support does not take into account the highly seasonal income of growers. It warns that the Netherlands has already introduced such a scheme, positioning Dutch growers to supply the UK if the British sector collapses.
MPs urged to put pressure on government to support British dairy industry The National Farmers Union says that over 2,230 letters have been written to almost 400 MPs as part of its campaign for urgent help for the dairy industry during the crisis. The closure of food service and hospitality outlets has led to a loss of market for eight million litres of milk each week. The NFU is calling for a targeted grant scheme, market support measures and a furlough scheme for cows.
CONSTRUCTION:
Coronavirus testing extended to construction workers
Health secretary Matt Hancock has bowed to pressure to offer construction workers with coronavirus symptoms access to testing.
Redrow will be mobilising sites from May 11 with a phased return to construction on May 18 with “robust social distancing protocols and physical measures in place.”
These include an e-learning module for all Redrow employees, induction videos for contractors, appointed Covid Supervisors for each site and enhanced signage and PPE.
Glenigan: New urgency to construction on improving digital infrastructure
The widespread use of the Internet and video-conferencing by homeworkers and businesses during the coronavirus crisis will lend new urgency to the programme for more construction on improving the country’s digital infrastructure.
Glenigan: Food manufacturing construction boost
As Britain’s reliance on imported food & drink has come under the spotlight during the coronavirus crisis, moves to boost domestic output in the sector are set to bring opportunities for construction as food manufacturers and agricultural businesses gear up for expansion.
Travis Perkins boosts material supplies to sites
The country’s biggest builders merchant is reopening more of its branches to “give greater support to large construction firms and subcontractors as they restart construction sites”.
EDUCATION:
Northern MPs and Peers call for additional funding for poorer children
A catch-up premium of £700 for every pupil on free school meals should be given to secondary schools when they reopen, say northern MPs and peers.
They believe such a premium would help prevent poorer children in England falling behind their classmates because of school closures due to Covid-19.
It would fund up to two-and-a-half hours of tuition for six to 12 weeks.
Fifty MPs from the North have written to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to make the case for £300m of funding.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings
Added guidance on ‘Using clusters and hubs to maintain educational provision’ and ‘Changes to school admission appeals due to coronavirus’ to Guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.
Using clusters and hubs to maintain educational provision
What educational settings need to know when making decisions on cluster or hub models, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Awarding qualifications in summer 2020
Guidance for vocational, technical and other qualifications updated to reflect consultation on grading arrangements for summer 2020 added to information for schools, students and parents on how GCSE, AS, A level, vocational and technical qualifications will be graded and awarded in summer 2020.
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
What childcare services early years settings, childminders and local authorities need to provide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): attendance in education and early years settings
Updated data and summary of how many children and teachers attended education and childcare settings since Monday 23 March to 24 April 2020.
A new online learning platform – The Skills Toolkit – to help boost the nation’s skills while people are staying at home, has been launched by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. Courses on offer cover a range of levels, from everyday maths and tools for using email and social media more effectively at work to more advanced training.
Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What schools need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Updated guidance on bank holidays, Early Years Foundation Stage, recruitment and workforce.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings
Added ‘Use of free early education entitlements funding during the coronavirus outbreak’ to guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.
EMPLOYERS / BUSINESSES / FINANCE:
Wages for furloughed employees are now being paid through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
If you have already made a claim:
Payment takes six working days from when a claim is submitted. Please do not call HMRC to chase payment as they will not be able to update you before the six working days have ended. It will automatically be sent to the bank account you nominated in your claim. Please retain all records and calculations for your claims in case HMRC need to contact you about them in future.
If you have not yet made a claim:
You can still claim online for a grant for 80% of your furloughed employees’ salaries, up to a maximum of £2,500 per employee, per month. You will receive the funds six working days after you claim, provided your claim matches records that we hold for your PAYE scheme.
Please continue to keep your furloughed employees informed and ask them not to contact HMRC directly – HMRC will not be able to provide them with any information.
How can property investors come out the other side of the Covid-19 crisis?
“The world has been temporarily paused, and for many, this is presenting a host of challenges. But for the few, it opens up a world of opportunities.”
Covid-19: Update on tax policy documents
HM Treasury and HMRC are today (28 April) setting out new timelines for tax policy consultations and other work in the light of the current Covid-19 crisis.
Government confirms allocations of £1.6 billion funding boost for councils
Individual councils in England have funding allocations confirmed following Local Government Secretary’s announcement of £1.6 billion in additional funding.
HMT and HMRC have set out new timelines for tax policy consultations and other work in the light of the current Covid-19 crisis.
The government is extending deadlines to ten consultations and calls for evidence currently underway by three months – including the Plastic Packaging Tax, a call for evidence on Vehicle Excise Duty and a consultation on the HMRC Charter – and also a short delay to the publication of other documents announced at Budget 2020.
The extension will give all stakeholders, who are facing disruption due to COVID-19, more time to submit their views and allow them to fully engage with these documents and contribute to the tax policy making process.
Cash Grant for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure and Small Business Grant Funding Since the launch of the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Leisure & Hospitality Grants Fund, over £7 billion in grants has been paid out to small businesses. Local Authorities in England have been working hard to reach out to eligible businesses directly to arrange payment. The grants are of £10,000 or £25,000 and do not need to be paid back. Please note, this scheme applies to England only. To ensure all eligible businesses can access these funds, we have two main calls to action:
- Check whether you are entitled to the grant, using the GOV UK checker tool.
For more information on the schemes, please click here.
Financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Added details of the Bounce Back Loan scheme to what financial support you can get for your business. Added details of the Bounce Back Loan scheme.
The TUC has published a new report, calling for ‘tough new measures’ to be implemented to keep employees safe before lockdown restrictions begin to be eased.
It says that every British employer should be required to conduct a specific risk assessment, mitigate the risks identified, agree this with the staff union (if there is one), get it signed off by a health and safety representative or HSE inspector, and communicate it to workers before they return.
Coronavirus grant funding: local authority payments to small and medium businesses
Figures for payments to businesses updated as of 27 April 2020 by local authorities to support small and medium businesses in England during coronavirus.
Furloughed workers to receive full parental leave entitlement
Furloughed workers planning to take paid parental or adoption leave will be entitled to pay based on their usual earnings rather than a furloughed pay rate.
Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus outbreak
Updated information on furloughed apprentices, end-point assessment, functional skills apprentices and qualification certification added to guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Reminder – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Employers can claim online for a grant for 80% of their furloughed employees’ salaries, up to a maximum of £2,500 per employee per month.More than 285,000 businesses have already applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme since it went live on Monday 20 April.
You will need to complete an application online; it will take approximately 6 working days from making an application to receive the money. Please keep a note or print-out of your claim reference number as you won’t receive a confirmation SMS or email. HMRC have produced this step by step guidance on how to make a claim. There is also a calculator to help you work out your claim. A guide is also available to view on YouTube
Webinars and videos from HMRC are now available, advising businesses on how to deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus, and how to access support.
ACAS runs a series of webinars on employment law and employment relations
Covid-19 Business Grant Funding Documentation
EMPLOYEES:
Care group launches recruitment drive for 3,000 staff
Home Instead Senior Care is looking for the extra staff, including 500 in its North West operations, to continue to provide its award-winning care to the elderly and vulnerable throughout the UK.
COVID – 19: Homeworking expenses – what’s taxable?
HMRC have confirmed the tax and NIC treatment of expenses incurred relating to equipment, services or supplies provided if your employees are working from home due to COVID-19.
Furloughed workers offered online skills training
The Department for Education is launching a collection of job-related online courses, teaching numeracy, coding and internet skills.
The Open University and Google are among the providers.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said businesses should encourage staff to “boost their skills”.
Cheshire East Jobs Match
Cheshire East Council has launched a new job matching service to help people, who are temporarily not working, find jobs in key roles where support is needed.
The free job matching service will help to connect employers across Cheshire East who have urgent temporary or permanent vacancies with applicants who are immediately available and in need of employment.
For more information about this, and about financial support during the Covid-19 outbreak, visit the Council website:
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
Clinical trial approved to help the NHS treat COVID-19 patients using plasma
If effective, a national programme will deliver up to 10,000 units of plasma a week to the NHS to help treat coronavirus (COVID-19) patients.
Communities Secretary welcomes response to his call for parks to open
The Communities Secretary has praised councils for ensuring that the vast majority of parks opened so more people can get outside for exercise safely.
Mobile coronavirus testing units to target frontline workers
Mobile testing units, operated by the Armed Forces, will travel around the UK to increase access to coronavirus testing.
Personal protective equipment (PPE): export control process
Updated information for economic operators who will temporarily need a licence to export PPE outside the EU, EFTA member states and certain other territories.
UK leads way as nations endorse landmark pledge to make coronavirus vaccines and treatments available to all
Countries from around the world today joined the UK in pledging to give everyone equal access to new coronavirus vaccines and treatments around the world.
COVID-19: supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
Guidance for care staff who are supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Worrying drop in children accessing services and safeguarding concerns
NHS Providers havesupported campaigns encouraging people to use the NHS for non- COVID- 19 care amid concerns that there has been a fall in the number of people accessing services. They said: ‘We want the public to know that the NHS is absolutely still there for you if you need it and it is safe to use.’
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance
Added ‘COVID-19: how to work safely in domiciliary care’ to guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) for health professionals and other organisations.
New guarantee on death in service benefits for frontline health and care staff during pandemic
The families of health and care workers on the frontline in England will benefit from a new life assurance scheme during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): reuse of medicines in a care home or hospice
Standard operating procedure on how to run a safe and effective medicines reuse scheme in a care home or hospice during the coronavirus outbreak.
COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection – added guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
COVID-19 treatments could be fast-tracked through new national clinical trial initiative
This will accelerate the development of new drugs for patients hospitalised with COVID-19, reducing the time taken to set up clinical studies for new therapies from months to weeks.
£3.1million funding to support children impacted by domestic abuse.
the Home Office has announced £3.1 million will go to specialist services for children who have both been directly and indirectly affected by domestic abuse. This can include one-to-one and group counselling sessions to improve the mental health of children affected and early intervention schemes.
The Local Government Association has responded to ONS and CQC figures on community deaths.
Data shows that up until 24 April 4,343 people died from COVID-19 in care homes. It said: ‘Every death from this virus is a tragedy. This is being exacerbated by the fact some social care staff and other frontline workers still lack the necessary PPE to protect themselves and the people they care for from contracting coronavirus.’
Barnardo’s says its frontline workers are concerned about an increase in family conflict and stress and that children need to be recognised as victims.
The charity is calling for amendments to the Domestic Violence Bill to also protect children
Specification for ventilators to be used in UK hospitals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This guidance sets out the clinical requirements based on the consensus of what is ‘minimally acceptable’ performance in the opinion of the anaesthesia and intensive care medicine professionals and medical device regulators. The Government aren’t currently able to proceed with any new applications to provide ventilators that have not already started.
Further expansion of access to coronavirus testing helps protect the most vulnerable
Anyone in England with coronavirus symptoms who either has to leave home to go to work or is aged 65 and over will now be able to get tested.
LGA responds to Care England Report on provider funding
“The £3.2 billion funding that government has made available to councils to help with additional costs arising as a result of COVID-19 is much needed. However, there are many and growing calls on this funding across the full range of council services and additional resources will be needed to allow councils to continue to support social care and other services.”
Personal protective equipment (PPE): export control process
Information for economic operators who will temporarily need a licence to export PPE outside the EU, EFTA member states and certain other territories. The 3 attachments on this page have been updated to reflect the revised EU regulations. The attachments are: ‘Personal protective equipment (PPE): export control process’, ‘Application form’ and ‘Notification form’.
IT & SECURITY:
Coronavirus: UK contact-tracing app ‘ready in two to three weeks’Ultimately anyone will be able to get tested if they have symptoms – crucial when lockdown restrictions are eased as part of the “test, track and trace” strategy to keep the virus at bay.
Security of NHS and Public Health Services Digital Systems (Coronavirus) Directions 2020
Direction given to the National Health Service and/or public health body.
Digital innovations tested to support vulnerable people during COVID-19 outbreak
New parents, unpaid carers, the homeless, young people and cancer patients could benefit from digital solutions as part of the TechForce19 challenge.
Remote COVID-19 monitoring platform launchedA free online platform which allows people in the UK to self-monitor for symptoms and signs of COVID-19 while adhering to social distancing measures has been created in Manchester. Called RemoteCovid, the platform has been developed by bio-clinical remote monitoring specialist NEPeSMO which was founded in 2017 by two following 11 years of NHS-led and funded research.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): fraud and cyber crime
Advice and guidance on how to protect yourself and your business from fraud and cybercrime.
LEISURE:
The UK hotel market will rebound strongly once the economy revives and travel restrictions are lifted post the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research.As part of new data from Knight Frank, UK markets such as London and Edinburgh, are likely to recover faster, with hotels in the capital potentially able to achieve a full recovery by Q4 2021 if the lockdown lifts by the end of Q2 this year. Despite early indications showing that the economic impact of Coronavirus could be more severe than any experienced previously, Knight Frank forecasts a V-shaped, stepped recovery, with occupancy growth beginning slowly in Q3 followed by substantially stronger growth in Q4 as travel confidence returns..
A survey by UKHospitality has found gaps in the support being offered to businesses during the pandemic.
It says that 57% of businesses that have received a decision on their loan application have had it declined, while less than 1% of businesses that have made a claim on their insurance have received pay-outs, and only an eighth of eligible businesses have received hospitality grants.
MANUFACTURING:
Europe restarts car factories amid uncertain demand
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German carmaking giant Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) resumed production at its biggest factory on Monday as part of a broader industry drive to get back to work in Europe, where the coronavirus pandemic has hammered demand and pushed up inventory levels.
Coronavirus support for businesses – Guidance for Manufacturers
Business Secretary Alok Sharma wrote to firms in the sector to stress that ‘there is no restrcition on manufacturing continuing under the current rules’. To help the sector, we have launched our COVID-19 manufacturing guidance hub. Here you will find guidance for operating amidst the pandemic, additional online tools and resources, calls to action from government and industry, as well as the latest government guidelines.
First DAF truck leaves company production line again
The DAF factories in Lancashire, Eindhoven (the Netherlands) and Westerlo (Belgium) have successfully restarted their operations. Across DAF’s production facilities in the UK, Netherlands and Belgium, hundreds of work stations have been assessed and adjusted. Tasks have been separated, routes altered and work schedules modified. Measures have been implemented to enable workers to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres – 2m at Leyland – and cleaning products have been made widely available.
MARKETING & COMMS:
Industry experts share insights on how best to use marketing spend during lockdown
Prolific North’s webinar “What should I focus my marketing budget on right now?” involved a team of experts chaired by Alexandra Balazs, Head of Operations, who quizzed each of the speakers on their current marketing expectations, limitations and ambitions for the foreseeable lockdown period and beyond.
PROPERTY:
Rental market may quickly bounce back, new analysis shows
A new analysis reveals three key figures that suggest the rental market will bounce back from the lockdown and the Coronavirus crisis rapidly – and faster than the sales market. In an article exclusively for Letting Agent Today, the head of research at Zoopla – Gráinne Gilmore – explains that while activity in the rental sector has been significantly hit by the virus, the damage done is arguably less severe than some observers suggest.
New guidance for social landlords on essential moves
Councils and housing associations should continue to support vulnerable people to move home.
Lenders grant 1.6 million payment holidays to mortgage holders
One in seven mortgages are now covered by payment holidays following steps taken by lenders to help households whose finances have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis. For the average mortgage holder, the payment holiday amounts to £755 per month of suspended payments.
Property sales worth £82bn ‘on hold’ amid lockdown
Some 373,000 property sales are on hold owing to the coronavirus lockdown, analysis of the housing market in UK cities suggests.
The value of held sales totals a collective £82bn, researchers at property portal Zoopla have estimated.
Agreed sales were running at a tenth of the normal level for the time of year, and were akin to the activity seen in late December, they said.
New guidance for removals could mean housing market back in action
The guidance comes from the government of Guernsey, where estate agents were allowed to resume viewings and open their offices last weekend. It says removals can only take place in a property where there has been no cases or suspected cases of Coronavirus for the previous 14 days.
Housebuilders plan to reopen sites, as unions warn against relaxing social distancingPersimmon, Redrow, Vistry and Taylor Wimpey are among the growing list of housebuilders who are planning to reopen their construction sites, after closing them at the start of the lockdown. The re-opening plans are being put together in response to the Government’s objective of getting the construction industry back to work.
RETAIL:
Shops get rent break as told to pay what they can
The government has introduced new measures to prevent landlords from using aggressive methods to collect rent from High Street shops during the coronavirus lockdown.The laws ban landlords from using statutory demands and winding up orders to claim rent unpaid due to the crisis.
Guidance for consumers on coronavirus (COVID-19) and food
Updated the guidance under the ‘Takeaway food’ heading in advice for consumers in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the UK.
Covid-19 is having a seismic impact on online grocery shopping
A new report from Mintel has found that Brits are forecast to spend an estimated £16.8billion on grocery shopping online during 2020, with 36% increasing the amount of online shopping they do and 50% trying to limit the time they spend in-store
British Retail Consortium and USDAW have issued advice for non-essential shops to prepare for an easing of lockdown The British Retail Consortium and Usdaw’s advice includes providing hand sanitiser for customers. The industry body and the union issued the advice to non-food retailers, closely based on what is already happening in many food stores.
Aldi is providing financial support to Age UK to fund their essential work for older people in the community and are continuing to support their long-term partner Neighbourly to redistribute food to those who need it most.
Plan revealed for estate agents to work safely when lockdown relaxes
A six-point guide is to be issued today to agents reopening offices when the government gives the go ahead, possibly in the next few weeks. The guide, to be issued by epropservices – parent company of the Guild of Property Professionals and Fine & Country – is based on current guidance and talks agents through a range of processes to open safely.
Greggs set re-open some stores in controlled trialBakery giant Greggs is set to open a number of its stores on a trial basis as the coronavirus lockdown continues. Greggs will carry out a controlled trial in 20 shops in the Newcastle area with retail volunteers from the business providing feedback on what operational changes need to be made. The trial will start on 4 May 2020 and will last for two weeks, with some stores remaining open after this period.
McDonalds to trial reopening of UK branches in lockdown
The behind-closed-doors test which starts this week will involve “exploring social distancing measures for our crew, PPE options and opening in a limited capacity,” the company said.
Retailer Next has conducted a revised stress test after seeing its sales drop more than initially expected due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
In a trading statement this morning, the firm announced it is now modelling lower sales for both the first and second half of the year, with the worst case scenario showing a 40 per cent decrease in sales.
TRANSPORT & TRAVEL:
ABTA ‘in talks’ with Government to extend furlough scheme
“We’re already having conversations with the government around the furloughing scheme. Both the lack of suitability for right now, because it doesn’t allow you to help customers… going forward there may be some need for certain sectors to have some kind of continued salary support, if the government does want to avoid job losses in the long run.”
UK announces 9 more charter flights from Pakistan to return thousands of stranded Brits
These will include the first UK charter flight from Karachi, which will depart on 30 April, in addition to further departures from Islamabad and Lahore.?
UK announces 5 more flights from Bangladesh to bring home over a thousand Brits
An additional 5 charter flights will bring home more than 1,250 British travellers to the UK from Bangladesh.
Shearings owner ‘starts administration process’ in race to find rescue deal
The owner of coach holiday and hotels specialist Shearings has filed a Notice of Intention (NOI) to appoint administrators to a number of subsidiaries, including Shearings and UKBreakaways.com, as reported on thebusinessdesk.com
Joint statement on freight transport by UK, France and Ireland
The UK government hasinitiated a dialogue between the UK, French and the Irish governments during this crisis to strengthen partnership and share best practices. Working together in partnership is important at this difficult time to help keep freight flowing between and through our countries.
More Britons to return from Nigeria on UK charter flights
900 more British travellers stranded in Nigeria are set to return home on three flights chartered by the UK Government.
New Updates and Guidance – Business Support FAQs
Frequently asked questions for businesses and employers, on business closures and stay at home, and on the self-employment income support scheme, are available on the business support website.
Useful links:
Government – Business Support:
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.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
Government – Financial Support:
Webinars and videos from HMRC are now available, advising businesses on how to deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus, and how to access support.
Government – Business Support:
Bank of England – Financial Support:
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2020/march/the-covid-corporate-financing-facility
Cheshire East Council
Business helping businesses: https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/coronavirus/cheshire-east-business-helping-business.aspx
Gov.uk: Maintaining Educational Provision:
UK Lockdown – Further businesses to close and exceptions:
Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health – Shielding the most vulnerable
Travel:
Updates from Northern Rail: https://media.northernrailway.co.uk/news/coronavirus-travel-information
Recruitment: – DWP and Universal Credit
Retail: An update form British Retail Consortium
https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/coronavirus-latest-retailer-activity/
Useful information for the Self-Employed:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/#vid
Small businesses received £21.3 billion in COVID-19 support from local authority grants 
Two year extension announced for Covid Recovery Loan scheme 
Research finds Covid-19 has not fundamentally changed the UK labour market