UK DATA:
Total UK Cases: 4,280,882 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 6,303 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 7,218 (426 new admissions)
New deaths across UK: 95
Total UK deaths: 125,926
England Cases per 100,000: 58.3 per 100,000
R number in UK: 0.6 to 0.8
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 25,735,472 up to and including 17 March 2021
Total 2nd doses given: 1,879,054
Latest Cheshire East data:
Total Cheshire East cases: 20,350
New cases in past 7 days: 200 to 13 March
Total deaths: 788
Cases per 100,000: 52.1 per 100,000
R number in North West: 0.6 to 0.8
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.
UK NEWS & HEADLINES:
Hundreds of BBC roles to move to the North and Midlands
The BBC has confirmed it will relocate high profile national journalism jobs from London to the regions, including to the Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire. The broadcaster’s director general Tim Davie unveiled plans at an all staff-meeting this morning. Specialist journalism teams covering topics such as the environment, technology, and education will be relocated from London to new bases in Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow. In total, 400 jobs will move out of London.
40% revenue growth for Ocado as customers make “permanent shift to online grocery shopping”
Online grocery retailer Ocado has revealed an almost 40 per cent year-on-year revenue growth for the first quarter of the year. In its Q1 results published today, the firm has seen sales of £599m, compared with quarterly revenue of £428.8m in the same period of the previous year – a 39.7 per cent increase.
The group, which over the past 12 months has developed its joint venture with M&S as well as investing in customer fulfilment centres across the country, attributes the growth to the growing trend for online grocery shopping accelerated by the pandemic.
BBC: UK government faces questions after report of shortage of vaccines
The government is facing questions after the NHS warned of a reduction in supply of vaccines next month. Five million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced in India have been held up by four weeks.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says UK is ahead of schedule to offer first dose to all over 50s by 15 April.
EU planning vaccine passport rollout before summer
A digital certificate to kick-start foreign travel should be given to citizens across the EU “without discrimination”, officials say. Vaccine passports have faced opposition from some EU member states over concerns they might be discriminatory. But the aim of these certificates is to enable anyone vaccinated against Covid-19, or who has tested negative or recently recovered from the virus, to travel within the EU.
The 27 member states will decide how they will be used.
More than 25 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Significant milestone reached as almost half of all UK adults in the UK get the vaccine.
LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:
Cheshire East bus users to see extended service to airport, hospital and vaccination centre
Bus users in Cheshire East are to get an extended service that will see additional destinations, including a major hospital, a vaccination centre and Manchester Airport. Cheshire East Council has agreed the new routes with D&G Buses, who operate the 130 service from Macclesfield to Handforth, via Alderley Edge. The extended service will begin from 11 April, with a revised timetable. It will continue to include Wilmslow and Handforth but will run on to Manchester Airport, Wythenshawe Hospital and The Interchange. The 130 bus is already running to Alderley Park vaccination centre, so passengers can get a Covid jab and it is likely that this new destination will be included on the route for several months.
‘Bus Back Better’ proposals welcomed by regional transport body
Transport for the North has welcomed a £3 billion investment into bus services across England that aim to improve reliability and usability for passengers.
BUSINESS:
HMRC have published important information for employers on GOV???.UK, which includes:
- help completing the tax year 2020-21
- form P9X (2021) to find out which tax codes to use from 6?? ?April 2021
- rates, limits and changes for 2021-22
- Employer Bulletin – Issue 88 has information about sending in your final submissions for the year.
Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Find out how apprenticeships will continue during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – converted to HTML and updated guidance to reflect the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and remove advice relating to pre-March 8 2021.
COMMUNITY:
COVID-19: letter to clinically extremely vulnerable people
Reference-only version of letter from the government to all people on the Shielded Patient List.
New one-off £500 payment for working households receiving tax credits
Find out more about the coronavirus (COVID-19) support scheme for working households receiving tax credits, your eligibility and how to tell us if your contact or bank details have changed – updated to clarify that the payment is non-taxable and will not affect benefits. It does not need to be declared as income for Income Tax Self-Assessment or for tax credit claims and renewals. If you want to change your bank details, you must do this by 8 April.
EDUCATION:
Survey of childcare and early years providers and coronavirus (COVID-19): wave 3
Wave 3 of research with childcare providers in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Use of free early education entitlements funding during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Funding for local authorities and early years providers through the early years dedicated schools grant (DSG) – Update: the government’s plans for funding local authorities in the 2021 spring term and for the financial year 2021 to 2022.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
Surge testing for new coronavirus (COVID-19) variants
How ‘surge testing’ and genomic sequencing is being used in locations in England where COVID-19 variants have been identified.
Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund: round 2
Sets out the infection control measures that the new infection control fund will support, including information on the distribution of funds and reporting requirements.
Assessment and procurement of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests
How the government assesses offers of COVID-19 tests from developers for procurement and use in the UK.
PHE monitoring of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination
Data on the real-world efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines – added latest version of report and link to seroprevalence document.
Coronavirus England briefing, 18 March 2021
Epidemiological data and hospitalisation metrics used by the government to brief MPs on local restriction tiers.
Shielding advice for the clinically extremely vulnerable to stop from April
More than 3.79 million clinically extremely vulnerable people in England will be informed they are no longer advised to shield from Thursday 1 April 2021.
NHS Test and Trace statistics (England): methodology
How the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) puts together the contact-tracing data in its weekly reports – updated to include information on tests conducted in care homes and additional information on testing in schools.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for homecare workers
Sets out how homecare agencies in England can order regular tests for their homecare (domiciliary care) staff.
PHE study shows three-quarters of over-70s have COVID-19 antibodies
New findings from Public Health England have shown that an estimated 75.8% of 70 to 84 year old blood donors had antibodies against COVID-19 by early March.
LOCAL AUTHORITY:
Exceptional financial support for local authorities: capitalisation directions
Details of capitalisation directions granted to local authorities that have requested exceptional financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus cases by local authority: epidemiological data, 18 March 2021
Weekly watchlist giving epidemiological coronavirus (COVID-19) data for each lower-tier local authority (LTLA) in England.
Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG), Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), Christmas Support Payment (CSP) for wet-led pubs: guidance for local authorities
This is guidance for local authorities on paying grants to support businesses – added new guidance on the Restart Grant and updated guidance on the Additional Restrictions Grant to include £425m top-up from 1 April 2021.
MINISTRY of DEFENCE:
Coronavirus in Defence
Summary statistics on the number of defence personnel who have had a COVID-19 test; and for the UK Armed Forces, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 – added the Number of COVID-19 tests in defence and positive cases in the UK Armed Forces 2021 page.
TRAVEL:
Providers of day 2 and day 8 coronavirus testing for international arrivals
Information on the 2 tests you must book, pay for and take during your mandatory 10-day quarantine period after arriving in England, including how to book – removed Live Covid Testing from the list of providers of day 2 and day 8 coronavirus testing for international arrivals.
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 31st 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 24th 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 – 11th 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
Gov.uk: Maintaining Educational Provision: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
UK Lockdown – Further businesses to close and exceptions: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874732/230320_-_Revised_guidance_note_-_finalVF
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health – Shielding the most vulnerable https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
Media and Marketing:
Travel: https://media.northernrailway.co.uk/news/coronavirus-travel-information
Recruitment: – DWP and Universal Credit: http://news.dwp.gov.uk/dwplz/lz.aspx?p1=MQsDU1NjQ5MlM2OTA0OjNCNDJBOEZCRTJDOUJEOTc1ODQ0RTRCRDNDNzk4QUNF-&CC=&p=0
Retail: An update form British Retail Consortium https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/coronavirus-latest-retailer-activity/
Resources available from Acas:
Redundancy letter templates
Redundancy process map Acas have also contributed to the development of a new return to work toolkit in partnership with SOM, CIPD, BITC and Mind.
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