May 15th – Coronavirus News Updates

Latest Data

Testing: 2,219,281 tests have now taken place + 126,064 on yesterday

Positive tests: 233,151 people have tested positive + 3,446 on previous day

Loss of life: 33,614 people have died across all settings, +428 more deaths since the previous day’s figures

Government Daily Briefing

Thursday 14th May:

Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, hosted the briefing focusing on the transport sector:

Briefing commenced with ‘Stay Alert’ message
Reiterated infrastructure spending on projects during lockdown
£250m already spent of £2bn programme to promote cycling and walking
Department of Transport published guidance to make transport network safer
Projects continuing despite lockdown – 419 Network Rail projects; 1,000 transport upgrades; £96m on rail improvements in the North;
Announced a further £2bn to upgrade roads and railways
Rollout of electric charging facilities

Anti-body testing proved 100% accurate
In the press questions, Van-Tam outlined the Roche antibody test that has been approved by health professionals following testing that revealed it has 100% accuracy for those who have had COVID-19. He wasn’t sure of when it would be rolled out but said it would be started with NHS and frontline staff.

Slides to accompany coronavirus press conference: 14 May 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP and Prof Johnathan Van-Tam.

Wednesday 13th May:

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, hosted the briefing concentrating on the housing sector:

You can now move house following new Government Guidance
Estate Agency offices may open
Show homes may now open
Removal firms may begin operating ‘with immediate effect’
Viewings should be virtual where possible
No open house viewings
Follow strict social distancing and hygiene guidelines
Building sites able to extend opening hours to 9pm, later in non-residential areas
£600m for infection control in care homes

Slides to accompany coronavirus press conference: 13 May 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP and Dr Jenny Harries.

HEADLINE NEWS:

Antibody test rolled out ‘in days and weeks’ says Transport Secretary
Public Health England said the antibody test, developed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, was a “very positive development”. The blood test looks for antibodies to see if a person has already had the virus and might now have some immunity.

The test-track-trace system is due to be rolled out to the rest of the country
From next week the test-track-trace system will be rolled out from next week following completion of the trial on the Isle of Wight. The announcement is accompanied by the news that a Roche antibody test to identify people who have already had the virus has been approved for use in the UK. The two programmes together will produce reliable information about the real extent of the virus infection across the country, as well as identifying people who have developed some degree of immunity.

Government’s business support during coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Cabinet Office has commissioned an independent research organisation, Kantar, to conduct important research about the provision of Government support to UK businesses and self-employed during the coronavirus crisis.
They are interested in the views of self-employed, business owners and senior managers who can tell us about how their business has been affected by coronavirus and what business decisions may be taken to mitigate this impact.
The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
Taking part is easy – just click here or on the button below to start the survey. You can complete the survey on a mobile, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. You may exit and return to the survey at any point up until the survey’s closing date at the end of  Monday 18th May.

Grant top-up fund: Government publishes advice for local authorities
This additional fund is aimed at small businesses who were not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Fund.

Local authorities may disburse grants to the value of £25,000, £10,000 or any amount under £10,000.

The value of the payment to be made to a business is at the discretion of the local authority. Grants under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund are capped at £25,000. The next level payment under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is £10,000. Local authorities have discretion to make payments of any amount under £10,000.

The Government is asking local authorities to prioritise the following types of businesses for grants from within this funding pot:

Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces. Examples could include units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment;
Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment;
Bed & Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; and
Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:

Cheshire GPs support Covid-19 research

Thirteen GP practices across Cheshire have signed up to enrol patients in research investigating how to protect older people from Covid-19.

Mayors say ‘too early’ to lift restrictions in North West
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool city region Mayor Steve Rotheram have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning that the Government’s easing of lockdown restrictions comes “too early” for the region, which is working hard to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Manchester Airport calls for Government to rethink quarantine proposals
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has called on Downing Street to consider how best to implement its proposed passenger quarantine system which could impact international air travel, while Liverpool John Lennon Airport is already in talks with airlines over re-starting operations, while building on recent increases in cargo traffic. MAG owns and operates Manchester Airport, as well as London Stansted and East Midlands Airport.

COMMUNITY:

BBC: ‘Bubbles’ may be key to allowing families to meet
‘Bubbles’ of people we can meet safely may form part of the plans to move the UK out of the coronavirus lockdown. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a road map for how Britain could start easing restrictions and this 50-page document includes the possibility of widening our “social bubbles”.
What are social bubbles? A bubble is defined as a group of people with whom you have close physical contact.

CONSTRUCTION:

Government backs site working up to 9pm
In a fresh statement on Wednesday, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said local planning authorities were now expected to approve requests to extend construction working hours temporarily until 9pm from Monday to Saturday in residential areas.

Taylor Woodrow to open sales centres and launches new offer to care workers
In a message to shareholders the firm says that during lockdown it sold 48 homes and averaged a private sales rate of 0.3 homes per outlet per week, despite restrictions. Cancellation rates have averaged 27 per cent during lockdown.
For the week ending May 10 its total order book came to 11,033 homes compared to 10,489 for the same period of 2019. Now the company is setting out what it calls “detailed plans for a return to site sales activity” and extend its customer service provision.

EDUCATION:

Procurement Policy Note 02/20: Supplier relief due to COVID-19
Added sector guidance for state funded schools to Procurement Policy Note (PPN) setting out information and guidance for public bodies on payment of their suppliers to ensure service continuity during and after the current coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings
Added both Actions for FE colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak and Procurement Policy Note 02/20: Supplier relief due to COVID-19 under Finance and administration to guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.

Actions for FE colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak
Added Procurement Policy Notice (PPN) 02/20: Supplier relief due to COVID-19 – additional post 16 educational sector to guidance for further education (FE) providers on maintaining education and skills training, changes to funding arrangements, data collections and assessment.

Education unions’ joint statement on the safe reopening of schools
The statement follows a longer statement to the Secretary of State on Friday (8 May), which set out in full detail the principles and tests necessary for the safe reopening of schools. It is signed by AEP, GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, NSEAD, Prospect, UNISON and Unite.

Preparing for the wider opening of schools from 1 June
A planning guide for primary school leaders to help prepare them to open their schools for more pupils during the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings
Added ‘Preparing for the wider opening of schools from 1 June’ to guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.

Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care
Preventing and controlling infection, including the use of PPE, in education, childcare and children’s social care settings during the coronavirus outbreak.

Actions for FE colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak
Guidance for further education (FE) providers on maintaining education and skills training, changes to funding arrangements, data collections and assessment updated to provide further information to plan for wider opening, including what to consider and steps to take when planning increased attendance. Other updates include vulnerable young people, safeguarding and mental health support.

Awarding qualifications in summer 2020
Guidance for Heads of Centre, Heads of Department and teachers on objectivity in grading and ranking document 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.

Awarding qualifications in summer 2020
Information for schools, students and parents on how GCSE, AS, A level, vocational and technical qualifications will be graded and awarded in summer 2020.
Guidance for Centres – The awarding of vocational and technical qualifications, and other general qualifications, in summer 2020 added.

Critical workers who can access schools or educational settings
List of critical workers (key workers) who can send their children to school or other educational settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak updated to reflect that children of critical workers are encouraged to attend school, and to reflect plans for wider opening of schools from 1 June, at the earliest. Updated information defining vulnerable children, in line with existing guidance, for the purpose of continued education.

EMPLOYERS / BUSINESS FINANCE:

Public Health England: 7 simple tips to tackle working from home
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed everything, and we’re all struggling to adjust to new ways of living and working. There are some perks to working from home we can all enjoy (bye-bye commute!), but feeling stress, boredom, anxiety and uncertainty is also completely normal.

These 7 simple tips can help you adjust to working at home, feel more productive and take care of your mental health in these unprecedented times.

ABI backs Government plans for a temporary reinsurance scheme for businesses to access trade credit insurance
The scheme could help speed up the economic recovery, ensuring the continued availability of trade credit insurance in the face of unprecedented financial pressures currently being faced across most business sectors. It follows similar action being taken in other European countries, and Canada, where state- backed schemes have been developed to help businesses continue to benefit from affordable trade credit insurance protection. The ABI will look to continue to work with the Government to develop the scheme, so that businesses can trade with confidence despite the challenging economic circumstances.

New ministerial-led taskforces have been set up to plan how closed sectors can reopen safely.

Five new ministerial-led taskforces have been set up to develop plans for how and when closed sectors can reopen safely, following publication of the UK’s roadmap to rebuild Britain. Businesses and shops in indoor environments or with closer contact between people, like pubs, hotels and non-essential retail, will likely have a higher risk of transmission, as is the case with many places of worship.

Government guidance to help Britain’s top sportsmen and women to return to training safely

Elite athletes and professional sportsmen and women can resume performance training under new guidance published today, in a significant step towards a safe resumption of live sport behind closed doors.

FSB survey: Four in ten (41%) businesses have been forced to close
“The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been felt right across the small business community, with thousands of small firms all over the UK fearing for their futures. The Government has stepped-up with a huge range of support for millions of small businesses and sole traders, from income support schemes, to cash grants, to help with accessing finance and business rates breaks.

Lockdown doesn’t mean firms are locked out of investment opportunities
Mercia Asset Management has invested more than £11m in the seven weeks since the lockdown began. The company, which is one of the most active investors in regional SMEs, has completed 26 transactions during the crisis, including new investments and support for its existing portfolio companies.
Mercia – which has around £300m in unrestricted free cash within venture capital, private equity and debt to invest – is urging entrepreneurs and business owners to press ahead with their growth plans as the lockdown is being unwound.

Over 1000 jobs promoted to local job seekers at National Careers Service virtual jobs fair

Last week, from Monday 4 May, the National Careers Service held a Virtual Jobs Fair across England and over 1000 jobs were identified and promoted to local job seekers. The fair was held to help address the ongoing impact of the coronavirus on employment across the country, which has seen people lose their jobs and need to explore different opportunities. With face-to-face career service appointments paused and employment support from local centres stopped, there is a gap in ground level careers and employment support at a time when it’s needed most.

OBR updates cost of Government coronavirus policies
In addition to its impact on public health and families’ wellbeing, the spread of the coronavirus and the public health restrictions put in place to limit it will raise the budget deficit and public debt significantly, reflecting both the associated economic disruption and the Government’s economic policy response designed to support incomes and minimise business failures to prevent greater economic damage. The estimated cost of the Chancellor’s policies is £123.2 billion

The British Chambers of Commerce has published latest instalment of its Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker.

The tracker found that over 70% of respondents had furloughed staff, with 63% of firms being able to un-furlough staff as restrictions eased, but 36% not being able to. 75% said they could implement social distancing restrictions.

HEALTH & SAFETY:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): charter for safe working practice
A Charter, co-produced by the government and the Home Building Federation, committing signatories to safe working whilst COVID-19 remains prevalent.

PHE publishes a weekly COVID-19 epidemiology surveillance summary.

The report includes data from a variety of different sources: community, primary care, secondary care, virology and mortality surveillance data. Combined these sources show a wider community picture including a breakdown by age, gender, ethnicity and geography which will help plan the national response to the pandemic and assist regional stakeholders in local planning.

70 million face masks for NHS and care workers through new industry deal
More than 70 million face masks will be manufactured in the UK and delivered to frontline health and care workers following an agreement with a global technology company.

HEALTH & WELLBEING:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital discharge service requirements
Sets out how health and care systems and providers should change their discharging arrangements and the provision of community support during the coronavirus situation. Added 3 new documents: ‘What you need to know about leaving hospital – Easy Read leaflet’, ‘When you leave hospital to go home – Easy Read leaflet’ and ‘Leaving hospital to go to a care home – Easy Read leaflet’.

How tests and testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) work
The different types of tests and testing kits for COVID-19, and the specifications for manufacturers.

MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance and information for industry, healthcare professionals and patients covering the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – linked to new guidance on how tests and testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) work in the ‘Medical Devices’ section. This replaces previous guidance on COVID-19 tests. It includes an explanation of how the different testing kits work, the specification industry need to follow and how to apply for exemptions.

PROPERTY:

Housing Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 13 May 2020
The Housing Secretary on the government’s response to COVID-19 and the plan to safely restart, reopen and renew the housing market.

Poole Alcock Solicitors share guidance on moving house safely during the Covid-19 pandemic
The central message remains that we have to make sure that everyone stays safe through the process, and so social distancing must be maintained. Initial viewings of properties may still be carried out ‘virtually’, and homeowners should carry out thorough cleaning before and after every physical visit.

RETAIL:

BRC: April sales decline by 19.1% compared with previous year

“With lockdown measures in full swing, April saw a record fall in retail sales. Food sales were disappointing, with the virus preventing large family gatherings and turning Easter into a more modest affair. For many non-food goods, such as clothing, footwear and large household items, the decline was particularly steep as consumers responded to lockdown conditions. The proportion of goods purchased online rose sharply”

WHSmith reports positive first half results but warns very different in second half

TRANSPORT:

Multi-billion pound road and railway investment to put nation on path to recovery?

The package will target around 11 million nuisance potholes, enough to tarmac a road stretching a third of the way around the Earth. It will also see smaller improvements completed to upgrade local networks, such as enhancing road safety at key locations, the installation of priority bus lanes, and the creation of projects to help lock in improvements in air quality experienced during lockdown.

Government publishes safer travel guidance for passengers
As with most other departments this week, the Department for Transport announced it to help make the transport network safer. The first is for local authorities on how they should prepare for a dramatic increase in cyclists and pedestrians; the second is for transport providers to ensure they have safer services; and the third is for passengers who are being encouraged to walk, cycle or drive, though there is also advice if public transport is a necessity.

TRAVEL:

Transport Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 14 May 2020
Describing how the time during lockdown has been used to fix and upgrade road and rail infrastructure, including plans to help the economy bounce back.

Attestation forms for travel to and within France
Updated rules following French government announcements to information for UK nationals about which attestation form to use when travelling to and within France during the coronavirus (COVID-19) decree.

National Express set to restart UK journeys from July
Public transport company National Express Group has confirmed plans to restart UK journeys from July. In a brief trading update this morning, the group has said it has started selling tickets for journeys in a core coach network from July 1. The Birmingham-headquartered firm reported a 50 per cent revenue decrease for April compared with the same period in 2019.

Useful links:

Cheshire East Council – Business rates grants
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/business/business_rates/business-rates-relief/coronavirus-covid-19-help-for-business-rates-customers.aspx

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.

Stockport Council has launched a FREE job matching website to help support employers with vacancies and individuals across the Stockport borough who are looking for work. The service, Stockport Jobs Match, will help to connect employers who have urgent temporary or permanent vacancies with applicants who are immediately available and in need of employment. The website also helps signpost individuals to available support services and information.
www.stockport-jobsmatch.co.uk

Employment – Useful information for the Self-Employed:

News and Guidance for the self-employed:
Concerned how Coronavirus might impact you and your business?
Please get in touch with Enterprising You and you will be connected to someone who can help. You can also access information and guidance including the latest Government updates via www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus

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