Wednesday 26th January – Coronavirus News Updates

UK STATISTICS

There have been nearly 16 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and more than 150,000 people have died, government figures show. Over 52 million people have now received a first dose of the vaccine, 91% of people in the UK aged 12 and over. 84% have had their second and 64% have had a booster.

Total UK Cases: 15,953,685 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 88,447 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 17,523 (463 fewer than on previous day)
New deaths across UK: 56
Total UK deaths: 153,916
England Cases per 100,000: 979
R number in UK: 0.8-1.1

Vaccine data:

Total 1^st doses given: 52,236,574 – 91% of UK aged 12+
Total 2^nd doses: 84%
Daily 1^st doses: 12,266
Daily 2nd doses: 30,710
Daily Booster doses: 42,724

The R value and growth rate
The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The R range for England is 0.8 to 1.1 the growth rate range for England is -6% to +1% per day as of 21 January 2022.

COVID-19: estimated administrative vaccine uptake for people aged 18 and over
Daily percentage of the UK population aged 18 and over who have received a first dose, second dose, or third or booster dose to date.

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.

Latest Cheshire East data:

Total Cheshire East cases: 92,870
New cases in past 7 days: 3,969 to 20 Jan
Total deaths: 972
Cases per 100,000: 1,026.5

UK NEWS UPDATES:

Jump in half-term holiday bookings as travel rules relaxed
Holiday bookings have jumped with “notable increases” in trips planned for February half-term and Easter ahead of Covid travel tests being scrapped.

Jet2 said bookings had increased by 30% on last week after the announcements on Monday that rules would be relaxed for people arriving in England or Scotland.

The rule changes mean fully vaccinated people arriving in those countries from abroad do not need to take Covid tests. The change will come into effect from 04:00 GMT on 11 February.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, told the BBC the removal of testing was “game-changer” for the travel industry.

Prime Minister declares UK one of the most open countries in Europe and ready for an international tourism boom
The UK is safe and open for visitors with no testing for fully vaccinated tourists.
As testing and quarantine restrictions end for fully vaccinated visitors, the UK is ready to welcome visitors from around the globe for a blockbuster year of events showcasing the breadth of culture, creativity and innovation on offer, including Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Unboxed: Creativity in the UK. It comes ahead of a new VisitBritain £10 million international marketing campaign targeting the UK’s most valuable visitor markets of Europe and the USA which will launch in February.

Public urged to sign-up to world-first COVID-19 antiviral study
The public are being urged to sign-up to a world-leading study for antivirals if they test positive for COVID-19. The government and leading charities, including Kidney Care UK, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Diabetes UK and the British Liver Trust, are calling on at least 6,000 more participants to come forward for these cutting-edge treatments through the PANORAMIC study. This is so that expert scientists can understand more about how to deploy these treatments in the NHS more widely later in the year – including who would benefit most from receiving antiviral treatments for COVID-19.

Delivery firm to create 6,000 jobs as sector growth continues post-pandemic
Grocery delivery firm Getir is to create 6,000 more UK jobs in 2022 as t continues to expand across the country. The Turkey-based start-up has grown to cover 20 towns and cities across the UK with 4,000 staff after launching in London last January. Getir said on Monday that it expects to create thousands more jobs to employ around 10,000 people – who it said will be employees and paid the real living wage – by the end of 2022, the PA news agency reports. The move is part of a £100m investment into the UK market which has already seen it launch in locations including Manchester, Liverpool and Portsmouth. On Monday, Getir opened its latest UK site in Wolverhampton.

Children to be offered Covid passports in time for half-term
The move is expected to come as the government reportedly prepares to relax international travel curbs. Ministers are expected to agree to scrap a range of measures at a meeting of the Covid-O committee on Monday (24 January), including tests for travellers arriving in the UK. According to The Telegraph, the changes are likely to be implemented in February. Currently, under-16s require an NHS letter confirming their vaccination status to avoid restrictions in countries such as France, Italy and Spain, which require all over-12s to be double jabbed.

From Thursday 27 January:

Venues and events will no longer be required by law to use the NHS Covid Pass. The NHS Covid Pass can still be used on a voluntary basis as was previously the case in Plan A.
Face coverings are no longer required by law in any setting. Public health guidance will remain in place, suggesting individuals should continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
The Department for Education will remove national guidance on the use of face coverings in communal areas, with local Directors of Public Health able to recommend the use of face coverings in education settings across their area only where the department and public health experts judge the measure to be proportionate due to specific health concerns. This is a temporary measure and Directors of Public Health continue to advise individual settings experiencing outbreaks.
Any local introduction of face coverings must be subject to routine review and removed at the earliest opportunity.

REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:

North-West profits warnings fell 46% in 2021
The number of profit warnings recorded by North-west listed firms fell 46% in 2021, compared with 2020 figures, according to the latest EY-Parthenon report.
Just 26 profit warnings were issued by publicly listed companies in the region throughout 2021, compared with 48 in 2020; however, warnings were concentrated in the final quarter of the year with 15 were issued in Q4. The spike in profit warnings at the end of the year has been put down to supply chain disruption and rising prices.

Cheshire East Council pledges borough to be carbon neutral by 2045
The commitment builds on plans for CEC operations to be carbon neutral by 2025 and lead the way in driving down emissions across the region.

North-West contractor goes into administration
Documents filed at Companies House yesterday confirm Begbies Traynor is now in charge of the £47m turnover contractor. Beaumont Morgan Developments is the construction delivery partner of Fortis Developments. BMD has been building the Fortis Quay residential scheme in Salford where the latest two towers are nearing completion.

MAG CEO welcomes relaxation of travel restrictions
The CEO of the UK’s largest airport operator, Manchester Airports Group (MAG), has welcomed the announcement of further relaxation of Covid-19 testing requirements and travel rules for arrivals in the UK:

“This important announcement is excellent news for our sector’s recovery.
“This change will be welcomed by the millions of vaccinated people who are desperate to travel and will now be able to do so – restriction-free – for the first time in more than a year.
“The latest research shows travel restrictions do very little to stop the spread of variants like Omicron. Removing them will ensure the many cultural, social and economic benefits of international travel can be realised without any major impact on public health.
“With Britain reopened for business, we’re looking forward to helping people across the country get back to visiting exciting new places, finding fresh trading opportunities overseas, and travelling to see friends and loved ones again.”

COVID-19: workplace testing terms and conditions
The latest terms and conditions plus standard operating procedure for coronavirus (COVID-19) workplace testing.

Help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)
Watch a webinar and sign up for email alerts to learn more about the support available if your business is affected by COVID-19 – registration for the next live webinar about coronavirus (COVID-19) Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme 2 has been added.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions
Jobs that qualify for exemptions from quarantine, passenger locator form or COVID testing requirements – the COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for travel to England will change at 4am, 11 February.

CARE:

COVID-19: how to work safely in domiciliary care in England
A resource for those working in domiciliary care providing information on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

COMMUNITY:

Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions, and how to make one
This page explains when to wear a face covering, exemptions from wearing one, and how to make your own face covering – added call-out stating that from 27 January, there is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering.

DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Find out the date of applications we are processing and how to access our online services.

Enabling safe and effective volunteering during coronavirus (COVID-19)
This guidance aims to help organisations and groups understand how to safely and effectively involve volunteers during the pandemic – updated to remove information on working or volunteering from home. People are no longer being asked to work or volunteer from home if they can.

Finding and choosing a private coronavirus (COVID-19) test provider
Lists of and information about private test providers, to help you get the private COVID-19 tests you need.

COVID-19: arranging or attending a funeral or commemorative event
Guidance for arranging or attending a funeral or commemorative event during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

CONSTRUCTION:

January’s Glenigan Construction Review
The Glenigan Construction Review is your monthly compendium of construction industry performance and activity. This month’s EXTENDED EDITION provides 27 pages of detailed analysis of the performance of individual sectors as well as our usual industry insight covering:

Executive summary of market performance
Top contractor and client league tables
The Glenigan Index
Economic outlook

EDUCATION:

Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Attendance in education settings since Monday 23 March 2020 and early years settings since Thursday 16 April 2020 – added ‘Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: 23 March 2020 to 20 January 2022’.

LOCAL AUTHORITY:

Local authority COVID-19 financial impact monitoring information
Summary of data collected from local authorities on the financial impact of COVID-19 – added Local authority COVID-19 financial impact monitoring information round 17.

PROPERTY:

Post-pandemic expansion plans for 70% of agents
Research based on questioning almost 1,000 estate agents suggests that around 70 per cent are set to expand their business this year through additional staffing or premises. The industry survey sought the views of 961 agents earlier this month and found that over a third have hired additional staff in recent months to keep up with the current market. Some 15 per cent have hired between one and two more people while 11 per cent have hired between three and five new faces; three per cent have taken on between six and 10 new staff and six per cent say they have hired over 11.
Since the last significant Covid lockdown, the booming housing market has encouraged 11 per cent of the agents questioned to say they had expanded their existing branch or office, while three per cent have relocated to larger premises

First time buyer average age creeps up across UK
The average age at which someone buys their first home has risen to 32, up from 29 in 2011 and is now over 30 in every UK region. This is one of the stats from a comprehensive report on first time buyer trends compiled by the Halifax.
It says that last year saw first-time buyer numbers rise at a record rate, up 35 per cent, to 409,370. The average FTB in 2021 put down a £53,935 deposit on a first property costing £264,140.

TRANSPORT:

Haulier advice site locations
Find sites where HGV and coach drivers can get free COVID-19 tests and check their documents to transport goods to the EU – the Holyhead haulier advice site has reopened.

TRAVEL:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing before you travel to England
The testing and quarantine rules for international travel to England will change 11 February 2022.

Upcoming changes to COVID-19 international travel restrictions
Reducing the number of travel restrictions to provide stability for travellers and the travel industry throughout 2022

How to quarantine at home after international travel
What to do when you need to quarantine at home or in the place you’re staying after you arrive in England from abroad – added information on the new rules for international arrivals that will take effect on 11 February 2022.

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