Main points from today Home Secretary, Priti Patel, led the briefing. Announced that international arrivals to the UK will be required to self-isolate for 14 days from 8th June with a £1,000 fine for non- compliance. Government scientific advisers confirm that the R rate of Covid-19 remains between 0.7 to 1.0. 140,497 tests yesterday. 254,195 positive tests, an increase of 3,287 from yesterday.  36,393 deaths, an increase of 351 from yesterday. Latest Guidance (employment and business) Treasury Direction made under Sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 Further Treasury Direction made under Sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 to update the formal rules of the CJRS.  11:57am, 22 May 2020 CJRS guidance can now be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support – Read More…

Main points from today Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, led the briefing. Announced £4.2 million to assist mental health charities. Possible swab test soon to be available that shows if a person has the virus in 20 mins. Deal agreed to provide 10 million anti-body tests phased from next week with health and care workers first to receive them. 128,340 tests yesterday. 250,908 positive tests, an increase of 2,615 from yesterday.  36,042 deaths, an increase of 338 from yesterday. Latest Guidance (employment and business) Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Page updated to explain that employers will be asked to give the amounts separately for the NICs, pension and wages they are claiming for. Information added that employee authorised salary deductions can be made from grant payments. 2:57pm, – Read More…

Main points from today Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, led the briefing. PM says he is confident the UK will have test and trace in place by 1st June 2020 as 24,000 tracers have been recruited. 177,216 tests yesterday (highest ever). 248,293 positive tests, an increase of 2,472 from yesterday.  35,704 deaths, an increase of 363 from yesterday. Latest Guidance (employment and business) No new guidance today. CJRS guidance can now be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme guidance is here:- Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Latest Guidance (health) Coronavirus (COVID-19): scientific evidence supporting the UK government response – Updated the list of evidence provided to SAGE with reports from the COVID-19 Clinical Information Network (CO-CIN). 4:21pm, 20 – Read More…

Main points from today Environment Secretary, George Eustice, led the briefing. He urged furloughed workers to take a second job picking fruit or harvesting crops as only one third of the usual seasonal agricultural workforce from abroad was available. In response to a question regarding schools he said the Government ‘was working very closely with trade unions and school leaders.’ Around 8 million workers currently furloughed. The Chancellor has said the UK Is facing a severe recession ‘the likes of which we haven’t seen.’ 89,784 tests yesterday. 248,818 positive tests, an increase of 2,412 from yesterday.  35,341 deaths, an increase of 545 Latest Guidance (employment and business) CJRS guidance can now be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme set to launch – Employers will – Read More…

Main points from today Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, led the briefing. He confirmed, as per the announcement from the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, that 21,000 contact tracers (one third of which are doctors and nurses) have been recruited in England. From today anyone age 5 or over, with symptoms, is entitled to a test. Anosmia (the loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell or taste) has been added to continuous cough or fever as a symptom of coronavirus 100,678 tests yesterday. 246,406 positive tests, an increase of 2,684 from yesterday.  34,796 deaths, an increase of 160 from yesterday.  There is sustained decline in the number of new cases and number of deaths. Latest Guidance (employment and business) CJRS guidance can now be found here:- Coronavirus Job – Read More…

Main points from today Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, led the briefing. The R rate was revised to between 0.7-1.0. More testing for residents and staff in care homes. 133,784 tests yesterday. 236,711 positive tests, an increase of 3,560 from yesterday.  33,998 deaths, an increase of 384 from yesterday. Latest Guidance (employment and business) As from today, all the CJRS guidance can now be found here:- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses – Added clarification on guidance and legislation.  12:04pm, 15 May 2020 The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme guidance is here:- Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Latest Guidance (health) The latest health guidance is as follows:- Stay alert We can all help control the virus if we all – Read More…

Main points from today Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, led the briefing. Downing St spokesperson has said today that those with Covid-19 antibodies could obtain a Health Certificate but more needs to be understood about immunology. 126.064 test yesterday. 233,151 positive tests, an increase of 3,446 from yesterday.  33,614 deaths, an increase of 428 from yesterday. Latest Guidance (employment and business) www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme Added in that records must be kept for at least 6 years. Clarification around where employers can search for employee’s National Insurance Numbers. Added wording to the ‘After you’ve claimed’ section which was removed from the ‘Work out 80% of your employees’ wages to claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’. Time updated 5:05pm, 14 May 2020 Work out 80% of your employees’ wages to claim through the Coronavirus – Read More…

Main points from today Housing and Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, led the briefing. From today anyone in England can move house, subject to new guidance published by the Government. Estate Agents’ offices can open; viewings – both virtual and in person – are permitted. 229.705 positive tests, an increase of 3,242 from yesterday.  33,186 deaths, an increase of 494 from yesterday. Latest Guidance (employment and business) No new guidance today. General guidance on the CJRS is here:- www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme Work out 80% of your employees’ wages to claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Latest Guidance (health) The latest health guidance is as – Read More…

Main points from today Apologies, there was a news conference yesterday that took place at 7pm that focused on the 60 page guidance. Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced in the House of Commons that the furlough scheme would be extended until the end of October. From August employees will be allowed to return part time and have some wages paid by their employer and some by the Government, to maintain the 80% or £2,500 currently available.  Further details will be published later this month. Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, led the briefing today. 226,463 positive tests, an increase of 3,401 from yesterday.  32,692 deaths, an increase of 627 from yesterday. Latest Guidance (employment and business) Chancellor extends furlough scheme until October – – Read More…

Main points from today There was no daily news conference. Today the Government published a 60 page recovery strategy.  Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy Latest Guidance (employment and business) Following the PM’s announcement yesterday. The full speech is here – PM address to the nation on coronavirus: 10 May 2020 Today the Government published a 60 page recovery strategy. Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy – The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy.  First published.  2:02pm, 11 May 2020.  Provisions relating to work are on page 26:- Step One The changes to policy in this step will apply from Wednesday 13 May in England. Work For the foreseeable future, workers should continue to work from home rather than their normal physical workplace, – Read More…