Latest Guidance October Gov.uk issued a press release Clinically extremely vulnerable receive updated advice tailored to local COVID alert levels New guidance was published yesterday, 15th October 2020 Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 The guidance varies according to local COVID alert levels (see below for more detail in relation to work and schools). Shielding advice will not be automatically triggered by an area going into local COVID alert level very high, although formal shielding may still be advised in the future. In all areas employees are still able to attend work if they cannot work from home. Additional Details Work – General Everyone is currently advised to work from home where possible. If you need support to work at home or in – Read More…

Main points from today The PM has announced new local COVID Alert Levels to come into effect on Wednesday this week. The three tiered system in England will be set at medium, high, and very high – more details below. A postcode checker on gov.uk will show which alert level applies in each area and the NHS COVID-19 app will also direct people to this information. Non-essential retail, schools and universities will remain open in all levels. The “very high” alert level will apply where transmission rates are causing the greatest concern, based on an assessment of all the available data and the local situation. In these areas, the government will set a baseline of prohibiting social mixing indoors and in private gardens, with the Rule of Six allowed in – Read More…

Main points from today The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced that the Government’s Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be expanded to protect jobs and support businesses required to close their doors as a result of coronavirus restrictions. The Government will pay two thirds of employees’ salaries, up to a maximum of £2,100, to protect jobs over the coming months. Cash grants for businesses required to close in local lockdowns also increased to up to £3,000 per month. Latest Guidance (employment and business) The latest news article is here – Job Support Scheme expanded to firms required to close due to Covid Restrictions Employers will not be required to contribute towards wages and only asked to cover NICS and pension contributions. It is estimated that around half of potential claims are – Read More…

Overview Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support scheme that provides grants of up to £60,700 to help disabled people start or stay in work. It can provide practical and financial support for people who have a disability or long term physical or mental health condition. The scheme was updated on 29th September 2020 to confirm that employees affected by the COVID-19 outbreak may be able to get help with working from home, in the workplace, or a combination of both. If employees cannot use public transport safely because of their disability or health condition, and their doctor or healthcare professional supports this, funding may be available for extra travel costs. A link to the full guidance is here – Access to Work factsheet for employers Support available – Read More…

Summary Yesterday, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak announced a new Job Support Scheme and extension of Self Employment Income Support Scheme.  Full detailed guidance is yet to be published but the Gov factsheet is here. Also from yesterday, the NHS Covid-19 app was launched. For Schools, Gov guidance has published a letter to parents and guardians from the Chief Nurse and Interim Chief Medical Officer of NHS Test and Trace on when parents and guardians should book a coronavirus (COVID-19) test for their child. Latest Guidance (employment and business) The Job Support Scheme is designed to protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to Covid-19, to help keep their employees attached to the workforce. The scheme will open on 1 November 2020 and – Read More…

Good morning, As you may be aware, people entering England from key holiday destinations (if visited or made a transit stop) including Spain, France, and parts of Greece and Portugal now have to quarantine. Link to government list of countries on the travel corridor list – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors#countries-territories-and-regions-on-the-travel-corridor-list All arriving passengers will be required to complete a form to provide contact and travel information so they can be contacted if they, or someone they may have been in contact with develops the virus. Passengers may be contacted regularly throughout the 14-day period to ensure compliance. The requirement is mandatory, and a breach of self-isolation would be punishable with a fixed penalty notice in England or potential prosecution and unlimited fine. Consequently, it is possible this may have an impact on your – Read More…

Main points from today The PM held a briefing and confirmed the new rules. Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 22 September 2020 Coronavirus (COVID-19): What has changed – 22 September sets out the full press briefing and the updated guidance is Staying alert and safe and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Meeting with others safely (social distancing) In summary:- Working from home ‘To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. Where an employer, in consultation with their employee, judges an employee can carry out their normal duties from home they should do so. Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary. Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their – Read More…

Summary Following our update last week, we have seen that a number of LA’s are advising that pregnant employees over 28 weeks (i.e. in their third trimester) should not be in school. The basis for this advice was the Guidance for full opening: schools made specific reference to Occupational Health guidance published by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG).  Part of that guidance, which schools were being urged to follow, related to pregnant workers in the healthcare sector. On 10th September, the RCOG guidance was archived and replaced with new guidance which, in summary, recommends that an individual risk assessment is the key.  There is, therefore, no blanket advice that a pregnant employee over 28 weeks should not be in school. The School Guidance Guidance for full opening: – Read More…

Main points from the PM’s briefing The PM led a special briefing today and announced new measures to suppress the virus and keep the number of infections down.  The full press release is here – Coronavirus (COVID-19): What has changed – 9 September New rule of six – from Monday 14th September no more than six people can meet up indoors or outdoors, including private homes, parks, pubs and restaurants. COVID-19 Secure venues, such as places of worship, restaurants and hospitality venues, can still host larger numbers in total but groups of up to 6 must not mix or form larger groups. Education and work settings are unaffected. Organised team sports will still be able to proceed, as will weddings and funerals up to 30. From Monday, this limit will – Read More…

A specific risk assessment for is needed for pregnant employees.  Making sure a pregnant employee follows the covid secure rules is the key and doing so even more e.g. increased handwashing, face mask in communal areas, not moving around the school at busy times, carrying hand sanitiser.  Anything you can think of really. The best guidance is the Q & A from The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology which in summary is:- Coronavirus infection and pregnancy – The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) Q. What is the main advice for pregnant women? There is no evidence that pregnant women are more likely to get seriously ill from coronavirus but pregnant women have been included in the list of people at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable) as a precaution. – Read More…