Covid-19

Main points from today Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, led the briefing. Confident that testing would rise to 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. Social distancing measures are having an effect, but we are ‘not out of the woods yet.’ Any reduction to lockdown measures now could lead to a second peak and … Read more

Main points from today Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, led the briefing. 1 billion items of PPE have been delivered.  Further PPE being sourced from around the world and in conjunction with 159 UK manufacturers. Team from Oxford University will begin human trials on a Covid-19 vaccine on Thursday this week. 533,342 tests, 129,044 positive, an … Read more

Main points from today Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, led the briefing. HMRC opened the CJRS at 8am today and by 4pm 140,000 businesses had submitted applications, covering over 1,000,000 people. Payments will be made to businesses within 6 working days. Two new initiatives to support innovative businesses through the Future Fund and Innovate UK. 501,379 tests, … Read more

Main points from today Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, led the briefing and announced that the Government has launched a Covid-19 taskforce to help efforts to develop a vaccine ‘as soon as possible.’ Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extended to end June (see below). Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, was confident that NHS capacity would not … Read more

Main points from today Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, led the briefing and announced that the lockdown in the UK would be extended for at least 3 more weeks. 103,093 positive tests and 13,729 deaths, a rise of 861 from yesterday. Evidence that social distancing measures are being successful but too early to make any changes. … Read more

Main points from today Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, led the briefing today. Too early to make changes to lockdown arrangements. Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, said ‘we are probably reaching the peak of new cases, we are not past the peak.’ Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme rules published (see below). Latest Guidance (employment and business) Claim … Read more

Main points from today Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, led the briefing today. 93,873 positive cases, 12,107 deaths an increase of 788 from yesterday. Evidence that the number of hospitalisations is stabilising and plateauing. Latest Guidance (employment and business) Claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – updated at 5.33pm on 9th April … Read more

Main points from today Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, led the briefing. 65,077 positive cases, 16,784 in hospital. 7,978 deaths an increase of 881 from yesterday. Dominic Raab said ‘we are not done yet and must keep going with the social distancing measures’ and that ‘it will be the end of next week before there is … Read more

Main points from today Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, led the briefing today and announced a £750 million support package for charities. Latest Guidance (employment and business) Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID-19): sector guidance – NEW – a list of tailored advice for different scenarios as an example of how social distancing and other … Read more

Main points from today Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, led the briefing and is deputising for the PM. The PM remains in intensive care.  He was stable overnight, is in good spirits and is receiving standard oxygen treatment.  His progress is being monitored. The Cabinet have clear instructions from the PM and are implementing them. 55,242 … Read more