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 run for 6 months.
- The company will continue to pay its employee for time worked, but the cost of hours not worked will be split between the employer, the Government (through wage support) and the employee (through a wage reduction), and the employee will keep their job.
- The Government will pay a third of hours not worked up to a cap of £697.92 per month, with the employer also contributing a third. This will ensure employees earn a minimum of 77% of their normal wages, where the Government contribution has not been capped.
- Employees must be working at least 33% of their usual hours.
- The Job Support Scheme will be open to businesses across the UK even if they have not previously used the furlough scheme.
- Employers using the Job Support Scheme will also be able to claim the Job Retention Bonus if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Policy paper Job Support Scheme
The Chancellor’s full speech is here – Chancellor outlines Winter Economy Plan
Latest Guidance (health)
The NHS Covid-19 app was launched. https://covid19.nhs.uk/ describes the app as follows:-
‘The new NHS COVID-19 app, now available to download for free in England and Wales, is the fastest way to see if you’re at risk from coronavirus. The faster you know, the quicker you can alert and protect your loved ones and community.
The app has a number of tools to protect you, including contact tracing, local area alerts and venue check-in. It uses proven technology from Apple and Google, designed to protect every user’s privacy.’
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. The letter explains that you should only book a test if your child has any of the 3 coronavirus symptoms and not if they have a runny nose, are sneezing or feeling unwell.
The NHS definition of symptoms is as follows:-
- a high temperature: any new high temperature where your child feels hot to touch on their chest or back (you do not need to measure the temperature)
- a new continuous cough: coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste: a noticeable loss of smell or taste or things smell and taste different to normal
We have drafted the following letters that a school may find useful when communicating with parents and carers following a positive test result.
