Main points from today
- An urgent review has been ordered into how daily coronavirus death figures are calculated after it was claimed the current method did not account for people recovering from COVID-19. There are concerns that death tally could be inaccurate due to the way coronavirus deaths are recorded in England.
Boris Johnson led a press conference today:
- Mr Johnson announces the biggest ever flu vaccination programme ever in the UK. He said they are providing an additional £3bn of funding for the NHS in England, to allow the NHS to continue to use hospital space from the private sector, and also the Nightingale hospitals.
- Mr Johnson says antigen tests have increased 100 fold, with 200 mobile units which can be rapidly deployed where they are needed. He said more people are being tested without symptoms but who are at high risk. He said that will be increased to 500,000 antigen tests a day, 3.5m a week by the end of October to face the challenges of the flu season.
- Anyone can use public transport from now.
- From 1st August, updates about going to work will be announced. Employers will be given more discretion, which could mean working from home or working from the workplace.
- Most leisure settings, bowling, skating rinks, casinos and beauticians can resume from 1st August 2020.
- Night clubs and soft play areas need to be kept closed.
- Wedding receptions for up to 30 people will be allowed.
- Outdoor performances can also begin.
- From October, large concerts will be allowed.
Latest Guidance (employment and business)
No new guidance today.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme statistics: July 2020
This statistical release provides estimates of the number and value of claims made to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to HMRC by 30 June 2020.
First published. 9:30am, 15 July 2020
CJRS guidance can 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)
No new guidance today.
Schools and Colleges
Opportunity Areas programme to support young people hit hardest by pandemic – Place-based approach will help level up outcomes in employment and education to support recovery from the pandemic
Higher education: reopening buildings and campuses – Guidance for higher education providers in England on when and how to reopen their campuses and buildings.
Equality and diversity fund: for school-led projects – Apply for funding for school-led equality and diversity projects in your region.
School governance update – Important news and communications from the Department for Education (DfE) relating to governance in maintained schools and academy trusts in England.
The collections are:-
Guidance for schools: coronavirus (COVID-19) – What school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Early years and childcare: coronavirus (COVID-19)
Further and higher education: coronavirus (COVID-19)
Early years and childcare: coronavirus (COVID-19)
General Guidance
The general coronavirus guidance starts here:-
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
