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.
Chancellor extends furlough scheme until October – The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain open until the end of October, the Chancellor announced today (Tuesday 12 May 2020).
- Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme would be extended by a further four months with workers continuing to receive 80% of their current salary.
- From the start of August, furloughed workers will be able to return to work part-time with employers being asked to pay a percentage towards the salaries of their furloughed staff.
- Further guidance will be published by the end of May.
Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) – Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles and may need to use more than one of these guides.
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 follows:-
Stay alert
We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:
- Stay at home as much as possible
- Work from home if you can
- Limit contact with other people
- Keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
- Wash your hands regularly
Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.
Schools
Just as the PM was about to begin the daily update yesterday, three pieces of guidance were published for schools:-
Actions for educational and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020
Next steps for the phased wider opening of educational and childcare settings. Time updated
6:58pm, 11 May 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings
Guidance for education and childcare settings on how to implement protective measures.
First published. 6:58pm, 11 May 2020
What parents and carers need to know about schools and other education settings during the coronavirus outbreak
Information for parents and carers about the wider opening of nurseries, schools and colleges, transport, attendance, free school meals and remote education. Time updated 6:57pm, 11 May 2020
The general school guidance starts here:-
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings
General Guidance
The general coronavirus guidance starts here:-
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
