Main points from today
- Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, led the briefing.
- He said that there is plenty of testing capacity available and anyone with symptoms should obtain a test.
- 277,985 confirmed cases as of yesterday, an increase of 1,61. 39,369 deaths, an increase of 324 from yesterday.
- 436 new hospital admissions, the lowest since 20th March.
Latest Guidance (employment and business)
One very important point to highlight regarding the new Flexible Furlough Scheme (I’m not going to use the acronym!)
Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is changing:
From 1 July, employers can bring back to work employees that have previously been furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim CJRS grant for their normal hours not worked. When claiming the CJRS grant for furloughed hours employers will need to report and claim for a minimum period of a week.
The scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June. From this point onwards, employers will only be able to furlough employees that they have furloughed for a full 3 week period prior to 30 June.
This means that the final date by which an employer can furlough an employee for the first time will be 10 June, in order for the current 3 week furlough period to be completed by 30 June. Employers will have until 31 July to make any claims in respect of the period to 30 June.
Further guidance on flexible furloughing and how employers should calculate claims will be published on 12 June.
So, employers can only furlough employees on a flexible basis if they have previously been furloughed for a three week period prior to 30th June. The scheme is not open to employees that have not previously been furloughed. The new guidance is not expected until 12th June, 2 days after the last day for furloughing employees for the first time.
CJRS guidance can now 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
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
Guidance updated to include a restructure of the document in line with wider opening, updated content on funding including in relation to the Competition and Markets Authority and insurance, updated content on infection prevention and control, a new section on attendance, new information on the use of community centres and before and after school clubs, a new section of safeguarding and welfare including provisions for children with SEND and a clarification on paediatric first aid certificates. 1:17pm, 2 June 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
