UK STATISTICS
Total UK Cases: 5,880,667 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 24,470 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 5,916, -132 on previous day
New deaths across UK: 65
Total UK deaths: 129,719
England Cases per 100,000: 307
R number in UK: 1.1 to 1.4
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 46,851,145
Total 2nd doses: 38,345,841
Daily 1st doses: 38,858
Daily 2nd doses: 212,159
There have been more than 5.8 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and nearly 130,000 people have died, government figures show. However, these figures include only people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus. More than 83 million vaccine doses have been administered across the UK; 46.8 million people in the UK have now had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and nearly 36 million people have also had their second vaccine. The average number of daily confirmed cases rose sharply in June and early July. It now appears to be falling. A further 24,470 confirmed cases in the UK were announced on Sunday.
Latest Stockport data:
Total Stockport cases: 29,844 to 30 July
Cases in the latest week: 1,049, down 740 on previous week
Total deaths: 735 to July 16th
Cases per 100,000: 358 per 100,000 week ending 26 July
R number in North West: 1.0 – 1.2
Stockport vaccine data:
1st dose: 84% of adults to 29 July
2nd dose: 70%
The R value and growth rate
The R range for England is 1.1 to 1.4 and the growth rate range for England is +2% to +5% per day as of 30 July 2021.
Fewer people being admitted to hospital
Recent data suggests that the vaccination programme has reduced hospital admissions and deaths, with a fewer than one in 1,000 infections now estimated to result in death – compared with one in 60 during last winter.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has said that while current hospitalisation rates are “not trivial” and are rising, they are “way below” those seen in previous waves.
Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Updated with slides to accompany coronavirus press conferences
UK NEWS UPDATES
Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo help drive vaccine uptake
Leading businesses to offer incentives for people to get COVID-19 jabs Some of the country’s top food and travel businesses have joined the national effort to get as many people as possible vaccinated against COVID-19. Uber, Bolt, Deliveroo and Pizza Pilgrims are among the household names who will be offering discounts and incentives to customers who get a COVID-19 vaccine and help protect the country from the virus, as we continue the cautious return to normality. Uber, for example, will be sending reminders to all users in August, encouraging them to get the vaccine, and will be offering discounted Uber rides and meals on Uber Eats for young adults who get the jab. This follows earlier Uber campaigns offering free trips to vaccination centres earlier this year and for NHS staff during the height of the pandemic.
One in five firms warn of redundancies as furlough tapers off
One in five firms plan on letting staff go in response to Sunday’s furlough policy change, which will see employers contribute more, a survey has found.
The British Chamber of Commerce said extra training was needed to deal with thousands of redundancies predicted. From Sunday, government payments reduce to 60% towards salaries, with employers paying 20%. The government said the approach was “right” and meant “we can focus support elsewhere” as the economy recovers.
According to the most recent figures up to 30 June, about 1.9m workers were on furlough, down from a peak of 5.1m in January.
First vaccinated US and EU travellers arrive without need to quarantine
The first passengers have been arriving in the UK after rules changed to allow those who were fully vaccinated in the US and EU to avoid quarantine.
The change, which came in at 04:00 BST, affects those arriving from countries on the UK’s amber list – except France. The UK government said the change will help to reunite family and friends whose loved ones live abroad. Airline bosses have welcomed the move but are calling for more countries to be added to the UK’s green travel list.
No trace of coronavirus found at major rail stations and network
Tests have found no traces of Covid-19 in swabs and air samples of four major railway stations and intercity train services, Network Rail has said.
Two lots of testing took place at London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly station. Heavily touched areas such as escalator handles were swabbed, while hour-long air samples checked for airborne virus. Tests were repeated on trains running between the stations.
There has been extra cleaning of transport services throughout the pandemic to protect against the virus spreading through contaminated surfaces and the air.
Imperial College London researchers examined the results of the tests – which took place in January and June – and found no coronavirus contamination of any surface or airborne virus particles.
Smaller firms hit as ‘pingdemic’ causes staff shortages
Many small firms, not eligible for critical worker status, are struggling with the affects of staff being told to isolate by the NHS Covid app.
This problem is exacerbated by existing staff shortages in sectors such as hospitality, where industry bodies say one in five workers left during the pandemic.
While larger businesses are more able to rely on a broader workforce, smaller companies are being forced to close because of too many staff having to isolate.
Employees no longer on furlough are suffering from this loss in earnings.
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
Confidence in future for North West businesses second highest in UK
North West Business confidence in the North West grew nine points in July to 38 per cent, the second highest of any UK region or nation. Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer for July 2021 said companies in the North West reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 14 points at 39 per cent. The Business Barometer questions 1,200 businesses monthly and provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. Businesses in the North East (40 per cent), East Midlands (38 per cent) and North West (38 per cent) were the most optimistic overall.
Greater Manchester Training Academy launches for low carbon retrofit buildings
Greater Manchester has launched a new training academy to provide over a thousand residents with retrofitting skills to ensure the city-region’s homes and buildings are fit for a low-carbon future as part of a commitment to becoming carbon-neutral by 2038. European Social Funding of £1.1 million has been awarded to Low Carbon Academy, part of North West Skills Academy, by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to train and upskill over a thousand individuals to retrofit buildings across Greater Manchester.
Infection rates fall across all boroughs of Greater Manchester
In Greater Manchester as a whole, the infection rate is now 331.1 cases per 100,000 population. The infection rate in the region is higher than the national average, which is 296.4 cases per 100,000 people. There was a fall of 46 per cent in cases in Stockport over the week ending July 28, and the infection rate is now 308.4 cases per 100,000 population. Stockport recorded 905 positive Covid-19 tests over the seven-day period, and that is 758 fewer than the previous week.
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
BUSINESS:
How is furlough changing and when will it end?
Employers will need to contribute more to the cost of keeping their staff furloughed from 1 August. The scheme, which has protected millions of jobs, is due to close at the end of September. The government initially paid 80% of the wages of people who couldn’t work, or whose employers could no longer afford to pay them – up to a monthly limit of £2,500. In July 2021 employers were required to pay 10% of salaries – with the government’s contribution falling to 70%. In August and September, the government’s contribution will reduce further: it will pay 60% and employers will pay 20% The monthly limit of £2,500 will stay in place, so workers will not notice the difference. But by making furlough more expensive for employers, the government hopes to encourage them to take workers back full-time if they can. Employers already have to pay pension and National Insurance contributions.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies says the bill for employers keeping a member of staff on furlough will rise from £155 per month in June, to £322 in July and £489 in August and September.
How many people have been furloughed?
According to the most recent figures (up to 30 June):
- About 1.9 million were on furlough (down from a peak of 5.1m in January)
- About 28% of employers had staff on furlough, down from 30% at the end of May
- There are now more men on furlough than women (960,000 men versus 880,000 women)
- The accommodation and food services sector saw the biggest reduction in the number of jobs on furlough in June (down 291,900)
- Arts and entertainment saw the highest rate of jobs being put on furlough in June
What does furlough cost? The government says 11.6 million jobs have been supported since the scheme began. From March 2020 to the end of September 2021, the cost of furlough will come to about £66bn, according to estimates from the Office for Budget Responsibility. However, the scheme has undoubtedly helped to save millions of jobs. At the start of the pandemic it was feared that more than one in 10 workers would become unemployed. Instead the unemployment rate is currently less than one in 20.
What will happen to me if I am on furlough? The scheme continues until 30 September. As the economy opens up, the government hopes that most furloughed workers will be able to return to work.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme statistics: 29 July 2021
Time series and statistics as at 30 June 2021 on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, with analysis by scheme size, sector, geography, age, gender and flexible furlough.
HSBC profits break $10bn as figures rise by more than 150%
UK bank HSBC has announced that its profits more than doubled in the first half of the year. HSBC announced today (August 2) that its profit before tax for the first six months of this year increased by $6.5bn compared to the same period in 2020, reaching $10.8bn – 151 per cent higher than 2020’s $4.3bn. The bank also reported that its profit after tax rose from $3.1bn to $8.4bn, an increase of 170 per cent on last year.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions
Jobs that qualify for exemptions from quarantine, passenger locator form or COVID testing requirements – exemption rules for isolated transport workers.
COMMUNITY:
Private providers of coronavirus (COVID-19) testing
Lists of and information about private providers who have self-declared that they meet the government’s minimum standards for the type of commercial COVID-19 testing service they offer.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow home test kit instructions for nose-only test: ACON Flowflex
Step-by-step guide on how to do an ACON Flowflex rapid nose-only test for COVID-19 and report the results. Rapid tests are only for people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19.
NHS COVID Pass
How to get the NHS COVID Pass and demonstrate your coronavirus (COVID-19) status when travelling abroad and domestically at events and venues in England – updated to add a link to guidance for people fully vaccinated by the USA or EU.
Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person
Guidance for contacts of a person with a positive test result for coronavirus (COVID-19) who do not live with that person.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
How long will vaccines continue to protect against COVID-19?, 30 July 2021
Paper prepared by academics on vaccine protection for COVID-19.
More than 85 million COVID-19 vaccines administered in UK
Over 88% of adults have had a first dose and over 72% of adults have had both doses
Regulatory approval of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19
Information for healthcare professionals and the public about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
HOSPITALITY:
COVID-19: ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus
Guidance on the ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
LOCAL AUTHORITY:
Containing and managing local coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks
Guidance for local authorities and local decision-makers on containing and managing COVID-19 outbreaks at a local level – updated 30 July 2021 following the move to step 4 of the roadmap. The update outlines the key policy changes and how they affect local authorities, while outlining the ongoing national and local roles and responsibilities to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reallocating road space in response to COVID-19: statutory guidance for local authorities
Guidance for local authorities on managing their road networks in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – updated to reflect current policy position, account for changes in social distancing requirements and strengthen advice on retaining and evaluating schemes.
Coronavirus grant funding: local authority payments to small and medium businesses
Local authorities have received and distributed funding to support small and medium businesses in England during coronavirus – added the latest estimates by local authorities for payments made under these grant programmes up to and including 27 June 2021: Additional Restrictions Grant, Local Restrictions Support Grant / Christmas Support Payment, Restart Grant.
PROPERTY:
Agents have sold 7 in every 10 homes in current market
A much higher than usual proportion of homes on sale in the current market have successfully found a buyer, according to Rightmove data. The portal’s analysis of over 13m listings – tracked from first coming to market to being listed as sold subject to contract – shows a 68 per cent success rate. Looking between 2012 and early 2020, 53 per cent of homes found a buyer on average, with the other 47 per cent either being withdrawn from sale or staying on the market. Scotland has the highest sales rate in Great Britain at 89 per cent with London the lowest on just 48 per cent.
Changes to notifying an option to tax land and buildings during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Check temporary changes to the time limit and rules for notifying an option to tax land and buildings – the temporary change to the time limit for notifying an option to tax has now ended. The temporary change to allow options to tax to be signed electronically has now been made permanent.
TRANSPORT:
Get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test if you’re an HGV or van driver
COVID-19 testing for hauliers arriving in England and travelling from the UK – the amber list rules for hauliers who are fully vaccinated under the UK, EU or Swiss vaccination programmes have changed.
International road haulage: HGV and trailer documents
Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and trailer documents you need to legally cross international borders in a UK-registered vehicle – updated
Carry out international road haulage
What UK goods vehicle operators need to do to carry out international road haulage – updated the ‘Get the right vehicle documents’ section, as green cards are no longer needed to drive in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland.
TRAVEL:
UK undergoing ‘green travel boom’ thanks to £338m government funding
The UK is set to continue it’s ‘green travel boom’ with multi-million-pound government funding. It comes after last year saw cycling rise more than in the previous 20 years put together, with the number of miles cycled on British roads rocketing by 45.7 per cent to five billion. The government has announced it is increasing its nationwide investment into cycling and walking – announced at the Spending Review – to £338m. Infrastructure upgrades, changes to The Highway Code and new requirements to ensure that active travel schemes’ effects are properly assessed are among the new measures included in the Summer of Cycling and Walking document published today.
Quarantine and testing if you’ve been in an amber list country
What to do before and after you arrive in England if you’ve been in an amber list country in the 10 days before you arrive – added information about red list countries to the new rules for those vaccinated in Europe and USA.
International bus or coach services and tours: vehicle documents
Check which vehicle documents you need to carry if you drive a bus or coach across international borders – updated the ‘Vehicle insurance and green cards’ section, as green cards are no longer needed to drive in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland.
CORONAVIRUS GRANTS FOR BUSINESSES IN STOCKPORT:
Applications for the Economic Recovery Fund ARG Localities Grant closed 31st May
Discretionary Grants summary:
As at 29/07/2021
- Received: 2,911
- Processed: 2,911 (100%)
- Grants Funding Issued: £10,843,331
Restart Grants summary:
Grant allocation: £14,652,603
Number of businesses eligible: 1,845
Number received a grant: 1,799
Total value of payments made: £12,823,488
Covid-19 Webinars:
Remote education webinars
How to access school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice – new dates for webinars for teachers added.
Help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)
Watch videos and register for the free webinars to learn more about the?support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of?coronavirus. The YouTube video for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – Universal Credit and Child Benefit has been updated.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – How to make a claim:
This guides you through making a claim, including the essential information you need, what to do before you make your claim, calculating and processing your claim.
Choose a date and time
If you’ve missed any of HMRC’s live webinars, you can catch up series of recorded webinars on HMRC’s YouTube channel – available at a time to suit you.
Brexit Webinars:
Exporting: Actions you need to take now: An overview of the actions you need to take now before you export goods from Great Britain to the EU and move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Key processes include – staged border controls, zero-rated VAT, customs declaration, using an intermediary as well as licences, certificates, and authorisations. Please register to take part if you’re planning to export.
Trader responsibilities when using an intermediary: You now need to complete import or export declarations to trade goods with the EU. These are complex and a lot of businesses choose to use an intermediary to do these for them. This webinar explains your responsibilities as a trader if you choose to use an intermediary. Please register to take part if you’re planning to import or export.
What are customs import declarations?: If you import goods, you now need to make customs import declarations on controlled goods and all goods by the end of June. This webinar will help you understand what they are in more detail. This includes what is needed for simplified declarations, supplementary declarations, how to make them, and delayed import declarations. Please register to take part if you’re planning to import.
Importing: Staged controls and how to prepare to use them: This webinar will walk you through the three stages of the new border controls introduced on 1?? ?January?? ?2021, and what actions you need to take for each stage. Please register to take part if you’re planning to import.
LATEST LINKS:
Stage four (19th July):
- All legal limits on social contact will be removed
- No legal limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and other life events
- Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen
Repayment period for Bounce Back Loans extended to ten years
Businesses that took out government Bounce Back loans to help them through the Coronavirus crisis now have more time to repay. Companies will be contacted with options to extend the length of the loan from six to 10 years as part of a new ‘pay-as-you-grow’ initiative. The new proposals give businesses three new options:
1. Extending the length of the loan from six years to 10;
2. Making interest-only payments for six months, then repaying the principal on a phased basis with other interest-only periods;
3. Delaying repayments entirely for up to six months.
Financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Pay VAT deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find out how to pay VAT payments deferred between 20 March and 30 June 2020.
Report an outbreak of Coronavirus in Stockport:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
Home workers can claim £26 tax relief for job expenses
If you’ve asked your employees to work from home, and you’ve not reimbursed them already, your employees may be entitled to claim tax relief on additional household expenses they’ve incurred, such as heating and lighting.
New hotline launched to report COVID fraudsters
A new hotline has been launched to stop fraudsters illegally targeting COVID stimulus schemes.
If you would like to register your interest in creating one or more Kickstart Job, please complete the Kickstart Employer Enquiry Form and a member of the Council’s Kickstart Team will contact you to explain more.
Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.
Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions
Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions for employers and gateways receiving the Kickstart Scheme grant from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Kickstart Scheme employer resources
If you’ve been offered Kickstart Scheme funding, you can use these resources to show your support for the scheme.
Kickstart Scheme employer contacts
List of regional contacts for employers applying for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme.
Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant: 30 or more job placements
If you are an employer looking to create 30 or more jobs placements for young people, apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant: 29 or less job placements
If you are an employer looking to create 29 or less jobs placements for young people, apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
Visit the Stockport Council website to report details of any outbreaks online.
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
Opening times for Stockport Council Coronavirus Helpline
The helpline for vulnerable people across Stockport can now be accessed through new opening times by calling 0161 217 6046:
• Monday – Thursday from 9am to 5pm
• Friday from 9am to 4.30pm
• Saturdays from 10am to 1pm
At busy times, residents are automatically offered a call-back from one of our call handlers.
New tools and resources available from Acas:
Redundancy letter templates
Redundancy process map
Acas have also contributed to the development of a new return to work toolkit in partnership with SOM, CIPD, BITC and Mind.
Business Support in Stockport – a centre pool of information to support business owners in Stockport:
www.skbusinessrecovery.co.uk
Government – Guidance on Returning to Work safely
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Stockport Council’s FREE job matching website helps support employers with vacancies and individuals across the Stockport borough who are looking for work. The service, Stockport Jobs Match, will help to connect employers who have urgent temporary or permanent vacancies with applicants who are immediately available and in need of employment. The website also helps signpost individuals to available support services and information. www.stockport-jobsmatch.co.uk
Stockport Council – Health & Mental Well-being https://www.stockport.gov.uk/showcase/coronavirus
Government – Financial Support
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – online claims portal open
Government – Business Support:
Government launches new coronavirus business support finder tool
Government – Business Support Hub:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
Government – IT safety support:
Government Warnings Over Coronavirus Scams – Here’s How to Protect Yourself
Government – Financial Support:
HMRC has published guidance on how it will work out income and profits for the self-employed or those in a partnership who have lost profits due to coronavirus.
Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
Government – Financial Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding
Government – Business Support:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
Gov.uk: Maintaining Educational Provision: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
Business Growth Hub:
www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus/resources/2020/03/coronavirus-business-support-webinar-series
Employment – Useful information for the Self-Employed:
News and Guidance for the self-employed:
Concerned how Coronavirus might impact you and your business?
Please get in touch with Enterprising You and you will be connected to someone who can help.
You can also access information and guidance including the latest Government updates via www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus
Can you claim back Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay in the Rebate Scheme
From Tuesday 26 May 2020, small and medium-sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, will be able to apply to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees. Health updates:
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health – Dedicated helpline to support vulnerable residents in Stockport:
Support can be accessed by calling 0161 217 6046 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
Health – Dedicated health & wellbeing services:
24/7 mental health helpline & safe haven for anyone over the age of 18 in Stockport (0800 138 7276).
Health – An Emotional Wellbeing Hub which provides information, advice, and guidance for anyone up to the age of 25 for emotional wellbeing and mental health concerns. 0161 217 6028 – 8.30am-5pm Mon – Thurs 8.30am-4.30pm on Friday.
Community – Guidance for businesses seeking to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
How businesses can offer services, funds and volunteers to civil society during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Find out more information here.
Stockport park unveils tribute to young community hero 
Research finds Covid-19 has not fundamentally changed the UK labour market 
Government sets out ‘Living with COVID’ next steps from 1st April