UK STATISTICS
Total UK Cases: 5,902,354 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 21,952 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 5,943, 21 more than on previous day
New deaths across UK: 24
Total UK deaths: 129,743
England Cases per 100,000: 265
R number in UK: 1.1 to 1.4
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 48,872,411
Total 2nd doses: 38,464,025
Daily 1st doses: 21,266
Daily 2nd doses: 118,184
There have nearly six 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 85 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: 30,216 to 2 August
Cases in the latest week: 856, down 654 on previous week
Total deaths: 735 to July 16th
Cases per 100,000: 292 per 100,000 week ending 29 July
R number in North West: 1.0 – 1.2
Stockport vaccine data:
1st dose: 85% of adults to 1 August
2nd dose: 71%
In a bid to boost vaccine uptake among the young, the government has announced companies including Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo will offer discounted takeaways and taxi rides as an incentive for people in England to get their Covid jabs.
England’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said around 60,000 deaths and around 22 million cases had been prevented as a result of the vaccination programme in England.
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.
Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Updated with slides to accompany coronavirus press conferences
UK NEWS UPDATES
It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wanted a “simple” and “balanced approach” to pandemic travel. Government sources said no new categories would now be added. Tory MPs and travel industry figures earlier warned a complex system risked putting people off from travelling.
The government had been considering the idea of a new level in the government’s traffic light system for overseas travel, ahead of the next review this week.
It would have warned people when a destination was at risk of a sudden shift from amber to red – meaning that travel would be banned for everyone except UK nationals and residents, who would be required to quarantine in a hotel on their return.
NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales tweaked to notify fewer contacts
The app will look for contacts two days prior, rather than five, when someone without symptoms tests positive. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it would reduce disruption but still protect those at risk. The government is urging the public to continue using the app. What’s changing on the NHS Covid app? Almost 700,000 alerts were sent by the app to users in England and Wales for the week to July 21, a record since it was launched, which has caused staffing issues in many industries.
NHS vaccine passport App “working well”
Almost 300 “fraudulent applications” for Covid-19 vaccine certificates have been rejected, the head of the programme has said. The certificate allows travellers to prove they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 for countries which require that for entry. The system was offline for several days having been dogged by technical problems but resumed on Saturday night. Dr Eddie O’Neill said it was now “stable and running well”. He added: “We’ve rejected 294 applications where people have fraudulently tried to claim a certificate, we had three individuals who made 38 applications between them, putting in different vaccination dates every time.”
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
Cornavirus rates fall in six of Greater Manchester Boroughs
The infection rate, the number of seven-day total cases per 100,000 people, is continuing to fall in all ten boroughs. The rates have now dipped below 300 in two new areas – Trafford and Stockport where infection rates are 291.7, just below the England rate at 291.9
Nursing Times award nomination for Stockport NHS project supporting parents through the pandemic
A Stockport project to support the parents of young babies through the stresses of the pandemic has been shortlisted at this year’s Nursing Times Awards in the ‘Public Health Nursing’ category. Maternity nursing staff based at Stepping Hill Hospital and early years support workers from the Stockport Family Service partnership have been recognised for their work on the ICON scheme to give parents additional support to help ensure child welfare.
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
BUSINESS:
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has urged small and medium-sized business owners to sign up to the government’s Help to Grow scheme and gain access to free training.
The scheme was announced in this year’s Budget to help provide small businesses with the necessary skills to innovate, grow and support the economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic. Help to Grow opened to applications in May this year and will offer 30,000 SMEs across the UK with access to business expertise on topics from financial management to marketing.
NHS Test and Trace in the workplace
What to do if you or someone you employ is required to self-isolate. This includes being contacted by NHS Test and Trace, self-isolation rules and financial support – updated to reflect the introduction of daily contact testing for workplaces.
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.
Coming to the UK for seasonal agricultural work on English farms
Advice for seasonal agricultural workers coming to England to pick fruit and vegetables on farms, and their employers – updated guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19 for seasonal agricultural workers and employers.
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 – updated the general list of providers.
Short-term options for health, welfare and financial decisions
Find out about the ways people can make certain decisions for you or do certain things on your behalf
COVID-19 Response: Summer 2021
The government has published the ‘Moving to Step 4 of the roadmap’ document. This sets out the essential actions that everybody should take to protect themselves and others while prevalence is high, as we transition towards learning to live with COVID-19. The ‘COVID-19 Response: Summer 2021’ sets out the shape of step 4 of the roadmap.
COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Find out the date of applications we are processing and how to access our online services.
DIGITAL:
Businesses across rural England set for connectivity boost with £5bn broadband upgrade
Over two million homes and businesses across England are set to gain access to faster broadband speeds as part of a multi-billion-pound plan. The government’s Project Gigabit fund will see £5bn spent on levelling up broadband services throughout rural areas across the country. New details published today reveal up to 1,850,000 additional premises across 26 English counties will get access to gigabit speed internet of 1,000 megabits per second – enough to download a HD movie in less than 30 seconds. In addition, today it is also being confirmed that the Scottish and Welsh governments and 15 English councils have made at least an extra £26m available in top-ups to the UK Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.
EDUCATION:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents
This is advice for visa customers and applicants in the UK, visa customers outside of the UK and British nationals overseas who need to apply for a passport affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus – updated information for student if your 90-day student visa vignette has expired.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
New study into COVID-19 vaccine dose interval for pregnant women
Extensive real-world data shows vaccines are safe and highly effective for pregnant women
Excess deaths in your neighbourhood during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Analysis and interactive chart of provisional death registration data for England and Wales, broken down by Middle-layer Super Output Area (MSOA) and compared with the average for the same months between 2015 and 2019. Includes deaths due to COVID-19 and total deaths from all causes.
PROPERTY:
Revealed – how much stamp duty holiday property sold in 2021
An estate agency has calculated precisely how much residential property has been sold so far this year, fuelled by the stamp duty holiday. Some £68.8 billion has been transacted so far in 2021, according to Keller Williams UK. The top 10 is dominated by London, with the NW3 postcode – covering fashionable and high-priced Camden and Barnet – topping the list when looking at the total value of homes sold. An estimated £262.5m worth of property has been sold in just this single postcode since January 1.
RETAIL:
Greggs to cook up 500 new jobs as sales return to pre-pandemic levels
A British bakery brand has announced today that it expects to create 500 new jobs before the end of the year. Greggs, which has more than 2,000 stores across the UK, is set to create the new roles as part of its ongoing expansion, which will see it open around 50 new shops in the second half of the year. In the first half of 2021, the company opened 48 stores, with sales returning to pre-pandemic levels. It reported sales of £546.2m during the period, up from last year’s £300.6m – and almost matching 2019’s £546.3m.
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.