UK STATISTICS
Total UK Cases: 6,069,362 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 27,429 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 5,631, 63 fewer than on previous day
New deaths across UK: 39
Total UK deaths: 130,320
England Cases per 100,000: 269
R number in UK: 0.8 to 1.1
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 47,036,769 (88.9% of UK adults)
Total 2nd doses: 38,874,837 (74.5% of UK adults)
Daily 1st doses: 37,990
Daily 2nd doses: 213,538
There have been more than six million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and over 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 47 million people in the UK have now had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
Latest Stockport data:
Total Stockport cases: 30,761 to 4 August
Cases in the latest week: 861, down 192 on previous week
Total deaths: 735 to July 16th
Cases per 100,000: 293 per 100,000 week ending 2 August
R number in North West: 0.7 – 1.0
Stockport vaccine data:
1st dose: 85% of adults to 4 August
2nd dose: 72%
Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Updated with slides to accompany coronavirus press conferences
UK NEWS UPDATES
What’s changing in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland
An update on changes to Covid rules.
Heart surgery waits in England may rise by 40%, warns charity
The number of people waiting for heart surgery in England could rise by more than 40% by next spring, a charity has warned.
Expert ‘cautiously optimistic’ of no further lockdowns even if there is an autumn Covid wave
A return to life as normal could fuel an autumn wave of coronavirus cases but further lockdowns may not be required, an expert advising the government has said.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng was asked about his views on people working from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Broadband rollout trial to target hard-to-reach homes through UK’s water pipes
Fibre optic cables fed through water mains to connect homes, businesses and mobile masts without digging up roads
Is Scotland’s pandemic over at last?
Everything changed as we endured wave after wave of Covid infection – school, work, healthcare, holidays, even hugs – but as Scotland loosens most of its remaining restrictions, is the coronavirus pandemic over at last?
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
Greater Manchester hotels see resurgence in occupancy
Hotels in Greater Manchester have seen a strong bounce-back in occupancy levels over the last three months, according to figures from the Manchester Hoteliers’ Association (MHA)
North West business activity continues to rise – but pace of region’s recovery slows
Business activity in the North West continued to rise further in July – but the pace of recovery slowed, new data has revealed.
Manchester Airport’s Terminal Two to welcome PIA passengers
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the latest airline announced to begin flying from Manchester Airport’s recently reopened Terminal Two.
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
BUSINESS:
Managing staff mental health in a hybrid work environment
New data from LinkedIn found 38% of UK workers would prefer to work remotely full-time in the future, 49% prefer hybrid working, and only 12% want to work full-time in the office.
Help employers with the Kickstart Scheme (Kickstart gateway)
Information for Kickstart gateways on how to help employers with the Kickstart Scheme and how to add jobs or employers to the grant agreement – added callout about advertising vacancies to ‘Getting the young people into the jobs’ section and added a paragraph about the remittance advice gateways receive when they get the funding in the section ‘How you will get the funding’.
Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant
If you’re an employer looking to create jobs for young people, you can apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme – added callout about advertising vacancies yourself to ‘Getting the young people into the jobs’, added a paragraph about the remittance advice employers receive when they get the funding in the section ‘How you will get the funding’ and updated instructions for adding more jobs to the grant agreement following launch of online route for employers.
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?
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.
CARE:
The impact of the ending of freedom of movement on the adult social care sector: call for evidence
The MAC (Migration Advisory Committee) call for evidence on social care is seeking views and evidence from anyone with relevant knowledge, expertise or experience to help inform the MAC response.
Visiting arrangements in care homes
Sets out how care homes can support families and visitors to visit residents – clarification on PPE usage when caring for residents with learning disabilities.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services
Advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) for local authorities and their partners to help support and protect vulnerable children – updated information on exceptional exemptions from self-isolation for critical staff and added a link to the relevant guidance.
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.
COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
Testing for coronavirus before hospital
Sets out how and when to use a PCR home test kit to test for COVID-19 before a hospital procedure – updated to remove the registration step from instructions and references of it in guidance and to reflect the changes in guidance around how patients should return their test kit.
Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England): 22 July to 28 July 2021
Experimental statistics on NHS Test and Trace since its launch on 28 May 2020. Includes reports on NHS Test and Trace (people tested and contact tracing) and rapid (lateral flow device) testing for people without symptoms.
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 the BSL guide (video) for people who have received an NHS COVID Pass letter.
CONSTRUCTION:
Shortage of subbies hampers construction growth
Construction buyers have reported a near record decline in subcontractor availability. Latest results for the bellwether IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI Total Activity Index show a lack of subcontractors and materials shortages hampered growth last month.
Materials prices set to rise by 10% as market booms
Surveyors are braced for a 10% rise in materials prices over the next 12 months as the construction supply chain struggles to keep up with increasing workloads. Shortage of staff was also flagged as a major problem in the latest RICS Construction and Infrastructure Survey for Q2 2021. A +38% (net balance) of respondents reported rising workloads with the private residential sector and infrastructure leading the way. The survey found 82% of respondents experienced a shortage of materials, up from 57% previously, while the cost of materials is expected to increase by nearly 10% over the next twelve months – ahead of the 7% growth anticipated for tender prices. Shortages of skilled labour and ‘white-collar’ roles were also widespread. Surveyors predict construction workloads will continue to gather pace, with a net balance of +55% saying more activity is expected next year.
EDUCATION
Ofqual confirms vocational and technical qualification exam arrangements for 2021-22
Exams regulator Ofqual has confirmed teacher-assessed grades are to end and exams will return next year for vocational and technical qualifications.
Exams remain ‘best way’ to guarantee standards, experts say
Anonymously-marked exam papers are still the best way of guaranteeing consistent standards in schools, according to a group of experts.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Why CO2 matters for climate change
CO2 – or carbon dioxide – is at the heart of the world’s changing climate. Reality Check’s Chris Morris explains why in this short video clip.
Why business leaders swerve green initiatives
A host of sustainable business leaders met to discuss the brilliant initiatives they’ve launched – as well as tips for those starting out on their climate journeys
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
COVID-19 vaccination programme
Documents relating to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme – added COVID-19 vaccination: resources for children and young people and COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people JCVI statements.
COVID-19 vaccination: resources for children and young people
Information for eligible children and young people on COVID-19 vaccination.
JCVI issues updated advice on COVID-19 vaccination of young people aged 16 to 17
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is today advising that all 16 and 17 year olds receive their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
HAULAGE & TRANSPORT
RHA Chief Executive, Richard Burnett said, “We reiterate that extending drivers’ hours can be counterproductive by making the job less attractive, especially at a time when firms are struggling to recruit and retain staff.
‘It will take at least 18 months to train100,000 HGV drivers’
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett has told Sky News that it will take at least 18 months to train enough HGV drivers to tackle the current shortage
HOSPITALITY
Events get Covid insurance
UK music festivals and other live events are to be protected by a government-backed insurance scheme if they have to cancel because of Covid.
PROPERTY:
Stamp Duty Holiday impact fades as market returns to near-normal
Agents are confident this signifies an orderly slowdown ahead of the eventual end of the stamp duty holiday in late September.
Leap in house sales income for Savills as Covid bounce back continues
Savills has reported a bounce back after the Covid-hit performance in 2020.
The agency has substantial overseas and commercial property and consultancy income, so its UK residential revenue is a relatively small part of today’s half year figures. Even so, what the company calls UK Residential Transaction performance was up 97 per cent – a year ago its figures were hit by the market close down of early 2020. Over all of its activities, Savills group revenue was £932.6m, up £141.2m from a year ago.
RETAIL:
Adidas raises full year forecast
Adidas has increased its full year outlook after revenues in its second quarter grew by 51% to €5.077 billion.
Aldi to hire over 2000 staff between now and Christmas
Aldi has announced it is set to go on a recruitment drive to hire over 2000 new employees across the UK between now and Christmas.
Aldi to create 270 jobs across Cheshire offering salaries up to £47,000
Budget supermarket giant Aldi has revealed plans to create around 270 new jobs across its Cheshire stores before Christmas.
TRAVEL:
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 – updated information about arrivals from France. The new rules will come into effect on 8 August.
Booking and staying in a quarantine hotel if you’ve been in a red list country
How to book a quarantine hotel and coronavirus (COVID-19) tests if you’ve been in a red list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England – update to reflect an increase in quarantine hotel costs from 4am on 12 August.
Red, amber and green list rules for entering England
Countries rated as red, amber or green for coronavirus (COVID-19) and the rules you must follow to enter England. From 4am Sunday 8 August, the fully vaccinated amber rules will apply to France. At the same time, Austria, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia will move to green list. Bahrain, India, Qatar and United Arab Emirates will move to amber list. Georgia, Mayotte, Mexico and Reunion will move to red list.
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