Latest data:
Testing: 535,342 people have now been tested for the virus.
UK Cases: 129,044 have tested positive, + 4,301 on previous day.
Loss of life: In hospital, 17,366 people have died + 857 on previous day.
In Stockport: there are 658 cases of Covid-19, + 18 on previous day.
Government Daily Briefings
Tuesday 21st April
The Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Matt Hancock, hosted this evening’s media briefing. The Secretary of State was joined by Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, and Prof John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England, who is also coordinating the national testing effort.
- Over £40m of Government funding to researchers working on Covid-19 vaccine at Oxford University and Imperial College, London
- Vaccine trials to start this week
- PPE – 8,000 offers of help; 159 new UK suppliers
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 21 April 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by Professor Jonathan Van-Tam.
LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:
APS Group supplies scrub patterns for frontline NHS staff
Stockport based APS Group is helping 40,000 volunteers make protective clothing for frontline NHS staff by supplying them with the printed patterns needed to sew medical scrubs together
Mayors plea to government as transport networks face ‘mothballing’
Andy Burnham warned that unless the Government came to the region’s aid, the Metrolink service may have to be mothballed. The region’s metro mayors have outlined a path to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – but warned they both need urgent Government help to stop key transport services grinding to a halt.
In an online press conference, Greater Manchester Metro Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram offered a combined overview of the problems facing the wider region, with public transport the most pressing matter.
Stockport Market’s success of ‘Park & Collect’ or ‘Home Delivery’ service?
Stockport Market traders have taken an innovative approach to ensure they keep trading in these unprecedented times by launching a Park & Collect or Home Delivery service.
The new service is keeping the traders busy, supporting the local economy and not breaching social distancing recommendations. The market is now closed to members of the public but is very much open for business to supply boxes of fresh produce. Orders of £10 or more can be delivered within a 3 mile radius of Stockport Market for just £3.00 per delivery. At this time they are unable to deliver outside the 3 mile boundary but are hoping to expand the service as more vehicles become available. Cash payments must be made in full before goods are released.
GM Mayor Andy Burnham joins Covid-19 Response, Impact & Recovery webinar:
‘COVID-19: Response, Impact and Recovery’ on Thursday 23rd April at 14:30 to find out how our cities and regions are responding to the Coronavirus pandemic? We will talk about the political and societal impact of COVID-19 and how we adjust to “recovery mode”. Book here
EMPLOYERS / BUSINESSES / FINANCE
Reminder – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is open for application. Employers can claim online for a grant for 80% of their furloughed employees’ salaries, up to a maximum of £2,500 per employee per month.
To receive payment by 30 April, you will need to complete an application by the end of 22 April as it can take 6 working days from making an application to receive the money. Please keep a note or print-out of your claim reference number as you won’t receive a confirmation SMS or email.
HMRC have produced this step by step guidance on how to make a claim. There is also a calculator to help you work out your claim.
HMRC hosting live webinars on Job Retention Scheme
As part of the government’s commitment to provide support to businesses and employers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, HMRC have been offering live webinars on the Job Retention Scheme. The following live webinar provides an overview of the support available to help employers and your employees deal with the economic impacts of COVID-19. Places are extremely limited so please save your place now.
The webinar can also be watched on YouTube
Letter to front line staff providing essential banking services
Letter from the Economic Secretary, John Glen, to front line staff working to provide essential banking services.
Stockport businesses grant funding payments:
Stockport Council have administered a total of nearly £43 million across 3,668 qualifying businesses and 67% of those identified as eligible as at 11/03/2020. If your business qualifies for a grant, please complete the online application form.
If you have any queries please email business.rates@stockport.gov.uk
Share information on the COVID19 impacts on your SME business
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is calling on engineering and tech SME workers to share their experiences and insights around the effects of coronavirus on small businesses.
Business Desk host webinar – Be prepared for when the world un-pauses
The businesses that are prepared for that moment and are ready to sprint out of the blocks can mitigate the damage caused by the lockdown and make long-term gains.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for UK businesses
Added new section on PPE export control process to guidance for UK businesses trading internationally.
Webinars and videos from HMRC are now available, advising businesses on how to deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus, and how to access support.
ACAS runs a series of webinars on employment law and employment relations
Covid-19 Business Grant Funding Documentation
EDUCATION:
GCSEs, AS and A level awarding: summer 2020
Information for schools, students and parents on how qualifications will be graded and awarded in summer 2020.
Aldi joins Free School Meal voucher scheme
Aldi joins supermarkets signed up to Government’s national voucher scheme
Coronavirus (COVID-19): attendance in education and early years settings
A summary of how many children and teachers attended education settings between Monday 23 March and Friday 17 April 2020.
Key issues to be addressed before schools re-open
The Teachers’ Union (NASUWT) chief executive has set out five key issues which must be addressed before schools can be reopened, including access to PPE where appropriate, COVID-19 risk assessments and limiting the number of students in school.
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
Updated guidance on the childcare services in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) settings, childminders and local authorities need to provide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
Updated guidance and advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
EMPLOYMENT:
UK employment rate at record high before lockdown
UK employment was estimated at a record high in the three months to February, before the effects of the coronavirus lockdown started to hit the economy. Official figures showed 76.6% of people aged 16 to 64 were in paid work, up from 76.4% in the previous quarter.
HEALTH:
Shipment of PPE arrives in UK from Turkey
The flight arrived at RAF Brize Norton in the early hours of Wednesday morning and is believed to contain up to about half of the promised kit. Other RAF planes are said to be on standby to collect the rest.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for people receiving direct payments
Advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment, as well as local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and those who provide care and support.
Government urges gambling industry to tackle risks of problem gambling during coronavirus outbreak
Culture Minister Nigel Huddleston has written to the Chief Executives of five leading online gambling operators as well as the Betting and Gaming Council to request regular intelligence from the industry on patterns of online gambling during the coronavirus outbreak.
More deaths in care homes than in the community
The Health Foundation has responded to the weekly ONS mortality data for England and Wales which showed there have been more deaths in care homes than in the community for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. It said, ‘Better and more timely data from care homes, on the health needs of those living in care homes, and suspected cases and deaths, could have helped mobilise more assistance for the sector earlier on and this now must be a focus.’
COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
Updated guidance and advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection – amended text in section on ‘Self-isolation’ to be consistent with text about ‘Household isolation’.
MEDIA / COMMS:
Free marketing seminar for marketing focus in Covid-19 outbreak
Paul Mellor, MD at Mellor&Smith will join the panel at tomorrow’s free webinar titled: “What should I focus my marketing budget on right now”
RETAIL:
New ecommerce start-up site ‘Search Fresh’ is inviting small businesses struggling to make sales in lock down to join its high street web-shop.
The Stockport based start-up will provide businesses that haven’t traditionally lent themselves to online sales with an ecommerce platform to sell fresh produce.
In the wake of the UK’s covid-19 lock down, Britain has seen waves of small businesses pivoting to stay afloat, with many introducing parcel delivery services via social media networks, email or WhatsApp. This hyper local approach is ensuring small businesses can make money and loyal shoppers can still purchase their goods.
With this in mind, Search Fresh are looking for butchers, bakeries, delis, garden centres, green grocers, florists, farm shops, independent booze outlets, cake makers or dairies to join their website for the opportunity to sell produce online – and help people to stay safe.
Stockport B&Q to re-open to customers
“As an essential retailer, we’ve watched other essential retailers support social distancing in their stores and are now in a position to follow best practice and reopen a small number of our stores as a trial, while keeping our colleagues and customers safe. We’re strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so customers may need to queue before entering the store”
Aldi joins Free School Meal voucher scheme
Aldi joins supermarkets signed up to Government’s national voucher scheme
The Association of Convenience Stores has produced guidance to help retailers to support customers shopping for groceries on behalf of others.
The new guidance has been developed to inform convenience retailers about best practice on offering and processing telephone payments during the COVID-19 outbreak for volunteers purchasing goods on behalf of vulnerable customers or people who are self-isolating.
NFRN calls for investigation into pricing in Covid-19 outbreak
The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN)has called for a meeting with the Competition and Markets Authority to discuss concerns about pricing and availability of suppliers to small retailers as opposed to larger chains.
Urgent call for support for the British pub sector
The British Beer and Pub Association has written to Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, urging him to take urgent action to support the sector, outlining five steps which it believes need to be taken. Retail leaders call on Government to underwrite rents
The leaders of three leading retail and property groups have written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling on the government to underwrite retail rents as store groups and landlords suffer in the Covid-19 health outbreak.
Transport / Travel:
Mayors plea to government as transport networks face ‘mothballing’
Andy Burnham warned that unless the Government came to the region’s aid, the Metrolink service may have to be mothballed. The region’s metro mayors have outlined a path to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – but warned they both need urgent Government help to stop key transport services grinding to a halt.
In an online press conference, Greater Manchester Metro Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram offered a combined overview of the problems facing the wider region, with public transport the most pressing matter.
How are you doing?
If you are a business owner in Stockport, Totally Stockport and Stockport Council are also keen to find out what your needs are at this difficult time so they can provide the most appropriate advice and support.
To help them understand more, visit www.bidsurvey.com and help them to help you.
Useful links:
Stockport Council – Health & Mental Well-being: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/showcase/coronavirus
Government – Financial Support
CBILS – A guide to whether it may be the best options for a business
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 – 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.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
Government – Financial Support:
Government – Business Support:
Bank of England – Financial Support:
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2020/march/the-covid-corporate-financing-facility
Stockport Council Grant scheme:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/business-rates-support-measures
Gov.uk: Maintaining Educational Provision:
UK Lockdown – Further businesses to close and exceptions:
Business Growth Hub:
www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus
Food & Drink – advice and guidance:
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health – Shielding the most vulnerable
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).
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.
Health – the big white wall
The Big White Wall offers 24/7 anonymous support via a digital emotional wellbeing and mental health service, offering peer support for anyone over the age of 16, support from trained clinicians alongside a range of helpful tools and resources.
Media and Marketing:
Travel:
https://media.northernrailway.co.uk/news/coronavirus-travel-information
Recruitment: – DWP and Universal Credit
Retail: An update form British Retail Consortium
https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/coronavirus-latest-retailer-activity/
Employment: – Stockport Jobs Match
Stockport Council has launched a FREE job matching website to help 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.
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
Stockport park unveils tribute to young community hero 
Last chance to get the winter Covid-19 booster 
Stockport hosts further pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinics ahead of Christmas