Latest data:
Testing: 559,935 people have now been tested for the virus
UK Cases: 133,495 have tested positive, + 4,451 on previous day
Loss of life: In hospital, 18,100 people have died + 759 on previous day
In Stockport: there are 658 cases of Covid-19, + 18 on previous day
Government Daily Briefing
Wednesday 22nd April
First Secretary of State Dominic Raab led this evening’s briefing:
- Social distancing measures are protecting the NHS and saving lives
- Lockdown measures remain in place until the five principles have been met
- Paid tribute to Captain Tom who has raised over £25m for NHS charities
- PPE had arrived from Turkey
Foreign Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 22 April 2020
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 22 April 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by Professor Chris Whitty.
LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:
Greater Manchester Combined Authority – Covid-19 News
In response to COVID-19 two websites have been established, one to help coordinate the community response to the outbreak in Greater Manchester and another to ensure businesses can get the support they need.
We always appreciate feedback, so if you have any suggestions about what you’d like to see in this newsletter, please email us: news@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk.
Have your say in our open consultations and surveys:
- Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on foodbanks, clubs, pantries and other food providers (closes 30 April)
- Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (closes 30 April)
- Tell the NHS about your current experience of coronavirus
- Greater Sport survey – physical activity in Covid-19
Mayor of Manchester responds to PPE shortage
A PPE taskforce has helped ensure frontline staff have vital supplies
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
Stockport – is your business open for business?
Is your business in Stockport? Are you ‘open for business’?
Many businesses have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak and are currently unable to trade due to Government restrictions in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus, to keep us safe and to protect the NHS.
But there are businesses in Stockport who are allowed to continue to trade and are operating safely in compliance with the Government’s rules and guidance on social distancing measures. We want to ensure that support is provided to those businesses too and to let everyone know that, in part, Stockport is still open for business. Perhaps you have an online business? Or you have a food store. Are you offering a delivery service? Or perhaps you have a restaurant and are now offering take-aways? Whatever your business, we want to support you. And it’s free!
Follow the link, fill in the form and we will add you to our directory:
COMMUNITY:
Support for the bereaved
Information to help bereaved families, friends or next of kin make important decisions.
CONSTRUCTION:
Taylor Wimpey to re-open sites from May
The first national housebuilder to announce plans to re-mobilise sites following the industry lockdown
EMPLOYERS / BUSINESSES / FINANCE:
HM Treasury announces revision to the UK Debt Management Office’s financing remit 2020-21
The government has announced an unprecedented package of measures to provide the critical support needed by individuals, families and businesses, through the economic disruption caused by COVID-19.
Grant funding provided to businesses by local authorities in England
Updated data on the amount of money distributed to SMEs by every local authority in England as part of the 2 grant schemes launched to help businesses deal with coronavirus.
More than 70% of firms surveyed have furloughed staff as Job Retention Scheme goes live
Results from the latest BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that?the vast majority of?businesses surveyed have furloughed a proportion of their workforce, and are awaiting funds from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as payday approaches for many.
Reminder – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
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.More than 285,000 businesses have already applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme since it went live on Monday 20 April.
You will need to complete an application online; it will take approximately 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. A guide is also available to view on YouTube
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
Stockport businesses grant funding payments:
Stockport Council have administered a total of £43,735,000 across 3,751 qualifying businesses and 68.5% 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
Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter to councils about extending the statutory audit deadlines for 2019 to 2020
Letter from MHCLG to local authority chief executives on the Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus)(Amendment) Regulations 2020.
EDUCATION:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care
Updated funding and financial support available for education, childcare and children’s social care organisations to align with updated HMT/HMRC guidance.
Four tips for a smooth home learning routine
Everyone is adapting to an unusual situation and some parents are feeling the pressure to replicate school behaviour systems. When supporting your child’s behaviour, and their social and emotional needs, there are a few key principles that should help
The briefing sets out how schools can be supported to improve access to meaningful educational opportunities for disadvantaged children.
EMPLOYMENT:
Coronavirus: Can my boss make me return to work? And other questions
The government has said that everyone should work from home if possible, and only go into a workplace if their job “absolutely cannot be done from home”.
Your employer has a duty to protect your health and safety. If you or a member of your household have an underlying health condition which increases vulnerability to coronavirus, you could argue that you have a right not to come into work.
If you still do not want to go in, you could ask to take time off as holiday or unexpected leave, but your employer does not have to agree to this.
An employer could bring disciplinary action against an employee who they consider to be refusing to work without a good reason.
HEALTH:
Tracking infection and immunity
news of a study aimed at informing the government’s strategy for easing the lockdown. Some 20,000 households are being approached to take part in the pilot phase of a project that will see volunteers provide nose and throat swabs once a week for five weeks and then every month for 12 months.
Britain’s biggest network of diagnostic labs are completed in 5 weeks
Sites in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Alderley Park in Cheshire are now live and are already testing thousands of patient samples for coronavirus (COVID-19) each day.
The Government has launched a major effort to tackle loneliness and social isolation during the coronavirus outbreak and period of social distancing.
Led by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, the plan will aim to ensure that, for people of all ages and backgrounds, staying at home does not need to lead to loneliness.
Diagnostic laboratory sites in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Alderley Park in Cheshire are now live and are already testing thousands of patient samples for coronavirus each day.
The new mega-labs are staffed by an army of highly qualified staff and volunteers from industry and academia, drawn from across the country.
These groups are working tirelessly to rapidly analyse coronavirus tests for NHS, social care and other frontline workers, allowing those testing negative to safely and quickly return to work.
The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is formally supporting Our Frontline and helping to ensure that frontline staff and key workers in need of help are aware that the services are available. The Foundation has a long history of raising awareness of the importance of mental health and played a leading role in creating Shout and the Mental Health at Work programme, both of which are key elements of the Our Frontline initiative.
IT & SECURITY:
Banking and mobile industries unite to tackle Covid-19 text message scams
So far 50 bank and government brands have been protected from ‘spoofing’, 172 trusted senders have been registered, and over 400 unauthorised senders have been blocked.
MEDIA & MARKETING:
Innovative creatives launch Not Fur Long pro-bono agency
An innovative group of creatives who have been furloughed have set up their own temporary, pro-bono ad agency called Not Fur Long specifically to help SMEs stay alive and thriving. It’s free, no catch and will disappear when the scheme ends
TRANSPORT & TRAVEL:
Coronavirus: letter from DVSA Chief Executive to driver and rider trainers
Letters from Gareth Llewellyn, Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), to driver and rider trainers about coronavirus.
19,000 British travellers return from cruise ships after major international effort
The FCO has worked with cruise operators and more than 20 international governments and militaries to arrange flights to get Brits home safely.
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