Latest data:
Positive tests: 243,303 people have tested positive + 3,142 on previous day
Loss of life: 34,636 people have died across all settings, + 170 more deaths since the previous day’s figures
In Stockport: There are 1,004 cases of Covid-19 + 26 over 3-day period
Government Daily Briefings over 15th / 16th / 17th May
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock – 15 May 2020 daily press briefing
- New £600 million Infection Control Fund to spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in care homes.
- Prolific testing and lockdown have protected 64% of care homes from Covid-19
- All residents and staff in care homes to be tested by early June
- Since the peak, ‘the number of Covid deaths in care homes has halved’
- R rate believed to be between 0.7 and 1.0
Health and Social Care Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 15 May 2020
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 15 May 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP and the deputy chief medical officer for England, Dr Jenny Harries OBE.
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 16 May 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP and Dr Jenny Harries.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma: Sunday 17th May daily press briefing
- “The country is moving towards level three of the lockdown system”
- £84m new fund announced for clinical trial of coronavirus vaccine which is “progressing well”
- 30 million vaccine doses could be available in the UK by September
Business Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 17 May 2020
Business Secretary Alok Sharma gave the 17 May 2020 daily press briefing on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister’s article in the Mail on Sunday: 17 May 2020
“I made clear from the outset that we can only make changes to the lockdown when it is safe to do so, guided by science. We set five tests, of which three have been met and progress is being made on the remaining two. We are setting up a system of COVID-19 Alert levels, which will be overseen by a new UK Joint Biosecurity Centre designed to assess the spread of the virus and inform decisions over how we lift the lockdown.”
HEADLINE NEWS:
New information about coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms has been announced that include loss of taste and smell
From today, all individuals should self-isolate if they develop a new continuous cough or fever or anosmia. Anosmia is the loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the two are closely linked. We have been closely monitoring the emerging data and evidence on COVID-19 and, after thorough consideration, we are now confident enough to recommend this new measure.
BBC: Rail networks introduce new measures to manage safe flow of passengers
New measures have been deployed on trains and at stations amid fears that more people might use public transport to return to work in England this week.
Security guards with crowd management training will be at some stations but the message remains only to use public transport if absolutely necessary.
And more radical steps, such as requiring passengers to book time slots for when they can arrive at a station, are being considered. Avanti West Coast has said it would not allow carriages to be more than a third full.
COVID-19 detection dogs trial launches
Trials for specially-trained ‘COVID dogs’ that may be able to detect coronavirus (COVID-19) in humans, even before symptoms appear, are set to begin as part of new research.
While numbers are typically lower on Sundays, the figure is almost 100 fewer than the 268 reported a week ago.
Business interruption insurance Claims: only two days left to submit details
The City regulator which is bringing a test case over insurance firms refusing to honour Business Interruption policies, wants policyholders including agents to submit details. But they have only until Wednesday to produce the information. On Friday the Financial Conduct Authority – which says it needs a broad cross section of companies from different areas of the economy to present their case – issued a statement saying examples of grievances should be presented by Wednesday May 20. The statement says: ”We are inviting policyholders and insurance intermediaries who are aware of unresolved disputes with insurers over the terms of BI policies to engage with us, if they want us to take their concerns into account as part of the test case. In particular, we invite you to put forward your arguments why you consider cover should be available, together with details of policies that you consider have not responded appropriately to a claim and brief relevant facts of the case.”
Government begins large scale study of coronavirus immunity
A major long-term study will track spread of coronavirus in general population. Up to 20,000 people are being asked to take part in a new government-funded study to further track the extent of the coronavirus spread across England, Scotland and Wales. The research will measure blood antibodies to help determine what proportion of the population has already had the infection, the duration of immunity after being infected, and why the virus affects people differently.
Led by UK Biobank and supported by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), the study, which was developed with the Wellcome Trust, also draws on the world-leading scientific expertise of the University of Oxford. It forms part of Pillar 4 of the Government’s COVID-19 testing strategy to conduct UK-wide surveillance testing to learn more about the spread of the virus.
Government survey to measure impact of Covid-19 on businesses closes today
They are interested in the views of self-employed, business owners and senior managers as to how their business has been affected by coronavirus and what business decisions may be taken to mitigate this impact.
The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
Taking part is easy – just click here or on the button below to start the survey. exit and return to the survey at any point up until the survey’s closing date at the end of today, Monday 18th May.
LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:
Observer: GM Mayor Andy Burnham calls for greater devolution as Government eases lockdown
Speaking on the BBC and writing in the Observer on Sunday, Andy Burnham is calling on the government to ‘draw a line under last week’ and to consider the variances between regions across the UK before taking a blanket approach to easing lockdown and reopening schools. While the number of new cases in the south of the UK is drastically reducing and the national ‘R’ rate (the rate at which the coronavirus is reproducing) is reported to be between 0.5 to 0.9, Mr Burnham believes the rate across the North West may be greater.
North West: £244m scheme to improve the transport network
Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians beginning to return to streets across the North West are set to benefit from a £244m investment designed to make journeys quicker and safer.
The cash boost is part of the £1.7bn Transport Infrastructure Investment Fund announced by the government, which will be used to improve roads, repair bridges and fill in millions of potholes across England. In the North West, about 1.5 million nuisance potholes will be targeted with smaller improvements earmarked for local networks.
Stockport Council is aiming to publish eligibility criteria and guidance on making applications for the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund, including the evidence required in support of applications, on its website by 5pm today, Monday 18/05/2020.
The guidance from Government indicates that these grants are primarily and predominantly aimed at:
- Small and micro businesses, as defined in Section 33 Part 2 of the Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 and the Companies Act 2006.
- Businesses with relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs
- Businesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis
- Businesses which occupy property, or part of a property, with a rateable value or annual rent or annual mortgage payments below £51,000.
The Council is aiming to publish eligibility criteria and guidance on making applications for the discretionary grant, including the evidence required in support of applications, on its website by 5pm on Monday 18/05/2020.
The information published today will set out the criteria for which priority businesses are eligible to apply, the application process and the date from which applications can be made.
Stockport businesses grant funding payments:
Stockport Council have administered a further 28 grants in the past 24 hours bringing the total amount paid to £54,680,000 across 4,748 qualifying businesses and nearly 87% of those identified as eligible as at 11/03/2020. If your business qualifies for a grant, please complete the online application form. Total grant allocation is £66.574m. If you have any queries please email business.rates@stockport.gov.uk
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 but Stockport is still open for business. Are you still providing legal / financial services? 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:
https://marketingstockport.co.uk/stockport-open-for-business/
Help us to help you and your business
Totally Stockport and Stockport Council want to understand the challenges facing your organisation once you consider resuming your business so that we can provide the right help, support and advice for our businesses and local economy to recover.
Please complete this short survey (7-8 questions) to help us to understand what help is needed – by taking part you will be supporting us all to rebuild our economy together. Please encourage all of your contacts and networks to take part in the survey so that we can get as much information as possible.Visit www.bidsurvey.com and help them to help you.
CHARITIES:
UK aid boost for charities fighting coronavirus
A total of 40 charities and NGOs will receive funding from the Department for International Development’s (DFID) £20 million humanitarian support package, announced last month, or the £100 million global hygiene partnership with Unilever, unveiled in March. From 18 May 2020, up to £30million of new grants will also be made available to small and medium-sized UK charities through the next round of the UK Aid Direct programme. Each charity will be able to bid for a grant up to £4 million for programmes that focus on tackling the coronavirus crisis.
COMMUNITIES:
New taskforce developing plan to reopen places of worship
Faith leaders and government agree to develop plan to enable phased and safe reopening of places of worship.
CONSTRUCTION:
Social distancing on site: Picture special from Wilmott Dixon
Willmott Dixon has issued a series of photos showing how its projects have adapted to working while trying to minimise the risk of covid-19
The contractor has over 95% of its sites open after implementing the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) Site Operating Procedures to ensure they remain safe.
Covid-19 compliance check lists for site managers
The industry’s training body and the Construction Leadership Council have issued a comprehensive set of checklists and forms to help site managers brief workers and operate sites safely.
Guidance is designed to give workers a clear understanding of the latest agreed site operating procedures and covers issues such as close working, cleaning and what employees should do if they become unwell.
CC01: COVID-19 – Site operating procedures compliance checklist
EDUCATION:
Department for Education: Publication of a response to issues raised regarding the science on coronavirus
The response draws on information from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and its sub-group the Children’s Task and Finish Working Group, as well as the broader advice from engagement with Public Health England
Overview of scientific information on coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Department for Education’s response to issues raised regarding the science on coronavirus (COVID-19).
Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What schools need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Updated guidance with the actions that schools will need to take in preparation for the wider reopening of schools on 1 June 2020.
Providing free school meals during the coronavirus outbreak
Updated information about claiming for additional costs, providing meals or food parcels through your food provider and ordering vouchers to cover multiple weeks.
Education Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 16 May
Education Secretary on the Government’s response to the outbreak of coronavirus and plans to begin returning to school safely
Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Guidance for education settings and local authorities about children supported through social care, with EHC plans or identified as vulnerable by their school or local authority – updated guidance to reflect wider plans for more year groups to return to education settings, stating that vulnerable children and young people remain a priority, and are expected to attend if appropriate. We have not changed the groups included in the definition of vulnerable children, but have provided further examples of what types of children might be considered to be ‘otherwise vulnerable’, at the education provider’s discretion. We have also included updated links to Public Health England advice.
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
Updated guidance including adding a new section clarifying the position on welcoming back all children to early years settings from 1 June, information on when childminders can reopen to more children, and what provision they can currently provide, information on testing for essential workers, and information for parents on temporary changes to the 30 hours free early education entitlements.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for educational settings
Added clarification on guidance and legislation to guidance for schools and other educational settings about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings
Added ‘Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care’ to guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.
EMPLOYERS / BUSINESS FINANCE:
COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses
Added clarification on guidance and legislation to guidance for employees, employers and businesses in providing advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Check if you can claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and find out how to claim.
ENVIRONMENTAL:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice to local authorities on prioritising waste collections
A guide to help waste collectors prioritise their collection services during the coronavirus pandemic. This includes managing household waste recycling centres. Managing Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in England during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to reflect changes to the rules on necessary journeys.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
Government publishes latest R number
On Friday 15th May, the Government Office for Science published the latest R number range for the UK. The range of 0.7-1.0 is an estimate based on latest data available to determine infection and transmission rates. Data such as contacts, hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths generally takes 2 to 3 weeks for changes in R to be reflected in these data sources, due to the time between infection and needing hospital care.
Care home support package backed by £600 million to help reduce coronavirus infections
A new £600 million Infection Control Fund has been introduced to tackle the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in care homes.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for care homes
Sets out the support package to keep care homes safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
Government begins large scale study of coronavirus immunity
Led by UK Biobank and supported by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), the study, which was developed with the Wellcome Trust, also draws on the world-leading scientific expertise of the University of Oxford. It forms part of Pillar 4 of the Government’s COVID-19 testing strategy to conduct UK-wide surveillance testing to learn more about the spread of the virus.
Funding and manufacturing boost for UK vaccine programme
UK’s top researchers rapidly working to find a coronavirus vaccine will benefit from £84million of new government funding.
Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre to open 12 months ahead of schedule
Race to manufacture millions of doses of a coronavirus vaccine boosted with a multi-million-pound government investment.
COVID-19: guidance for care of the deceased
Added clarification on guidance and legislation to advice to assist people required to manage bodies of deceased persons infected with coronavirus (COVID-19).
COVID-19: guidance for commissioners and providers of services for people who use drugs or alcohol
Added clarification on guidance and legislation to COVID-19 guidance for commissioners and service providers for those dependent on drugs or alcohol
HOUSING:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter to social housing residents
Letter from the Minister of Housing setting out the measures that are in place to support social housing residents during the next phase towards reopening society.
MANUFACTURING:
Industry fears a long road back to recovery to pre-coronavirus trading conditions
According to the latest COVID-19 Manufacturing Monitor from Make UK, more than a third of companies (36%) now believe it will take more than a year, which compares to 17% in the last survey two weeks ago. Make UK also warned that sales and orders are continuing to fall at an alarming rate while almost a fifth of companies are planning to increase the number of staff on furlough in the next two weeks.
PROPERTY:
Beyond Covid-19 Reopening Guides
The RICS has published a number of guides to support building and facilities managers, commercial tenants and landlords to prepare to safely reopen commercial buildings.
SPORT:
Thinktank Onward: Report for sports clubs and associations – A Sporting Chance
This report by Will Tanner, Ted Christie-Miller and Francesca Fraser investigates the financial state of sports clubs across the UK, and calls on ministers to act urgently “to protect the clubs that are the pride of many communities, which will be needed to bring the country back together again once the crisis is over.”
TRANSPORT:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for the freight transport industry
Added clarification on guidance and legislation to guidance for the freight transport industry on international travel following government advice for British nationals.
TRAVEL:
Lufthansa to restore more UK and Ireland services from 1st June
Lufthansa Group is set to resume services from Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Dublin next month, and increase frequencies on flights departing Heathrow as it looks to rebuild its schedule.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): recreational general aviation
Limited relaxation of restrictions on general aviation in England added to guidance on recreational general aviation (GA) flying during the coronavirus outbreak.
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Covid-19 Webinars:
20th May: Growth Hub: Navigating the funding maze More info / book here
20th May: Grant Thornton: Leading through the unknown More info / book here
21st May: Preparing for a safe Return to Work More info / book here
26th May: Is more devolution key to recovery? More info / book here
2nd June: Digital Futures – join tech experts More info / book here
HMRC:
Coronavirus COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme:
Providing an overview of the scheme, this webinar looks at who can claim, when to start paying SSP, employees you can claim for, making a claim, keeping records, and more. Choose a date and time
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.
Twice weekly: EnterprisingYou Finance support for the self-employed webinars For info about latest webinar date announcements please visit the website https://enterprising-you.co.uk/latest-news/
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Useful links:
Grant top-up fund: Government publishes advice for local authorities
NB: Stockport Council will produce a local application and eligibility criteria and this information will be publicised an circulated as soon as possible
Government – Guidance on Returning to Work safely
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Government – Setting out of Road Map to recovery – 11th May 2020
Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s 60 page COVID-19 recovery strategy
The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread.
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.
www.stockport-jobsmatch.co.uk
Coronavirus Act 2020: status
A table setting out the status of each measure in the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Government – Financial Support
New 100% government backed loan scheme for small business
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 – 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.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: 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
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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
UK Lockdown – Further businesses to close and exceptions: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874732/230320_-_Revised_guidance_note_-_finalVF
Business Growth Hub:
www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus/resources/2020/03/coronavirus-business-support-webinar-series
Food & Drink – advice and guidance:
https://marketingstockport.co.uk/news/food-delivery-and-takeaway-guidance-for-food-businesses-looking-to-diversify/
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health– Shielding the most vulnerable
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
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.
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:
Prolific North are publishing daily updates on their blog as to how Covid-19 is impacting on the marketing, media and technology industries
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
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.
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
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