NEW SURVEY

Latest UK data:

Positive tests: 515,571 have tested positive (+ 12,594 new cases)
Loss of life: *42,369 across all settings (+19 in last 24 hours)
Cases in Stockport: 533 cases 26 Sept – 2 Oct (+271 on previous week)
Cases in Stockport: 182 cases per 100,000 (England area average: 29)
Deaths in Stockport: 371 coronavirus-related registered to 29th September
Total cases in Stockport: 3252 to 05 October (+55 on previous week)

*Daily reported COVID deaths are measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the first laboratory-confirmed positive COVID test
The R number and growth rate in the UK
The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK. The R number range for the UK is 1.-1.6 and the growth rate range is +5% to +9% per day as of 2 October 2020.

Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics
The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, cases and deaths in the UK. The way deaths are reported is based on a 28-day limit between the date of a positive lab-confirmed test and date of death.

Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Slides, datasets and transcripts from press conferences at 10 Downing Street in response to coronavirus

UK HEADLINES:

Chancellor Rishi Sunak defends Eat Out To Help Out scheme in face of UK’s second wave
The chancellor cautions against “jumping to simplistic conclusions” as the government attempts to limit a growing rise in cases.

Disappearing Covid-19 app alerts cause alarm
The Department of Health says it is working on a fix – but warned it could take some time.

‘Long Covid’: Why are some people not recovering?
For most people, Covid-19 is a brief and mild disease but some are left struggling with symptoms including lasting fatigue, persistent pain and breathlessness for months.

Coronavirus update on testing and treatments
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock updated Parliament on the government’s response to coronavirus.

LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:

Manchester’s coronavirus infection rate has risen above 500 for the first time.
Manchester’s coronavirus infection rate soars – last week it registered more positive cases than some countries.

Stockport Council accepting applications from businesses for Kickstart Jobs Scheme
Earlier this month, further details were announced about the Government’s Kickstart Jobs Scheme. The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create 6-month job placements for 16 to 24 year olds. 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.

Check if you’re eligible for the coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) supports businesses that have been required to close due to temporary COVID-19 local lockdown restrictions imposed by the government.

By working in collaboration, Stockport can become united and encouraged to build a better future for everyone by supporting the local economy, connecting communities and promoting health & wellbeing. Find out more at www.onestockport.co.uk

Coronavirus update from Leader of Stockport Council and Director Of Public Health

“The council is working very closely with our partners in the borough and throughout Greater Manchester. Thank you to all of you who have been supporting the restrictions in Stockport in recent weeks, and in particular those who are self-isolating, when required. However, coronavirus hasn’t gone away. The way we act, the decisions we take every day to reduce the spread and follow the advice, will have an impact on slowing down cases across our community.

“Currently the rate of cases per 100,000 population for Stockport stands at 92.7 per 100,000, a rise from 81.5 per 100,000 the previous week. This figure means we all need to take a long-term view and remember the only way to slow down coronavirus is if we all do our bit and take individual steps to collectively reduce the spread.

The rise we’ve seen has led the Government to placing Stockport under further restrictions, in line with other Greater Manchester boroughs. These rules are as follows:
• you must not meet or host people you do not live with at your house or gardens unless they are in your support bubble. The police will be able to take action against those who break these rules.
The government also advises that you should not:
• socialise with people you do not live with, unless they’re in your support bubble, in any public venue such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions and parks. This applies to inside and outside of the affected areas
• visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits.

Support if you’re isolating & struggling: the Council coronavirus helpline and website offers support with shopping, medicine supplies, money concerns, food, housing, loneliness, caring responsibilities and help with being digitally connected. Call 0161 217 6046 from Monday – Thursday from 9.00am – 5pm and Friday from 9.00am – 4:30pm. If you’re deaf or have difficulty hearing, you can use our textphone on 07860 022 876. Remember to avoid the 3 C’s – close contact such as hugs, closed spaces, and crowds. Please regularly wash (or sanitise) your hands and keep at least two meters away from others and wear a face covering when needed to. Follow the safety guidance at your place of work and within your school or college. This will help to keep you and others safe.
*This is the latest validated figure for Stockport on 1.10.20

BUSINESS & FINANCE:

Treasury Direction made under Sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020
Treasury Direction in relation to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Job Retention Bonus.

Find an example of employees and the minimum income threshold for the Job Retention Bonus
Check an example to help you decide which employees will meet the minimum income threshold for Job Retention Bonus claims.

Check if you can claim the Job Retention Bonus from 15 February 2021
Find out if you’re eligible to claim the Job Retention Bonus and what you need to do to claim it. You will be able to claim it between 15 February 2021 and 31 March 2021.

Check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can claim to cover wages for employees on temporary leave (‘furlough’) due to coronavirus (COVID-19). 30 November 2020 is the last day employers can submit or change claims for periods ending on or before 30 October 2020.

Stockport Business Support coronavirus recovery

As Stockport’s business community prepares for recovery post-coronavirus, a group of business leaders from the town have collaborated with Stockport Council to launch a new website – skbusinessrecovery.co.uk to support businesses through the phases of recovery.

Steps to take before calculating your claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Find out what steps you need to take before you calculate how much you can claim for furloughed and flexibly furloughed employees.
30 November 2020 is the last day employers can submit or change claims for periods ending on or before 30 October 2020.

Calculate how much you can claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Calculate how much you have to pay your furloughed employees for hours on furlough, how much you can claim for employer NICs and pension contributions and how much you can claim back. 30 November 2020 is the last day employers can submit or change claims for periods ending on or before 30 October 2020.

COMMUNITY:

National COVID-19 surveillance reports
National COVID-19 surveillance reports, including weekly summary of findings monitored through various COVID-19 surveillance systems.
Added Contain framework lower tier local authority watchlist – maps by LSOA.

EDUCATION

School leaders determined pupils won’t become ‘the COVID generation’

Ofsted has published the first reports on how schools and children’s homes are addressing the needs of children at this time.

HEALTH CARE & WELLBEING:

NERVTAG/EMG: Duration of wearing of face coverings, 15 September 2020
Paper prepared by the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and the Environmental and Modelling group (EMG).

SPI-B/EMG: COVID-19 housing impacts, 10 September 2020
Paper prepared by the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) and the Environmental and Modelling group (EMG).

SAGE meetings, September 2020
Minutes and papers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) meetings held in August 2020 – added 2 papers on housing impacts (SAGE 56) and wearing face coverings (SAGE 57).

Scientific evidence supporting the government response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Evidence considered by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) – added 2 new papers under September.

COVID-19: investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases
Information on case definitions, and the initial assessment and investigation of possible cases of COVID-19 infection.

1 in 8 people in England have now been tested for coronavirus
1 in 8 people have now received a coronavirus test at least once since the launch of NHS Test and Trace on 28 May.

HOSPITALITY

Night-time economy pleads for further support after curfew prompts mass redundancies

60% of late night business sector have already started to make redundancies

Wagamama owner confident following restructure
The Restaurant Group (TRG), which owns Wagamama, said that the chain has seen an 11 per cent increase in sales post-lockdown compared to the same period last year.

JUDICIARY:

Courts and tribunals tracker list during coronavirus outbreak
This page held a tracker list of open, staffed and suspended courts during the coronavirus outbreak. Full list of Crown Courts assessed to hold jury trials updated.

PROPERTY

Homebuyer demand soars during Q3
According to new figures released by GetAgent, the stamp duty holiday has helped accelerate UK buyer demand to the highest levels since the start of last year

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.

Become a Green Homes Grant Supplier II – Trustmark and PAS 2030
The new Green Homes Grant will give over 600,000 homeowners in England up to £10,000 to install insulation, heat pumps, draft proofing and more to help households cut energy bills. 100% of tradespeople taking part in the scheme must be registered with Trustmark, the only government-endorsed quality scheme for improvement works in and around a home. October 7^th 2020
Host and Speakers

Amy House, Low Carbon and Resource Efficiency Lead, GC Business Growth
David Pierpoint, Chief Executive, The Retrofit Academy
Nigel Donohue, Chief Executive Officer, Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency

Booking Link: https://app.livestorm.co/the-growth-company/get-ready-to-become-a-green-homes-grant-supplier-ii-trustmark-and-pas-2030

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

Make your workplace COVID-secure:

You can find recordings of webinars covering other types of workplace 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/

ACAS

A series of courses to help businesses with transition from lockdown

Useful information and links:

Coronavirus Act report: September 2020
The third two-monthly report on which powers in the Coronavirus Act 2020 are currently active.

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension
The grant is being extended from 1 November 2020. Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can get.

Hospitality venues in England are now legally required to enforce the rule of 6 or face a fine of up to £4,000.
Designated businesses and organisations, including hospitality, close contact services and leisure venues, will also be legally required to log details of customers, visitors and staff for NHS Test and Trace and required to display official NHS QR code posters under law

NHS Test and Trace service in the workplace
Guidance on the NHS Test and Trace service for employers, businesses and workers updated to reflect the new legal requirements for designated venues to collect contact details and display official NHS QR code posters from 24^th September

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.

Visit the Stockport Council website to report details of any outbreaks online. https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak

The SMBC website and produce a form for completion online if anyone wants to report an outbreak. The links are now live and are below:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/coronavirus-in-stockport/report-a-coronavirus-outbreak
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/guidance-for-employees-employers-and-businesses

Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.

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.

New 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.

Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
Frequently asked questions on what you can and can’t do during the coronavirus outbreak – guidance updated in line with new regulations coming into force on 4 July

Business Survey:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-coronavirus-impact-business-survey/dcms-business-survey-headline-measures

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.

Applications Now Open for the Local Authority Discretion Fund. Businesses that had been eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support are also now eligible for the LA Discretionary Business Grant.

Apply for the coronavirus Future Fund
The Future Fund will provide UK Government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme set to launch
Employers will be able to make claims through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme from 26 May.

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

Government – Setting out of Road Map to recovery – 11^th 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 http://news.dwp.gov.uk/dwplz/lz.aspx?p1=MQsDU1NjQ5MlM2OTA0OjNCNDJBOEZCRTJDOUJEOTc1ODQ0RTRCRDNDNzk4QUNF-&CC=&p=0

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

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.