Please see the most recent COVID-19 bulletin below.
CONTENTS
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, sets out England’s new coronavirus tier system
The full list of local restriction tiers by area from Wednesday 2 December 2020 is available here.
Decisions on which area goes into which tier are primarily based on 5 key epidemiological indicators: case detection rates in all age groups; case detection rates in the over-60s; the rate at which cases are rising or falling; positivity rate, and; pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy. The changes to the tiers are as follows:
Find out more information on tiers, including information for businesses and venues. The government will review the allocations every 14 days, with the first review complete by the end of 16 December.
Spending Review to fight virus, and invest in UK’s recovery
On 25 November 2020, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the spending review. The government will provide billions of pounds in the fight against coronavirus, and invest in the UK’s recovery. Headlines for businesses are:
To view the chancellor’s speech, click here, and for further details on the spending review, click here.
The UK Transition: Time is Running Out
With just 35 days to go until the UK’s new start: Watch sector specific webinars on demand here
New Guidance
UK-wide Christmas arrangements agreed by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations: The joint arrangements for an easing of social restriction that will allow friends and loved ones to reunite over the Christmas period is here. Each Christmas bubble can meet at home, at a place of worship or an outdoor public place, but existing, more restrictive rules on hospitality and meeting in other venues will be maintained throughout this period.
How your trading conditions affect your eligibility for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: This guide applies to businesses if they have been impacted by reduced demand, activity, or capacity due to coronavirus.
Find out what we mean by reduced demand or temporary closure – and read examples of how this could affect business eligibility here
Updated Guidance
Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: This page has been updated with information for the third grant of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. If you are self-employed or a member of a partnership and have been impacted by coronavirus, find out if you can use this scheme to claim a grant here
Claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: You must make your claim between 30 November 2020 and 29 January 2021. If you are eligible to claim for the third grant of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, check for updated information.
How HMRC works out trading profits and non-trading income for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: Find out how HMRC will work out your trading profits and non-trading income if you are self-employed or a member of a partnership and have been impacted by coronavirus here
How your circumstances affect eligibility for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: Find out examples of how your circumstances can affect your eligibility for the scheme here
Working safely during Coronavirus -Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure: Check the 14 guides to determine which one affects your type of work here
Travel
“Testing to release” for international travel: minimum standards for testing: This updated guidance is for private providers of ‘Testing to Release for International Travel’. From 15 December, international arrivals will be able to opt-in to ‘Testing to Release’ Click to check for the minimum standard