COVID-19 UPDATE – Friday 23rd October 2020

From, Cllr Philip Whitehead, Wiltshire Council

The council will be publishing Covid-19 case statistics for Wiltshire every week through its channels. The statistics as at 22nd October can be seen below.

Schools update

Precautionary COVID-19 measures taken at schools in Wiltshire
Following advice from public health professionals, 25 education settings, including independent and boarding schools in Wiltshire are currently taking precautionary COVID-19 measures due to positive cases being confirmed in their settings. This information is correct as at 9.00am on 23 October.

Whilst the number of positive cases are very low in each setting, a total of 1,610 pupils are currently being asked to self-isolate to ensure any risk of transmission is kept as low as possible. The self-isolation of the pupils is very precautionary to minimise any risk to others and to reduce onward transmission of the virus.

All schools are working closely with the Public Health team at Wiltshire Council to ensure all the necessary measures are in place.

Business update

The Chancellor has announced the following increased support for businesses:

Job Support Scheme

The original scheme, starting on 1 November 2020, saw employers paying a third of their employees’ wages for hours not worked and required employees to be working 33% of their normal hours.

The announcement means the employer contribution to those unworked hours has been reduced to 5% and the minimum hours requirements reduced to 20%, so those working just one day a week will be eligible.

Employers will continue to receive the £1,000 Job Retention Bonus for each employee retained until February 2021.

The Job Support Scheme Closed which supports those businesses legally required to close remains unchanged.

More information can be found in the Job Support Scheme Open Factsheet
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928761/JSS_Open_factsheet.pdf

Self-employed Grant

The amounts of profit covered by the two forthcoming self-employed grants has been increased from 20% to 40%, meaning the maximum grant will increase from £1,875 to £3,750. The first grant will cover a three-month period from the start of November 2020 until the end of January 2021. The second grant will cover a three-month period from the start of February until the end of April 2021.

Business Grants

Cash grants of up to £2,100 per month will be available, primarily for businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sector that may be adversely impacted by the restrictions in high-alert areas. Businesses in Very High alert level areas may qualify for up to £3,000 per month.

More information can be found in the Business Grants Factsheet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928760/BUSINESS_GRANTS_FACTSHEET.pdf

Read the Chancellor’s announcement in full: #sw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plan-for-jobs-chancellor-increases-financial-support-for-businesses-and-workers?utm_source=923e5ab2-e10c-490d-ac93-4287f524ee0e&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate#sw

COVID-19 Wiltshire Business and Employee Tool Kit

The council has produced a COVID-19 Business and Employee Tool Kit to help provide useful advice and guidance to support. Within it you’ll find a range of resources including symptoms step-by-step guides, advice on car sharing, guidance on staying safe outside of work, and a lot more.

A copy of the tool kit is available to download here: https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/media/4906/COVID-19-Public-health-advice-and-guidance-for-businesses/pdf/COVID-19___public_health_advice_and_guidance_for_your_business_and_employees.pdf?m=637387175459930000

Revaluation 2023

The Valuation Office Agency is contacting businesses to request rental information to support the next revaluation of business rates in England and Wales – Revaluation 2023. Once businesses receive a letter they can go online to submit up-to-date details. It is important to provide this information to ensure business rates are accurate.

Leaving the EU

The government is urging businesses to step up preparations for leaving the EU on Australian-style terms based on simple principles of global free trade from 1 January 2021.

Businesses need to take the following actions:
•If you sell goods to the EU you must prepare for new customs procedures. Visit GOV.UK to check duties and customs procedures for exporting your goods worldwide from 1 January 2021
•If you travel to the EU for work purposes you will need to check if you need a visa or work permit and apply if necessary
•If you employ overseas nationals, you will need to prepare your business for the implementation of the new immigration system. From 1 January 2021, if you want to hire anyone from outside the UK, including the EU, you must be a Home Office licenced sponsor
•If your business receives personal data from contacts in the EEA, you may need to take extra steps to ensure that the data can continue to flow legally at the end of the transition period
•If you provide services in the EU, you must ensure that your qualifications are now recognised by EU regulations to be able to practice or service clients in the EU

You can get a personalised summary of the actions you need to take by using a simple tool on gov.uk/transition (https://www.gov.uk/transition).

Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/time-is-running-out-for-businesses-to-prepare.

Self-isolation £500 payment for people on low income who cannot work from home

A £500 payment is available for people who have to self-isolate, on a low income and will lose money because they cannot work from home.

If they are self-isolating because they’ve come home from another country this does not mean they are eligible, they must have a unique Test and Trace number provided by the NHS to qualify.

To be eligible a person must:
•have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace after Monday, 28 September 2020 and have a unique Test and Trace number provided by the NHS
•are employed or self-employed
•have lost income by being unable to work from home while self-isolating

They must also be receiving at least one of the following benefits:
•Universal Credit
•Pension Credit
•Housing Benefit
•Income Support
•Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
•Income-based Employment Support Allowance
•Working Tax Credit

The council is in the process of finalising a system to allow people to claim for this payment as quickly and easily as possible, and this will be live next week. People who are eligible for this payment will be able to make a backdated claim to 28 September 2020.

More information on how to apply locally will be available on the council’s council tax and benefits pages next week. In the meantime, more information can also be found on the government website.

Our Wiltshire are providing FREE SCHOOL MEALS - for vulnerable children in Wiltshire during October half-term.

For more information and how to claim, follow the link - http://orlo.uk/GWg5A

It would be great to see you at our next litter pick on Saturday 31st October 2020

Areas around Oldfield Park

Meet us at 10am at the One Stop Shop
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