COVID-19 Updates 25th August 2020

The main item being clarification of the course of action that customers need to take if they contract coronavirus while on holiday and who is responsible for any costs incurred.

• Contracting Coronavirus on Holiday

The government has updated the FAQ  public guidance on what people can and cannot do to clarify the what happens if someone contracts Coronavirus while on Holiday in England. The guidance (Section 3.4 in the linked document) explains that customers staying in commercial accommodation should:

• inform the accommodation provider immediately
• immediately self-isolate and request a test by calling 119 or online at nhs.uk.
• return home as quickly and directly as possible if the test is positive
• use private transport to return home but only driving if they can do so safely.
• If they cannot avoid using public transport, they should continue to self-isolate in the accommodation and call 111 for further advice.
• If self-isolating in the accommodation necessitates extending their stay in the accommodation, they can only do this if it is agreed with the accommodation provider
• The customer will be expected to pay the costs of an extended stay in all but exceptional circumstances.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

• Local Government Income Compensation Scheme

This one may be of relevance to some DMOs. The Government has produced guidance on a new income loss scheme that will compensate for irrecoverable and unavoidable losses from sales, fees and charges income generated in the delivery of services, in the financial year 2020/21. Reading through the guidance this might be applicable for Local authority DMOs  which generate revenue through retail sales or commissions.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-government-income-compensation-scheme-for-lost-sales-fees-and-charges

• CJRS Wage Claims Update

HMRC have updated it guidance on claiming wages for furloughed staff to inform employers claiming for 100+ employees that they have to use the supplied template and that their claim  may be rejected if the information provided is not given in the right format.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

• 64 Million Eat Out to Help Out Meals Claimed

HM Treasury has released figures showing how successful the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been. The figures indicate that, after three weeks of operation, 64m meals have been taken through the East Out to Help Out scheme. HMRC’s data also indicates that the number of customers at UK restaurants from Monday to Wednesday last week was 61% higher than the same days last year and the number of people going to restaurants over the whole of last week was up 17% compared to the same week last year

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-64-million-meals-claimed-for-as-eat-out-to-help-out-enters-fourth-week