COVID-19 & Lockdown Update 2nd November 2020
You will no doubt be taking in the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday evening that England will enter a national lockdown for a month, commencing 5th Nov and ending on 2nd Dec.
- Movement
The key aspects of the Lockdown are that everyone must stay at home, The only exclusions to this are:
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- For education;
- For work, if you cannot work from home;
- For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or on your own with one person from another household;
- For all medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm;
- To shop for food and essentials;
- to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.
People can attend funerals but weddings, civil partnership ceremonies will not be permitted to take place except in exceptional circumstances.
- Holidays
In terms of movement for holidays, it seems that the restrictions are the same as per the original lockdown. This means that people cannot travel internationally or within the UK. This also means that people must stay in their primary residence and therefore cannot visit a second home or holiday home
As people are allowed to travel for work, it would seem that accommodation providers will be allowed to stay open to provide accommodation for those still able to travel
- Business Closures
- All non-essential shops, attractions, leisure and entertainment venues will be closed.
- Essential shops, including supermarkets, will remain open
- Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes must close, except for takeaway and delivery services.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november
- Furloughing and Grants
Furloughing
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which was meant to end yesterday and be replaced by the Job Support Scheme, will now remain in place until December, with the terms of the scheme reverting to the Scheme as it was in August – ie., employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 and businesses paying for NI and pension contributions.
Businesses will also have flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work on a part time basis or furlough them full-time.
Grants
Businesses required to close in England due to local or national restrictions will be eligible for the following:
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- For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks;
- For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks;
- For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced
Q. Do people on holiday have to return home on Thursday ?
The Prime Minister said in his announcement that:
Inbound international travel will continue to be governed by the travel corridor approach, and those currently on a domestic holiday will be allowed to finish their holidays, but are still subject to the requirements in England not to go out without a reasonable excuse.
Awaiting DCMS to confirm this as it was not mentioned in the guidance that followed the announcement but, in the meantime, we are working on the basis that people already on holiday before Thursday can complete their stay.
Q. The Guidance says that people can travel and stay away overnight for work – is this all workers or just essential workers?
DCMS is checking this and think that the final guidance will be somewhere between the two – a wider list than last time but not something that would allow everyone to claim that they are travelling for work.
Q. How will the Furlough Scheme work this time?
The Furlough scheme will essentially work in the same way as it did in August, with the Government paying 80% if a furloughed employees salary and the employer paying the NI and Pension contributions. People will be able to be furloughed on a flexible basis.
The guidance on the furlough scheme has been updated in line with the Prime Minister’s announcement
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
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