Coronavirus News Updates

CORONAVIRUS NEWS UPDATES

LATEST

For the latest daily updates, we advise you bookmark the Government's main Coronavirus advice page and visit it regularly:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

For information on:

  • Protecting yourself and others from coronavirus
  • Testing for coronavirus
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Employment, financial support and money
  • Working safely
  • Businesses and self-employed people
  • School openings, education and childcare
  • Housing and accommodation
  • Driving and transport in the UK
  • International travel and immigration
  • Volunteering and offering help
  • Healthcare workers, carers and care settings
  • Support if someone dies

 

NEWS ARCHIVE

20th April 2020

Government Job Retention Scheme: Claim for wages costs portal is now open

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

19th April 2020

Government responds to TheSunday Times Insight Article

https://healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/04/19/response-to-sunday-times-insight-article/

18th April 2020

Chancellor extends the Job Retention (Furlough) Scheme until end of June

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-furlough-scheme-to-end-of-june

17th April 2020

Updated guidance on shielding the most vulnerable

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

16th April 2020

Foreign Secretary's latest statement on Coronavirus and social distancing

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretarys-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-16-april-2020

14th April 2020

#YouAreNotAlone Additional support for victims of domestic abuse is announced

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-and-domestic-abuse/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-victims-of-domestic-abuse

9th April 2020

Information for households who suspect they have a COVID case

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

8th April 2020

Information for those providing unpaid care

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-providing-unpaid-care

7th April 2020

Updated guidance for employers and employees

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

3rd April 2020

Latest guidance for businesses during Coronavirus

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19

26th March 2020

Government announces financial support for the self-employed:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

23rd March 2020

BRITAIN IS NOW IN LOCKDOWN: https://www.chrisloder.co.uk/lockdown

Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation tonight (23rd March 2020) and announced the biggest crackdown on freedom of movement since the end of the Second World War; in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus and protect our NHS from being overwhelmed. Britain is now in lockdown.

22nd March 2020

Government announces plans to shield 1.5 million of the most vulnerable in our communities from COVID-19: 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?fbclid=IwAR1pLtEptNhZ_ApsFMsajKNj-Agp-PEcnT6Q7YCcXkhjWqxkVnGS_tROcmg

20th March 2020

It's on all of us: Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces bold new measures to save jobs and support the economy: https://www.chrisloder.co.uk/coronavirus-measures

Read the Chancellor's speech in full

19th March 2020

Guidance on social distance - all you need to know: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

Guidance on isolation - staying at home: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

19th March 2020

Information for parents and carers about the closure of schools and other educational settings following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will be updated as we have further information available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

18th March 2020

After schools shut their gates on Friday afternoon, they will remain closed until further notice except for children of key workers and vulnerable children, as part of the country’s ongoing response to coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/schools-colleges-and-early-years-settings-to-close

18th March 2020

See the guidance regarding free school meals during schools shutdown https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools

17th March 2020

What the Coronavirus Bill will do: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-bill-what-it-will-do/what-the-coronavirus-bill-will-do

17th March 2020

The Chancellor announces further support in economic response to coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-of-the-exchequer-rishi-sunak-on-covid19-response

17th March 2020

The CofE suspends all public services (excluding 'scaled back' weddings and funerals), though churches stay open where possible for prayer: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/archbishops-call-church-england-become-radically-different-public-worship

16th March 2020

Covid-19 Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

15th March 2020

The coronavirus outbreak is the biggest public health emergency in a generation. It calls for dramatic action, at home and abroad, of the kind not normally seen in peacetime. Heath Secretary, Matt Hancock's Sunday Telegraph Op-Ed:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/health-secretary-matt-hancocks-sunday-telegraph-op-ed

13th March 2020

Stay at home guidance for people with confirmed or possible coronavirus infection: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

12th March 2020

The Government has announced that we are moving out of the contain phase and into delay, in response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The UK Chief Medical Officers have now raised the risk to the UK from moderate to high.

Read the full announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-government-announces-moving-out-of-contain-phase-and-into-delay

12th March 2020

Following a meeting of COBR, the Prime Minister Boris Johnston made a statement on Coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus-12-march-2020

11th March 2020

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a £30bn package to boost the economy and get the country through the coronavirus outbreak: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51835306

11th March 2020

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made the assessment that COVID-19 can now be characterized as a pandemic: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020

9th March 2020

Local Government Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP has launched a new taskforce to strengthen local plans to help tackle the outbreak of Coronavirus.

The taskforce will bring together senior experts from across key sectors – including resilience, local government, public health and adult social care fields – who will assess Local Resilience Forum (LRF) plans and provide support and advice to ensure they are robust.

Taskforce to bolster local responses: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/taskforce-to-bolster-local-response-to-coronavirus

8th March 2020

Latest Government update: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

4th March 2020

Government has released its lastest public information campaign on Coronavirus. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-information-campaign-focuses-on-handwashing

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

The UK is a world-leader in preparing for and managing disease outbreaks and I have every confidence in our nation’s ability to respond to the threat of COVID-19.

We all have a role to play in stopping this disease and that’s what this expanded campaign is all about – making sure the public knows exactly what they should be doing to keep themselves and others safe. Washing hands regularly is the single most important thing that an individual can do.

Public safety remains our top priority. The government and the NHS are working 24/7 to fight this virus. It’s imperative that everyone follows clinical advice by contacting NHS 111, and not going to A&E if you develop symptoms.

4th March 2020

Sick pay from day one:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sick-pay-from-day-one-for-those-affected-by-coronavirus

3rd March 2020

Government has released its Coronavirus Action Plan  

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan