Extension to lockdown and furlough

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced yesterday (Thursday) that the current restrictions will remain in place for a further 3 weeks, and that there are 5 things the Government will need to be satisfied of before theyconsider it safe to adjust any of the existing measures:

1. They must be confident that the NHS are able to provide sufficient critical care and specialist treatment across the UK;
2. They need to see a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rates from coronavirus and be confident that we have moved beyond the peak;
3. They need to have reliable data from SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) showing that the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels across the board; 
4. They need to be confident that the range of operational challenges, including testing capacity and PPE, are in hand, with supply able to meet future demand; 
5. They need to be confident that any adjustments to the current measures will not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelm the NHS.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretarys-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-16-april-2020?utm_source=f03df306-0a3b-4854-a191-250277b189f0&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the final details of the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme which will be launched on Monday.  Key aspects of the scheme are:

• All viable businesses with turnover of more than £45m will be able to apply for government-backed support
• Firms with turnover of more than £250 million can borrow up to £50 million from lenders
• Lenders will be provided with a government-backed guarantee of 80% on each loan, giving them further confidence in continuing to provide finance.
• The scheme will be available through a series of accredited lenders, which will be listed on the British Business Bank website.

More information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-expands-loan-scheme-for-large-businesses?utm_source=e1eae5d2-6726-4b01-a7b4-29c502d3659a&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Following on from the announcement to keep the current restrictions in place, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) until the end of June. 

The scheme was originally open for three months and backdated from the 1 March to the end of May.  More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-furlough-scheme-to-end-of-june

The government have confirmed that the online service you’ll use to claim for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (80% of furloughed employees wages) will be available on 20 April at www.gov.uk

It has also issued guidance as to how to work out 80% of your employees’ wages to claim, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme and there are some worked examples to illustrate how to do it

A calculator will also be available on 20 April to assist you in calculating your claim

More information about all the business support available can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support