Friday Coronavirus update

The Government has updated its guidance and regulation around dealing with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The details are as follows

The Government has amended the Business Support Information to include detailed information about The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) who have lost income due to coronavirus (COVID-19). This scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed. More details are available here, but this scheme cannot be applied for now – HMRC will contact you if you are eligible, and individuals are not asked to contact HMRC now. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

Regulations around business are now enforceable by law in England due to the threat to public health. These supersede Regulations that came into force at 2pm on 21 March 2020. A business or venue operating in contravention of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 will be committing an offence. In England, Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will monitor compliance with these regulations, with police support provided if appropriate. Businesses and venues that breach them will be subject to prohibition notices, and fixed penalties. With the support of the police, prohibition notices can be used to force a business or venue to close. If prohibition notices are not followed, or fixed penalty notice not paid, you may also be taken to court with magistrates able to impose potentially unlimited fines.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance

Planning regulation has now been changed to enable restaurants, cafés and pubs which do not currently (or prior to this did not) offer delivery and hot food takeaway to do so. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/330/article/4/made

The SIA has clarified that security workers are critical workers. ‘Roles essential to supporting law and order, with the potential to reduce demand on policing, also meet the critical worker definition. This would include, amongst other areas, the guarding of empty or closed commercial, retail or office premises; the monitoring of similar through CCTV or other remote means; and the provision of alarm response centres including mobile units.’ https://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx