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This bulletin is issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provides the latest information for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19). All coronavirus business support information can be found at gov.uk/business-support
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New measures, at the UK border to guard against a second wave of coronavirus infections have been announced by the Home Secretary on Friday 22 May. You can view the full press notice here. These measures are due to come into effect on 8 June 2020. They include 14 days self-isolation for anyone entering the UK, bar a short list of exemptions The full list is available on GOV.UK and include:
- road haulage and freight workers, to ensure the supply of goods is not impacted;
- medical professionals who are travelling to help with the fight against coronavirus;
- Anyone moving from within the Common Travel Area, covering Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;
- Seasonal Agricultural Workers who will self-isolate on the property where they are working
The Home Office has been working closely with industry partners ahead of announcing these changes. The changes will be subject to review every three weeks, to ensure they are in line with the latest scientific evidence and remain effective and necessary.
The measures outlined by the Home Secretary include:
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Contact locator form – All arriving passengers will be required to fill this in to provide contact and travel information so they can be contacted if they, or someone they may have been in contact with, develops the disease.
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Self-isolation - Passengers arriving in the UK will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and could be contacted regularly throughout this period to ensure compliance.
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Enforcement - Anyone failing to comply with the mandatory conditions may face enforcement action. A breach of self-isolation would be punishable with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England or potential prosecution and unlimited fine. The level of fine could increase if the risk of infection from abroad increases. The Devolved Administrations will set out their own enforcement approaches.
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Spot checks - Border Force will undertake checks at the border and may refuse entry to any non-British citizen who refuses to comply with these regulations and is not resident in the UK. Failure to complete the form is also punishable by a £100 fixed penalty notice. Public health authorities will conduct random checks in England to ensure compliance with self-isolation requirements. Removal from the country would be considered as a last resort for foreign nationals who refuse to comply with these public health measures.
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COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme: As part of UK Government’s commitment to supporting employers through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Chancellor has announced a Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rebate to support small and medium-sized employers with additional SSP costs due to COVID-19. For more information, join the following live webinar.
This webinar provides an overview of the scheme, including:
- who can claim;
- when to start paying SSP;
- employees you can claim for;
- making a claim;
- keeping records, and more.
Join a free webinar, hosted by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to find out more about how to make your workplace COVID-secure. The webinars cover a range of different types of workplace settings which are allowed to be open in England. You can also find the full written guidance for a range of different types of work and practical actions for businesses to take based on 5 main steps here.
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New
Government to offer antibody tests to health and social care staff
All health and social care staff in England will be offered a test, to see if they have had coronavirus as part of a new national antibody testing programme. The new antibody testing programme, will start next week. Further information can be found here.
Updates
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Updated advice has been published for Estate Agents; Developers and new build sales; Tradespeople; Conveyancers; New Build Home Warranty Assessments and claims against the warranty; Surveyors and EPC Assessors; Removals Firms; Letting Agents and Private Landlords and Social landlords, on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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Check which employees you can put on furlough and claim for through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This page has been updated with information that clarifies that eligibility depends on employment on or after certain dates.
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Updated: Find out how to calculate 80% of your employee’s wages, National Insurance contributions (NICs) and pension contributions if you have furloughed staff due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The list explaining functions that can be tested on the calculator has been updated – the calculator can now be used to work out claims for employees who have received top ups or discretionary payments in the claim period. Page also updated with information that the amount claimed for NICs cannot be more than 13.8% of the grant claimed for employee’s wages.
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Updated: Claim for 80% of your employee’s wages plus any employer National Insurance and pension contributions if you have put them on furlough because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This page has been updated to explain that employers will be asked to give the amounts separately for the NICs, pension and wages they are claiming for. Information added that employee authorised salary deductions can be made from grant payments.
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Offer coronavirus support
Tell us how your business might be able to help with the response to coronavirus by using our online service.
Share the impact coronavirus is having on your organisation
Let us know how the outbreak is impacting your business. Please send your intelligence, including information and feedback on the safer workplace guidance, to intel@beis.gov.uk. Commercially sensitive information will be treated accordingly. Please note that this inbox is only for receiving intelligence and does not provide business advice.
Help us shine a light on the stories of key workers
Tell us about key workers you know that are helping to keep the UK moving during the Coronavirus pandemic. Please fill in this online form for key workers in the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, consumer goods, scientists/researchers, servicing, postal workers, and oil/gas/electricity/water/sewage/chemical workers.
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