Barclays Economic Update: According to a report published by office for budget responsibility (OBR), the UK economy is expected to decrease by 35% and unemployment is likely to increase by c.2 million due to the covid-19 crisis in q2’20. (A Bank of England briefing this morning described this forecast as ’unfortunately realistic’.)

The OBR stated that gross domestic product (GDP) could decline by more than 33% in q2’20 and by 13% for 2020 as a whole. International monetary fund (IMF) also raised concerns of an economic decline unparalleled since the great depression of the 1930s as a result of business activity and social life effectively having been brought to a coordinated standstill in most of the developed world.

The IMF forecast a decline in UK output of 6.5% in 2020, and a decline in GDP of 9.1% and 8% respectively for Italy and Spain, which are the two European economies worst affected by covid-19. It also expected that China’s growth will decline from a predicted 6.1% to just 1.2% in 2020.

Gita Gopinath, economic counsellor at the IMF, stated that the size of the hit to the global economy, uncertainty about how long the shock would last, and the need to discourage economic activity to contain the virus had led to a crisis “like no other”.

 

UK government: Overview of COVID-19

UK government: COVID-19: guidance for employers and businesses

UK government: COVID-19 government response hub

UK government: support for business

 

Guidance: As a general reminder the latest guidance from Public Health England can be found here.

 

COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses

Organisations should pay particular attention to the guidance for employees, employers and businesses which is being updated regularly with the latest advice.

There is also separate information for businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

Message From FSA: FSA has today published new guidance to help consumers understand more about COVID-19 and food.  This can be found on: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-consumers-on-coronavirus-covid-19-and-food The guidance covers a range of issues including food hygiene, food packaging and social distancing when shopping. There is also advice on storing food at home, to help people manage leftovers and avoid waste. Our advice is clear that it remains very unlikely that people can catch COVID-19 from food. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and not known to be transmitted by exposure to food or food packaging. We are continuing to work closely with partners to ensure the UK food supply remains safe and the public kept informed of the latest safety advice. We will be sharing this consumer messaging widely on our social media channels and would be grateful if you are able to support this by sharing or liking from your accounts.  It would also help us to get this messaging to a wider audience if you could include the link in any material you are producing for consumers on COVID-19.

 

Celebrating the food industry: Defra has published a Twitter Moment and Facebook Note celebrating the work of the food industry and highlighting some of the different food delivery services provided during coronavirus, which we would be grateful for you to share.

 

Job Retention Scheme: Message From HMRC: We want to help you get ready to make your claim under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme when it goes live from Monday 20‌‌ April. There’s now updated guidance on how to calculate your claim and a simple step-by-step guide. There will also be a calculator available when the system goes live on Monday for you to check your calculations online before you make your claim. Please have all your information and calculations ready before you begin your application. If you have a payroll provider, they will be able to help you with this. You should retain all records and calculations in case we need to contact you about them. Please only call us if you can’t find what you need on GOV‌.UK – this will leave our lines open for those who need our help most. We wish you all the best at this challenging time.

Job Retention Scheme: The government have announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended to allow employees to remain furloughed until the end of June. The full story is available on HM Treasury’s website here.

 

HGV drivers – Guidance for drivers who need to renew their driving licence (lorry or bus license at age 45 or over) during the during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Department for Transport has published advice on this that advises that a medical report will not be required in these special circumstance, but renewed licenses will only be valid for one year. Please read full details at : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applications-for-renewing-lorry-and-bus-driving-licences-at-age-45-and-over-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic

Bus and lorry drivers licences: DfT and DVLA have made temporary changes to bus and lorry drivers licences which are due to expire or have expired since 1 January.

Drivers Hours: Following a recent review of the current relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers’ hours rules; which is due to end on 21 April 2020, a decision has been made, based on the current evidence, to continue with the relaxations (apart from the relaxation on the EU break requirements) until 23:59 on Sunday 31 May 2020

Please see link below to the updated notification on gov.uk for further details:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-relaxation-of-the-enforcement-of-the-drivers-hours-rules-all-sectors-carriage-of-goods-by-road

Please direct any queries about these relaxations to: supply-chain-engagement@dft.gov.uk

DfT and the DVSA have published updated guidance on the temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers’ hours rules

Coronavirus testing: DHSC has announced that the government is to extend testing for coronavirus to more frontline workers and published guidance on further testing for frontline workers who are self-isolating. We are expecting news on the further extension of testing later this week.

Companies House guidance: Companies House has announced how it is supporting businesses affected by coronavirus.

 

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HSE eBulletin

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Stakeholder Bulletin Welcome to the HSE Stakeholder Bulletin for coronavirus (COVID-19) providing a round-up of the latest news and updates on workplace health and safety issues.

The HSE website has the latest guidance and information for employers and employees.   Please cascade this bulletin within your organisation and through your networks to help reach businesses during this unprecedented time.   We greatly value your feedback on the usefulness of this on-going bulletin and encourage you to take this quick survey.   To support the UK response to coronavirus, HSE is working closely with the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and Public Health England (PHE) who are leading the UK government response to the coronavirus outbreak.   PHE has developed guidance specifically for employers and businesses regarding coronavirus.   A lot of guidance for businesses is different because public health responsibility is devolved. Specific information is available for businesses and employers in Scotland and Wales. Advice for healthcare workers – fit testing and fit checking your RPE Tight-fitting respirators rely on having a good seal with your face. A respirator that is incorrectly fitted will not protect employees. Healthcare workers must pass a fit test for the model and size of respirator they will be using to make sure it fits to their face properly.   It’s essential that the respirator is correctly fitted each time it’s used by performing a fit check.   HSE has useful videos to help you when fit testing and fit checking your respirator.   Remember R.P.E: Read the guidance Put your respirator on using a mirror Ensure your own safety Latest HSE information and guidance Regulating occupational health and safety during the coronavirus outbreak HSE continues to work closely with the government and our partners to contribute to the national response to the coronavirus outbreak.   We understand this is an extremely worrying time for both employers and workers so we have issued guidance on how we’re continuing to regulate and what you need to do if your business remains open.   Protecting lone workers Due to social distancing, lone working has become far more common. We have new guidance for employers to keep lone workers healthy and safe.   Work equipment – examinations and testing We have advice for duty holders on additional precautions to help reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus when meeting legal requirements for thorough examination and testing (TE&T). Your feedback matters To help us get the right information to you, please complete this survey. Previous guidance We have published the following guidance, which you may find useful: face mask fit-testing RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19 working from home driver welfare facilities first aid cover and qualifications the manufacture and supply of hand sanitisers Please keep up-to-date with and follow the coronavirus guidance on GOV.UK.   In Scotland you will find up to date information and advice about COVID-19 from the Scottish Government.   In Wales, up-to-date information is provided by the Welsh Government.

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