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New Three Tier System in England and support for businesses that have to close
dunoonhotel • Oct 14, 2020
UKH update
13 October 2020
Latest updates for businesses affected by COVID-19
On 12 October, the Prime Minister made a statement to the House of
Commons [7]. The announcement sets out how the Government plans to
standardise and simplify local lockdown measures, by introducing a three
tiered system of local COVID Alert Levels in England [8] - set at
medium, high, and very high. You can view the areas in England listed as
local COVID alert level high and local COVID alert level very high [9]
and the postcode checker on GOV.UK [10].
Please see below for more details and guidance on each alert level,
further updates to the Job Support Scheme and other recent government
updates.
Local COVID Alert Level - Medium
Covering most of the country - this will consist of the current national
measures, which came into force on 25 September. For areas where
national restrictions continue to be in place, this means:
* All businesses and venues can continue to operate in a COVID-Secure
manner, other than those that remain closed in law, such as nightclubs.
* Certain businesses selling food or drink on their premises are
required to close between 10pm and 5am.
* Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises
can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery
service, click-and-collect or drive-thru.
* Schools, universities and places of worship remain open.
* Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of
attendees.
* Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take
place, provided the Rule of Six is followed.
* People must not meet in groups larger than six, indoors or outdoors.
See the guidance and restrictions for areas where the Local COVID Alert
level is Medium.
Local COVID Alert Level - High
This is for areas with a higher level of infections. The “high”
alert level will reflect many current local interventions, but there
will now be consistency across the country. This means the following
additional measures are in place:
* People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support
bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place.
* People must not meet in a group of more than six outside, including
in a garden or other space.
* People should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where
possible. If they need to travel, they should walk or cycle where
possible, or to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public
transport.
Most areas which are already subject to local restrictions will
automatically move into the “high” alert level. As a result of
rising infection rates Nottinghamshire, East and West Cheshire and a
small area of High Peak will also move into the “high” alert level.
See the guidance and restrictions for areas where the Local COVID Alert
level is High.
Local COVID Alert Level - Very High
This is for areas with a very high level of infections. The Government
will set a baseline of measures for any area in this local alert level.
Consultation with local authorities will determine additional measures.
The baseline means the below additional measures are in place:
* Pubs and bars must close, and can only remain open where they operate
as if they were a restaurant - which means serving substantial meals,
like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as
part of such a meal.
* Wedding receptions are not allowed.
* People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support
bubble in any indoor or outdoor setting, whether at home or in a public
space. The Rule of Six applies in open public spaces like parks and
beaches.
* People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘Very High’
area they are in, or entering a ‘Very High’ area, other than for
things like work, education, accessing youth services, to meet caring
responsibilities or if they are in transit.
* People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if
they are resident in a ‘Very High’ area, or avoid staying overnight
in a ‘Very High’ area if they are resident elsewhere.
Local Authorities in the Liverpool City Region [11] will move into the
“very high” alert level from Wednesday. In addition, to pubs and
bars in Merseyside and the Liverpool City Region, gyms, dance studios,
leisure centres, betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos will
also close.
See the guidance and restrictions for areas where the Local COVID Alert
level is Very High.
The regulations were laid before MPs yesterday and will be debated
today, and come into force from Wednesday 14 October. There will be a
4-week sunset clause on interventions in very high areas.
During last night’s press conference, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak,
outlined the financial support measures being taken:
* The new Job Support Scheme [12] starts in November (for six months)
to subsidise wages for staff on shorter hours and has been expanded to
support businesses [13] that are asked to close due to restrictions by
covering two thirds of each employees’ salary. The current furlough
scheme will continue until the end of October.
* Those businesses legally required to close can claim a cash grant of
up to £3,000 per month [14] depending on the value of their business
premises, the grants can be used to cover any business costs.
* Additional funding for local authorities [15] entering level three
"very high" restrictions will be available - up to half a billion pounds
to fund enforcement, compliance, and contact tracing. Also to protect
vital services the Government will be providing around a billion pounds
of additional funding for all local authorities.
Job Support Scheme guidance updated
The guidance for the Job Support Scheme [16] has been updated to include
businesses required to close as a result of the new alert scheme. New
information has been added to clarify the support for businesses with
different rateable values:
* Properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under will receive
grants of £667 per two weeks of closure (£1,334 per month).
* Properties with a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than
£51,000 will receive grants of £1,000 per two weeks of closure
(£2,000 per month).
* Properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or over will receive
grants of £1,500 per two weeks of closure (£3,000 per month).
Other Government updates
* The guidance on deferring your self-assessment payment [17] on
account has been updated.
* Guidance on who can claim support [18] and how to apply for the test
and trace support payment scheme has been published.
* The advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents [19] has
been updated to state that customers can now apply at any VAC centre if
their closest one is closed.
New webinars for businesses
We are running a number of free webinars for industry, starting this
week, focusing on business recovery, business events and travel trade.
* Business recovery webinars [20]
* Business Events webinars [21]
* UK Travel Trade webinars [22]
See all COVID-19 updates and guidance for businesses [23]
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