COVID-19 Updates – week commencing 02/08/21
More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance.
Go to date:
2 August 2021 …
Tourism Alliance update:
Status of Children Arriving From The EU And US After 2nd August
There has been some confusion as to whether children under the age of 18 had to quarantine on arrival into England after 2nd August which two guidance documents giving conflicting advice. This has now been resolved with the updating of the Quarantining guidance to read:
Children from the USA and Europe
Children under 18 who are residents of the USA or the listed European countries also do not need to quarantine or take a day 8 test.
They must follow the same rules as children and young people from the UK which are in this guide.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england
Welsh Statement On International Visitors
The Welsh Government has released a statement saying that while they regret the UK Government’s decision to relax quarantine requirements for vaccinated European and US visitors on 2nd August, it would be ineffective to introduce separate arrangements for Wales. As such, they will be aligning with the other UK administrations and implementing this decision for Wales.
However, they continue to caution Welsh residents against international travel for non-essential reasons this summer.
https://gov.wales/written-statement-international-travel-changes-2-august-2021
NHS Covid Pass
The guidance on the NHS Covid Pass has been updated to:
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- reflect that proof of natural immunity shown by a positive PCR test can be used to demonstrate COVID-19 status when travelling abroad
- the Pass can be stored used the Apple Wallet when using an iPhone or iPad
- reflect that those who received the Novavax vaccine as part of a formally approved vaccine trial can now obtain the NHS COVID Pass.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass
CJRS Statistics
ONS has published the latest wave of research on the uptake of the CJRS. The figures are for the period through to the end of June (so don’t cover the move to Step 4) but the main points are:
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- The were a total of 1.9 million people on furlough on 30 June 2021
- the arts, entertainment and recreation sector had the highest take-up rate of all the sectors, with 20% of its employments eligible for furlough on furlough. This sector had 99,400 employments on furlough at 30 June, a reduction of 49,300 employments since 31 May
- the accommodation and food services sector had 19% of its eligible employments on furlough. However, this sector also saw the largest reduction in the number of employments on furlough between 31 May and 30 June. There were 337,800 employments on furlough in this sector at 30 June 2021 (18% of the total), a reduction of 291,900 from the end of May.
Public Availability of CJRS Claim Data
The CJRS guidance for businesses has been updated to say that furloughed employees can see if they were included in a grant for claim periods from December 2020 to May 2021 in their personal tax account and that this information will be updated monthly and June 2021 claims will be available for employees to view from 9 September 2021.
Social Impacts Of Coronavirus
The results of ONS’s ongoing weekly research on the social impacts of coronavirus have been published. The results are for the week to 25th July and the key findings are:
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- A third of people still think that it will take at least a year for things to get back to normal (same as last week)
- 6% of adults reported that they were self-isolating at some point in the last seven days – 9% for people aged 16-29 which indicates the impact of the “pingdemic” on tourism and hospitality staff
- 89% of people still consider it important to wear facemasks when in shops while 88% are still consider it important to maintain social distancing
- For the first time, over 50% of people met with someone indoors this week – which is good news for indoor venues
- The percentage of people solely working from home continues to fall (22% this week) but the number of people solely travelling to work remains at just under 50%
These findings continue to indicate that the public are exercising a cautious approach to the reopening following the move to Step 4 and that businesses need to continue to reassure customers that they are undertaking covid-safe measures.
Changes To Self-Isolation Requirements In Wales
The Welsh First Minister has announced that, from 7th August, all adults who have been fully-vaccinated will no longer have to self-isolate if they are identified as close contacts of someone with coronavirus. In addition, whose aged under 18 will also be exempt from the need to self-isolate if they are identified as close contacts of a positive case.
https://gov.wales/changes-self-isolation-fully-vaccinated-adults
How Long Will Vaccinations Be Effective ?
Not tourism related but interesting nevertheless, the government has published a Sage paper on the how long they think that vaccinations will be effective. Some of the key point are:
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- It is likely that there will be vaccination campaigns against SARS-CoV-2 for many years to come
- We currently do not know what will be the optimal required frequency for re-vaccination to protect the vulnerable from COVID disease.
- Different vaccines may induce different sorts of immunity, which may have different duration
Distribution Of Grants By Councils
The figures for the distribution of Grant funding for the period up until the end of June have been published. Looking through the figures it seems that most councils have distributed their allocations from Government but there were still a few that needed to allocate significant sums during July in order to meet tomorrow’s deadline. They include:
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- Exeter has £1.1m to distribute
- Ipswich has £0.9m to distribute
- Norwich has £0.7m to distribute
- Kingston upon Thames has £2.6m to distribute
- Southend has £4m to distribute
- Westminster has £3m to distribute
What is disappointing about this is that with just 30 days left, some of these councils hadn’t distributed half the funding that they had been given by the Government at the beginning of the year to support businesses in their area which will have resulted these businesses facing unnecessary hardship over this period.
R Number and Growth Rate
As ever, here is this week’s R Number and Growth Rate – which are, respectively, 1.1 to 1.4 and +2% to +5%. This is good news is that while the number is infections is still increasing, they are increasing at the lowest rate since the beginning of July which, if it continues, suggests that we may not experience the large spike in cases that were projected for August.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-r-value-and-growth-rate
3 August 2021 …
Tourism Alliance update:
Changes to Test And Trace App To
In response to the “pingdemic” the Test & Trace app has been modified so that few people will be pinged for being in close contact with someone who has a positive test.
Up until today, if people who were asymptomatic entered a positive test into the app, the app pinged all close contacts the person had for five days prior to the test. This has now been dialled back so that only those close contacts the person had within two days prior to the test will be pinged.
Let me know whether your members notice any difference in employee self-isolation rates as a result of this change and I’ll feed this through to DCMS.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-covid-19-app-updated-to-notify-fewer-contacts-to-isolate
Guidance for Business Travellers, Au Pairs And Students
Not a coronavirus item but important nevertheless, UK Visas and Immigration has published a series of new guidance documents related to post-Brexit travel to the UK by:
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- Business travellers
- Au Pairs
- Students
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-information-for-eu-citizens
Guidance For Visa Applicants And Temporary Residents
This guidance has been updated again. This time it’s the guidance for students whose 90 day student visa vignette has expired
The new guidance is that if their 90 day visa vignette has expired and they either:
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- have been unable to travel due to coronavirus, but have been undertaking your studies remotely from overseas and intend to travel to study the same course in the UK
- have completed an eligible course by distance learning under coronavirus concessions and are coming to the UK by the relevant date to apply under the Graduate route. Read the guidance for further information
Then they will need to make a paid application for a vignette transfer at a cost of £154 and make an appointment to resubmit their biometric information.
However, if their 90 day visa vignette has expired and they either:
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- have deferred your course start date due to coronavirus but have been unable to undertake your studies remotely, meaning that your course cannot be completed during your existing visa period, and you now intend to travel to the UK
- can still complete your course within the dates covered by your existing visa period, but your course end date has changed, and you would like a new visa with a revised end date
Then they will need to submit a new paid student visa application with a new Certificate of Acceptance of Study (CAS) to cover the revised dates of their course. They will also need to make an appointment to resubmit their biometric information.
Daily Workplace Testing
The Government has produced new guidance on daily workplace testing, which is an alternative to self-isolation for essential sectors of the economy. While this doesn’t apply to tourism and hospitality businesses because they are not deemed to be essential businesses, it is worth noting now the scheme works just in case there is a change in the guidance which allows tourism businesses to use this scheme before the 16th August.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-workplace-guidance#daily-contact-testing
4 August 2021 …
Tourism Alliance update:
Analysis Of Call For Evidence On Commercial Rents
MHCLG has published an analysis of the evidence that they received in relation to the call for evidence from businesses on their experiences in trying to negotiate settlements on rent debt during the pandemic. The call for evidence also sought views on a number of options for withdrawing or replacing the existing tenant protection measures that will inform moves that the Government is making to resolve this issue. Some on the main findings were:
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- The vast majority of businesses affected were pubs & bars, restaurants and accommodation providers
- The location of impacted businesses was reasonably evenly spread throughout England
- 53% of businesses believe that only 0-20% of landlords were acting in accordance with the Government’s code of practice on rent settlement negotiations.
- The preferred option for businesses to resolve the issue of rent settlement was binding arbitration
- The preferred option for landlords is to allow the current tenant protection measures to expire
In response to this call for evidence, the government has published a policy statement which side with businesses on this issue, stating:
In order to provide a long-term solution to the resolution of rent arrears, and bring certainty to both landlords and tenants, the government is outlining a plan to legislate for binding arbitration, following the call for evidence and engagement with stakeholders.
Ahead of the arbitration system being in place, we will publish the principles which we will seek to put into legislation, to allow landlords and tenants time to negotiate on that basis. We would encourage all landlords and tenants to seek to agree mutually beneficial solutions as soon as possible.
Once the new system is in place this will mean:
- landlords will be able to exercise their rights to evict any tenant for the non-payment of rent debt incurred prior to March 2020 and from the end of the ringfenced period
- the new legislation applies only to debt for tenants impacted by COVID-19 business closures. Landlords will be able to evict any tenant who falls outside the scope of arbitration legislation over the non-payment of rental arrears accrued at any time
- landlords will also be able to charge interest on rent incurred from the end of the ringfenced period onwards, if such interest payments are included in the terms of their lease
If a tenant breaches any other terms of their contractual agreement with their landlord (i.e., by causing damage to the property), which gives rise to a right to forfeit the landlord is still able to move to evict them. Tenants will also be bound by the decision of the arbitrator and will have to pay rent debts accrued during the ringfenced period in accordance with that decision.
JCVI Advise That All 16 And 17 Year olds Are Vaccinated.
The JCVI has issued a statement advising that all 16 and 17 year olds should receive their first dose of vaccine.
And in response, the Health Secretary has issued a statement accepting this advice.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-on-offering-covid-19-vaccination-to-young-people
Self-Isolation Exemption Extended For 18 Year Olds
Staying with age-related guidance, the public guidance has been updated that reduce the length of time people who turn 18 year are exempt from self-isolating if they are a contact of someone who has coronavirus. Previously they were exempt for 4 months after they turned 18, but this has now been extended to 6 months. This is help relieve some of the pingdemic pressure on businesses that have significant numbers of young staff
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
Transport Use
DfT’s weekly figures on transport use show, yet again, that the recovery in public transport use remains very show. National rail usage, at around 55% of usual is only 10% higher that it was in June while bus usage is about the same level that it was in April. On the other side of the coin, the use of private vehicles over weekend periods remains between 105% – 110% of usual, highlighting how cautious people are of sharing transport with other people.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-use-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic
5 August 2021 …
Tourism Alliance updates:
Changes To Traffic Light Scheme
The Government has undertaken the three week review of the Traffic Light Scheme for international travel. The main changes, which come into effect at 4am on 8th August are as follows:
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- The Special status of “Amber+” for France has been removed which means that fully vaccinated visitors from France do not have to quarantine on arrival into the UK and that people can travel through France by car or coach without having to self-isolate on arrival in England
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- The following countries will move from the Amber List to the Green list
- Austria
- Germany
- Latvia
- Norway
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- The following countries will move from the Amber List to the Green list
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- The following countries have been moved to from the Red list to the Amber list
- Bahrain
- India
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- The following countries have been moved to from the Red list to the Amber list
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- The following countries will move from the Amber List to the Red list
- Georgia
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Reunion Island
- The following countries will move from the Amber List to the Red list
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england
Increases In Quarantine Costs
As well as the changes in the categorisation of countries, the Government has significantly increased the charges for people staying in Quarantine Hotels. The new charges are:
CJRS Update
The guidance on the CJRS has been updated in light of the scheme coming to an end on 30th September. With September being the last month claims for that month must be submitted by 14 October 2021, with any amendments being made by 28 October 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Updated Kickstart Guidance
There have been a few changes to the guidance on the Kickstart scheme. The first is to say that businesses can advertise vacancies themselves but all jobs must receive an introduction through a DWP work coach to receive full funding. The guidance has also been updated to say that when businesses receive a remittance advice notice from HMRC, they will be able to identify the young person in the remittance advice by their ‘Introduction ID’ which the businesses will receive by email when the young person is referred by a work coach.
Finally the guidance has been updated to say that businesses can add new jobs to their grant agreement after it has been approved by using an online application service using the following link https://www.apply-kickstart-grant-employer.service.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant
Changes to Self-Isolation in Wales
The Welsh First Minister has announced that, from 7th August, all adults who have been fully-vaccinated will no longer have to self-isolate if they are identified as close contacts of someone with coronavirus. Children and young people under 18 will also be exempt from the need to self-isolate if they are also identified as close contacts of a positive case. However, everyone who tests positive for coronavirus or has symptoms must continue to isolate for 10 days, whether they have been vaccinated or not.
https://gov.wales/changes-self-isolation-fully-vaccinated-adults
They have also announced that from that date, the self-isolation support payment in Wales will increase from £500 to £750. The payment scheme, which has been extended until March 2022, has been increased to compensate anyone earning up to the personal income threshold with their loss of earnings over the ten day isolation period.
https://gov.wales/self-isolation-support-payment-increased-750
Visa Free Travel For Short Tours
DCMS has announced that touring performers and support staff are allowed to come to the UK for up to 3 months without a visa, which will be of significant benefit for destinations and businesses that are hosting cultural festivals and events. Reciprocal arrangements have also been made with 1 EU countries – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/visa-free-short-term-touring-allowed-in-19-member-states
