The Prime Minister has updated the nation on new national restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus.
The Government is introducing new time-limited national restrictions from Thursday 5th November, until December 2nd. This means you must not leave or be outside of your home except for specific purposes including:
- for childcare or education, where this is not provided online.
- for work purposes, where your place of work remains open and where you cannot work from home (including if your job involves working in other people’s homes).
- to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place - with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household (children under school age, as well as those dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside).
- for any medical concerns, reasons, appointments and emergencies, or to avoid or escape risk of injury or harm - such as domestic abuse.
- shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which should be as infrequent as possible.
- to visit members of your support bubble or provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.
However, in contrast to the lockdown we saw in the Spring:
- Schools, colleges and universities will remain open.
- You must continue to use the NHS and other essential public services.
This is going to be tough, but we will get through this by working together and looking out for each other.
Remember - ‘Hands. Face. Space’:
- hands – wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds
- face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
- space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors)
Financial support
Supporting businesses affected by these restrictions is crucial, so the government is putting a package of economic support in place:
Mortgage Holidays
In March, the government introduced mortgage payment holidays to help those affected by COVID-19. These have been extended.
If you have not yet had a mortgage payment holiday, you can apply for a six month holiday. If you already have a mortgage payment holiday, this can be extended up to six months without being recorded in your credit file.
Job Retention Scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention (Furlough) scheme has been in place since the start of March.
In light of these restrictions, the scheme has been extended throughout November. There are however some changes to the scheme, making it more generous to employers.
If you are furloughed, you WILL continue to receive 80% of your salary, up to £2,500 per month. Employers will only need to cover pension and national insurance contributions.
If furloughed, you can still work part-time, with the government covering 80% of wages for the hours not worked.
Business Support Grants
Businesses that are forced to close as a result of these new restrictions will receive grants based upon their rateable value.
Self-Employed Income Support Scheme
The support to the self-employed will increase from 40% of trading profits to 80% for November. SEISS is calculated over 3 months so this increases the total grant from 40% to 55% of trading profits for November to January and the max grant increases to £5,160.
Grants will also be paid faster than previously planned with the claims window opening at the end of November rather than the middle of December.
