LGA Responding to latest ONS figures on Coronavirus deaths
RESPONDING to the latest ONS figures on
Coronavirus deaths, which show that deaths involving COVID-19 as
a percentage of all deaths in care homes decreased to 23.4% in
the week to 5 June 2020, compared with 28.2% in the previous
week, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government
Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:- "Every
week we are painfully reminded of each 1 of the lives tragically
lost to this dreadful disease. Our thoughts go out to those
family and friends in mourning at this difficult time. Social
care remains the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus and
while it is clear we are now past the peak of the virus in care
homes, it is still seriously concerning that nearly a third of
all deaths from COVID-19 continues to happen in these settings.
We have also seen a slight weekly increase in the number of
people dying from COVID-19 in their own homes and other communal
settings, which is equally worrying. Excess deaths in care homes
and private homes continue to be higher than the 5 year average,
compared to Hospitals which have seen a decline, leaving our
older people and most vulnerable at risk. Councils are doing all
they can to protect those in care homes, as well as those
receiving care in their own homes. Every council in England has
prepared plans on how to support all care homes in their areas
to control and prevent future infection outbreaks, working
alongside the NHS locally and with Public Health England. The
Government needs to ensure that councils and social care
services have all the resources they need for the weeks and
months ahead. The LGA will also be working closely with the new
National COVID-19 Social Care Support Taskforce to tackle these
issues and help guide social care through this current crisis
and beyond."
Furlough Scheme Changes
SOUTHPORT based
Pennington
Silver, Chartered
Accountants, have given us a brief summary of the changes to the
Government’s furlough scheme with effect from 1 July 2020 for
readers who are a bit unsure as to what is going on next... We
are told that claims for version 1 of furlough, which was for
the period to 30 June have to be made by 31 July 2020.
► CJRS V2: 1 July 2020 to 31 October
2020. This runs from 1 July 2020 the scheme is only available to
employers that have used CJRS V1 and only for employees they
have previously furloughed. Employees can be flexibly
furloughed, enabling part time working. No minimum furlough
period. Furlough claims become more specific and must contain
details of usual hours (based on calendar days) and usual hours
worked. Hours furloughed will be the difference. Each claim made
by employer must be for a week or more. No claim period can
extend across a calendar month end.
► From August 2020 onwards, the
employer cannot claim any grant at all for employers’ NIC nor
for the employers’ compulsory pension contribution. So whatever
employers’ NIC and employers’ pension contributions are payable
on the salary are a cost in full to the employer.
► Then from September 2020, for fully
furloughed staff, the grant will continue to cover the salary
cost, but the percentage covered is reduced to 70%, from its
original 80%. The monthly grant an employer can claim for salary
cost is the lower of:- 70% of salary, and £2,500 x 70/80.
► From October 2020, for fully
furloughed staff, the grant will continue to cover the salary
cost, but the percentage covered is reduced further to 60%, from
its original 80%. The monthly grant an employer can claim for
salary cost is the lower of:- 60% of salary, and £2,500 x 60/80.
Total UK cases COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region
and surroundings
THE total number of UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory
confirmed, within the UK, has risen by 1,279 cases and the total
number now stand at 298,136, that includes tests carried out by
commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National
totals.
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the
total, was sadly reported to be 233 according to the Department
of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a
positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS
laboratory is 41,969.
In England, there are a total of 157,545 confirmed cases. North
West - total of 26,811 confirmed cases. The number of laboratory
confirmed cases within the following Local Authorities, in and
around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-
► Liverpool, 1,669 confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 964 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 1,347 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 760 confirmed cases.
► Halton, 412 confirmed cases.
► Blackpool, 677 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen, 421 confirmed cases.
► Bolton, 1,045 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 806 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 1,211 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 1,309 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 3,798 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 1,685 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 1,139 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 863 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 1,073 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 833 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 870 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 1,230 confirmed cases.
UK Government Coronavirus Press
Conference on 16 June 2020