Today, the Health Secretary will announce that wearing a face covering will become mandatory in shops and supermarkets in England from 24 July, as we continue to control the virus and save lives.
- Our approach to coronavirus has always been guided by the science, and there is growing evidence that wearing a face covering in an enclosed space helps to stop the spread of the virus.
- From 24 July, people will be required by law to wear face coverings in shops and supermarkets and the police will be able to issue fines of up to £100 if people do not comply.
- As we continue to control the virus, it is imperative on all of us to continue taking these small steps that can help us restore our way of life, while restarting the economy, projecting jobs and saving lives.
Today’s GDP figures underline the scale of the challenge we face, and we know people are worried about the security of their jobs and incomes. That’s why we will continue to protect, create and support jobs while levelling up the entire country.
- Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we have put in place a £160 billion plan – one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world – which analysis shows has significantly protected people’s jobs, incomes and businesses.
- In recent weeks, the Prime Minister and Chancellor have launched both our New Deal for Britain, and our Plan for Jobs, to help us bounce back from coronavirus and secure the UK’s economic recovery.
- Through the New Deal, we are accelerating £5 billion of infrastructure projects vital to Britain’s future prosperity, while our £30 billion Plan for Jobs will help to protect millions of jobs, create new ones, and ensure people have the support they need to find new employment.
- These are just the latest steps in our response to coronavirus – the first phase was about protection; now is the time to focus on jobs. There is a third stage still to come, with a Budget and Spending Review in the autumn, to focus on rebuilding Britain.
The Prime Minister has announced a new long-term plan to tackle flooding, backed by £5.2 billion, which will better protect hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and livelihoods at risk from future flooding.
- Last winter, we saw the misery and upheaval that flooding can bring and we promised to do more to help people.
- That’s why we are providing £5.2 billion to ensure more than 330,000 homes and businesses in England will be better protected and more resilient by 2027, delivering on our manifesto promise to do so. Alongside the funding, we have unveiled our long-term plan to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion, which includes measures to better prepare for flooding and more support for communities when it does occur.
- We will also accelerate the delivery of shovel-ready flood defence schemes across the country, beginning work either this year or next, and backed with up to £170 million for this initial stage.
- Our record investment in flood defences will not only help to protect lives and livelihoods, but also stimulate economic growth and support jobs across the UK as we rebuild our economy after coronavirus.
Please find a Template Press Release for those areas receiving initial support here.
The Education Secretary has announced new measures to transform technical education, providing more opportunities for young people while ensuring employers have access to the skills they need.
- For too long, the UK has not placed a high enough priority on technical education. We have not been training enough of the programmers, engineers and electricians of the future, and students are missing out on the high skill, high wage jobs that higher technical education can lead to.
- We will introduce newly-approved higher technical qualifications from 2022, supported by a Government-backed brand and quality mark – to ensure we are equipping people with the skills employers need. We will also work with the regulators to ensure the quality of technical courses is consistently high, while launching a new public awareness campaign to demonstrate the benefits of a technical education.
- Our new package of measures will boost the quality and take-up of higher technical education in England, to help plug skill gaps, level up opportunities and support the UK’s economic recovery from coronavirus.
The International Development Secretary has announced that we will double the public’s donations to tackle coronavirus in vulnerable countries, helping to protect the world’s most vulnerable people from the effects of this deadly virus.
- The UK is a world-leader in international aid, and we can be proud that the UK is already one of the most generous countries in the world when it comes to supporting vulnerable people tackle coronavirus.
- As the Disaster Emergency Committee launches its appeal for donations, we will double whatever the British public donate to the cause – up to £5 million. The money will support the work of 14 British charities to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people deal with the pandemic, especially those living in refugee camps who have escaped from warzones.
- By matching the generosity shown by the British public, we can ensure that help gets where it is needed most and that charities can reach even more people in need.
We are protecting the NHS so it is there for people when they need it…
- From just 2,000 tests per day in March we now have the capacity to conduct over 300,000 tests per day – with 311,113 tests available on 5 July.
- Our testing rate is now among the best in the world, equivalent to one test for every ten people in the country – and is outpacing countries like Germany, Spain, Italy, and the USA.
- Daily deaths down from a peak of 945 on 14 April to 86 on 11 July 2020 (seven day rolling average).
- Ventilators up from 9,000 in March 2020 to 29,400 on 10 July 2020.
- Number of ventilator beds occupied down from a peak of 3,301 on 12 April 2020 to 191 on 10 July 2020.
- Over 2.1 billion items of PPE delivered since the start of the outbreak.
- 7 Nightingale hospitals created.
- Hospital admissions down from 3,432 on 1 April 2020 to 217 on 01 July 2020 (seven day rolling average).
- Over 2 million testing kits delivered to almost 9000 care homes.
- 99 per cent of GPs able to offer video consultations – up from 3 per cent before the crisis.
We are taking unprecedented action to support jobs and livelihoods across the UK with over £160 billion of support…
- Jobs retention scheme has been used by over 1.1 million employers to protect 9.4 million people’s jobs at a value of £27.4 billion
- Self-employed income support scheme has been used by over 2.7 million to the value of £7.7 billion.
- The safety net is working – with an extra 2.3 million people getting the help they need through Universal Credit (since 12 March)
- 53,536 loans have now gone out through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for SMEs providing almost £11.5 billion worth of finance.
- 394 loans have been approved for the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme for large firms providing £2.5 billion worth of financing.
- Over 1 million Bounce Back Loans have been approved worth over £30 billion.
- Over 861,000 firms have benefitted from £10.57 billion of business grants through the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.
- Almost £10 billion of business rates relief has been provided for firms affected by COVID-19 – taken with existing measures around 1.1 million properties will pay no business rates in 2020-21.
- Over 496,000 VAT payments deferred by businesses to the value of £27.5 billion.
- £32.9 billion of additional funding at the Summer Economic Update to support schemes like the Job Retention Bonus and Eat Out to Help Out schemes.
We are supporting those who need it most…
- Around 1,483,000 children are attending an educational setting – including 405,000 children of critical workers.
- £164 million worth of free school meal vouchers have been redeemed.
- Over 3.7 million food boxes have been distributed to those who are shielded.
- 15,000 people have been housed in emergency accommodation.
- Almost 590,000 NHS Volunteer Responders have had their ID verified and can now receive tasks.
- Over 394,000 tasks have been completed by NHS volunteers and over 80,000 people have been supported.
- Helped to repatriate 38,000 people by charter and 1.3 million via commercial routes.
- Contributed £1.65 billion to GAVI, the vaccine alliance.
- 2 of the world’s leading coronavirus vaccine programmes.
- The first in world to have a successful clinical trial.
- Contributed £764 million the international effort to fight coronavirus.
