Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

03 Nov

3 November 2020

A series of daily updates for CHO members regarding relevant updates pertaining to Coronavirus from home and abroad.

Key Announcements:

  • As of Monday 2nd November, the daily number of people testing positive for Covid-19 was 18,950; a total of 1,053,864 people have tested positive during the pandemic in total. Yesterday, 136 people sadly died, bringing the total number of deaths to 46,853.
  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed to the House of Commons yesterday that self-employed workers shall get 80 per cent of their profits, this was increased from 40 per cent, to be paid for by the Government in November. This increase brings the support for the self-employed in line with those who are furloughed.
  • Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, told the House of Commons yesterday that on Wednesday after PMQ’s and any urgent questions or Government statements, the House can vote on the new lockdown measures, due to come into force on Thursday.
  • The full guidance coming into force on Thursday can be viewed
  • Rees-Mogg also said, “I am looking at the option of expanding proxy voting to make it available to all Members of the House, regardless of whether or not they need to be away from the parliamentary estate. I hope to bring forward a motion to that effect soon, which the House will have an opportunity to agree.” He did however add that it was important for members to be in Parliament and for the House to carry on its work.
  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock has thanked all involved for increasing the UK’s daily coronavirus testing capacity to 519,770.
  • It is being reported that a team from the University of Washington School of Medicine have an experimental coronavirus vaccine candidate which could potentially have a ten times higher immune response. Clinical trials are expected to begin towards the end of the year in the US.

Regional /Devolved

  • Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross asked Boris Johnson yesterday if the furlough scheme would be available in Scotland when required. Boris Johnson did confirm this, stating that ” if other parts of the UK decide to go into measures that require the furlough scheme then of course it’s available to them, that applies not just now, but in the future as well.”
  • Boris Johnson has announced that everyone in the City of Liverpool shall be offered a Covid-19 test, whether they have symptoms of the virus or not. The tests shall be provided by Liverpool City Council, NHS Test and Trace and Ministry of Defence, with logistical support from Armed Forces personnel. The Government says that this pilot can help inform a blueprint for how mass testing can be achieved.
  • Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford announced some of the changes to the rules in Wales which shall come into effect, once the firebreak lockdown comes to an end on 9th November. All businesses that were closed during the firebreak can reopen and two households will be able to form a bubble and meet at home.

International

  • Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel told a news conference yesterday that “It is up to everyone to make this November a success, a turning point,” she said. “If we succeed, then we can have a bearable December with more freedom.” This comes as Germany closes bars, restaurants and gyms to tackle coronavirus infections.
  • US President Donald Trump has denied that there was a second wave of coronavirus in the US. He said there were more cases being reported due to more testing.

Stakeholders

  • Nicki Credland , chair of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses has said that the ambition of maintaining elective care in the Autumn whilst infections were rising was not realistic. National Medical Director of NHS England, Stephen Powis, has said that the NHS can treat everyone it needed to treat.
  • Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds has written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak urging him to set out a 6 month plan for economic support to go alongside coronavirus public health measures.
  • It is being reported that unions representing head teachers and teachers have clashed over whether schools should stay open during the four-week lockdown