Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

5 November 2020

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

Key Announcements:

• Yesterday saw another 25,177 new cases of Covid-19, and 492 deaths.
• New restrictions came into force this morning at 00:01 GMT for England’s second lockdown. Regulations were voted into effect in the Commons last night (Ayes: 516; Noes: 38)
• The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is due to make a statement to the House today at noon on coronavirus support measures.
• The Bank of England has announced this morning it will pump an extra £150bn into the economy as it warns the resurgence of Covid-19 will lead to a slower, bumpier recovery.
• Justice Secretary Robert Buckland warned this morning that people who commit “egregious breaches” of new lockdown restrictions will face steep fines.
• New guidance for care homes during the second lockdown have been released and were met with criticism from care charities and shadow ministers.
• Universities and schools will remain open during this lockdown, and the DfE released guidance on what this means for providers yesterday.

Regional/Devolved

• Scottish Ministers have indicated they are prepared to criminalise unwarranted journeys, as they warn that those who travel outside of Covid hotspots risk being fined.
• Nicola Sturgeon has warned that Lanarkshire could move to level four of lockdown next week if “significant” improvements aren’t made to suppress the virus.
• The Welsh firebreak will end on Monday and further clarity has been given on what people can and can’t do – including how many people can meet from different households.
• The NI Executive are to meet this afternoon to consider new proposals to tackle rising cases, including a two-week hospitality closure extensions.
• Monthly tests by Imperial College London for TfL have found no evidence of Covid-19 on the Tube and bus networks.
• In Greater Manchester, the number of Covid patients being treated has now surpassed the April peak, as the region’s health chief admits operation cancellations are likely within a fortnight.
• For further information on local lockdowns and restriction measures, please see the Gov.UK website. Alternatively, PoliticsHome have produced a live interactive map.

International

• New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said she isn’t likely to alter “existing border settings” in the short term.
• Denmark are to cull up to 17m mink amid coronavirus fears
• Victoria recorded its sixth consecutive day of zero coronavirus cases, as Australia reported no new locally acquired Covid-19 cases.
• China has barred non-Chinese travelers from the UK, Belgium and the Philippines.
• One day after the election, the US has set a new record for average daily confirmed cases.
• Russia, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Latvia and Estonia each confirmed their highest new infections to date.
• Cyprus has introduced new coronavirus measures, including a nighttime curfew and the mandatory wearing of masks in public.
• Indonesia has fallen into its first recession in 22 years, after their tourism industry has been severely hit by the pandemic

Stakeholders

• In light of the second wave, further attention has been drawn to the ongoing EHRC inquiry into why lower-paid BAME health workers are more vulnerable to Covid-19.
• Sainsbury’s have announced they will cut 3,500 jobs with the closure 420 Argos stores by March 2024, as well as its meat, fish and deli counters.
• Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland are urging Scottish Ministers to set up specialized ‘long Covid’ clinics.
• Estate agents Hamptons International have reported many landlords in London are cutting rents amid an increase in available properties and the pinches of the pandemic.