Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

2 December 2020

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

Key Announcements:

• Yesterday in the United Kingdom there were 13,430 new cases of coronavirus and, sadly, 603 people died from the virus.
• The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has received official approval in the United Kingdom and will be rolled out for use next week. The RNA vaccine offers up to 95 percent protection against Covid for users; and the UK has ordered 40 million doses, which is enough to vaccinate 20 million people.
• National lockdown has ended in England and has been replaced by a strengthened tier-system of measures. Yesterday in the House of Commons, 55 Conservatives voted against the new plans, in part due to the perceived unfairness of the system. In all tiers, unessential shops, personal care services, and gyms can now open.
• From today, people in care homes will be able to receive visits from relatives who test negative for coronavirus.
• The high-street department store chain, Debenhams, has been overwhelmed by shoppers this morning. This follows news that the business will go into liquidation, putting some 12,000 job in the UK at risk.

Devolved

• First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon , has confirmed that 11 areas would remain under level four restrictions until 11 December. She said that measures were having a “positive impact” but cautioned how the level of the virus was still higher than it needed to be.
• With the ban on alcohol services to come into force in Wales on Friday, there have been calls from opposition members in the Senedd to put an end to the “economic madness “, and prevent this change coming into force.
• In Northern Ireland , teachers have warned of a “collapse” in secondary school attendance following the second wave of the pandemic during the autumn term.

International

• The European Medicines Agency has said that if it receives enough data, it will be able to complete its assessment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by 29 December, and its assessment for the Moderna vaccine by 12 January. Two million doses of potential vaccines have been secured for use by the EU, to protect inhabitants of its 27 nations.
• Leaked data given to CNN suggests that the Chinese Government concealed information and under-reported cases of coronavirus during the early months of the outbreak.
• The United Nations has warned how the coronavirus pandemic will increase humanitarian needs in 2021, with one in 33 people needing ait to meet basic needs such as food, water and sanitation.

Stakeholders

• The British Independent Retailers Association has said, in response to the announcement that English retailers are being given greater flexibility in their opening hours over the Christmas period, that the move “make sense”. This was “the most important December for retail and retailers”, the BIRA’s CEO said.
• The National Education Union has said in response to the latest school attendance figures that the Government were hiding evidence or regional variation “because it will show how much disruption coronavirus is causing particularly in the north of England and how unfair their plans are to run exams with only minor adjustments next summer”.
• In response to Lastminute.com being told to pay £7 million in refunds, Which? has said , “The Government must look at measures to ensure there are better protections for holidaymakers’ money, while the Civil Aviation Authority – which has been unable to take meaningful action against airlines withholding money from holiday operators, and in turn delaying refunds – must be given stronger powers.”
• Following the CMA’s two year loyalty penalty update, Citizens Advice has said “The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a drastic impact on the finances of millions of people. It’s essential that the FCA and Ofcom do more to stamp out this unfair practice, so loyal customers are not overpaying for essential services.