Updated: 12th March 2019, 22:07. For the latest medical advice, visit nhs.uk/coronavirus.
The approach of the the government, supported by opposition parties, is guided by the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance; their task is not easy at all, but I am 100% supportive of them.
The UK's response is not reactionary, it is based on clinical, scientific and medical evidence. I set out in detail below the health advice and the other efforts to help businesses and support for public services.
The UK is however facing a serious pandemic. There have been several hundred cases, some deaths, and more will come. We should not down play this illness.
The government has issued the following guidance, which you should follow:
- If you have symptoms of Coronavirus, however mild, you should stay at home and not leave your house for seven days from when symptoms started. Do not go to a GP, pharmacy or hospital. This will help protect others in your community.
- Stay at least two meters (approx. 3 steps) away from others in your home and sleep alone if possible.
- Ask your employer, friends and family to help you get the things you need to stay at home.
- Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, each time using soap and water.
- Stay away from vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions.
You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If symptoms worsen or are no better after 7 days, you should contact NHS 111 online, by clicking here. If you have no internet access, call NHS 111. Contacting them online will help to free up call centres for those without internet access. Of course, in an emergency, dial 999.
There are precautions that we can all take to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often and for at least 20 seconds.
- Always wash your hands when you get home or go into work.
- Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sleeve.
- Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards.
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
Most people can continue to go to work, school and other public places; there is no need to avoid public places unless you are self-isolating. Additionally, if you have travelled to the UK from the following places, you should stay indoors and avoid contact with others, even if you do not have symptoms: Italy; Iran; Hubei province in China; Daegu, Cheongdo or Gyeongsan in South Korea.
In the Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out a number of new measures to make sure the country is able to face this threat. I will try and detail them: he has made clear that our NHS will have the resources it needs, and that we will, do what we can to support people and local businesses.
The £12 billion package includes:
To support public services:
- A £5 billion Coronavirus Response fund for
- The NHS to treat Coronavirus patients, including maintaining staffing levels.
- Local Authority actions to support social care services and vulnerable people.
- Ensuring funding is available to other public services so that they are prepared and protected.
- £40 million of new funding for the National Institute for Health Research and the Department for Health to enable further rapid research into Coronavirus - this follows the £91 million that the government has already pledged to the international response.
To support people affected by Coronavirus:
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be available for anyone diagnosed with Coronavirus, or who is unable to work became they are self-isolating from day 1, instead of day 4 for affected individuals. Those not eligible for SSP, or those earning below the Lower Earnings Limit of £118 per week, can make a claim for Universal Credit or Contributory Employment and Support Allowance more easily, which will be paid from day 1.
- People will be able to claim Universal Credit and access advance payments upfront without the current requirement to attend a Job Centre if they are advised to self-isolate.
- For the duration of the outbreak, the requirements of the Universal Credit Minimum Income Floor will be temporarily relaxed for those with Coronavirus, or those self-isolating, ensuring self-employed claimants will receive support.
- People who are advised to self-isolate will soon be able to a sick note by contacting NHS 111, rather than visiting a doctor when employers require evidence.
To support businesses:
- The government will legislate to allow small and medium-sized businesses (SME's) to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid for sickness absence due to Coronavirus for up to two weeks.
- The government will increase the Business Rates retail discount to 100% for one year, and expand it to the leisure and hospitality sectors, and increase the planned discount for pubs to £5,000.
- Taken together with existing small business rate relief (which provides full relief for businesses using a single property with a rateable value of £12,000 or less), an estimated 900,000 properties, or 45% of all properties in England, will receive 100% business rates relief in 2020/21.
- The government will provide an additional £2.2 billion funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no Business Rates, because of Small Business Rate Relief. This will provide a one-off grant of £3,000 to around 700,000 businesses who currently receive Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief, to help meet their business costs.
- A new Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered by the British Business Bank will launch in weeks to support businesses access bank lending and overdrafts, supporting loans of up to £1.2m in value.
- All businesses and the self-employed in financial distress with outstanding tax liabilities may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through the HMRC's Time To Pay service. We all have to play our part in tackling this virus and slowing the spread. As with any new illness, information about the virus spreads is still emerging, but symptoms of Coronavirus include a cough, high temperature and shortness of breath.
As your local MP, I am here to support our health services, individuals and businesses in any way I can who are affected by coronavirus. However, please understand that I have limited staff, and they are working flat out to help in whatever way they can.
As the situation progresses, I will keep you updated. We will get through this. No matter how tough things feel now, Britain has got through many tough experiences before. Please remember, self-isolate if you need to, and continue to wash your hands.