COVID-19 Updates – week commencing 04/05/20
More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance.
Go to date:
4 May 2020 …
CTA members can access the latest webinar and presentation from Elman Wall:
Elman Wall had more than 350 registrations and after a marathon 3¾ hours, there were still well over 100 on the call.
A myriad of topics across all the Governments Covid-19- related schemes and it then looked at what recovery might look like together with next steps.
The entire meeting was recorded and can be viewed at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/-MZYLqrX3VJOH6_c403TYbMtIdXYaaa8hyFL-fMNmMnidlvQeWcG5hkhhahp__k
Password: 7w##vr9#
At the beginning of the meeting,10 quick fire questions were asked in an instant survey, and the results can be seen here.
And the most up to date presentation is here.
Operational updates from CPT:
COVID-19 NATIONAL TESTING PROGRAM – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Department of Health & Social Care has released a new set of frequently asked questions concerning the National Coronavirus Testing Program.
The FAQs cover
- Who can get tested
- Employer questions
- Regional Test Sites
- Care Home Testing
- Mobile Testing
- Home Testing
- Mega Laboratories
The FAQs can be found on the link below:
REGIONAL TEST SITES – MAPS
The Department of Health & Social Care has released maps showing the location of Regional Test Sites (RTSs), Satellite Test Sites (STSs) and Mobile Testing Units (MTUs) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The maps can be found on the link below:
TOP UP TO LOCAL BUSINESS GRANT FUNDS SCHEME
The Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy has announced that a discretionary fund has been set up to accommodate certain small businesses in England previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme.
The fund is an additional 5% uplift to the funding previously announced for the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF), and is expected to amount to £617 million.
The additional funding is intended for small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs. Local authorities will be told to prioritise businesses in shared spaces that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief.
Eligible businesses will have under 50 employees, and must be able to demonstrate that they have seen a significant drop of income due to Coronavirus restriction measures
Local authorities will be permitted to choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need.
Grants will be between £10,000 and £25,000
Local authorities will also have discretion to make payments of less than £10,000 if local conditions make this necessary.
Further details of how the Top Up Grants will be offered is expected to be released by Government later this week.
CONFIRMATION OF APPLICATION RECEIPT – SMS, EMAIL OR LETTER
The DVLA have today started to trial a process, by which the agency will acknowledge receipt of Vocational Driving licence applications.
The preferred method and first choice will be via e-mail, defaulting to a SMS text if no e-mail address is given and finally a letter will be sent out if there is no e-mail address or a mobile telephone number.
Therefore it is important that full contact details are provided with applications.
Section 88 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 can allow a driver to continue driving even though their licence has expired.
The most important factors as to whether a driver can use this dispensation is that
- The renewal form was received by DVLA
- The driver would not be refused a driving licence for medical reasons
- The previous licence was not revoked or refused for medical reasons
The driver is not currently disqualified from driving by a court - The licence has not been suspended or revoked by a Traffic Commissioner
If the conditions stated above are met, as soon as the driver has received confirmation from DVLA that the application has been received they will be able to driver under Section 88.
The DVLA document explaining how a driver can continue to drive whilst their application is being processed can be found on the link below
