Coronavirus (COVID-19) - how it is affecting our services

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Government and other organisations updates

UK Government and other key organisations information and links

 

We have collated a list of key links from trusted sources, which will give you further information on coronavirus.

 

Government information and links

 

Key information and updates from other organisations 

 

Government information

Latest news and updates:

Winter economy plan - announced 24 September 2020

Job support scheme

  • supports viable jobs

employees must work at least a third of their normal hours and be paid for that work as normal by their employer
The government, together with employers, will then increase those people’s wages covering two-thirds of the pay they have lost by reducing their working hours.

  • all small and medium sized businesses are eligible, plus larger businesses if their turnover has fallen through the COVID crisis
  • scheme is available to all employers across the UK, even if they haven't previously used the furlough scheme
  • will run for six months, and will start in November 2020
  • employers retaining furloughed staff on shorter hours can claim both the Jobs Support Scheme and the Jobs Retention Bonus

Self-employed grant extended

  • similar terms and conditions to Jobs Support Scheme

Bounce back loans

  • introducing 'Pay as you grow'
  • loans can now be extended from six to ten years – nearly halving the average monthly repayment
  • businesses who are struggling can now choose to make interest-only payments
  • anyone in real trouble can apply to suspend repayments altogether for up to six months
  • business taking up ‘Pay as you grow’ will not see their credit rating affected as a result

Other business loan schemes

  • terms are changing
  • extension of up to ten years on government guarantee for Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans
  • extension on deadline of all government COVID loans schemes - extended to the end of 2020
  • new loan scheme to begin in January 2021 - Successor loan scheme

Tax

  • more time and flexibility being given over deferred tax bills
  • businesses can spread their VAT bill over 11 smaller repayments, with no interest to pay
  • self-assessment income tax payers can extend their outstanding tax bill over 12 months from January 2021

Hospitality and tourism

  • VAT will kept at the lower rate of 5% for hospitality and tourism until 31 March 2021

To read the full content of the announcement, visit: Winter Economy Plan - Speech - 24 September 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19): What has changed - 22 September 2020

Face coverings

  • Must be worn in private hire vehicles and taxis from Wednesday 23 September
  • Customers must wear face coverings in hospitality venues, except when sat down to eat or drink from Thursday 24 September
  • It is now law to wear face coverings and visors in close contact services - from Thursday 24 September

Working from home

  • Office workers who can effectively work from home should do so over the winter.
  • Public sector employees working in essential services should continue to go into work where necessary.
  • Anyone else who cannot work from home should go into their place of work.

Businesses

  • Businesses selling food or drink to be consumed on the premises must be closed between 10pm - 5am, from Thursday 24 September 2020. Takeaway delivery services can continue after 10pm.
  • Licensed premises can only serve food or drink via table service
  • Customers must eat and drink at a table if sitting indoors
  • Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code poster to allow customers to 'check in' from Thursday 24 September, to allow people to use this as an alternative option to provide their details for test and trace (see below)
  • Businesses and organisations will have stricter rules to follow to ensure their premises are COVID secure from Monday 28 September 2020

Meeting people safely

  • Support groups now are a maximum of 15 people from Thursday 24 September 2020
  • The rule of six applies to indoor organised sport (over 18's) from Thursday 24 September 2020. Indoor organised sports for disabled people is exempt from this.
  • Friends and family are allowed to provide informal childcare for children under 14 and are exempt from local intervention, which prevents households from mixing, from Thursday 24 September
  • Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions are restricted to 15 people from Monday 28 September 2020.
  • Funerals are still restricted to a maximum of 30 people attending

Full guidance can be found here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): What has changed - 22 September


Obtain a QR code poster for your venue

A test and trace QR code should  created and be displayed at all your venues if:

  • You are a business, place of worship or community organisation with a physical location that is open to the public
  • an event which is taking place in a physical location

If you have more than one location, you will need to create a QR for each location.

Venues include:

  • restaurants, including restaurants and dining rooms in hotels or members’ clubs
  • cafes, including workplace canteens
  • bars, including bars in hotels or members’ clubs
  • public houses
  • amusement arcades
  • art fairs
  • betting and bingo halls
  • casinos
  • clubs providing team sporting activities
  • facilities for use by elite and professional sportspeople (including sports stadia)
  • heritage locations and attractions open to the public (including castles, stately homes and other historic houses)
  • hotels and other guest accommodation provided on a commercial basis, including in Bed & breakfast accommodation, boats, campsites, caravans, chalets, guest houses, holiday parks, hostels, motels, pubs, sleeper trains and yurts;
  • indoor sport and leisure centres
  • outdoor swimming pools and lidos
  • museums and galleries
  • music recording studios open for public hire or other public use
  • public libraries
  • barbers
  • beauticians (including those providing cosmetic, aesthetic and wellness treatments)
  • dress fitters, tailors and fashion designers
  • hairdressers
  • nail bars and salons
  • skin and body piercing services
  • sports and massage therapists
  • tattooists
  • community centres
  • youth and community centres
  • village halls

For further information on the collection of contact details, retention, storage and disclosure of details and fines associated, please read:

 

Changes in restrictions announced on 9 September 2020 

Social contact

The rules on who you can meet and how you can meet them will change on Monday 14 September 2020. 

When meeting with people you don’t live with you can socialise in groups of up to six. You should continue to maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with. 

The detailed guidance (link below) includes details of exemptions from this limit, including for larger households and support bubbles.

Detailed guidance - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Meeting with others safely (social distancing) - Updated 9 September 2020


Government guidance

Stay alert

  • Work from home if you can

  • Limit contact with other people

  • Do not meet in groups larger that six - the Rule of six<\p>

  • Keep your distance if you go out (two metres apart where possible)

  • Wash your hands regularly

  • Wear a face covering in enclosed spaces

  • Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms (Do not meet others, even friends or family. You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.)

Get a test if you are feeling unwell - self-isolate for at least 10 days.

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Getting tested for COVID-19

Testing is a vital element in the national strategy to tackle the COVID -19 pandemic. 

The nearest testing station to Chesterfield is the Proact Stadium (Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8NZ), 8am - 4pm.

You can refer yourself online for testing if you have symptoms: Get a free NHS test today to check if you have coronavirus, or you can call 119.

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NHS test and trace

 

If you are contacted by NHS test and trace, contact tracers will:

(Test and Trace information - British Sign Language - Derbyshire County Council)

Information on test and trace on Derbyshire County Council website

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How to protect yourself and others

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Education and childcare government information

 Coronavirus advice for schools and parents on Derbyshire County Council website 

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Businesses and organisations government information

Chesterfield Borough Council coronavirus (COVID-19) information

Coronavirus advice for employers, businesses and charities on Derbyshire County Council website

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Work and financial support for individuals

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Local restrictions

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Travel and transport information

Coronavirus transport information on Derbyshire County Council website

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Health and wellbeing

 Health and wellbeing information on Derbyshire County Council website

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Housing and accomodation

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Other government information

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Key information and updates from other organisations

 

NHS links

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Benefits and employment advice

Derbyshire Unemployed Workers' Centre (DUWC) can offer you advice on benefits and credits. The service is currently closed for face to face enquiries, but you can contact the service for advice via:

Telephone: 01246 231441
Email: info@duwc.org.uk


DUWC Shirebrook will be open again from 6 July 2020:

Monday: 9:30 - 11:30am - 1pm - 4pm

Tuesday: 9:30 - 11:30am - 1pm - 4pm

Wednesday: 9:30 - 11:30am - 1pm - 4pm

Thursday: 9:30 - 11:30am 

Friday: : 9:30 - 11:30am

Telephone: 01623 748161

Email: info@duwc.org.uk

DUWC Alfreton will be open again from 7 July 2020:

Tuesday: 9:30 - 12pm

Wednesday: 9:30 - 12pm - 1pm - 4pm

Thursday: 9:30 - 12pm - 1pm - 4pm

Telephone: 01773 8322237

Email: info@duwc.org.uk

Citizens advice - Coronavirus - if you're worried about working

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General advice and information

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Health advice

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Animal care advice

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Other local councils

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Local emergency services

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is calling for people to consider their neighbours and their own safety ahead of having a controlled burn/bonfire.

As we spend more time in our gardens during the COVID-19 pandemic, smoke from a garden fire can cause a nuisance to neighbours, not to mention present a potential fire risk.

Please ensure you follow this important safety advice:

  • Be considerate of your neighbours – reconsider having a bonfire in your garden.
  • If you do decide to have a bonfire, situate it away from sheds, hedges and fences, making sure nothing is overhanging. 
  • Do not leave your bonfire unsupervised. 
  • Don’t use accelerants such as petrol to start a fire.
  • Consider what you are burning. Smoke from plastic can be toxic.
  • Contact the Fire Control team on 01332 861800 to avoid Firefighters being called out unnecessarily.

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Local support organisations

Royal British Legion 

The Legion continues to provide much needed support to the Armed Forces community, especially those who may be feeling more isolated than ever at this time, in a number of ways:

  • The Legion’s contact centre remains fully operational to support the Armed Forces community and can be reached on 0808 802 8080 (8am-8pm, seven days a week) or at info@britishlegion.org.uk.
  • The Legion continues to operate the Veterans’ Gateway along with a network of Armed Forces organisations. The Gateway supports veterans and their families across a range of issue including housing, employment and finances. Advisers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 0808 802 1212 or through www.veteransgateway.org.uk.
  • Legion branches are undertaking a range of activities to help the vulnerable in their communities, including operating a telephone buddy service to support vulnerable individuals and our wider community. The membership team can be contacted at membershipservices@britishlegion.org.uk.
  • Legion branch community support volunteers are exploring ways to provide remote support to beneficiaries. 
  • The Legion continues to operate six care homes providing residential, nursing and specialist dementia care to approximately 450 veterans and their dependents.
  • The Legion’s 15 pop-in centres on high streets around the UK have now closed until it is safe to reopen them.
  • All home visits have been suspended to protect beneficiaries, staff and volunteers, and we are finding new ways of connecting, with casework and support continuing. 

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Last updated on 24 September 2020