Please note this article was published on 6th July 2020 and may not have the latest information. Click here for the latest government support schemes.
The Prime Minister’s speech on Friday 3rd July highlighted that we need to move away from blanket, national measures, to targeted, local measures. He outlined the government’s approach for controlling future local outbreaks, which has five principal components:
Monitoring: Public Health England, working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre, will examine carefully data on the spread of the disease and people’s behaviour across the country.
Engagement: If monitoring identifies local problems, NHS Test and Trace and PHE will work with the relevant local authority to develop a deeper understanding of the problem and identify solutions.
Testing: Scaled-up testing at a local level, combined with contract tracing through NHS Test and Trace, can control the virus and thus avoid more stringent measures.
Targeted restrictions: If the virus continues to spread, we will restrict access to places which become hotspots for the virus, while testing people who have spent time in those places, and tracing the contacts of anyone who tests positive.
Lockdown: If the previous measures have not proven to be enough, we will introduce local lockdowns extending across whole communities. Local lockdowns will be carefully calibrated depending on the scientific and specific circumstances of each outbreak and we are continually exploring smarter means of containing the virus.
Commenting on the government’s five-step plan for imposing local lockdowns in the case of coronavirus spikes, British Chambers of Commerce Co-Executive Director Hannah Essex said:
“Businesses will welcome the announcement of a considered approach to local lockdowns, which could pose further challenges for operational and consumer confidence in the weeks and months ahead.
“Where local lockdowns unfortunately do become necessary, firms will need greater clarity and support to help them survive further disruption.
“Transparent statistical triggers, timing and a clear exit strategy developed with input from local experts including Chambers of Commerce will help businesses plan ahead. Targeted government support should be offered to the hardest hit firms forced to close through no fault of their own.”
“Where local lockdowns unfortunately do become necessary, firms will need greater clarity and support to help them survive further disruption."
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