Latest Update: Covid-19 including Primary Guidance

The latest update including primary guidance, resources for businesses, student travel and test and trace.

Various Primary Guidance Documents Updated
A number of the primary guidance documents for various parts of the industry have been updated to incorporate yesterday’s changes. They include:
Accommodation 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/hotels-and-guest-accommodation

Events and Attractions
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/events-and-attractions

Outdoor Public Settings
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-public-places-managing-public-outdoor-settings

Updated Transport Guidance
DfT have updated the transport operator and transport customer guidance to incorporate the new requirement for the public to wear face coverings when travelling inside a public transport vehicle and when in indoor transport hubs in England, unless they are exempt or have a reasonable excuse.

Transport Operators
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operator

Transport Customers
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

Updated Guidance for Student Entering the Country
The Home Office has updated the guidance pertaining to students entering the UK including

• Student sponsors
• Students and Child Students (including Tier 4)
• Short-term Student (English Language) migrants (including Short-term Students)

The updates are to incorporate the removal of various Covid-related exemptions that came into effect on 27 September and to state that:

• Students who are unable to complete their course of study during their current period of permission due to Covid-19 can no longer apply in-country to complete that course. This includes students who need further time to complete an assessment or sit examinations. Students who otherwise need more time to complete a course as a result of Covid-19, or need to make a new application, will no longer be exempt from demonstrating academic progression.
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-student-sponsors-migrants-and-short-term-students/coronavirus-covid-19-student-sponsors-migrants-and-short-term-students-accessible-version

Test And Trace Guidance Updated
The Test and Trace guidance has now been updated to reflect the change in legislation – that these contacts must stay at home and self-isolate even if they are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and 6 months
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works

The guidance for businesses on what to do if an employee is required to self-isolate has similarly been updated
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-workplace-guidance

Test And Trace Support Payments
To align with the removal of the exemption from self-isolation for people who have come into contact with someone with the Omicron variant, the guidance on the £500 Test and Trace Support Payments has been amended to remove the exemption from eligibility for people who have been fully vaccinated.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme

CJRS Guidance Updated
There has been an updated the CJRS guidance on what employers should do if they have underpaid employees through the scheme. Essentially you have two options, either top up the employees’ wages or pay the money back to HMRC. If you decide to top up your employees’ wages, this must be done within a ‘reasonable period’. This period is usually no later than:

• 31 January 2022 for payments received in the 2020 to 2021 tax year, for customers who file an Income Tax Self-Assessment return
• 31 January 2023 for payments received in the 2021 to 2022 tax year, for customers who file an Income Tax Self-Assessment return
• 12 months after the end of the relevant accounting period if you file a Company Tax return
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-grants-back#if-youve-not-paid-your-employees-enough

Face Covering Poster
If you operate premises where people are required to wear a Face Covering, you can download a poster to remind customers on the following link https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1038122/face-coverings-omicron-poster-v2.pdf

Resources Related To Getting A Covid Booster
The is also a range of resource material available for businesses that want to encourage their employees to get their booster shot.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-booster-dose-resources

Quarantine Hardship Grant Eligibility Extended
The guidance for people on eligibility for a hardship grant if they are arriving from a Red List Country and need to paid to stay in a quarantine hotel has been updated. The eligibility criteria have been extended to include:

• People who travelled to a country abroad before it was added to the red list and now need to return to the UK
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hardship-arrangements-for-those-unable-to-pay-for-managed-quarantine-or-testing