The Health Secretary has published an action plan for adult social care in England, setting out how we will minimise the spread of coronavirus in care settings and support the care workforce to address the unprecedented challenges they face.
- We know that people in care are among the most vulnerable to coronavirus, and we are doing everything we can to keep workers, residents and their families safe.
- Our new action plan for adult social care will mean better access to testing for both staff and people receiving care, millions of additional PPE items and more support and recognition for the care workforce. It will also ensure people at the end of their lives get the dignity and support they need, including the chance to say goodbye to loved ones.
- The care workforce is on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus, standing alongside the NHS, and we are determined to ensure they are supported and valued during these incredibly challenging times.
The Government has extended the cut-off date for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, in order to make the scheme more generous and to help more people.
- During this difficult time for the country, we recognise the extreme disruption the necessary actions are having on people’s lives, their businesses, their jobs and the nation’s economy.
- To ensure the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme helps as many people as possible, the date by which somebody had to be employed, in order to be eligible for furlough, has been extended from the end of February to 19 March 2020. This change makes the scheme more generous while keeping the substantial fraud risks under control and is expected to benefit over 200,000 employees.
- We have produced a huge and unprecedented programme of support both for workers and for business, and we will do everything we can to ensure people can pay their bills, stay in their homes and put food on their tables.
Stay at home
You must stay at home, only leaving for the following very limited purposes:
- Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible.
- One form of exercise a day – for example, a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of your immediate household.
- Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
Protect the NHS
You must stay at home to protect the NHS:
- The NHS only has a limited number of doctors, nurses and specialist equipment.
- We are working around the clock to increase NHS capacity.
- The more people who get sick, the harder it is for the NHS to cope.
- We must slow the spread of the disease so that fewer people are sick at any one time.
Save lives
You must stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. The police will have the powers to enforce the following restrictions:
- Dispersing gatherings of more than two people in public, excluding people you live with.
- Issuing fines to anyone who does not comply with these rules.
- Closing shops that are not essential, as well as playgrounds and places of worship.
Full guidance on staying at home can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can find the most up to date medical advice at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
You can find the answers to frequently asked questions about what you can do and can’t do during this pandemic here.
