CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION
LATEST INFORMATION
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION
Need a sick note for COVID-19? Here’s what you need to do
People unable to work for more than seven days because of COVID-19 can obtain an isolation note through a new online service.
Isolation notes will provide employees with evidence for their employers that they have been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19, either because they have symptoms or they live with someone who has symptoms, and so cannot work.
As isolation notes can be obtained without contacting a doctor, this will reduce the pressure on GP surgeries and prevent people needing to leave their homes.
For the first seven days off work, employees can self-certify so they don’t need any evidence for their employer. After that, employers may ask for evidence of sickness absence. Where this is related to having symptoms of COVID-19 or living with someone who has symptoms, the isolation note can be used to provide evidence of the advice to self-isolate.
People who need to claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance because of COVID-19 will not be required to produce a fit note or an isolation note.
The notes can be accessed online at https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note. After answering a few questions, an isolation note will be emailed to the user. If they don’t have an email address, they can have the note sent to a trusted family member or friend, or directly to their employer. The service can also be used to generate an isolation note on behalf of someone else.
Fylde Coast GP and lead clinician for NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups Dr Adam Janjua, said: “It is absolutely vital we do everything we can to ease the burden on local healthcare professionals, allowing them to spend as much time as possible with those patients that need them most.
“Digital isolation notes will provide reassurance to those self-isolating and their employers while also reducing the pressure on our NHS, so they can continue doing all they can to protect the people of this country and save lives.”
The isolation note service can be accessed via the 111 online COVID-19 service or NHS.UK/coronavirus as well as via the NHS app.
Isolation notes will provide employees with evidence for their employers that they have been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19, either because they have symptoms or they live with someone who has symptoms, and so cannot work.
As isolation notes can be obtained without contacting a doctor, this will reduce the pressure on GP surgeries and prevent people needing to leave their homes.
For the first seven days off work, employees can self-certify so they don’t need any evidence for their employer. After that, employers may ask for evidence of sickness absence. Where this is related to having symptoms of COVID-19 or living with someone who has symptoms, the isolation note can be used to provide evidence of the advice to self-isolate.
People who need to claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance because of COVID-19 will not be required to produce a fit note or an isolation note.
The notes can be accessed online at https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note. After answering a few questions, an isolation note will be emailed to the user. If they don’t have an email address, they can have the note sent to a trusted family member or friend, or directly to their employer. The service can also be used to generate an isolation note on behalf of someone else.
Fylde Coast GP and lead clinician for NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups Dr Adam Janjua, said: “It is absolutely vital we do everything we can to ease the burden on local healthcare professionals, allowing them to spend as much time as possible with those patients that need them most.
“Digital isolation notes will provide reassurance to those self-isolating and their employers while also reducing the pressure on our NHS, so they can continue doing all they can to protect the people of this country and save lives.”
The isolation note service can be accessed via the 111 online COVID-19 service or NHS.UK/coronavirus as well as via the NHS app.
Support for businesses affected by the Coronavirus pandemic
Business Support Grants Fund
Details of this scheme specify that all properties in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief, with the exception of those occupied for personal use (e.g. private stables, beach huts, moorings) on 11 March 2020 will be eligible for a grant payment of £10,000.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grants Fund
Details of this scheme specify that properties which would have qualified for the retail discount on 11 March 2020 will be entitled to a grant of either £10,000 where the rateable value is £15,000 or less or £25,000 where the rateable value is greater than £15,000 but less than £51,000.
How to apply for grant funding
The detailed guidance which the council will be using to help identify eligible businesses can be found here.
We are asking businesses to complete the following application form and we will assess your eligibility:
Apply for funding
The application form will allow us to arrange for payment to be made and we anticipate that these payments will commence from 1 April 2020. It is inevitable that applications will number in the thousands and as such we ask that you be patient as we undertake what is a significant exercise to ensure the correct allocation of public money to those who are entitled to it under the schemes.
Business Rates Holiday
There will be a business rates retail holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Businesses that received the retail discount (33%) in the 2019 to 2020 tax year will be rebilled very shortly to show a 100% discount.
In order to allow businesses some necessary breathing space the council are suspending the recovery process for the first quarter of 2020/21 given the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in. This means that 2020/21 business rates bills and sundry debtor invoices (including for rent) will still be issued but no further recovery action will be taken between April and June. This is relevant to those businesses not currently covered by the business rates holiday and those who are in arrears on historic bills.
Details of this scheme specify that all properties in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief, with the exception of those occupied for personal use (e.g. private stables, beach huts, moorings) on 11 March 2020 will be eligible for a grant payment of £10,000.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grants Fund
Details of this scheme specify that properties which would have qualified for the retail discount on 11 March 2020 will be entitled to a grant of either £10,000 where the rateable value is £15,000 or less or £25,000 where the rateable value is greater than £15,000 but less than £51,000.
How to apply for grant funding
The detailed guidance which the council will be using to help identify eligible businesses can be found here.
We are asking businesses to complete the following application form and we will assess your eligibility:
Apply for funding
The application form will allow us to arrange for payment to be made and we anticipate that these payments will commence from 1 April 2020. It is inevitable that applications will number in the thousands and as such we ask that you be patient as we undertake what is a significant exercise to ensure the correct allocation of public money to those who are entitled to it under the schemes.
Business Rates Holiday
There will be a business rates retail holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Businesses that received the retail discount (33%) in the 2019 to 2020 tax year will be rebilled very shortly to show a 100% discount.
In order to allow businesses some necessary breathing space the council are suspending the recovery process for the first quarter of 2020/21 given the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in. This means that 2020/21 business rates bills and sundry debtor invoices (including for rent) will still be issued but no further recovery action will be taken between April and June. This is relevant to those businesses not currently covered by the business rates holiday and those who are in arrears on historic bills.
Symptoms of coronavirus
The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you have any of these symptoms. Get a test to check if you have coronavirus and stay at home until you get your result.
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you have any of these symptoms. Get a test to check if you have coronavirus and stay at home until you get your result.
Food and essential supplies
Fylde Council have now set up a page dedicated to offering Community Support. The page contains a vast amount of information on how to get help and assistance with various items during these difficult times.
Click here to go to the page
Click here to go to the page
Kirkham and Wesham Town Councils want to ensure that our residents have access to all available and up to date information during the present fast moving situation in relation to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Fylde Borough Council have a handy information section, with lots of useful guidance. You can view their website information here - https://new.fylde.gov.uk/coronavirus/
Lancashire County Council have a useful section on their website offering information and guidance for the people of Lancashire. You can access the information here: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/your-health-and-wellbeing/coronavirus/
During the COVID-19 pandemic, if you need Public Health advice on how to minimise risk please contact https://www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland/
If you are worried about financial implications of self isolating or missing work please visit the website below for more information on sick pay and benefits you can access. https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/
CovidAidUK is a network of local support groups where you can find or register your local support group. Kirkham, Wesham and surrounding areas are fortunate to have a group. If you feel that you can help in supporting our vulnerable residents and wish to volunteer; or if you would like to donate in other ways please contact https://www.facebook.com/groups/1225194944538362/
If you do not have access to online information and you need help, you can telephone the following numbers, where you will be able to record a message and we will get back to you as soon as we are able:-
Kirkham - 01772 682755
Please keep safe and well, remember that our local shops are ready to help, they need our support during these difficult times, let us have feedback if there are areas where you feel we are able to help by emailing us, and lets remember to look after each other, we are a wonderful community, let’s work together.
Fylde Borough Council have a handy information section, with lots of useful guidance. You can view their website information here - https://new.fylde.gov.uk/coronavirus/
Lancashire County Council have a useful section on their website offering information and guidance for the people of Lancashire. You can access the information here: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/your-health-and-wellbeing/coronavirus/
During the COVID-19 pandemic, if you need Public Health advice on how to minimise risk please contact https://www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland/
If you are worried about financial implications of self isolating or missing work please visit the website below for more information on sick pay and benefits you can access. https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/
CovidAidUK is a network of local support groups where you can find or register your local support group. Kirkham, Wesham and surrounding areas are fortunate to have a group. If you feel that you can help in supporting our vulnerable residents and wish to volunteer; or if you would like to donate in other ways please contact https://www.facebook.com/groups/1225194944538362/
If you do not have access to online information and you need help, you can telephone the following numbers, where you will be able to record a message and we will get back to you as soon as we are able:-
Kirkham - 01772 682755
Please keep safe and well, remember that our local shops are ready to help, they need our support during these difficult times, let us have feedback if there are areas where you feel we are able to help by emailing us, and lets remember to look after each other, we are a wonderful community, let’s work together.
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