Further safeguards from Monday to prevent new COVID-19 cases. New public health measures will come into force on Monday (8 June) to help suppress coronavirus (COVID-19) and prevent new cases being brought into Scotland.
Small businesses which share properties but do not pay business rates are now eligible to apply for grants to help with the impact of COVID-19. The extension to the Small Business Grant Fund will apply to firms occupying shared office spaces, business incubators or shared industrial units and who lease the space from a registered, rate-paying landlord.
Outdoor exercise can be taken from later this month. People who are shielding are being advised that though they should continue to do so until at least the end of July, they can if they choose, go outdoors to exercise from 18 June while maintaining strict physical distancing.
Carers Week launched with additional support. £300,000 from the £350 million communities funding to support people and communities affected by COVID-19, is being given to support young carers across Scotland.
An expert advisory board is to be established to drive progress towards a fairer, more equal Scotland in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The group will listen to and learn from people with lived experience of poverty and inequality and membership will draw on expertise from equality and disabled people's organisations, housing and homelessness bodies, town centre and regeneration groups, and anti-poverty campaigners.
A new collection of digital maps is to display the funding being given to support communities across Scotland affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). The online dashboard enables users to view financial support by local authority across four main funds.
A new expert group will work with the Scottish Government to provide a clearer picture of the impact on minority ethnic communities of coronavirus (COVID-19). Following indications that minority ethnic communities may face higher risks from COVID-19, the group will consider evidence and data being gathered by the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, National Records of Scotland and the NHS, and advise on policy actions to mitigate any disproportionate effects.
Highland Council has been speaking to staff about their wellbeing during the coronavirus lockdown, working from home and how they see their roles developing in the future. Today, the local authority launched the first in a series of video interviews with staff, who offered honest accounts of how the crisis has affected them and how it has changed their roles.
NHS Highland has admitted five hospital patients were discharged to Home Farm Care Home in March before ministers introduced routine testing. The disclosure was made following questions from Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant.
The Highland Council's Environmental Health Team has identified raised levels of naturally occurring Algal Toxins following routine monitoring at Kyles of Scalpay, off the east coast of the Isle of Skye. Eating shellfish such as mussels, cockles, oysters or razor fish from these areas may pose a health risk arising from the consumption of these algal toxins.
Coronavirus has significantly impacted global trade, but there remains a myriad of opportunities for UK red meat exports - particularly in the Asian marketplace. During the first AHDB export webinar, around 180 delegates were told that while the pandemic presents serious challenges for the sector, the UK is ‘weathering the storm' and continuing to ship red meat to key target markets.
Oil company BP (BP.L) today (Monday 8 June 2020) that it was to cut 10,000 jobs at the company.,The slump caused by the Covid 19 pandemic and the resulting slump in oil prices has meant profits turning to losses. The company is aiming to reduce capital expenditure by $3bn (£2.4bn) in 2020, and operating expenditure by $2.5bn.
Eleven community organisations in the Highlands and Islands have been awarded a total of £1.5m to develop and deliver long-term solutions to tackle poverty based on local priorities and needs The Aspiring Communities Fund, which levers in European Social Funds, was launched by the Scottish Government in 2017 to help reduce poverty and enable inclusive growth in disadvantaged and fragile communities across Scotland. Regional development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), helped community organisations in the region to apply to this recent round of funding.
Highland Council has created a video to explain some of the impacts of COVID-19 on communities and on the Council. Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson said: "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on many individuals, businesses and communities across Highland.
UK Government charter flights have now flown over 150,000 miles enabling over 8,400 stranded travellers to return home from across Africa. UK Government charter flights to bring Brits home from countries in Africa have now flown over 150,000 miles, bringing people back from across six different time zones and enabling over 8,400 stranded travellers to return home from across Africa in addition to over 9,000 the FCO have helped to return home on commercial flights.
Tens of millions of pounds of lifeline funding has been fast-tracked to charities by the Scottish Government since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis despite delays in clarity over Barnett consequentials, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has said. Highlighting the key role the third sector has played in delivering vital support during the pandemic, Ms Campbell urged the UK Government to be clear in its support for vital services, by indicating when a £10 million shortfall in funding would be resolved.
The Highland Council is responsible for the ‘policing' the new The Health Protection (Coronavirus)(Scotland) Regulations and coronavirus restrictions such as physical distancing and enhanced hand hygiene controls in a range of business premises including shops, hotels, offices and leisure industry. The new law was made in response to the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incident and spread of coronavirus in Scotland and came into force at the end of March 2020.
Guidance for education authorities and teachers published for next academic year. New guidance will help teachers and councils prepare for the ‘blended model' of both classroom and home learning when schools re-open in August.
Scotland's economy faces a gradual recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, according to updated modelling published today. Highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the nation, analysis by Scottish Government Chief Economist Gary Gillespie suggests that economic output may not recover to pre-crisis levels until the start of 2023.
Important dates - what you need to know now. The scheme will close to anyone who hasn't been furloughed for 3 weeks by 30 June, so you will only be able to claim for employees after that if they have been furloughed for a full three-week period at any time before the end of June.
