What's New

While the Government is currently paying 80% of workers' salaries up to £2500 a month for some 8.4 million workers under its furlough scheme, it has made clear that it cannot continue to provide this unprecedented level of support for an indefinite period.

The Department for Education (DfE) has issued updated guidance to reflect the changes in how attendance should be recorded following the reopening of some schools from 1 June.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently urged people not to wash fruit and vegetables with disinfectant, explaining that using water alone can remove surface contaminants.

In April, we reported on a consultation launched by Ofqual on how it should enable students to receive their qualification grades, given the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (see “Views on exam grading and assessment needed urgently”).

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says the risk of air conditioning spreading the coronavirus is extremely low.

Attendance at childcare settings is starting to increase ahead of the wider reopening of the early years sector, according to the latest data submitted through Ceeda's COVID-19 portal.

Government plans for more children to begin returning to school at the beginning of June (see “Phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries”) have been criticised by trade unions and are coming under pressure from a number of local authorities.

With schools having been shut for most pupils since 23 March, a specially-designed online survey of over 4000 parents in England shows that children from better-off households are spending 30% more time each day on educational activities.

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that schools in Scotland will reopen on 11 August at the start of the new school year and an increased number of children will have access to critical childcare, as she unveiled a four-phase "route map" aimed at restarting society while suppressing the virus.

Acas, the independent public body providing impartial advice to employers and employees, has published new guidance to help staff manage their mental health during the coronavirus pandemic.