Latest STUC Update

From our colleagues at the STUC: 

As the Scottish Government’s focus on the economic impact of Covid-19 continues, we will be providing regular bulletins to signpost you to the latest sources of information. We hope that you will find this useful and share with your networks where appropriate.

At today’s media briefing, the First Minister provided an update on testing capacity, which has increased from an initial starting capacity of 350 tests a day to at least 3,500 a day by the end of this month. She confirmed further expansion which will see all NHS boards asked to put in place procedures to test all those over 70 years of age who are admitted to hospital for any reason - not just Covid symptoms.

She also spoke about newly published guidance around face coverings.

You can read the First Minister’s statement here.

More than 50 Scottish research projects to tackle the virus and its impact will benefit from almost £5 million of Scottish Government funding.

Advice for businesses and their employees is available at https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/

There is an HMRC helpline for tax issues at 0800 015 9559.

NHS Inform’s coronavirus webpage is the fastest way for people to get the latest health advice and information.

Guidance for businesses looking to offer support for the ongoing effort to tackle the Covid-19 emergency can be found here.

Scottish Government announcements

• The latest Scottish Government figures show the total number of confirmed Covid-19 deaths across Scotland is 1,322, up from 1,262 yesterday. Around 51,500 people in Scotland have now been tested for the virus, with the total number of confirmed cases sitting at 10,721. The Greater Glasgow and Clyde area has the highest number of cases in Scotland with 2,604.
• Wider statistics including deaths where Covid-19 was a suspected cause will be published today.
• All over-70s in Scotland will now be tested for Covid-19 on admission to hospital. They will also be tested every four days throughout their stay.
• The Scottish government has recommended people cover their faces while in some enclosed public spaces, such as shops and public transport. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there could be "some benefit" in wearing a cloth face covering in places where social distancing was difficult. But she said it was "not a substitute" for existing lockdown restrictions.
• A minute's silence was held across Scotland to commemorate the frontline workers who have died with coronavirus as part of Workers Memorial Day.
• The First Minister said the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the oil and gas industry is a “big concern” but did not outline specific measures discussed to help support the sector.
• The Scottish Government is under pressure to set out a timetable for when planned operations and delayed cancer treatments will resume as coronavirus-related hospital admissions continue to decline.

UK Government announcements

• 586 more deaths were reported, bringing the total death toll in British hospitals to 21,678.
• Deaths from coronavirus in care homes will be announced daily from Wednesday after figures revealed a sharp rise of more than 4,300 deaths in a fortnight in England and Wales.  Care deaths would now be tracked in the same way as hospital fatalities “to keep the focus on what is happening in care homes” and allow policy to be changed swiftly if needed.
• Hancock dismissed speculation that some parts of the UK could see lockdown eased before others and insists 'we're all in this together.'
• Downing Street says it is considering the scientific evidence for introducing similar advice on face coverings as issued in Scotland Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, confirmed that a "domestic effort" has been launched to slow the spread of coronavirus by producing masks that "limit the droplets that each of us might be responsible for.

Other News

• British Airways announced that it is  set to make up to 12,000 workers redundant, The airline employs 42,000 people and says it will consult on a "restructuring and redundancy programme" as it is expected to take "several years" until demand for air travelreturns to 2019 levels.
• Museums across Scotlandhave warned they face permanent closure within months without being given financial support to get through the Covid-19 pandemic.  
• McDonalds is reported to be carrying out tests behind closed doors this week in preparation for re-opening its branches. Rivals such as Burger King and KFC have reopened their first sites for delivery and takeaway over the last week.
• The US has confirmed one million virus cases, making up almost a third of the total global tally. The US Congress has abandoned plans to return to Washington next week after lawmakers revolted. President Trump has ordered meat processing plants, which have become virus hotspots, to remain open
• China's parliament will meet again next month, a sign officials believe the virus is under control there
• France will make face masks compulsory on schools and public transport when it begins easing the lockdown
• Spain has outlined a ‘plan for transition to normality’. The Spanish government sets out details of its lockdown strategy, as the country’s daily death toll continues to decline and the rate of contagion falls.

More from Scottish Trade Union Congress here https://www.stuc.org.uk