Coronavirus (COVID-19) Businesses and Employers Bulletin - 18 February 2021
This bulletin is issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provides the latest information for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19). All coronavirus business support information can be found at gov.uk/business-support
- The National Workplace Testing Programme
- Travel
- New video content to help keep your business moving
- Other opportunities
- Other useful links
The National Workplace Testing Programme
The National Workplace Testing programme will identify more positive cases of COVID-19 and ensure those infected, isolate, protecting those who cannot work from home and our vital services. This programme is crucial given that around 1 in 3 people have coronavirus without displaying any symptoms and will enable more people who have the virus to be identified sooner and break the chains of transmission.
The programme is aimed at those without symptoms and who cannot work from home during lockdown. Companies in England with over 50 employees, can register on gov.uk to order coronavirus tests for their workforces.
Organisations with less than 50 staff, sole traders, the self-employed, or members of the public, should visit their local authority’s website for further information about their testing services.
Travel
Booking and staying in a quarantine hotel when you arrive in England
Everyone who arrives at England must quarantine for 10 days from the point of their arrival. The day of arrival in England will be treated as day zero. From 15 February, for people who have travelled from, or passed through a country on the list, where travel to the UK is banned (the ‘red list’) in the last 10 days before arrival, you must quarantine in a managed quarantine hotel.
Before you travel you must:
- take a coronavirus (COVID-19) test and get a negative result during the 3 days before you travel. You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs. For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you must take the test on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
- book a managed quarantine hotel where you will quarantine if you will travel in or through a country on the banned list. Find out how to book a managed quarantine hotel and your coronavirus tests on day 2 and day 8 of quarantine
- complete a passenger locator form with details of where you will quarantine when you arrive. You must provide a quarantine package booking reference number to complete your passenger locator form. Use the booking portal to book your guarantee hotel package
- If you will not travel in or through a country on the banned travel list, find out how to quarantine and book your coronavirus tests.
For more information, click here.
Minimum standards for private sector providers of the COVID-19 tests for people arriving in England.
By law, all tests privately provided testing on day 2 and day 8 for international arrivals must meet minimum standards as outlined in the guidance. Providers must also complete a declaration that their tests meet all of these standards. More information on the minimum standards for day 2 and day 8 mandatory tests can be found in the guidance for private providers. Check the list of providers: Test to Release for international travel.
Get a coronavirus test if you are an HGV or van driver before you leave the UK for some countries
You must test negative for coronavirus before you travel from the UK to:
Check FCDO travel advice for any country you are planning to enter. For more information, click here.
New video content to help keep your business moving
Doing business with Europe has changed. You need to follow new rules on exports, imports, tariffs, data and hiring.
All businesses can find out what has changed, and check their preparations, by visiting new video content from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The short, on-demand videos cover 18 topics, including importing and exporting, rules of origin and audit and accounting. Click here to immediately access the video content. New rules are here – make sure your business is prepared.
Other opportunities
UN Climate Change Conference – Get Involved
The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 1-12 November 2021. The expression of Interest process to apply to get involved in UK Government managed spaces at COP26 is open now until Friday 5 March at 17:00 GMT. This includes opportunities such as hosting of events, creative installations, and exhibition space. Find out more here.
Free cyber security webinars
The National Cyber Security Centre is running a series of free cyber security webinars and talks in late February and March 2021. These events are aimed at UK businesses of all sizes, educational institutions, and charities. Find out more and register here.
Other useful links
Some aspects of business support are devolved. Specific information for businesses and employers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is available. In England, Growth Hubs can advise on local and UK Government business support. You can also find helpful business case studies and other useful information on the Coronavirus Business Support Blog.
