Friday update from Chamber
Well that was quite day and much for you to think on, over the Long Weekend ahead.
A four-hour permit to be outside for any activity and the prospect of waving at a couple of friends from two metres. Plus, the prospect of some physical distancing at an outside venue for food or at a café, at some point after the Glorious 12th, of May that is… the details are in the News below.
In the Chamber News,
As from next week, these updates will be brought ever-closer too you with the kind support of Le Gallias and Luce, who scoped up the opportunity to force me into bothering you with more words throughout May. Chamber would like to thank them for their generous support in sponsoring the nightly efforts of this page. It’ll be the same incisive reduced gravy of what has happened in the day to day, with the odd smattering of nonsense, to check you are reading it, within a slightly revamped look. But that is for next week.
Today, our Friday Webchat, sponsored by Grant Thornton had the DG of Customer and Local Services, Ian Burns, the CEO of Jersey Business and the Minister for Economic Development Lyndon Farnham, all answering questions. I’ll try to shape that into a You Tube video for next week, in case you wish to watch it. Next week will be on Thursday 7th, and I’m hoping the Chief Minister will be free to take your questions.
The Survey from Grant Thornton, in association with the Jersey Chamber of Commerce is going well – do go answer the 19 questions it offers. Again our thanks to all the other business organisations who have distributed the information to their members and data bases too.
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eh2bdhhrk9laeis9/start
News
The full press briefing was watched by 7.2k at one point – the full video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Gv0vuxcLQ but scroll forward 4’07” as they – the Chief Minister, Dep. Chief Minister and Health Minister - were late. The statements and details are here
A framework for phasing out lockdown
The Government has released its framework for a phased and gradual lifting of the lockdown restrictions. The various measures will only be phased out when medical advice says it is safe to do so. This advice will be underpinned by the upscaled testing and contact-tracing programme announced yesterday.
https://www.gov.je/News/2020/Pages/SafeExitLockdown.aspx
Stay Home measures are amended
From tomorrow (Saturday 2 May), some of the Stay at Home measures introduced on 30 March to safeguard Islanders from the impact of COVID-19 will be relaxed, to support Islanders’ wellbeing.
https://www.gov.je/News/2020/Pages/StayHomeMeasuresAmended.aspx
Statements on Safe Exit
https://www.gov.je/News/2020/Pages/SafeExitStatements.aspx
Phase 2 of Co-Funded Payroll Scheme open for applications
Local businesses and the self-employed can now apply for emergency COVID-19 support, worth up to £1600 per worker, per month, under Phase 2 of the Government’s Co-Funded Payroll Scheme (CFPS). Tip from the DG of CLS: To apply you must have sent in your employer Social Security Return first.
https://www.gov.je/News/2020/Pages/Phase2PayrollCoFunding.aspx
The team at CLS received over 700 applications today and will be working throughout the long weekend to process payments on Tuesday for the first of them. Well done to them – the Frontline comes in many guises. The first application came in at 00:10 in the morning – eager beavers!
Our friends at Jersey Business have produced a mighty helpful how to fill out the form video : https://vimeo.com/413640380 My technical view is – it’s bang on, well done to them!
Chief Minister issues statement on testing for Covid-19
https://www.gov.je/News/2020/Pages/ChiefMinisterStatementTesting.aspx
Weekly economic indicators published
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is important for key economic information to be available in a timely manner, to inform decision makers, businesses and members of the public. Therefore, in the short term, Statistics Jersey will be producing this report on a weekly basis to provide statistics in the following areas:
Registered Actively Seeking Work (ASW)
Income Support
Business Disruption Loan Guarantee Scheme
Coronavirus Government Co-Funded Payroll Scheme
COVID Related Emergency Support Scheme (CRESS)
Royal Court housing activity
https://www.gov.je/News/2020/Pages/Weekly-economic-Indicators-published.aspx
So, that’ll be enough for tonight, we’ve now completed five weeks of updates and you probably want to start the weekend – and if you don’t – I do.
So some thanks to the many who have been in touch, emailed, supported, commented, added details and generally been top bananas throughout. No update on Monday – May the 4th be with you… but we will return on Tuesday the 5th.
Now, to the Friday night (small) glass of wine. Right now, life may not be the party we’d hoped for, but while we are here, we should dance…
Stay safe, stay home (for 20 hours a day) and stay in touch,
Murray
Murray Norton
Chief Executive
JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE