Good morning. Here is the latest Covid-19 news from around the world today.
UK: Today, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to extend the government’s furlough scheme until the end of September. From July, workers will only receive 60% of their wages from the scheme, rather than the current 80%, according to reports. Employees will be able to work part-time, with the government topping up their salary. More than six million people from 800,000 companies are currently getting paid through the scheme.
Last night, the government published Covid-19 guidance for businesses, which includes instructions for employers to take “all reasonable steps” to help people work from home, and to carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment in consultation with employees or trade unions. All businesses with over 50 employers are expected to publish their assessment online. Companies should redesign workplaces so that workers can stay two metres apart, erecting barriers in shared spaces and staggering start times to minimise contact. The Trade Unions Congress, which has repeatedly criticised the government in recent days, called the guidance “a step in the right direction”. But with the government telling employees to return to work tomorrow if they can’t work from home, businesses have been left with little time to make their workplaces safe.
Finally, Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning refused to say whether people have a legal right to refuse to go to work if they do not feel safe. Instead, he called for a “collaborative effort” between workers and employers. Asked a second time, he said: “Well, employment law has not changed, but that isn’t the point. The point is that businesses and employees should be working together to make the best of a very difficult situation.” The government’s calls for voluntary collaboration will leave many workers worried; yesterday, Johnson said he was “sure employers will agree” that people can stay home if they can’t arrange childcare.
China: China has reported no new domestic cases in a 24-hour period. It follows two days of new double-digit infections, including in Wuhan, which had fuelled fears of a second spike of infections.
US: Dr Anthony Fauci, a leading figure in the country’s coronavirus task force, will today warn the senate that reopening the economy early risks “needless suffering and deaths”, according to the New York Times. President Donald Trump has complained that states are lifting restrictions too slowly, and yesterday said the US had “prevailed” over the virus. The number of deaths passed 80,000.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin has eased lockdown restrictions by sending some sectors back to work, even as Russia recorded a record number of new coronavirus cases.
Germany: New cases jumped to 933 on Tuesday, up from 357 on Monday. It’s not clear whether the rise is due to the country easing lockdown, or to a delay in reporting figures from the weekend.
Australia: Australian GDP will shrink more than 10 per cent in the three months to June, treasurer Josh Frydenberg has forecast, while unemployment will double to 10 per cent.
Singapore: Some businesses, including hairdressers, cake shops and laundry services, will reopen for the first time today. Both staff and customers will have to check in and out using a government app to allow for contact tracing.
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