As of Thursday 03 December 2020: 1,674,134 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK (pillar 1 and 2) and there have been 60,113 deaths. Further information on the data is available here: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
Announcements
PHE COVID-19 Update: feedback sought
We would like your thoughts on the PHE COVID-19 Update. With this in mind, we have prepared a short survey that should take you no longer than five minutes to complete.
Your feedback will help PHE continue to support our regional partners and stakeholders with the latest COVID-19 updates.
The survey is open now until 11 December and be accessed here.
Please note – due to increased demand on the PHE survey platform, the above survey may take a little longer than usual to open.
- Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring coronavirus (COVID-19) activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Regulatory approval of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 Information for healthcare professionals and the public about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Updated: 3 December 2020
- More than one million cases reached by NHS Test and Trace Contact tracers have now successfully reached more than one million people who have tested positive. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Letter from Glenys Stacey to Gavin Williamson, 2 December 2020 Ofqual’s Chief Regulator responds to The Secretary of State for Education about the package of measures for GCSE, AS and A level qualifications in 2021. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Letter from Gavin Williamson to Glenys Stacey The Secretary of State for Education writes to Ofqual’s Chief Regulator detailing the package of measures for GCSE, AS and A level qualifications in 2021. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Ofsted: phased return to inspections Ofsted’s return to inspection in 2021 will happen in phases, with no graded inspections for education or social care providers planned before the summer term. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 2 December 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a statement at the coronavirus press conference. Updated: 2 December 2020
- COVID-19 vaccine authorised by medicines regulator The vaccine will be made available across the UK to priority groups from next week. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Jobcentre guidance on COVID-19 Local Restriction Tiers Jobcentres will remain open, as they have throughout the pandemic, to provide essential services to those we cannot help remotely. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Second Pubs Code Declaration ends today The Declaration put in place to pause and protect Pubs Code rights ceases after 02 December. Updated: 2 December 2020
- An update on the coronavirus vaccine, 2 December 2020 Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock gave a statement to the House of Commons about the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Updated: 2 December 2020
- UK medicines regulator gives approval for first UK COVID-19 vaccine The first COVID-19 vaccine for the UK, developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, has today been given approval for use following a thorough review carried out by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Updated: 2 December 2020
- School governance update Important news and communications from the Department for Education (DfE) relating to governance in maintained schools and academy trusts in England. Updated: 2 December 2020
- UK authorises Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Government authorises first COVID-19 vaccine on independent advice of medicines regulator. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Festive travel tips for people considering overseas travel People thinking about going abroad over the festive period should read the advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Updated: 2 December 2020
- Care home residents to be reunited with families by Christmas New guidance will safely allow indoor visits to care homes across England as the country moves back into tiered restrictions. Updated: 1 December 2020
Data Updates to Surveillance, Reports and Dashboard
- Wider impacts of COVID-19 on health monitoring tool National monitoring tool that brings together metrics to assess the wider impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) on health. Updated: 3 December 2020
- National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Priority groups for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination: advice from the JCVI, 2 December 2020 Advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the groups that should be prioritised for vaccination. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Number of COVID-19 tests in defence and positive cases in the UK Armed Forces 2020 Summary statistics on the number of defence personnel who have had a COVID-19 test; and for the UK Armed Forces, the number of positive cases of COVID-19. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Coronavirus and the latest indicators for the UK economy and society: 3 December 2020 Early experimental data on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the UK economy and society. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Quality of mortality data following the coronavirus pandemic, England and Wales During the first wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period (March 2020 to present) there have been a variety of changes to the processes in which deaths are certified and registered under the Coronavirus Act 2020. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Transport use during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic To monitor the use of the transport system during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Updated: 2 December 2020
Information, advice and guidance
- Critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings List of critical workers (key workers) and vulnerable children and young people who can access full-time education provision in the case of future restrictions on education during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Closing certain businesses and venues in England This guidance sets out restrictions on certain businesses and venues in England under the different local COVID alert levels. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak What all schools will need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak from the start of the autumn term. Updated: 3 December 2020
- NHS Test and Trace statistics (England): methodology How the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) puts together the contact-tracing data in its weekly reports. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Actions for FE colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak Sets out what further education (FE) providers need to know for the autumn term so that students of all ages can benefit from their education and training in full. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): school and college performance measures Our approach to school and college accountability, performance tables and data during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Guidance to support the summer 2021 exams What schools, colleges and students need to know about taking GCSEs, AS and A levels and other qualifications in summer 2021. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak What childcare services early years settings, childminders and local authorities need to provide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Local restriction tiers: what you need to know – alternative formats Alternative format versions of the guidance on the local restriction tier system, including what you can and cannot do in each tier. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Education plans from September 2020 Guidance for education providers about Ofsted’s phased return to inspection. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Social care plans from September 2020 Guidance for children’s social care providers about Ofsted’s phased return to inspection. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Ofsted: coronavirus (COVID-19) rolling update Ofsted guidance and information relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) for schools, early years, children’s social care and further education and skills providers. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Making a Christmas bubble with friends and family Meeting friends and family over the Christmas period – forming a Christmas Bubble. Updated: 3 December 2020
- Roll out of lateral flow tests to local authorities A list of local authorities across England issued with rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests by the Department of Health and Social Care. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Higher education providers: coronavirus (COVID-19) Information on student movements in December 2020, the return of students from January 2021 and NHS Test and Trace channels. Updated: 2 December 2020
- COVID-19: letter to clinically extremely vulnerable people Reference-only version of letter from the government to people who are clinically extremely vulnerable. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Help the government increase coronavirus (COVID-19) testing capacity The government wants help from businesses to increase testing capacity in the UK as part of its strategy to protect the NHS and save lives. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace Designated venues in certain sectors must have a system in place to request and record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff to help break the chains of transmission of coronavirus. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): grassroots sports guidance for the public and sport providers This guidance sets out information for the public and sport providers on how to participate in grassroots sport and physical activity during COVID restrictions. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Visit someone in prison during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic Information and guidance about visiting prisons in England and Wales. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) and prisons Guidance for families and friends of people in prison in England and Wales during the coronavirus pandemic. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): grassroots sports guidance for safe provision including team sport, contact combat sport and organised sport events This guidance sets out information on grassroots sport and physical activity during COVID restrictions including the team sport framework, contact combat sport framework, and advice on organised sport participation events. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Remote education webinars How to access school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice. Updated: 2 December 2020
- COVID-19 Winter Plan The government’s plan for managing COVID-19 through the winter. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): testing guidance for employers Guidance for employers and third-party healthcare providers on the regulations and legal obligations of running testing programmes. Updated: 2 December 2020
- NHS Test and Trace in the workplace Guidance on what to do if you or someone you employ is contacted by NHS Test and Trace, including self-isolation and financial support. Updated: 2 December 2020
- OPSS coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for business and local authorities Guidance on how OPSS is supporting businesses and local authorities and protecting consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): courts and tribunals planning and preparation This page provides advice and guidance for all court and tribunal users during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and will be updated when new advice is available. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for people in England with animals Advice for pet owners and livestock keepers on looking after the welfare of animals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice on accessing green spaces safely Advice on using green spaces and protecting yourself and others from coronavirus. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators Safer working principles and risk assessment for transport operators and organisations. Updated: 2 December 2020
- COVID-19: guidance for those leading a nomadic way of life Information on coronavirus (COVID-19) for those leading a nomadic way of life. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers Walking, cycling, and travelling in vehicles or on public transport during the coronavirus outbreak. Updated: 2 December 2020
- COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable Information for shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19. Updated: 2 December 2020
- COVID-19: guidance for commissioners and providers of services for people who use drugs or alcohol Guidance for commissioners and service providers for those dependent on drugs or alcohol. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Interim phase: area SEND An operational note for Her Majesty’s Inspectors and Care Quality Commission inspectors carrying out interim visits to local areas regarding their special educational needs and disabilities arrangements from October 2020. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Making a childcare bubble with another household How you can get informal childcare for children under 14 from friends and family you do not live with. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Making a support bubble with another household How you can safely expand the group of people you have close contact with during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Interim phase: further education and skills providers An operational note for Her Majesty’s Inspectors carrying out interim visits and new provider monitoring visits to further education and skills providers from 28 September 2020. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Interim visits: registered early years providers An operational note for Ofsted inspectors carrying out interim visits to registered early years providers from 1 September 2020. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Interim phase: maintained schools and academies An operational note for Her Majesty’s Inspectors carrying out interim visits to state-funded schools from 28 September 2020. Updated: 2 December 2020
- Foreign travel insurance Wherever you’re travelling, it’s important to take out appropriate travel insurance before you go. Updated: 1 December 2020
- Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for British people travelling overseas during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, if they are legally permitted to travel internationally. Updated: 1 December 2020
- Containing and managing local coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks Guidance for local authorities and local decision-makers on containing and managing COVID-19 outbreaks at a local level. Updated: 1 December 2020
Marketing and communications materials – Updated 03 December 2020
Campaign Resource Centre
To view all COVID-19 related assets, and other campaign materials, please visit the Campaign Resource Centre. A ‘sort’ function has now been incorporated within every campaign section, allowing you to easily see the most recently uploaded resources.
Covid-19 vaccination
- New social animations for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination and an explainer video from the Joint Committee on Vaccination Immunisation (JCVI).
NHS Covid-19 App
- New NHS COVID-19 App social animations and posters.
Reporting an outbreak
- Updated action cards for reporting an outbreak.