Coronavirus Hub
Coronavirus Hub
Key statistics

Understanding the impact of coronavirus



  • As of 1am on 9 April 2020, there are 1,395,136 confirmed cases of coronavirus around the world. [World Health Organisation]
  • As of 9am on 8 April 2020, there are 60,773 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK out of 232,708 tested. [GOV.UK]
  • 212 countries, areas or territories are affected by COVID-19 with Europe being the epicentre of the virus. [World Health Organisation]

Latest UK government actions

Understand the UK's latest guidance for business on the coronavirus pandemic



Want the latest updates?

Head to .gov.uk to hear the latest from the UK government.

Gov.uk
  • On Wednesday 08 April
    The Chancellor announced measures for charities across the UK to receive a £750m package of support to ensure they can continue their vital work
  • On Tuesday 07 April
    The government produced sector specific guidance for social distancing in the workplace. This is a list of tailored advice for different scenarios as an example of how social distancing and other measures might be implemented by employers to help protect their workforce and customers
  • On Saturday 04 April
    The government added additional guidance for employers and employees regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Guidelines for apprentices are included as well as more detail on eligible employers and companies in administration. It confirms the eligibility for different types of employment relationships and confirms the position of individuals with caring responsibilities
  • On Friday 03 April

    The Chancellor announced enhancements to the financial packages available to companies to help them deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus. This includes changes to the current Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for small businesses and the new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme

  • On Friday 03 April
    UK Export Finance announced it is expanding the scope of its Export Insurance Policy (EXIP) to cover transactions with the EU, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the USA with immediate effect. Previously these markets, which account for 74% of all UK exports, were considered to be ineligible for export insurance as being too low risk
  • On Wednesday 01 April

    The government published guidance about the operation and delivery of the Small Business Grants Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

  • On Wednesday 01 April

    The Coronavirus Bill has become law in Scotland. The bill focuses on adjustments to the justice system; a range of provisions designed to ensure businesses and public services continue to operate; and adjustments to the law on evictions to protect those renting homes 

International updates

Understand the international situation and what this means for you



  • On Wednesday 08 April

    The World Trade Organisation predicted that world trade is expected to fall by 13% to 32% in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts normal economic activity and life around the world. A 2021 recovery in trade is expected, but it is dependent on the duration of the outbreak and the effectiveness of policy responses  

  • On Wednesday 08 April

    China raised the lockdown on Wuhan after reporting no deaths on Tuesday 7 April, the first time since it began publishing figures. Anyone who has a 'green' code displayed on a widely used smartphone health app is now allowed to leave their homes, for the first time since 23 January

  • On Tuesday 07 April

    BusinessEurope sent a letter to Commission Vice-President Dombrovskis calling for the limiting of trade and investment restrictions imposed during the crisis and ensuring that supply chains for essential goods and services remain functional. BusinessEurope brings together a number of European Business Federations including the CBI

  • On Monday 06 April

    Following lobbying by business, India has lifted export restrictions on 24 active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), which are used to manufacture medicines in other countries. Limited quantities of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol will also be allowed to be sent to badly hit nations

  • On Monday 06 April

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the country was preparing to issue a state of emergency to help slow the spread of coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases continues to increase in cities like Tokyo. The state of emergency covering Japan’s major cities comes into effect Wednesday 7 April and will last for one month

  • On Saturday 04 April

    China came to a halt for three minutes at 10am as the government held a national day of mourning for the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic

     

  • On Friday 03 April

    The European Commission scrapped customs duties and VAT on imports of medical devices and protective equipment to make them more affordable for hospitals.   The measure, which will also apply to the UK, will be enforced for a renewable period of six months with retroactive effect to January 30 when the pandemic first emerged in Europe

     

  • On Friday 03 April

    President Trump invoked the emergency Defense Production Act to prevent the hoarding or exporting of critical medical gear needed to combat the coronavirus outbreak

How is coronavirus impacting the economy?

CBI economic analysis

Get the latest CBI breakdown of how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting UK business and the economy as a whole.

Read the latest update

How are other businesses responding?

Find out how businesses in different sectors are responding to the outbreak



  • Financial Services

    • 40 accredited lenders are rolling out the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans to help viable businesses access the financial support they need, working with the British Business Bank and UK Finance
    • Aon has set up a dedicated ‘coronavirus response site’ to help businesses mount an effective infectious disease response
    • Marsh & McLennan has set up a coronavirus hub with webcasts and guidance documents
    • The British Insurance Brokers’ Association publish daily updates on the insurance industry site to help businesses with common questions and announcements
    • The Association of British Insurers is running a coronavirus information hub
    • HSBC has announced a $25 million COVID-19 donation fund, with £1 million donation to the National Emergencies Trust and the British Red Cross appeal in the UK

  • Manufacturing

    • Leading manufacturers and car firms are pivoting their operations to help produce essential medical equipment and products
    • Fiat has started converting their car parts to make face masks for health workers
    • Firms including Rolls-Royce, Airbus and Jaguar Land Rover have been sent a blueprint for making up to 20,000 ventilators to treat coronavirus patients.
    • Companies including BrewDog and Louis Vuitton are using their manufacturing centres and distilleries to produce hand sanitiser for the NHS and others
    • Ineos is building a hand sanitiser plant near Middlesbrough within 10 days to produce one million bottles a month for UK hospitals
    • With manufacturing firms less able to work from home, businesses have been introducing split shifts and rotational workforces to maximise social distancing.

  • Higher Education

    • Many universities have announced plans to move to remote learning and assessment
    • Some, such as Manchester Metropolitan University, are innovating through new creative approaches to online teaching
    • At some medical schools, final-year students will graduate early and be fast-tracked to hospitals to carry out tasks such as patient assessments and blood tests to help fight the pandemic
    • King’s College London has launched a new app that will allow people to record if they are suffering from coronavirus symptoms. It says it will help them track the progression of the disease
    • Meanwhile broadcasters and creative industries including the BBC are looking at educational programming and online lecture archives while schools and universities are closed.

  • Professional Services

    • Firms have published comprehensive guidance for employers – including legal and contractual guidance around sick pay and regulatory requirements
    • Some are advising clients on continuity and contingency plans and regulatory requirements 
    • Legal experts are also supporting people by publishing guidance around the impact of coronavirus on commercial contracts and sick pay
    • Services companies have transitioned to working from home, with many technology companies working hard to increase capacity to account for the additional pressure on their systems, from home working to online learning for schoolchildren
    • Marsh & McLennan has set up a hub with advice on coronavirus.

  • Construction

    • The Construction Industry Training Board has suspended its Levy for 2020 by three months to provide some financial relief to construction businesses. The Levy is usually paid by all businesses with an annual wage bill above £80k
    • Some businesses have begun organising their on-site workforces into ‘red and blue teams’ so that teams can carry out tasks separately from one another, reducing the risk of infection spreading across the wider workforce
    • The industry’s Construction Leadership Council, in conjunction with trade bodies and businesses, has produced new Site Operating Governance guidance for all businesses to follow on building sites
    • Firms have shut down construction sites so they can be assessed and work can re-start in a way that meets Public Health England's advice.

  • Logistics

    • Many logistics firms are helping share government advice with their staff, and taking sensible precautions like sterilising their operational sites
    • Following the government decision to relax rules on the number of hours drivers can spend on the road, firms are aiming to support the urgent distribution of essential items like food, drink and medical supplies while keeping their staff safe
    • Survival equipment company Survitec is conducting daily shipping site reviews and sterilisation across all service stations, tools, spare parts, vehicles and shipments.

  • Retail

    • Major supermarkets are introducing new measures to meet increased demand
    • Sainsburys, Tesco, and ASDA are restricting customers to buying a maximum number of products per line and have introduced specific shopping times for NHS workers, vulnerable citizens and the elderly
    • Waitrose, Lidl and others have announced new strategies to protect both staff and customers, which installing screens at check-out areas
    • Morrisons has pledged to create over 3,000 jobs to help meet increased delivery demand, and is supporting its supply chain through early payments.

  • Hospitality