The government recently announced a road map for a step by step plan to ease lockdown. The 4 steps plan with a 5 weeks’ gap in between to enable the government to gather and analyse data on the impact of each step and consider any changes necessary. The Government will review impact of each step against four tests.
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These tests are:
The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.
The 4 Step Plan to Ease Lockdown
Budget and Coronavirus Support
The furlough scheme extends until the end of September.
Employees will continue to receive 80% of their wages until the scheme ends. Firms will contribute 10% in July and 20% of wages in August and September.
A fourth grant, for the self-employment income support scheme, will cover February to April, and is worth 80% trading profits up to £7,500.
600,000 more self-employed people will be eligible for help as access to grants is widened
Working Tax Credit claimants will get £500 one-off payment
The £20-a-week increase for universal credit is extended for six months.
Minimum wage to increase to £8.91 an hour from April
Business support
There will be a £5bn restart grant to help companies after lockdown
The government-backed bounce back loan (BBL) and coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS) will end but another loan scheme will run until the end of the year for anything between £25,000 and £10m.
Hospitality and leisure businesses do not have to pay business rates for three months, then rates will be discounted for the remaining nine months of the year by two-thirds.
5% reduced rate of VAT will last until the end of September. It will then increase to 12.5% for six months, before returning to the standard rate in April 2022.
Community Support
£1.65bn to support the UKs vaccination rollout
£50m to boost the UKs vaccine testing capability
£19m for domestic violence programmes, funding network of respite rooms for homeless women
解封路程表
英國政府最近發佈了一個分四階段逐步解封城市的路程表。每一階段都相隔五星期以便搜集數據及分析上一階段的成效，及評估是否需調整下一階段的安排。政府將以以下四項測試作為分析的基礎：
1. 接種疫苗計劃持續有效。
2. 數據證實疫苗能有效減低已接種疫苗的人仕入院及死亡的數字。
3. 感染數字不再令入院數字飊升從而令醫療服務承受不可持續的壓力。
4. 變種病毒不會嚴重影響風險評估。
最新財政預算案
與新冠病毒有關的方案
強制休假計劃 (furlough) 延長至九月底
這計劃由政府支付員工百份之八十之薪酬。從七月起僱主要支付員工百份之十的薪酬，到八月和九月這將會升至百份之二十。
自僱人仕可在二月到四月之間獲得他們過往營業盈餘之百份之八十或最高7,500英鎊的贊助。由於這計劃擴闊了贊助範圍，因此估計會有額外六十萬自僱人仕能受惠。
領取在職Tax Credit 的人仕可獲一次過500英鎊的緩助。
Universal Credit福利金每週20英鎊的額外金額將會延長至九月底。
四月起最低薪金將會增至每小時£8.91。
商業支援
解封後政府將會撥款五十億英鎊以協助企業重整業務。
由政府支持的反彈貸款計劃 (bounce back loan)及冠狀病毒業務中斷貸款計劃
(coronavirus business interruption loan scheme)將會由另一個貸款計劃取代。新貸款計劃有效期至今年年底，金額由 £25,000 至 £10m 之間。
款待及休閒事業不需要付三個月的商業地稅，之後的九個月也可只需付三份之一的地稅。
直到九月底為止VAT會被減至5%，之後會升至12.5%，六個月後，即2022年四月起回復到以前的稅額。
社區支援
£1.65bn以支援接種疫苗計劃。
£50m 用作加強測試疫苗效用。
£19m 用在為受到家庭暴力的婦女提供臨時喘息住所。
解封路程表
英国政府最近发布了一个分四阶段逐步解封城市的路程表。 每一阶段都相隔五星期以便搜集数据及分析上一阶段的成效，及评估是否需调整下一阶段的安排。 政府将以以下四项测试作为分析的基础：
1. 接种疫苗计划持续有效。
2. 数据证实疫苗能有效减低已接种疫苗的人仕入院及死亡的数字。
3. 感染数字不再令入院数字飊升从而令医疗服务承受不可持续的压力。
4. 变种病毒不会严重影响风险评估。
最新财政预算案
与新冠病毒有关的方案
强制休假计划（furlough）延长至9月底
这计划由政府支付员工百份之八十之薪酬。 从七月起雇主要支付员工百份之十的薪酬，到八月和九月这将会升至百份之二十。
自雇人仕可在二月到四月之间获得他们过往营业盈余之百份之八十或最高7，500英镑的
赞助。 由于这计划扩阔了赞助范围，因此估计会有额外六十万自雇人仕能受惠。
领取在职Tax Credit 的人仕可获一次过500英镑的缓助。
Universal Credit福利金每周20英镑的额外金额将会延长至九月底。
四月起最低薪金将会增至每小时£8.91。
商业支援
解封后政府将会拨款五十亿英镑以协助企业重整业务。
由政府支持的反弹贷款计划（bounce back loan）及冠状病毒业务中断贷款计划（coronavirus business interruption loan scheme）将会由另一个贷款计划取代。 新贷款计划有效期至今年年底，金额由 £25，000 至 £10m 之间。
款待及休闲事业不需要付三个月的商业地税，之后的九个月也可只需付三份之一的地税。
直到九月底为止VAT会被减至5%，之后会升至12.5%，六个月后，即2022年四月起回复到以前的税额。
社区支援
£1.65bn以支持接种疫苗计划。
£50m用作加强测试疫苗效用。
£19m用在为受到家庭暴力的妇女提供临时喘息住所。