Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

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Captain Boris pushes the Brexit Ship to 'Flank Speed' ahead

THE Coronavirus (Covid19) has already damaged the UK economy and many small businesses along with employees are facing a very hard winter, with minimal or no support from UK Government for many. With no lifeboats and with a very real iceberg looming on the horizon, of mass redundancies and bankruptcies, the boilers of the Northern Powerhouse and other UK Regions are close to blowing, but now all businesses have to get ready for a no deal Brexit, sorry the "Australia Style Agreement."

It was hoped the best deal the UK could now get would be a "Canada style" trade deal with the EU, after the UK leaves the transition period at the end of 2020, but this is looking less and less likely. Even a "Canada style agreement" ("Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement," or "Ceta") for short would still leave the UK in a very dangerous position, because the structure of its trade is very different to that of Canada. Also this type of deal has been shot down by Brussels due to Britain's closeness to the EU...

The new buzz words from Number 10 are that we will soon go into an "Australia Style Agreement," but as the EU does not have a free trade deal with Australia, although they are in negotiations, the latest semantics in reality is really code for World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. But why should that matter? Also, what memories do countries like Australia have of the time we joined the Common Market?

Well, if we follow WTO rules, sorry:- "Australia Trade Rules" it will add thousands to the cost of new cars, food, equipment and lots of other imports and exports. With January seeing of tariffs on goods moving between the UK and the EU and the increase of complex bureaucrat red tape, along with the checks, this will mean not only high import and export costs, but also massive delays with the movement of goods. That is not forgetting the massive impact on the Tourism Market, we face in a post Brexit WTO world, as we will no longer have free movement, something people see as only affecting:- "foreign criminals" and "illegal immigration" as we have seen quoted so many times over the Brexit debates. All this now threatens to become the perfect storm for UK businesses big and small and the UK economy. Along with the added impact of the already bad decision making of Boris Johnson's Government over Covid, the situation bears all the hallmarks of a Titanic disaster for the UK's economy and job market. As our good old Captain, Boris pushes for 'Flank Speed' ahead, and the iceberg warnings are ignored, given the instability of the economy, a sinking in January 2021 seems increasingly likely. Now many business leaders are warning that January 2021 will see the UK lapse into a long 'Winter of Discontent' like no other in the recent history of our nation.

As even a paper by the Centre for Brexit Policy has questioned Boris Johnson's claim that the UK will go to "Australia rules" on World Trade Organisation terms if a deal is not struck with the EU. This begs the question how competent our Captain really is, as we sail into the unknown?

Now, it has been also publicly admitted that the so called "red wall" voters who helped deliver Boris Johnson's election victory will be disproportionately affected by Brexit, along with the building resentment in the way people are being treated over the financial support for those affected by Covid19, the pressure is building. This is all storing up trouble, with potential stormy waters ahead and our ship pushed to breaking point as it ploughs through huge waves of protests, this tumultuous course the UK is now navigating on might not even see us reach the iceberg. With thousands of small businesses on the blink of closure due to the lack of support over Covid19 and now "no deal Brexit," along with people who are still unaware of the impact this will have on trade and day to day life in the UK, we might be soon be raging as we hit the rocks! Even more likely is that the ship's company might even mutiny in 2021. As the Chief Executive of the 'Best for Britain campaign against a no-deal Brexit,' Naomi Smith, said:- "The EU has signalled its desire to carry on talks. Walking away now would be a hideous gamble with the country's future." If she is correct and we do continue, the anchor could be dropped and a possible rescue deal made. But as Naomi Smith also said:- "Without a deal, tariffs would destroy the competitiveness of many UK industries, meaning the current economic crisis will cut deeper into people's lives." Yet, on the other hand, even though, just as with the Covid19 crisis, the Government still has its hard line supporters, who claim calm waters are ahead. On the other side, the relentless Nigel Farage has warned Boris Johnson that he is ready to resurrect the Brexit Party, should the UK compromise to reach a trade deal with the European Union.

If you own a betting shop, we would love to hear the odds on what course the UK will sail on as the 31 December deadline looms ever closer. Please do let us know your thoughts on this monumental palaver, by emailing our news room today at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Did you know? Flank speed is a nautical term referring to a ship's true maximum speed, but it is not equivalent to the term full steam ahead.

Admin fees removed for Covid19 disrupted rail travel on Advance tickets

RAIL passengers in England, Scotland and Wales will have extra protections to ensure they are not left out of pocket from Covid19 related local restrictions. Passengers who have bought an Advance ticket which they can subsequently no longer use as a result of Covid19 restrictions changing will not have to pay the administration cost of rearranging travel for a ticket purchased prior to any announcement.

As new travel restrictions come into force in different parts of the country, passengers are more at risk of having to change travel plans. The Government has worked closely with train operators to build consumer confidence and support the industry.

The new temporary measures enable passengers to claim discretionary rail travel vouchers or credit notes for unused Advance tickets that are valid for up to a year, offering more flexibility than the current arrangements.

The Government is also allowing independent rail retailers to temporarily waive the usual change of journey admin fee for Advance tickets.

This decision follows extensive support provided to the rail industry throughout the Covid19 Pandemic, to protect jobs and keep services running for passengers. The announcement, on 25 October 2020, ensures that support continues as people return to the railways.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:- �Covid has seen massive disruption to our way of life, and passengers buying Advance tickets should not be penalised for cancelling their travel plans to follow the advice that can save lives. By temporarily scrapping these admin fees on Advance tickets, and extending the time people have to re-book their journeys, we are ensuring that large numbers of rail passengers will not be left out of pocket.�

The Government previously stepped in to permit Advance ticket refunds at the outset of the pandemic, as well as removing administrative refund or change of journey charges from:- Advance, Off Peak, Super Off Peak, or Anytime tickets. These new measures offer further support for customers across the rail network,

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Operating Officer at the Rail Delivery Group, said:- "When people take the train we want them to travel with confidence. As well as extra cleaning and more trains, that means people knowing that if things change and they can no longer use their Advance ticket due to Covid19 restrictions, they won�t be unfairly penalised, so this announcement is good news for our passengers."

Letters to Editor:- "Covid19 Event Update from Friends of Christ Church"

"AS a result of the present restrictions, and because of the large number of people who come to them, the Friends of Old Christ Church have decided with deep regret that they are unable to host any community events for the foreseeable future and have cancelled all of them for the remainder of this year. We are sorry to have to disappoint our regular visitors but we shall keep the situation under review and hope to be in a position to continue with our usual programme of events starting again in February 2021. We plan to be in a position to host the following events again in 2021:-

► The Waterloo Flea Markets and Vintage Fairs.

► Heritage Open Day and Summer Fair.

► The Fair before Christmas.

► NCT Nearly New Sales.

► The Waterloo Art Exhibition.

► Sefton Big Draw and Craft Workshops.

► The Waterloo Beer Festival.

► The Liverpool Model Railway Show.

► The NW Ship Show.

Let us hope that the virus is under control by the end of the year, and in the meantime keep safe." The Friends of Old Christ Church.

Total UK cases COVID19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 19,790 cases and the total number now stand at:- 873,800, that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:- 151, within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 44,896, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 58,164.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 7,850. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 743. Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 1,142.

In England, there are a total of:- 113,205 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 30,881 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

Area and number of confirmed cases:- Risen by:-

ENHANCED RESTRICTIONS

Tier 3

LIVERPOOL City Region

► Liverpool, 17,285 confirmed cases.
309

► Halton, 3,126 confirmed cases.
54

► Knowsley, 5,716 confirmed cases. 132

► Sefton, 7,258 confirmed cases.
115

► St. Helens, 5,007 confirmed cases
86

► Wirral, 7,285 7,142 confirmed cases.

143

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to100 100 over

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within Local Authorities around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

► Blackburn with Darwen, 5,390 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 3,087 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 8,945 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 5,470 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 5,360 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 5,083 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 28,493 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 17,876 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 8,100 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 4,362 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 7,074 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 7,284 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 5,794 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 6,009 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 5,387 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 5,072 confirmed cases.

► Wigan, 8,794 confirmed cases.

Daily reported Covid19 deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the 1st laboratory confirmed positive Covid19 test. Daily and cumulative numbers of COVID19 patients admitted to Hospital. Data are not updated every day by all 4 nations and the figures are not comparable as Wales include suspected COVID19 patients while the other nations include only confirmed cases.