Key Facts

• The Coronavirus Bill gives UK-wide powers to fight the virus, building on existing Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.
• Military assistance has been brought in for logistical support in distributing protective equipment.
• An antibody test is being developed and purchased in large quantities.
• The Coronavirus Bill includes a power in schedule 21 to limit entry to premises, which could apply to care homes.
• There is a six-month review and vote on the continuation of the Bill proposed by the Government.
• A report every eight weeks will be provided on the use of powers in the Bill.
• The Coronavirus Bill aims to provide a legislative toolkit for UK Governments.
• 7,563 clinicians have answered the call to return to work in response to increased demand.
• The Bill includes measures to increase the health and social care workforce.
• The Bill provides legal protection for healthcare staff taking on additional responsibilities.
• Mental health legislation is modified to reduce from two to one the number of doctors’ opinions needed for detention under the Mental Health Act 1983.
• NHS trusts will be permitted to delay continuing healthcare assessments until after the emergency ends.
• Clause 23 talks about food supply chains.
• The 80% wage subsidy is for those who are furloughed rather than those taking up new jobs.
• Workers in leisure centres may need to be redeployed into social care roles due to the crisis.
• Social care standards must not be lowered to a dangerous level, especially for vulnerable individuals.
• The Bill includes provisions to prioritize social care for those at risk of life and death situations during staff shortages.
• The Coronavirus Bill gives stronger powers to restrict or prohibit events and public gatherings.
• It allows for the closure of educational settings and childcare providers.
• The Bill postpones elections in England due to take place in May by one year.
• The Bill includes measures for managing deceased individuals during self-isolation periods.
• Small businesses with fewer than 250 employees will receive a full refund for sick pay related to coronavirus.
• Industry is required to provide information on food supplies.
• Case fatality figures are increasing at a rate similar to Italy's.
• Clinicians warn that intensive care bed capacity and high-dependency unit capacity could be overwhelmed soon.
• Financial support is crucial for individuals in the gig economy and self-employed workers.
• MPs discuss the need for stricter enforcement of social distancing measures.
• The Competition and Markets Authority is investigating price increases and profiteering.
• Families living in overcrowded conditions face challenges with social isolation during lockdowns.
• Speaker is sceptical about behavioural modelling used by the Government before banning mass gatherings.
• France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Greece, Germany have enforced different social distancing measures.
• The speaker highlights the need for more testing, contact tracing, and isolation to break transmission chains.
• Between 21-22 March, around 5,500 tests were conducted.
• The previous day saw approximately 8,400 tests.
• Many labs are unable to start testing or are operating under planned capacity due to supply chain issues with chemicals and kits.
• GPs are reportedly making their own PPE at DIY stores.
• There is concern over adequate protective equipment for healthcare workers in hospitals.
• Amendments tabled to schedule 11 to ensure local authorities do not immediately reduce care packages.
• New clause proposed for a body like the Equality and Human Rights Commission to oversee the Bill's impact on social care every eight weeks.
• Change in the Mental Health Act allowing one medical professional to agree to someone’s being sectioned instead of two.
• The Bill extends hospital holding times before sectioning from three to five days.
• The Bill gives the Secretary of State power to change section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
• The job retention scheme does not include self-employed workers, affecting those without a safety net.
• Statutory sick pay is £94.25, making it one of the lowest rates in Europe.
• No eviction ban measures are included in the Bill despite Government promises.
• 8.5 million households rent their home from private, council or housing association landlords.
• The Bill includes powers to detain and test potentially infectious individuals including children.
• The Bill contains a two-year sunset clause but the MP suggests reviews every six months.
• Jeremy Hunt pays tribute to the Health Secretary's efforts during the pandemic.
• Hospitals in London are filling up; one hospital reports seven doctors with the virus.
• Public Health England downgraded PPE recommendations on March 6, but this was clarified by Professor Keith Willett on Friday.
• Hunt supports the shift from mitigation to suppression strategy adopted a week ago.
• Countries like South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and China rigorously track and test every case and suspected case, then identify all contacts of a covid-19 patient.
• Ten days ago in the UK, testing in the community was stopped.
• According to modellers, there are about 300,000 cases currently in the UK with one death per 1,000 cases and an estimated doubling every five days.
• The Prime Minister announced plans to expand testing from 5,000 to 25,000 tests daily.
• The UK is currently testing between 5,000 and 8,000 people a day.
• South Korea, Germany, Australia, and Austria are testing more per head of population than the UK.
• Public Health England has only 280 people devoted to contact tracing.
• The Scottish Government tabled their legislative consent motion last Thursday.
• The Finance and Constitution Committee at Holyrood will consider the LCM on Tuesday morning.
• The Bill includes bespoke provisions for Scotland to reflect its different legal system.
• The Highland Council landmass is 25,656 sq km.
• This area makes up 32% of Scotland's landmass and 10.5% of the UK's landmass.
• NHS Highland has one acute hospital in Inverness that serves a wide geographic area.
• Sykes Cottages initially refused to prohibit new bookings in highlands and islands but has now relented.
• HomeAway is refusing cancellations without penalty for bookings.
• The Jacobite steam train company plans to start operations from April 6.
• The Bill is an extraordinary measure for unprecedented times.
• The Government has announced a significant package of support including grants, loans, and benefits.
• Testing capacity will be increased to 25,000 per day.
• The Bill references sick pay but does not cover 4.7 million self-employed workers.
• The Musicians Union has suggested a package of £400 per week initially for self-employed individuals based on previous years’ earnings.
• Provision is needed for rent and mortgage relief to avoid putting people into arrears.
• Insurance policies are being regarded as invalid by insurers, causing difficulties for businesses.
• The Paymaster General is taking notes on the points raised.
• Robert Largan was elected as one of the last new Members to give their maiden speech.
• He is particularly concerned about the self-employed and calls on the Government to support them urgently.
• The constituency of High Peak has seen volunteer groups, teachers delivering packed lunches, and food banks working day and night during the crisis.
• The MP criticizes panic buying as selfish behavior.
• The Bill suspends protections for individuals regarding death certification and mental health sectioning.
• Sole traders and self-employed individuals need urgent financial provisions.
• The Bill is based on the UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011.
• A major three-day exercise called Cygnus involved about 1,000 organisations in 2016.
• The legislation includes new registration powers for health professionals and provisions for emergency volunteering leave with potential compensation of 80% loss of earnings.
• The Government proposes six-month renewals rather than two years for some emergency powers.
• NHS staff are concerned about lack of PPE and testing delays.
• China managed to shut down the disease in six weeks with flights still coming from high-risk areas.
• Clause 23 underpowers individuals by contradicting subsection (1) requirements.
• The MP reflects on the bravery of healthcare workers in facing difficulties during the pandemic.
• The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has waived parking charges for staff members in all Belfast facilities.
• Clause 4 extends the registration period for new pharmacists.
• Pharmacies face challenges with insufficient staffing, medication shortages, and limitations on distributing medications.
• The Kimbridge Barn company wants clarity on volunteer work under current government schemes.
• Local authorities are questioned about the necessity of implementing regulations such as parking fines during the pandemic.
• There is no mechanism for Select Committees to meet remotely according to Standing Orders.
• The speaker advocates for clearer and stricter lockdown measures.
• Economic security is needed to support self-employed individuals and those in vulnerable positions.
• The Bill aims to address urgent measures needed during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Adam Afriyie questions why a new piece of legislation was introduced instead of using the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
• Liam Byrne calls for improvements in statutory sick pay, paid parental leave, and universal credit payments.
• The MP mentions concerns about companies raising prices during emergencies.
• The Bill grants enormous powers to the state.
• British nationals abroad are being called back to the UK.
• Armed forces have been mobilised to assist various agencies across the nation.
• Millions of workers, including low earners, self-employed individuals, and gig economy workers, will not qualify for statutory sick pay.
• The rate of statutory sick pay is £94 a week, one of the lowest in Europe.
• The Bill suspends duties to meet the needs of disabled people and their carers.
• There are confirmed cases of covid-19 in Yarl’s Wood detention centre.
• The first death from coronavirus occurred at a county hospital in West Dorset.
• 24% of those in work in West Dorset are self-employed.
• A local bus operator stopped vital bus links into Bridport with only 48 hours’ notice.
• The coronavirus pandemic is the biggest crisis facing the country for a generation.
• Schedule 27 of the Bill initially proposed to disregard the wishes of the deceased during capacity shortages.
• Religious communities, particularly Muslims in Peterborough, were concerned about this proposal.
• The Government produced a 321-page Bill at very short notice.
• There are 15,000 St John Ambulance volunteers, with 8,500 clinically trained.
• Concerns about possible delays in NHS continuing care assessments and suspensions of education plans for vulnerable children.
• The Coronavirus Bill includes measures that suspend protections preventing the cremation of individuals against their wishes.
• Bradford Council has built additional capacity to handle deaths while respecting religious requirements.
• Social care rights under the Care Act 2014 are being suspended, raising concerns about the allocation of resources and the impact on vulnerable groups.
• The Bill will change everyday life in profound ways by curtailing freedoms.
• The speaker thanks hon. Members for their contributions to the debate.
• The Government must ensure protective clothing, equipment, and ventilators are available for everyone who needs them.
• The Bill's powers can be switched on and off as needed.
• Clause 13 is live at Royal Assent but clauses 14 and 9 need further regulations to commence.
• The Minister for Care, my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Helen Whately), is monitoring data from CQC and other areas.
• The government is working with industry to produce more PPE and addressing distribution issues.