Scotland Food & Drink, like our partners in Government and industry, is working 24/7 on the impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak.
One of the lessons from any crisis situation is the importance of clear communications. This new daily update will cover the latest situation with the outbreak and the advice to businesses and on public health. It will also let you know what SF&D is doing and is a call to action for business across the food and drink supply chain, to share the impact you are facing.
We are on daily calls with Government to highlight and work through issues, we need your information to inform that effort. Send any and all information you can to info@foodanddrink.scot.
Please feel free to share this daily update widely.
Thanks
James Withers
Chief Executive
The situation is fast-moving. The information businesses provide us fuels our effort in analysing impact and exploring mitigation options, financial or otherwise. Please send SF&D all information including loss of sales, business fragility, cashflow problems, workforce absence and disruption in supply chain. Also, any other potential solutions or opportunities are welcome.
Send all information to info@foodanddrink.scot
The key information provided to us by businesses will be summarised here daily.
Based at Scottish Enterprise’s call centre in Clydebank, advisers across Scotland will answer questions from businesses related to COVID-19.
The business helpline number is 0300 303 0660. The helpline will be open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm. Callers should select option one to speak to the COVID-19 team.
To complement the helpline a new website has been created to keep businesses up-to-date with the latest guidance across a comprehensive range of important areas relating to COVID-19. Click FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot. to access
Support for businesses paying tax
All businesses and self-employed people in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through HMRC’s Time To Pay service.
These arrangements are agreed on a case-by-case basis and are tailored to individual circumstances and liabilities. If you are concerned about being able to pay your tax due to COVID-19, call HMRC’s dedicated helpline on 0800 0159 559.
For tourism businesses, VisitScotland has set-up an advice page which can be accessed here.
The proliferation of the virus has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, meaning it is spreading rapidly in different parts of the world. More than 150 countries have confirmed cases so far.
The epicentre of the coronavirus is now Europe, with the largest number of confirmed cases in Italy, and death tolls growing more quickly in Italy and Spain than they did in China at the same stage of the outbreak.
United Kingdom Cases
Confirmed: 1,544
Deaths: 55
Recovered: 52
Some 44,105 people in the UK have been tested for the respiratory infection so far.
As of 2pm on 17 March, there were 195 positive cases of Covid-19 in Scotland following 5,051 tests. So far, two patients in Scotland have died.
The number of new cases in the UK and Scotland is expected to rise sharply in the next four weeks and then peak in June.
For people showing symptoms suggestive of coronavirus the UK Government is stressing the importance of seeking help online by visiting NHS.UK/coronavirus to check your symptoms and follow the medical advice, rather than visiting your GP.
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