Concerns over the end of the British furlough scheme

مخاوف بسبب نهاية فترة مخطط الإجازة البريطاني الداعم للرواتب (تفاصيل استفادة ملايين الأشخاص في بريطانيا من إعانة مالية حكومية تقدم لمرة واحدة)

30 September 2021

The pandemic is still in full swing in the UK. In the last week of September, the average number of cases exceeded 34,000 case per day. The vaccination campaign is also currently ongoing to relieve cases with serious symptoms.

It seems like changes are taking place every day to recover from COVID-19 and get back to normal in the country. In this brief report, we highlight the most recent news and questions regarding the Corona virus.

The government furlough scheme ends

*Concerns over the end of the British furlough scheme (Credit: Anadolu)*

With the end of September, the government’s furlough scheme that supported salaries during covid-19 pandemic period is also coming to an end. The wages of more than 11 million jobs have been supported, at a cost of around £70 billion, reports Sky News.

Uncertainty is circulating among the nearly 1 million people still believed to be on the scheme at the end of September, according to estimates by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Some sectors indicate that they still need support. The tourism and hotel sectors were some of the main beneficiaries of the scheme.

But economists say there is likely to be a rise in unemployment due to the recent layoffs, according to Sky News. That is despite the fact that some may be able to find work in recovering sectors such as travel and hospitality.

Decisions about students’ exam scores

*A scene of protest about the GSCE and A-Level grades in August 22nd 2021 (Credit: Anadolu)*

Next summer, GCSEs and A-levels in England will be brought back to their “middle point” between 2019 and 2021, as part of government plans to bring them back to pre-COVID-19 levels over the next two years.

According to the BBC, the new measures will include some concessions to students. Including giving them the option of evaluating their grades by a teacher and inform them of the topics covered in some subject’s exams.

Will doctors’ appointments return face to face?

*The government wants face-to-face doctor appointment to recover to pre-covid rates*

In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, GP appointments have been largely suspended. But the British government is now looking forward to their return, according to the BBC. In July, the proportion of face-to-face appointments was already 57 percent. But this is much lower than the 80 percent seen before the outbreak.

Sources: BBC, Sky News