Coronavirus

This page has been designed to provide up-to-date information, guidance and advice with regards to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you need medical help, please use the 111 online coronavirus service.

Please click here for the Government's stay at home advice and here for more general information.

News

Richard Holden welcomes new ‘NHS Test And Trace’ system as a key part of slowly moving away from the lockdown in a safe and controlled way

Thursday, 28 May, 2020

The new NHS Test and Trace service has launched across England to help keep the virus under control and enable lockdown to be lifted. Full information can be found here.

Richard Holden delighted that Government confirms motorhome and caravan showrooms will reopen on June 1st

Wednesday, 27 May, 2020

Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has today expressed his delight that motorhome, car and caravan showrooms will be able to reopen on June 1st.

Richard Holden welcomes new Business Bounce Back Loans for small firms in North West Durham

Tuesday, 5 May, 2020

Over 100,000 businesses have already applied for the Government's new Bounce Back Loans. If you need one apply here: Bounce Back Loan scheme.

Richard meeting local Federation of Small Businesses representative in March, just before lockdown

Coronavirus Update - extra help for businesses not covered by current grant scheme

Sunday, 3 May, 2020

Richard Holden has been working closely with fellow local MPs: Peter Gibson, Paul Howell and Dehenna Davison to argue for help for local business in County Durham and Darlington not covered by the current grant funds scheme. The news that the Chancellor has agreed a new £617m national fund to ac

IMPORTANT: Help for business during Coronavirus

Monday, 27 April, 2020

***Important Update***

The Chancellor has announced new extra help for small businesses:

Interest free loans for 12-month of up to £50,000 (max 25% of turnover)
100% government backed
Cash in your business account within 24 hours
Starts on May 4th

Coronavirus (COVID-19): scientific evidence supporting the UK government response

The national and global response to the spread of COVID-19 continues to develop quickly and our collective knowledge of the virus is grow

New flight from Jamaica to bring home British travellers

Around 310 more British travellers will be able to return home from Jamaica on a second charter flight organised by the Government.

UK Statement to the WTO General Council

The UK's Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Julian Braithwaite, delivered this statement to the WTO General Council on 29 May 2020.

Action taken to halt sales of fingerprick coronavirus (COVID-19) antibody testing kits

Anyone supplying these types of tests should temporarily stop this service.

£5 million funding given to mental health community projects

Community projects supporting people with their mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will benefit from their share of

Government to publish code of practice with commercial sector in boost to high street

High street businesses and landlords are set to benefit from a new code of practice, to provide them with clarity and reassurance over re

PM: Six people can meet outside under new measures to ease lockdown

PM Boris Johnson announced groups of up to six people will be able to meet outdoors in England from Monday 1 June, provided strict social

PM call with First Ministers: 28 May 2020

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke with the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the deputy First Minister

International supercomputer pact set to fire up UK COVID-19 research

The UK will be the first country, outside the US, to join the global COVID-19 High Performance Computing (HPC) consortium

Health and Social Care Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 27 May 2020

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock gave the 27 May 2020 daily press briefing on the government's response to the COVID-19 pand