30 June 2020

Member alert – first local lockdown in Leicester and scenario planning

On Monday 29 June the College of Optometrists confirmed that primary eye care services across the UK had entered the amber phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Since then, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed Leicester is currently experiencing an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases. A local lockdown is being put in place to help bring this under control.

The College of Optometrists has now confirmed that opticians in Leicester can remain open (as they are not non-essential retail), but are advised to revert to offering essential, urgent and emergency eye care.

In our Covid-19 framework for primary eye care providers we have advised members since early May to plan for the possibility of local lockdowns. We strongly encourage all members to rehearse their response to potential local lockdowns in the future, and to learn lessons from the current situation in Leicester.

View areas of Leicestershire that are included in the localised coronavirus lockdown here.*

Other news

New law to help companies and directors

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 came into force on 26 June. The new law aims to reduce the burden on businesses during the pandemic and allow directors to focus efforts on helping companies through any challenging circumstances.

New arrangements include temporary easements for AGMs and temporarily suspending parts of insolvency law to support directors. They also introduce new restructuring tools to give companies more time to implement strategies that might help them survive a financial crisis during the pandemic.   

Companies will also automatically receive an extension for confirmation statements, registrations of charges (mortgage) and event-driven filings, such as a change to a company’s directors or people with significant control.

Learn more.

PPE supplies

Opticians in Scotland and Wales can now also order personal protective equipment from the LOCU and PES PPE shop for England. We understand that LOCSU is also exploring opening the shop to practices in Northern Ireland. 

You can also access a list of potential suppliers of PPE here. 

*This link was added on 30 June at 17.55 after the DHSC published an update at 17.30.