coronavirus

MESSAGE FROM METRO MAYOR, STEVE ROTHERAM

The coronavirus is the most serious challenge we have faced in a generation and I know it’s causing huge alarm and distress to all of us. Together we will defeat it. But to do so we must all follow the Government’s instruction to stay at home, only go outside for food, health reasons or if we are keyworkers and cannot work from home.

My team is working flat out with partners from across the police, the health service, local government, transport colleagues, business and many other organisations to do all that we can to help stop its spread and protect our health and our economy. I pay tribute to all our key workers, who are doing extraordinary work in extraordinary circumstances.

And I want to thank you for all that you’re doing across our communities to help.

This page provides links to the key information you need from the Government, Public Health England and the NHS, transport information from Merseytravel, business support advice from the Growth Platform and more. And for regular news on the key measures we are taking to respond to the crisis, CLICK HERE.

Please follow the government advice to stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary to travel, work from home where you can and maintain a safe distance from others to help stop the spread of the virus.

ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS RESILIENCE

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and presents an unprecedented economic challenge to our city region. It is clear that the scale of the immediate and long-term financial support required to our economy, which will run to the hundreds of millions, cannot be met from local resources alone.

We know that 95% of our businesses are already affected. Our top priority is to help our businesses to access central government support packages. We have been listening closely to what our business community needs, working with many partners across all sectors, and robustly engaging with government to secure what we need.

Working with the other Metro Mayors, we have already been successful in changing national policy, securing support for the self-employed and extending the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to smaller businesses, while dropping the need for personal guarantees.

£300 million worth of grants of between £10,000 and £25,000 are now available from our Local Authority partners.

We have set up a dedicated helpline and online resource hub via the Growth Platform to help businesses preserve their cash, understand their options and access the maximum possible support from government programmes.

Alongside this, we are planning for recovery, so that when we get through the immediate crisis, our city region will rebound as soon as we can.

To find out more, visit xxxxxxxxxxx

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST BUSINESS UPDATES

MERSEYTRAVEL

Do not travel unless its for an essential journey. Stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

The health and safety of both customers and staff is a number one priority for Merseytravel. That is why we are continuing to follow national government advice and we are working closely with rail, bus and other transport operators as the Coronavirus situation develops.

TRAVEL UPDATES CLICK HERE

LCR Cares COVID 19 COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND

The Metro Mayor and the Community Foundation for Merseyside have set up #LCRCares to raise vital funds for community organisations who are working to support the most vulnerable in our society during the COVID-19 crisis.

The money raised will be distributed to local organisations who are providing essential support to communities.

TO DONATE TO THE FUND CLICK HERE