The ongoing coronavirus situation is changing by the hour with announcements being made about businesses and services that are being forced to adapt and change.

Punchline is committed to trying to keep you up to date with all the news that matters to you and your business.

Our team will update this story throughout the day, to ensure the latest important developments can be found in one - clickbait free - place.

If you or your business has any news, views or advice to share with the Gloucestershire business community, get in touch with Punchline team at news@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk.

Friday, September 17

Update #8955 - 11.05 Update on Gloucestershire's mobile coronavirus testing unit locations 17 - 24 September

An important part of minimising and managing any future spread of Covid-19 is the speed at which people can be tested and isolation measures put in place, should an outbreak occur.

Mobile testing units are available at locations across the county. Please see the planned locations below.

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 can have a test. You must book a test in advance. Please do not turn up to one of the locations without booking - anyone without a booking risks being turned away.

To book a test or for more information on testing, go to the NHS website or call 119.

These dates are subject to change. Please check the GCC website for changes.

Update #8954 - 10.15 No time for playing safe, CBI urges Chancellor

This is no time for a 'play it safe' budget, the CBI tells Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

The business organisation says decisions from Government this autumn can unlock a 'wall of investment' from private sector investors to turbocharge the UK's recovery.

The CBI cites ONS data showing £900 billion of pent-up corporate cash reserves standing ready to be invested as the economy reawakens after the shock of Covid.

The CBI is calling for a framework which encourages and rewards widespread business investment, utilising the private sector's 'financial muscle' to drive the economy towards future growth.

Update #8953 - 08.27 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 134,805 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 158 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 26,911 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24-hour period and 7,339,009 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 48,503,181 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of September 15 and 44,229,777 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic rose to 46,411, as of Thursday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive test increased to 950.

Cases for the latest 24-hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 12,217 cases (increase of 10)

Cheltenham - 8,554 cases (increase of 17)

Stroud - 8,194 cases (increase of 16)

Tewkesbury - 6,339 cases (increase of 10)

Forest of Dean - 5,799 cases (increase of 20)

Cotswold - 5,308 cases (increase of 14)

Thursday, September 16

Update #8952 - 11.00 Home working here to stay poll suggests

More than two thirds of people do not believe workers will return to the office full time after the Covid disruption.

A You Gov poll for the BBC found that 70% that levels of office working would never return to pre-Covid levels.

Most workers now say they would prefer to work from home either fully or part-time.

Senior manager on the other hand - half of those polled - expressed concerns that creativity and collaboration would be adversely affected.

Update #8951 - 08.30 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 134,647 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 201 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 30,597 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24-hour period and 7,312,683 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 48,480,178 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of September 14 and 44,170,373 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic rose to 46,324, as of Wednesday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive test increased to 950.

Cases for the latest 24-hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 12,207 cases (increase of 23)

Cheltenham - 8,537 cases (increase of 21)

Stroud - 8,178 cases (increase of 26)

Tewkesbury - 6,329 cases (increase of 19)

Forest of Dean - 5,779 cases (increase of 42)

Cotswold - 5,294 cases (increase of 19)

Wednesday, September 15

Update #8950 - 11.25 Gove appointed to rescue Christmas

Michael Gove - who visited Gloucester's fish market three years ago and boldly declared the city was better than Cheltenham - has been given the task of sorting out the country's food supply chain problems and rescuing Christmas.

There are fears that severe shortages could impact on Christmas this year as industry leaders warn lack of lorry drivers and food-processing workers will cause disruption to supplies.

The Prime Minister has made Mr Gove head of a cross-governmental committee to increase the number of lorry drivers and work with food suppliers.

Changes to the HGV licensing system are likely. The Times reports that Boris Johnson joked that he "didn't want to have to cancel Christmas again".

Update #8949 - 11.10 Boots launches biggest ever jab plan

Boots will kick off the biggest winter flu jab programme in its history this week as it announces plans to support the NHS to deliver COVID-19 booster vaccinations too.

Bookings for Boots' Winter Flu Jab Service have increased by two-thirds (67%) compared to last year, with over one-third of appointments at Boots already reserved for pre-booked private and NHS patients.

The retail chemists is running its biggest ever flu vaccination season on record, aiming to administer three times the number of vaccinations between September 2021 and March 2022 compared to the 2020-21 season. Appointments for the Winter Flu Jab Service at Boots start on 17th September.

It will also support the NHS delivery of COVID-19 booster jabs at hubs in select pharmacies, following the delivery of nearly 800,000 first and second COVID-19 vaccinations since January 2021.

Update #8948 - 08.30 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 134,446 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 185 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 26,628 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24-hour period and 7,282,810 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 48,458,700 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of September 13 and 44,108,746 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic rose to 46,174, as of Tuesday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive test sits at 948.

Cases for the latest 24-hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 12,184 cases (increase of nine)

Cheltenham - 8,516 cases (increase of 12)

Stroud - 8,152 cases (increase of nine)

Tewkesbury - 6,310 cases (increase of five)

Forest of Dean - 5,737 cases (increase of nine)

Cotswold - 5,275 cases (increase of 16)

Tuesday, September 14

Update #8947 - 10.30 Covid jab recommended for kids

The Covid-19 jab should be offered to healthy children aged 12 to 15 in the UK, the chief medical officers say.

Children will be offered a single Pfizer injection. The reasoning given was to reduce disruption to education.

Earlier, the government's vaccine committee said there was not enough benefit to warrant the injection on health grounds alone as children have a low mortality rate from the disease.

In Denmark (12 to 15-year-olds) and in Spain (12 to 19-year-olds) have both now mostly received at least a single dose.

Parents will be asked to give consent, but if the child and parent have different views, the child can give consent themselves if they're considered competent.

Update #8946 - 10.25 Job vacancies rise above a million

The number of job vacancies has risen above one million as the post-Covid economic recovery continues.

Figures from the Office for National Statistic hit a record high as

in the three months to August reaching the highest level since records began in 2001.

According to the ONS, August payrolls showed a monthly increase of nearly a quarter of a million to 29.1 million.

An ONS statistician said data analysis showed the total number of employees in August had reached about the same level as before the Covid disruption.

On the flip side, this means that some businesses are struggling to find suitably qualified workers to fill specific vacancies.

Update #8945 - 10.15 Scrap Covid tests says travel industry

It's time to scrap the Covid PCR testing of holidaymakers, the travel industry says.

Abta, the industry body, says testing has 'choked off' travel abroad this summer and fully vaccinated travellers should not need to be tested on their return from low-risk countries.

It also wants an overhaul of the traffic light system for travel.

Abta has suggested research shows that seven out of ten travel firms are planning to make staff redundant when furlough ends.

Current rules stipulate the need for a Covid test when returning from travel abroad.

Update #8944 - 08.25 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 134,261 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 61 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 30,825 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24-hour period and 7,256,559 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 48,439,272 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of September 12 and 44,048,093 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic rose to 46,114, as of Monday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive test sits at 948.

Cases for the latest 24-hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 12,175 cases (increase of 26)

Cheltenham - 8,504 cases (increase of 12)

Stroud - 8,143 cases (increase of 19)

Tewkesbury - 6,305 cases (increase of 12)

Forest of Dean - 5,728 cases (increase of 21)

Cotswold - 5,259 cases (increase of 15)

Monday, September 13

Update #8943 - 08.35 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 134,200 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 56 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 29,173 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24-hour period and 7,226,276 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 48,422,588 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of September 11 and 43,991,875 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic rose to 46,009, as of Sunday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive test sits at 948.

Cases for the latest 24-hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 12,149 cases

Cheltenham - 8,492 cases

Stroud - 8,124 cases

Tewkesbury - 6,293 cases

Forest of Dean - 5,707 cases

Cotswold - 5,244 cases