Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

449 bytes added, 16:07, 28 March 2020
Info added
* On 5 March COVID-19 was listed as a notifiable disease in England. The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolved governments had done so by 26 February.
*From 16 March the government began listing social distancing guidance advising large gatherings should not take place: it advised against all non-essential travel and social contact, to include working from home where possible and avoiding venues such as pubs, restaurants and theatres. These were updated daily with further restrictions requested (but not mandated) of individuals and organisations.
*On 18 March the government announced loan guarantees for some businesses following forecasts of a significant drop in business. For the hospitality and leisure sector there will be a business rates holiday and a £25k cash grant per retail and leisure business for those without specific pandemic insurance.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51935467 BBC News] (Retrieved 18 March 2020)</ref>This was subsequently extended to include other measures, including a 'furlough' scheme by which the government funded up to 80% of wages for laid off staff.:On 23 March more severe measures closed the shops and resulted in a partial 'shutdown', with people told not to leave their honmeshomes.
===Timeline of events on the SVR===
*18 March: it postponed train services and closed [[The Engine House]] and Refreshment Rooms for the rest of March and throughout April. It also cancelled the following events: Easter Holidays, [[Spring Steam Gala]], [[Open House Weekend]], Spring Diesel Festival and 50th Anniversary event.
*20 March: it confirmed that the pubs at Kidderminster and Bridgnorth would close. It also launched an emergency appeal for funding to help the railway survive. By 24 March this had raised £50,000.
*26 March: an updated appeal was launched seeking £250,000 "to keep the Railway ticking over for the next three months".
==Effects on the SVR==
The combination of [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029#2020|February's flooding and land movements]], the continuing planned work at Falling Sands and coronavirus and meant the SVR was faced with a serious financial challenge<ref>SVR NBI</ref>.
 
Three-quarters of paid staff were temporartily 'furloughed', volunteers instructed not to attend, and minimal engineering under restrictions, for contract work only.
==See also==
Trustworthy, administrator
6,531
edits

Navigation menu