This is the fifteenth of a series of bulletins produced by ISE to update members on key data and policy on Covid-19. This bulletin just covers the period 25/06/2020-01/07/2020.

You can access all of the Covid-19 bulletins on the ISE website.

The week in Covid-19

Data taken from Wikipedia and from the government’s Number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases and risk in the UK webpage.

The UK currently has reported a total of 313,483 cases and 43,906 deaths. The following chart shows how the seven-day average has changed since last week.

• There are big questions about the accuracy of government Covid data. Some researchers argue that it may be more prevalent than currently understood. The Leicester lockdown raises further issues about how the data is managed.
• The number of cases continues to grow worldwide with deaths now over half a million. This includes new outbreaks in countries that hoped that they had beaten the virus.

Ending lockdown

• What does England’s lockdown easing mean for office workers?
• Reductions in lockdown measures will inevitably increase the risks of contracting Covid-19. Professor Graham Loomes argues that the government needs to be honest about this.
• Leicester becomes the first city to experience a local lockdown.
• Student recruitment and the end of lockdown (ISE webinar). See also the blog by Tristram Hooley.

Politics and policy

• Labour argue that the window to prevent mass unemployment is closing and that the government needs to act. Labour MP Cat Smith argues that it is important that young people don’t pay the price in the coming recession.
• The Resolution Foundation argue that the government needs to commit to a substantial stimulus package.
• The government will be holding a mini-budget next week. Tony Wilson from the Institute of Employment Studies sets out six tests for this mini-budget.
• The Prime Minister promises to ‘build his way out of the economic slump’ and promises not to return to austerity.
• Kate Green announced as Labour’s new Shadow Education Secretary.

Education

• The government plans for all students to be back in English schools in September.
• There have been lots of calls for an increase in the number of apprenticeships. The Chancellor is apparently considering providing a cash incentive to employers who take on apprentices. But, the Financial Times argues, apprenticeships can only be a part of the solution.
• The government has provided additional funding to support universities through Covid-19.
• Universities UK calls for a raft of support for new graduates including paid internships (there is also some debate on unpaid internships). Meanwhile, support is beginning to develop for graduates, including provision offered by university careers services. 
• Why career guidance needs to be at the heart of our response to Covid-19. (Post from Tristram Hooley on the Institute of Employment Studies blog). Campaigners call for people to sign an open letter to Gavin Williamson calling for a career guidance guarantee.

Economy

• The government is holding rescue talks with six large firms.
• Weekly vacancy analysis: Vacancy trends in week-ending 21 June 2020.

The student labour market

• Becci Newton of the Institute of Employment Studies argues that the impact of the recession might not be as big on graduates as on some other groups. 
• Graduate labour market update from Charlie Ball.
• Monthly data digest from Luminate.

Recruiting and developing talent during Covid-19

• Creating a first class virtual induction (ISE webinar)
• Here’s what we should do about the lockdown on work placements (Stef Foley on WONKHE)