Sunday newspaper round-up: Furloughed staff, Economy, Coronavirus crisis

(Sharecast News) - Furloughed staff only able to return to work on a part-time basis could have their wages "topped up" by the government, as part of a gradual redaction of the job retention scheme. Under plans being considered in the Treasury, firms would be encouraged to bring furloughed staff back to work gradually to maintain social distancing and to ease the burden on businesses as they begin to rebuild their operations. - Sunday Times
In a TV address to the nation from Downing Street as the UK's united front threatens to crumble, the PM paid tribute to the 'sacrifice' of Britons in reining in the killer disease, and insisted the government's top priority is to ensure those efforts are not 'thrown away'. But while he stressed the need for caution, Mr Johnson delivered a striking message about the 'colossal' impact on our 'way of life' and the importance of getting the economy up and running, amid fears that the draconian restrictions are causing the worst recession in 300 years. - Mail on Sunday

A YouGov poll has found eight out of 10 people would prefer the government to prioritise health and wellbeing over economic growth during the coronavirus crisis, and six in 10 would still want the government to pursue health and wellbeing ahead of growth after the pandemic has subsided, though nearly a third would prioritise the economy instead at that point. - Guardian on Sunday

Britain's travel industry has warned that a lengthy quarantine period for all people arriving in Britain from abroad would be a "nightmare" that would badly hurt a sector already in meltdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The prospect of a period of quarantine, being imposed "on people coming into this country by air", was outlined by the prime minister in his Sunday night address. It sparked alarm from the travel industry and the aviation sector, while the farming industry, which faces a severe shortage of seasonal workers, will also be affected. - Guardian on Sunday

Britons hoping to enjoy a summer break abroad look likely to be disappointed after the Government confirmed plans to force all international arrivals, including returning holidaymakers, to self-isolate. In what has been widely described as a fine example of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, those entering the UK, possibly from June, will be asked to provide an address where they will remain for up to two weeks. It has been reported that there will be spot checks to enforce the policy and fines of up to ?1,000 for those who break the rules. Further details are expected to be released on Monday. - Sunday Telegraph

Pubs face "devastation" after they were excluded from proposals to allow the hospitality industry to reopen in July, fuelling concern that nearly half could be driven out of business by Covid-19. In a speech outlining his roadmap for easing lockdown, Boris Johnson said "at least some of the hospitality industry" could be open again within two months, provided social distancing rules can be enforced. But Whitehall sources said this would apply only to cafes and restaurants with outdoor space, and that England's pubs must remain closed into August and possibly beyond. - Guardian on Sunday

Morrisons is expanding the same-day grocery delivery service it runs with Amazon as it races to catch up with booming online demand. By the end of this month, Amazon Prime members in the UK's 10 biggest cities will be able to use the service for orders from 40-plus stores, up from 17 in March. Online grocery shopping has soared as people seek to minimise their exposure to Covid-19. Some 10.2% of all groceries were bought online last month, up from 7.4% in March, research firm Kantar Worldpanel reported. - Sunday Times

Estate agency Foxtons faces a City revolt over the way it tapped investors for ?22m to shore up its finances during the Covid-19 crisis. The vote at its annual meeting on Wednesday will be the first big test of investors' views on the loosening of rules on how much companies can raise without seeking prior investor approval. By the start of this month, according to broker Peel Hunt, 38 companies had raised ?3bn through share placings, which are quicker to carry out than rights issues. - Sunday Times