Covid cases begin decline as ‘lockdown has worked’ January 28, 2021 Covid cases have begun to decline across the UK, according to the latest government-backed study, after England’s chief scientific adviser said there were early signs “lockdowns have worked”. The latest figures from Imperial College London’s React study showed around 1.57 per cent of people in the UK had the virus between 6 and 22 January — slightly [...]
Debenhams sets bidding deadline for potential buyers September 1, 2020 Struggling department store chain Debenhams has set a deadline for potential buyers to make offers for the company today as it seeks to avoid further closures and job losses. Investment bank Lazard, which is overseeing the sales process, has set a deadline of 5pm this afternoon, Sky News reported. Debenhams recently entered administration for the [...]
Government extends TfL funding for two weeks amid emergency bailout talks October 16, 2020 The government has extended its funding package for Transport for London (TfL) for two weeks, as the transport body scrambles to shore up emergency cash ahead of further lockdown restrictions in the capital. A spokesperson for TfL said: “We have today agreed with the government that our funding will be extended for two weeks so [...]
Coronavirus cases ‘levelling off’ across England ahead of three-tier system November 26, 2020 Coronavirus cases have begun to level off across most of England, with London reporting a decrease in new infections over the past week, according to the latest official data. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed cases in the west Midlands, east of England, London and the south are now decreasing. The highest [...]
UK GDP: How City analysts reacted to the record economic slump February 12, 2021 The City was hit with some sobering figures this morning, as the latest official data showed UK GDP suffered its largest annual fall on record. The economy shrank 9.9 per cent in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but narrowly avoided a double-dip recession with growth of one per cent in the final [...]
Brits turn their back on cash during lockdown as contactless payments jump to £957m June 10, 2020 The average Brit has gone 44 days since using cash as new research reveals lockdown has accelerated the pivot to contactless payments. Customer data from Nationwide shows that tap-and-pay transactions have increased 44 per cent since the week of 23 March, when Britain was placed on lockdown. Nationwide members made 78.5m contactless between 23 March [...]
UK funds three Covid-19 immune responses studies August 28, 2020 The UK today said it will back three nationwide Covid-19 studies with £8.4m to fund research into understanding human immune responses to the pandemic coronavirus. The funds, from UK Research and Innovation and the National Institute for Health Research, will help scientists develop better immunity tests, study the body’s immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and understand [...]
Don’t let Covid spoil Valentine’s Day – bring the party home February 6, 2021 Usually the first busy night of the year for bars and restaurants, this Valentine’s Day promises to be a more subdued affair thanks to ongoing restrictions. But don’t let that spoil the romantic fun – here’s a list of some ways to bring the party to you on 14 February. Boisdale Valentine’s Night Dinner Kit [...]
Coronavirus: UK house prices growth ‘grinding to a halt’ April 2, 2020 UK house prices rose three per cent last month just before the coronavirus outbreak hit, according to Nationwide figures released today. But the bank warned housing market activity is “grinding to a halt” as the coronavirus lockdown stops buyers and sellers from viewing properties. Banks have also withdrawn mortgages or made it tougher to secure [...]
Tracing app has sent just one alert about an outbreak in a venue October 9, 2020 The contact-tracing app for England and Wales has reportedly sent only one alert about an outbreak of coronavirus in a venue since its launch two weeks ago. The tracing app, which has been downloaded 16 million times, tells users whether or not they’ve been near someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. Its QR code [...]