London Covid test capacity spikes half a million a month as Prenetics boosts capacity May 13, 2021 Rapid test developer and manufacturer Prenetics has bolstered its London lab network ahead of its partnership with Virgin Atlantic where it will supply passengers with Covid-19 testing. With demand for rapid testing expected to soar in demand now that foreign travel will be allowed from 17 May and online booking platforms reporting a surge in interest for Vitamin D-doused destinations, the [...]
Government calls Sage meeting to discuss threat to UK of India’s Covid-19 variant May 13, 2021 Government calls Sage meeting to discuss threat to UK of India's Covid-19 variant
75 per cent of nightlife venues face bankruptcy when rent moratorium ends May 13, 2021 There is a £2.5bn pandemic-induced rent crisis brewing in the nightlife industry, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), which has urged the government today to offer a solution. Rising rent arrears threatens to bankrupt 75 per cent of commercial tenants in the sector, once the government’s rent moratorium ends in July, the nightclubs, [...]
UK’s 12-week vaccine delay could have saved lives, study says May 13, 2021 The UK’s 12-week delay between first and second vaccine doses could have saved more lives, according to a US study published in the British Medical Journal, suggesting other countries strapped for jabs could adopt the strategy. The second shots of the Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines are designed to be given three to four weeks [...]
Brits favour beach holidays over city breaks as the return of travel nears May 11, 2021 Brits are itching for some sun after a seemingly endless winter lockdown, with most travellers looking for beach holidays now the return of foreign holidays is in sight, according to bookings site Lastminute. After the government confirmed a 17 May return to abroad travel, 59 per cent of Brits have been eyeing sun and beach [...]
UK engages in Covid vaccine waiver discussions with the US and WTO May 11, 2021 The UK has begun seeking constructive engagement with the US and other World Trade Organisation (WTO) members on the conflicting issue of vaccine waivers, a government spokesman has said. Following pressure from charities to back the proposal, the UK government is yet to confirm whether it will back the US’ waiver. The waiver, proposed by [...]
Collision of Covid-19 and Brexit fuels a £700bn blow to economic output May 11, 2021 The UK economy has been forecast to suffer an over £700bn blow to output due to the collision of Covid-19 and Brexit, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research warned today. The bruising figure was made worse by the government’s “poor Covid-19 response”, the think tank said, adding that it has left the UK [...]
Inovio confirms its Covid vaccine is safe in mid-stage trials May 10, 2021 Inovio Pharmaceuticals has confirmed its Covid-19 vaccine candidate is safe in a mid-stage clinical trial, as it produces immune responses against the virus in all tested age groups. The trial, which included around 400 participants aged 18 years and older at 16 US sites, used a 2mg dose for the phase three segment of the trial. The [...]
Refugee nurses channelled into the NHS through new scheme May 10, 2021 Refugee nurses are being channelled into the NHS as part of a Liverpool-based scheme, giving asylum seekers the opportunity to use their qualifications to live an independent life in the UK. Palestinian national from Lebanon, Walid Jarad, had lived in just two t-shirts and two pairs of jeans for a whole year, until last month. [...]
Germany hits back at US patent waiver proposal for Covid-19 vaccines May 7, 2021 Germany has rejected the Covid-19 vaccine patent proposal today, urging that production capacity is key to boosting vaccine output. The country’s health minister said the primary challenge to increasing production volumes of vaccines is quickly and effectively transferring technology. “The main issue is not patent protection but production capacity,” Jens Spahn, said at a news [...]