Hospitality boss warns 660,000 jobs lost before second lockdown pushed sector into ‘intensive care’ November 17, 2020 Around 660,000 hospitality jobs were lost this year before the second coronavirus lockdown was implemented, the industry trade body told MPs today The pandemic had already wiped out 20 per cent of jobs in the sector, which was previously the third biggest employer in the country, by the end of September, UK Hospitality boss Kate [...]
Government hits back at claims the UK is ‘back of the queue’ for Covid vaccines November 17, 2020 The government has hit back at claims that Britain is “back of the queue” for coronavirus vaccines and denied that there was a “scramble” to secure a supply of the drug being developed by US biotech firm Moderna. The business department today slammed reports in the Guardian and Metro claiming the UK had failed to [...]
Anti-vaxxers may lose travel insurance over Covid vaccine refusal November 17, 2020 Anti-vaxxers may risk invalidating their travel insurance if they are medically able but decline to have the coronavirus vaccine, an insurance expert has warned. Medical underwriting specialist and travel insurance expert Tricia Tietema told City A.M she would expect that those who are medically able to have the coronavirus vaccine, should one become available, but [...]
Government faces lawsuit over £250m PPE contract with US jewellery firm November 17, 2020 The government is facing legal action after awarding a £250m contract for personal protective equipment (PPE) to an American jewellery company with no experience producing healthcare equipment. The Good Law Project today filed legal proceedings against the government over its multimillion-pound deal with Saiger LLC to provide equipment such as gowns and face masks to [...]
Four more London boroughs to roll out rapid Covid tests November 17, 2020 Four more London boroughs are set to roll out rapid coronavirus tests, as part of government plans to step up asymptomatic testing across virus hotspots around the country. Croydon, Ealing, Havering and Hounslow will this week start offering lateral flow tests to the community, meaning 25 out of 32 London boroughs are now involved in [...]
Boris Johnson tests negative for coronavirus November 17, 2020 Boris Johnson has tested negative for coronavirus after taking a rapid Covid-19 test, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson has confirmed. Johnson will continue to self-isolate at Number 10 despite not having the virus and claiming he was “bursting with antibodies”, after being told to do so by NHS Test and Trace. The PM on Sunday announced [...]
Coronavirus vaccine could pump £41bn into London’s economy November 17, 2020 The effective rollout of a coronavirus vaccine would likely inject £41bn into London’s economy and save tens of thousands of jobs, according to new research. Under a “best case scenario”, a vaccine rollout would see office workers return to their desks for four days a week, generating an extra £41bn for the economy, according to [...]
Small businesses ‘more prepared’ for second lockdown, research shows November 17, 2020 Two-thirds of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in England felt more prepared for the current national lockdown compared to when restrictions were first introduced in March. Businesses said they were more prepared for the new coronavirus rules, under which hospitality venues and non-essential stores have been ordered to close. The latest research showed that [...]
Unused office space ‘to cost London firms £13bn’, survey shows November 16, 2020 The shift to homeworking, accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, could cost London businesses almost £13bn in unused office space, according to the latest research. London office workers want to spend an average of 2.7 days per week back in the office once all coronavirus restrictions are lifted, as long as they have the resources to [...]
Breaking: UK secures 5m doses of Moderna vaccine November 16, 2020 The UK has today secured 5m doses of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, which proved 95 per cent effective in late-stage clinical trials, the health secretary has announced. Speaking at today’s Downing Street press conference, Matt Hancock said: “I can announce that we have today an initial agreement for 5m doses of the Moderna vaccine.” The doses [...]