Coronavirus: Supermarkets call for competition laws to be waived March 9, 2020 The bosses of the UK’s biggest supermarkets are expected to warn the government that the outbreak of coronavirus could require competition law to be paused to allow them to collaborate. During a phone call with environment secretary George Eustice at least one of the big four grocers will reportedly call for the suspension of the [...]
Downing Street defends coronavirus strategy after Italy lockdown March 9, 2020 Downing Street said today the coronavirus will spread in a “significant way” across the UK, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired a Cobra meeting on the outbreak. A Number 10 spokesman said Britain is still officially trying to contain the virus as part of its four-step coronavirus strategy. But the government said experts now believe [...]
Coronavirus: UK case total hits 280 as Wales counts two new infections March 9, 2020 A further two patients in Wales have tested positive for coronavirus it was confirmed this morning, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 280. The new diagnoses brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to six, Public Health Wales said. The Prime Minister will hold an emergency Cobra meeting [...]
Inside the Italy lockdown: Life in Europe’s coronavirus quarantine zone March 9, 2020 I was at home with my family last night when we learned that our town was one of those being put into the “red zone”, quarantined to battle coronavirus. We had spent Saturday evening with friends, discussing how the nursery closures were affecting our ability to work. The cracks in our normal lives have been [...]
Human ingenuity and working together will pull us through the coronavirus crisis March 9, 2020 Last week, Bank of England governor Mark Carney gave his economic view of the possible consequences of coronavirus: he expects it to cause “disruption” and not “destruction”. In saying this, he follows the measured words of the health secretary, Matt Hancock, who made the point that preparing for the worst is the job at hand. [...]
On the brink of a pandemic, does your firm need a plan? March 9, 2020 Time magazine has described the outbreak of coronavirus across the globe as the “world’s largest work-from-home experiment”. With many Chinese businesses forced to close down to prevent further spread of the virus, it no surprise that the World Economic Forum suggests global pandemics cost the world $570bn every year. It is not just viruses that [...]
New government cyber unit to grill social media firms over coronavirus fake news March 9, 2020 The government has set up a new cyber team to crack down on the spreading of fake news linked to the coronavirus outbreak on social media platforms. Departments across Whitehall have been brought in to form a new unit aimed at assessing the potential extent, scope and impact of fake news. The team will also [...]
Coronavirus claims third victim in the UK March 8, 2020 A man in his 60s has become the third person to die from coronavirus in the UK. The man who had “significant” underlying health conditions was being treated at North Manchester General Hospital. Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said: “I am very sorry to report that a third patient in England who [...]
Coronavirus: Italy confirms 133 new deaths in a day as lockdown begins March 8, 2020 Italy has confirmed more than 100 new deaths from the coronavirus outbreak today alone, with the official tally now up to 366. The new figure was released after the Italian government placed 16m people in its affluent northern regions under a virtual lockdown, in an attempt to restrict the spread of the coronavirus, which has [...]
Coronavirus: Number of UK cases rises to 273 March 8, 2020 The number of cases of coronavirus in the UK has risen to 273, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced, up from 209 yesterday. In a tweet, it said that 23,513 people have been tested for the virus so far, with two of those who tested positive having died so far. London has [...]