Private Covid travel tests: Overpriced, unavailable and unaccredited? August 4, 2021 Private Covid PCR test providers will come under investigation from the UK’s advertising watchdog and the government for their hugely variable pricing, while only a fraction can claim to be fully accredited. Government health officials are to carry out an audit of the 420 listed PCR test providers on the gov.uk website and plan to [...]
Confirmed: 16 and 17 year olds will now be invited for Covid vaccine August 4, 2021 Teenagers aged 16 and 17 across the UK will be given the green light to get vaccinated against coronavirus very shortly. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has approved the move and the UK and devolved nations’ health administrations will begin the rollout shortly. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, said [...]
Away and Aria Resorts to forge £600m staycation giant amid domestic travel boom August 4, 2021 Holiday park heavyweight Away Resorts has agreed to merge with UK rival Aria Resorts to forge a £600m staycation powerhouse, as pandemic restrictions continue to scupper foreign travel. A staycation boom has been looming ever since domestic restrictions lifted in the UK, however, chatter of amber and amber plus lists have put off many from [...]
Which countries could be added to the travel ‘green list’ this week? August 4, 2021 Holidaymakers are waiting with bated breath to see which – if any – countries will be added to the UK’s travel “green list” at Thursday’s travel traffic light review. At the moment, there are just 29 countries and dependencies on the “green list”, with few popular tourist destinations included. There were fears this week too [...]
Barbie doll created of Oxford Covid vaccine designer Dame Sarah Gilbert August 4, 2021 Barbie maker Mattel has created a doll in honour of Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, the scientist who designed the Oxford-Astrazeneca Covid vaccine. After a standing ovation at Wimbledon and being made a dame, Gilbert now has the Barbie doll to recognise her efforts in creating a life-saving jab. The vaccinologist said she initially found the [...]
China’s Wuhan to test all 12m residents after just three Delta cases found August 3, 2021 China’s Wuhan is set to test all 12m residents after just three Delta variant cases were spotted in the city, but fears of it spreading grow. The country’s levels of the Delta variant are still relatively low in comparison to the UK, with total cases standing at just 414 for the entire country. The Delta [...]
Shapps ‘under fire for amber watch list plan’ August 3, 2021 Grant Shapps is under fire today after reports that it was the transport secretary who first came up with the government’s now-axed “amber watch list” travel plan. Under the “amber watch list” category, countries on the “amber list” could be designated as being at risk of moving to the “red list” at short notice. Holidaymakers [...]
Covid related deaths at highest level since April August 3, 2021 Weekly deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales have climbed to their highest level in three months. A total of 327 deaths registered in the week ending July 23 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, up 50 per cent compared to the previous week according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Deaths reached their [...]
EU eyes pandemic exit with 70 per cent of population administered first dose August 3, 2021 Despite protests against coronavirus restrictions rocking the streets of Paris and Berlin last weekend, the EU’s quiet move towards an exit from the pandemic continues apace. The European Union surpassed its target of injecting at least one jab into the arms of 70 per cent of its population by the end of July. And according [...]
Rishi Sunak: For young people, working from home is no substitute for office August 3, 2021 Rishi Sunak has said that working from home is not nearly as “valuable” for young people’s career progression as going into the office, after the government changed its guidance. “The mentors I found when I first started my job I still talk to and they have been helpful to me even after we have gone [...]