London records drop in coronavirus prevalence as infection rate holds steady March 12, 2021 The percentage of Londoners testing positive for coronavirus has fallen in the past week, latest official figures showed, as Covid cases continue to decline across the country. The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) latest infection survey estimated that the proportion of people in the capital testing positive for coronavirus fell to 0.3 per cent last [...]
Analysts: UK economy ‘like a punchdrunk boxer hanging off the ropes’ March 12, 2021 UK’s GDP shrank by 2.9 per cent in January, it was announced this morning, blowing a “cold snap” through the UK economy as a third national lockdown was imposed. Analysts were torn as to whether the harsh fall is a glass of cold water to the face, or better than what was forecast. January’s figures [...]
Where to eat and drink outdoors in London from 12 April March 12, 2021 With exactly a month to go until bars and restaurants with outdoor seating are allowed to reopen on 12 April, we’re daring to dream of a time when we can meet up with friends and support the hospitality industry. We’ve collected a list of our favourite outdoor spots across London, which we’ll update throughout the [...]
UK to receive extra 10m vaccine doses as rollout accelerates March 11, 2021 Up to 10m extra vaccine doses are set to be made available to the UK within the following days, as ministers look to accelerate the nation’s largest ever vaccination programme. More than 22.8m people have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine so far, including all top four priority groups. Overall vaccine numbers have [...]
Kent Covid variant could be twice as deadly as previous strains, report suggests March 10, 2021 The Kent coronavirus variant could be twice as deadly as previous Covid strains, analysis of more than 100,000 infections has suggested. Research published today in the British Medical Journal showed that the Kent mutation, which is now the dominant strain of coronavirus in the UK, may be around 64 per cent more lethal compared to [...]
Nightingale Hospitals were meant to save us, but the £500m idea was dead on arrival March 10, 2021 NHS England announced yesterday that four out of seven Nightingale Hospitals will shut permanently from next month as coronavirus cases and hospitalisations continue to decline. The remaining three, including the site at London’s Excel Centre, will remain open as vaccination centres. The temporary hospitals were swiftly erected in just two weeks last March to deal [...]
Boris Johnson hits back at ‘completely false’ EU vaccine ban allegations March 10, 2021 The Prime Minister has hit back at EU claims that the UK has banned all Covid-19 vaccine exports, telling MPs that Britain “opposes vaccine nationalism in all its forms”. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, yesterday falsely claimed that the UK had an “outright ban” on exports of vaccines produced within Britain. Boris Johnson [...]
36 amazing restaurant delivery kits to cure your food ennui March 10, 2021 Almost a year since the first lockdown, the restaurant world has been forced to change in ways that would have seemed laughable in the pre-Covid times. Top chefs including Simon Rogan are now launching successful at-home delivery platforms that promise to change the face of fine dining for years to come. We have sampled some [...]
Test and Trace has had ‘no clear impact’ on Covid rates despite £37bn budget, MPs warn March 10, 2021 There is no evidence to show that the government’s Test and Trace programme has had any clear impact on reducing Covid infection levels despite its £37bn budget, parliament’s spending watchdog has warned. In a report examining funding into the scheme, the cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said spending on Test and Trace was “unimaginable” and warned [...]
HSBC launches £15bn lending fund for British SMEs March 10, 2021 HSBC has today launched a new £15bn fund to help UK SMEs through the economic recovery. The fund, which includes over £10bn of regionally focussed allocations, seeks to move away from the “traditional” London focus and drive growth in regions across the country. “The past 12 months have highlighted the challenges many small businesses face. [...]