EU threatens to block vaccine exports to the UK for the second time March 17, 2021 The European Commission has threatened to block vaccine exports to the UK and other countries with high vaccination rates for the second time, as a bitter dispute over the EU’s sluggish jab rollout continues to escalate. European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen announced the bloc was facing “the crisis of this century” amid vaccine [...]
UK hits ‘significant milestone’ as 25m people receive their first Covid jab March 17, 2021 More than 25m people in the UK have now received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, official figures have shown, in a major boost for hopes of a return to normality on the horizon. A total of 25,273,226 have been given either the Pfizer or the Astrazeneca vaccine, while a further 1,759,445 people have [...]
EU unveils vaccine passport plans in boost for summer holiday hopes March 17, 2021 The EU has unveiled plans to introduce vaccine passports to unlock international travel after months of closure, in a major boost for Britons’ hopes of holidays abroad this summer. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen outlined proposals for the EU’s Digital Green Certificate this afternoon, with the passports set to come into effect from [...]
Deep Verge shares jump on upbeat 60-second Covid breath test trials March 17, 2021 Shares in Deep Verge jumped today after the science tech firm revealed upbeat data from clinical trials of its rapid Covid breath test. The London-listed firm hailed a “major milestone” after initial results from phase three clinical studies showed its test could recognise Covid infections in under 60 seconds. While the company is still awaiting [...]
Health department’s Covid response was an ‘absolute total disaster’, says Dominic Cummings March 17, 2021 The health department’s initial response in the early days of the Covid pandemic was an “absolute total disaster”, Dominic Cummings has told MPs. The Prime Minister’s former chief aide added that the health department was a “smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE”. “Obviously last year we saw that the Department for Health had [...]
Insolvencies fell to two-year low in February March 17, 2021 The number of company insolvencies last month stood at 686, the lowest monthly number recorded since January 2019. Figures released by the government’s Insolvency Service found the number of company insolvencies in February 2021 was 49 per cent lower than the same month in the previous year. February 2020 marked the month before the UK [...]
Which countries in Europe have suspended the Astrazeneca vaccine? March 17, 2021 Fifteen countries across Europe have suspended the rollout of the Astrazeneca vaccine while the EU medicines regulators investigates reports of blood clots among patients. Sweden yesterday joined a growing list of countries including Italy, Germany, France and Norway to issue a temporary ban on the jab. State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said the pause was a [...]
Exclusive: City’s venture capital guru on Brexit, fundraising and impact investing March 17, 2021 With Brexit just behind us, and the pandemic gradually being brought under control, it seemed like a good time to measure the temperature of London’s venture capital investment space. City A.M. sat down with David Hall, for his first major interview as chairman of the Venture Capital Trust Association, since succeeding Stuart Veale in January [...]
Iceland to open borders for fully vaccinated travellers this week March 17, 2021 Iceland will this week open its borders to all visitors who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 without mandatory testing or quarantine. The North Atlantic country hopes more tourists will help revive its pandemic-hit economy. In a statement, the government said it will welcome all fully vaccinated visitors into the country without being subject to border [...]
EU leaders promise to U-turn on Astrazeneca ban if regulator clears it March 17, 2021 France and Italy have signalled that they are prepared to U-turn on their suspension of the Astrazeneca Covid vaccine if the European regulator declares it is “firmly convinced” over the jab’s safety. French President Emmanuel Macron and new Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said they would “promptly restart the administration of the Astrazeneca vaccine” if it was [...]