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 [...]
Half of UK adults will be vaccinated by the end of the week, says minister March 17, 2021 More than half of Britain’s adult population will have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the week, as nation’s largest ever immunisation programme continues at pace, the business minister has said. Kwasi Kwarteng told BBC Breakfast: “I think by the end of the week 50 per cent of the [...]
Funeral firm Dignity swings to annual loss despite UK deaths rising 14 per cent March 17, 2021 Funeral providers Dignity today posted an annual loss of £19.6m as a sharp rise in yearly deaths were met by Covid funeral restrictions. The firm saw underlying profit plummet 12 per cent to £55.7m, while pre-tax profit dropped by more than a quarter to £30.7m. Dignity made a yearly loss before tax of £19.6m compared [...]
Pandemic-graduates fear diminished work prospects amid record competition March 17, 2021 A near two-thirds of graduates fear the pandemic will negatively shape their future career prospects, as 53 per cent are concerned over remote working difficulties, according to new research. Milkround data has revealed that the pandemic has pushed 11 per cent of graduates to stay in education for longer than anticipated, with 64 per cent [...]
Two more cases of Brazil variant found in England March 16, 2021 Two more cases of the Brazil coronavirus variant have been found in England, bringing the total number of reported cases of the variant in Britain to 12. Public Health England said both of the new cases – one in the West Midlands and one in Haringey – were linked to international travel with Brazil. The [...]
Corona Impact Series: How a small Wandsworth womenswear boutique embraced click-and-collect March 16, 2021 In this series, City A.M. looks at the financial and economic impact of the ongoing pandemic on a range of small and medium-sized businesses across London. This week: how a small Wandsworth womenswear boutique is bouncing back from the third lockdown thanks to the world wide web. Pre-pandemic, independent stores were thriving – popping up on local high [...]
EU medicines regulator: ‘No indication’ Astrazeneca vaccine causes blood clots March 16, 2021 The EU’s medicines regulator has insisted there is “no indication” that Astrazeneca’s Covid vaccine causes blood clots among patients, after a swathe of European countries suspended the jab over safety concerns. Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said the agency remains “firmly convinced” that the benefits of the Astrazeneca vaccine outweigh the [...]
Portugal removed from UK’s travel ban ‘red list’ in boost for summer holiday hopes March 16, 2021 Portugal will be removed from the UK’s travel ban list this week, in a boost for summer holiday hopes this year. The Department for Transport has updated its “red list” of destinations, which bars travellers from those countries entering the UK. British or Irish nationals are permitted to enter the country, but must quarantine in [...]
Covid: Antibody levels hit fresh record as one in three people in England show immunity March 16, 2021 One in three people in England are estimated to have coronavirus antibodies either from past infection or vaccination, according to the latest official figures. The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) latest infection survey showed that almost 35 per cent of the English population tested positive for antibodies on a blood test in the 28 days [...]
EU orders more Pfizer vaccine doses as Sweden joins countries halting Astrazeneca jab March 16, 2021 The EU has ordered more doses of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine to plug a shortfall that has arisen from a swathe of countries banning the Astrazeneca jab over safety concerns. European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen announced on Twitter that the EU had agreed an “accelerated delivery of 10m doses” of the Pfizer vaccine to [...]