Daily Covid cases fall below 10,000 for first time since September February 15, 2021 The UK’s daily coronavirus caseload has fallen below 10,000 for the first time in five months, according to the latest official figures. A further 9,765 coronavirus cases were reported in the past 24 hours — the lowest figure since 28 September, when 9,929 infections were recorded. The number of coronavirus-related deaths also fell to the [...]
Up we go: Pound sterling approaches $1.40, hitting two-year-high thanks to Covid vaccine rollout February 15, 2021 Pound sterling nears $1.40 after hitting two-year-high on Covid-19 vaccine rollout
Boris Johnson: Rapid Covid tests will do the job of vaccine passports February 15, 2021 The Prime Minister has rubbished claims the UK will introduce vaccine passports for entry to places such as pubs and cinemas, insisting that rapid Covid tests will reopen “parts of the economy we couldn’t get open”. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: “Doing things within the domestic UK economy… what we’re [...]
Coronavirus: Who will get the Covid-19 vaccine next? February 15, 2021 The NHS will now turn to other groups on the vaccine rollout timeline, as the Prime Minister draws up a "roadmap" for exiting lockdown measures. Here's who will get the vaccine next.
Hotel quarantine scheme lifts off as first guests arrive in UK February 15, 2021 England’s hotel quarantine scheme kicked off today as the first passengers touched down at airports around the country for the toughest border protection measures of the pandemic so far. Four coaches of passengers dropped off passengers at the Radisson Blue Edwardian Hotel near Heathrow Airport this morning to start their 10-day stay, as the government [...]
Travel businesses urge customers to book summer holidays despite guidance February 15, 2021 A coalition of the UK’s largest travel companies has come together to give consumers the confidence to book summer holidays despite oscillating advice from ministers. The group, which commands combined revenues of over £11bn, has offered any customer who books with them a guaranteed refund or change of holiday date if the trip has to [...]
Wetherspoons boss calls for pubs to open alongside non-essential shops February 15, 2021 Wetherspoons chairman Tim Martin has urged the government to reopen pubs at the same time as non-essential shops, as the Prime Minister prepares to lay out his “roadmap” for exiting lockdown. Martin called for a clear timeline for pubs across the UK to resume selling pints, warning the industry is “on its knees” from months [...]
Treasury Committee chair: ‘One-off wealth tax’ could patch the Covid gap in public finances February 15, 2021 The MP who leads the Treasury Committee suggested this morning that Chancellor Rishi Sunak should introduce a one-off wealth tax to help revive the country’s public finances. As the pandemic is tearing its way through public finances, the chair of the UK Treasury Committee, Mel Stride, said a one-off wealth tax may be an effective [...]
Matt Hancock rules out vaccine certificates for domestic use February 15, 2021 Matt Hancock has confirmed that the government has no plans to introduce vaccine certificates to allow people to access domestic services like pubs and supermarkets. Over the weekend foreign secretary Dominic Raab caused confusion when he suggested ministers were still considering the option. That was despite multiple other officials, including vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi, appearing [...]
Treasury Committee calls for economic modelling alongside Covid lockdown roadmap February 15, 2021 Westminster’s Treasury Select Committee has called for the government to release economic and epidemiological modelling on Covid restrictions when Boris Johnson unveils his roadmap out of the lockdown. Committee chair and Tory MP Mel Stride wants chancellor Rishi Sunak to produce the combined modelling, known as epi-macro modelling, to provide businesses the economic and social [...]