Reopenings stall as US records nearly 50,000 coronavirus cases in one day July 2, 2020 Governors of US states hit hardest by the resurgent coronavirus halted or reversed steps to reopen their economies yesterday, led by California, the nation’s most populous state and a new epicentre of the pandemic. New cases of coronavirus shot up by nearly 50,000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, marking the biggest one-day spike since the [...]
UK coronavirus death toll rises by 176 ahead of lockdown lifting in England July 1, 2020 A further 176 people have died from coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total death toll to 43,906. The Department of Health said 226,398 had been carried out in the past day. As of this morning, 9,662,051 tests have been carried out but the reporting on the number of people has been paused to “ensure [...]
Harrods slashes 700 jobs as pandemic weighs on high street July 1, 2020 Luxury department chain Harrods has announced it is slashing 700 jobs, as the British high street continues to feel the weight of the coronavirus crisis. In an email to staff, managing director Michael Ward said Harrods was slashing up to 14 per cent of its 4,800-strong workforce due to the “ongoing impact” of Covid-19. Ward [...]
Lloyd’s of London: ‘Much more’ insurers can do to help Covid-struck SMEs July 1, 2020 The insurance industry must do more to help SMEs recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and better prepare for catastrophic events in the future, according to a new report by Lloyd’s. The report outlines three possible new open-source solutions and frameworks designed to cover risks businesses could encounter in the so-called “new normal” [...]
Serco boss defends ‘remarkable’ coronavirus test and trace system July 1, 2020 The boss of outsourcing giant Serco has issued a strident defence of the NHS’ coronavirus “test and trace” system, calling it a “huge achievement”. Speaking to City AM’s City View podcast, Rupert Soames said that 114,000 people had agreed to isolate after being contacted within the first three weeks of the programme. The company has [...]
The City View: Rupert Soames, CEO of Serco, says private sector has ‘proven itself’ during crisis July 1, 2020 In this episode Christian talks to Rupert Soames, CEO of the outsourcing giant Serco, about the private sector’s relationship with government. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Serco, which manages the government’s coronavirus test and trace system, has been on a dramatic turnaround in recent years, something which Soames says was made possible by a commitment to excellence [...]
Microsoft to train up 25m people with digital skills in wake of coronavirus crisis June 30, 2020 About 25m workers are set to get free online training in digital skills from Microsoft, as the computer giant bids to give the ailing global economy a boost amid the coronavirus pandemic. The training, which will be available to workers around the world, is designed to teach skills that Microsoft says people need to get [...]
‘The worst is yet to come’: WHO casts doubt on global coronavirus recovery June 30, 2020 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is “yet to come” if governments around the globe do not overcome their divisions. Head of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, yesterday said that “although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is actually speeding up”. “Unless we address the problems [...]
UK coronavirus death toll nears 55,000 June 30, 2020 The United Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll has hit 54,872, according to a tally of official data that shows the UK is one of the world’s worst hit geographies. England and Wales have now recorded 49,371 coronavirus deaths from the start of the pandemic to 19 June, Office for National Statistics data has showed. England saw 47,127 [...]
Eurozone inflation defies expectations with rise as economies re-open June 30, 2020 Eurozone inflation rose in June after hitting a four-year low in May as economies across the bloc began to re-open following lockdowns. Consumer prices in the bloc rose 0.3 per cent in June month-on-month, defying economists’ expectations that they would remain flat as the negative impact of low energy prices decreased. The European Union’s statistics [...]