Stockpiling: Shoppers buying ‘a few extra items’ driving shelf shortages March 23, 2020 Empty supermarket shelves have been caused by customers adding an extra few items to their baskets and making more trips rather than stockpiling, according to the latest data. The average spend per supermarket trip jumped 16 per cent in the week ending 17 March to £22.13 compared to the same week a month ago. Meanwhile, [...]
Brewdog opens 102 virtual bars for people to enjoy a quarantine pint March 23, 2020 Craft pub chain Brewdog has launched more than 100 virtual bars to host quizzes, live music and comedy shows throughout the coronavirus crisis. The new 102 online bars will replicate each of the brewery’s pubs across the world to allow customers to connect with friends virtually after all UK pubs were forced to close at [...]
Coronavirus: UK death toll rises to 335 as pandemic accelerates March 23, 2020 The number of deaths from coronavirus in the UK has risen to 335, a jump of 54 in the last 24 hours. The increase is the second highest yet recorded for a 24 hour period, behind 20-21 March, when 56 deaths were recorded. As of 1pm, the Department of Health said that there were 6,650 [...]
Coronavirus: MPs call for emergency funding for cultural organisations March 23, 2020 MPs today called for urgent government support for cultural organisations hit by closures and postponements due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Tate galleries, V&A and Natural History Museum are among scores of cultural institutions that have been forced to close their doors due to the pandemic. The National Trust yesterday reversed its decision to keep [...]
Coronavirus: Closed pubs and restaurants face multi-million pound rent bill March 23, 2020 The hospitality industry has urged the government to ban commercial landlord sanctions, as pubs and restaurants are facing a multi-million pound rent bill due this week. Pubs, bars and restaurants, which suffered a dramatic drop in footfall before they were forced to close on Friday night to slow the spread of coronavirus, are preparing to [...]
Coronavirus: All non-essential stores reportedly set to close March 23, 2020 The government is reportedly set to order the closure of all non-essential shops in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. The decision to close all stores except for supermarkets and pharmacies is being discussed at an emergency Cobra meeting today and is expected to be announced at this evening’s government press conference, the [...]
Oil prices wallow near 20-year lows amid coronavirus price war March 23, 2020 Oil prices came close to hitting 20-year lows today, as Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped under the growing coronavirus economic panic. Brent crude fell as low as $25 a barrel before falling 2.2 per cent down at $26.40. That is still a level not seen since 2003. WTI, a US oil benchmark, [...]
Harvey Weinstein tests positive for coronavirus in New York jail March 23, 2020 Disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus while serving a prison sentence in New York for sexual assault and rape. The 68-year-old former film producer has been placed in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility after a test came back positive yesterday, according to Michael Powers, head of the state corrections officers union. [...]
Asda donates money to help food banks during coronavirus crisis as supermarkets offer new jobs March 23, 2020 Supermarket chain Asda will donate £5m to partner charities. The donation to the Trussell Trust and FareShare is part of an effort to help four million vulnerable families. “This funding will help us recruit and train new food bank volunteers across the UK, and support the coordination of packing and delivering pre-made food parcels to [...]
Government ‘in talks with Amazon’ over coronavirus test delivery March 23, 2020 The UK government is said to have approached companies including Amazon over delivering coronavirus testing kits to frontline health and social care workers. Whitehall officials are in discussions with the firms about ramping up the availability of tests for healthcare staff as the spread of the virus picks up pace, the Financial Times reported, citing [...]