UK Omicron cases surpass 3,000 as Covid alert level raised December 12, 2021 An additional 1,239 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in the UK – the highest daily increase. Total cases of the variant have now hit 3,137 across the UK. The Covid alert level has been raised to four from three, by the chief medical officers. This was down to a quick rise [...]
Omicron “mild” compared to delta, South African doctors say December 12, 2021 Omicron is a mild disease, said Dr Angelique Coetzee of the South African Medical Association in an LBC interview today. Coetzee, the first South African doctor to alert authorities about patients with the omicron variant, insisted that: “There’s no reason why you can’t trust us when we say to you [Omicron is] a mild disease.” She [...]
Daily rapid testing for vaccinated COVID-19 contacts starts from Tuesday December 12, 2021 Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid announced this afternoon that fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case will be advised to take a daily lateral flow test for seven days to slow the spread of the virus from Tuesday.
Over 30s able to book Covid booster jab from next week December 12, 2021 People aged 30 and over in England will be invited to book a Covid booster jab from Monday. It follows scientists’ warnings that the country should prepare for a wave of infections from the new coronavirus variant Omicron in the new year. According to NHS England, some 3.5m out of the 7.5m people aged 30 [...]
Rishi Sunak thrown into parties scandal after Treasury held lockdown gathering December 11, 2021 The Chancellor has come under scrutiny after details have emerged of his an office drinks party held by his department during lockdown last year. Around two dozen civil servants attended the Treasury party, held in celebration of Rishi Sunak’s spending review, according to The Times, which first reported the news. The event took place on [...]
What is next for Hong Kong’s stock market? December 10, 2021 | City Talk The Hang Seng Index is down close to 12.8% year to date. What lies ahead, as fears about Omicron dog markets? Hang Seng Index – what is weighing on the index? Year to date (YTD), the Hang Seng Index remained in the red with -12.8% total return, largely trailing behind its global peers such as Nikkei’s 4.1% [...]
Football players to be split by vaccination status December 10, 2021 The Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have advised clubs to reinstate covid restrictions including separating players out based on their vaccination status, according to reports. The new guidance from the EFL recommends splitting players into those who are doubled jabbed against coronavirus, boosted, previously infected or unvaccinated on team coaches, according to Sky News, [...]
Lisa Tomkins CA on how Oxford Biomedica assisted AstraZeneca’s vaccine rollout December 10, 2021 | City Talk This article first appeared in ICAS’ CA magazine. Lisa Tomkins CA, Senior Director Finance at Oxford Biomedica, tells Ryan Herman how the company assisted the vaccine rollout and is pioneering new treatments in gene therapy When Lisa Tomkins CA became Oxford Biomedica’s Senior Director Finance in February 2021, she suddenly received a deluge of LinkedIn alerts. Anyone [...]
UK travellers to face week-long waits for PCR results December 9, 2021 Those travelling during the Christmas period could face week-long waits to get their PCR results back. Travel testing company giant Qured said that PCR tests could face delays during the Christmas period because delivery providers work on reduced services. Fit to Fly and Day 2 PCR tests with an arrival date between 20 December and [...]
Omicron hit to economy: New Covid restrictions may cost businesses £4bn in December December 9, 2021 The UK economy should brace itself for a £4 bn a month hit and see taxpayers foot the bill for more emergency support as new Covid restrictions to clamp down on the spread of the Omicron variant come into force, a think tank has warned. The right-wing Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) said Plan B [...]