Coronavirus: Government plans to advise anyone with a minor fever to self-isolate March 9, 2020 The chief medical officer has said the government is planning to advise anyone with a minor respiratory tract infection or fever to self-isolate for seven days to delay the spread of coronavirus. In a press conference with the Prime Minister and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, Professor Chris Whitty said the advice will come [...]
Coronavirus: Ireland’s Six Nations clash with France postponed March 9, 2020 Ireland’s upcoming Six Nations rugby game against France has been postponed, the French sports minister has confirmed. Roxana Marcineanu today said the final round clash, which was due to take place in Paris this weekend, has been pushed back indefinitely amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak. France has now recorded more than 1,000 confirmed cases [...]
Coronavirus: Supermarkets call for competition laws to be waived March 9, 2020 The bosses of the UK’s biggest supermarkets are expected to warn the government that the outbreak of coronavirus could require competition law to be paused to allow them to collaborate. During a phone call with environment secretary George Eustice at least one of the big four grocers will reportedly call for the suspension of the [...]
Downing Street defends coronavirus strategy after Italy lockdown March 9, 2020 Downing Street said today the coronavirus will spread in a “significant way” across the UK, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired a Cobra meeting on the outbreak. A Number 10 spokesman said Britain is still officially trying to contain the virus as part of its four-step coronavirus strategy. But the government said experts now believe [...]
Coronavirus: UK case total hits 280 as Wales counts two new infections March 9, 2020 A further two patients in Wales have tested positive for coronavirus it was confirmed this morning, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 280. The new diagnoses brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to six, Public Health Wales said. The Prime Minister will hold an emergency Cobra meeting [...]
Inside the Italy lockdown: Life in Europe’s coronavirus quarantine zone March 9, 2020 I was at home with my family last night when we learned that our town was one of those being put into the “red zone”, quarantined to battle coronavirus. We had spent Saturday evening with friends, discussing how the nursery closures were affecting our ability to work. The cracks in our normal lives have been [...]
Human ingenuity and working together will pull us through the coronavirus crisis March 9, 2020 Last week, Bank of England governor Mark Carney gave his economic view of the possible consequences of coronavirus: he expects it to cause “disruption” and not “destruction”. In saying this, he follows the measured words of the health secretary, Matt Hancock, who made the point that preparing for the worst is the job at hand. [...]
On the brink of a pandemic, does your firm need a plan? March 9, 2020 Time magazine has described the outbreak of coronavirus across the globe as the “world’s largest work-from-home experiment”. With many Chinese businesses forced to close down to prevent further spread of the virus, it no surprise that the World Economic Forum suggests global pandemics cost the world $570bn every year. It is not just viruses that [...]
New government cyber unit to grill social media firms over coronavirus fake news March 9, 2020 The government has set up a new cyber team to crack down on the spreading of fake news linked to the coronavirus outbreak on social media platforms. Departments across Whitehall have been brought in to form a new unit aimed at assessing the potential extent, scope and impact of fake news. The team will also [...]
Coronavirus claims third victim in the UK March 8, 2020 A man in his 60s has become the third person to die from coronavirus in the UK. The man who had “significant” underlying health conditions was being treated at North Manchester General Hospital. Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said: “I am very sorry to report that a third patient in England who [...]