Delta variant cases rise by more than 50,000 in a week July 2, 2021 Cases of the delta variant of Covid-19 have risen by 50,824 since last week, representing a 46 per cent case increase, according to the latest figures from Public Health England. There are now nearly 162,000 cases of the Delta variant in the UK, making up approximately 95 per cent of the nation’s Covid cases. [...]
Sodexo nets enlarged Test and Trace contract worth £400m July 2, 2021 Sodexo has become the latest service provider to have its contract to run test and trace facilities for the NHS extended. The outsourcer announced overnight that selected to operate a further 121 fixed and mobile Covid-19 testing centres, which makes it the biggest provider of such services in the country. It added that the new [...]
UK hospitality sector calls for changes to test and trace system July 1, 2021 Hospitality trade association UKHospitality has called for an immediate review of the government’s test and trace isolation guidelines. It says current measures are “massively disruptive” to the sector. The body says existing staff shortage problems are being “compounded” by staff being told to self isolate. It says the current system can lead to whole teams [...]
Anti-vaxx Island: ex-Pfizer exec behind infertility claims to build Zanzibar resort for conspiracy theorists July 1, 2021 One of the world’s most popular “anti-vaxx superspreaders” is planning to build a tropical holiday resort, which will be exclusive to fellow conspiracy theorists and like minded-people, according to the London-based Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). Michael Yeadon, a British ex-Pfizer executive, is thought to have been instrumental in popularising conspiracy theories that Covid [...]
Daily Covid cases in Scotland surpass 4000 in a day – for first time ever July 1, 2021 Scotland has reported a record number of daily Covid cases for the third time this week, as cases surpassed the 4000 mark for the first time since the start of the pandemic. 4234 people registered positive Covid test results in the last 24 hours, according to the latest Scottish government figures published on Thursday. The [...]
Test and Trace: Weekly Covid cases hit highest level in England since mid-February July 1, 2021 NHS Test and Trace figures showed that almost 80,000 people tested positive for coronavirus in the week to June 23, as the PM gave his strongest hint yet that reopening will go ahead on July 19. The latest figures showed that 79,247 people tested positive between June 17 and June 23 – a 43 per [...]
JD Sports raises profit outlook and announces board change July 1, 2021 Britain’s largest sportswear group raised its profit outlook for the full year to “no less than” £550m in a trading update today. JD Sports said sales in the immediate period after lockdown reopening had been “particularly encouraging”. Most of the fashion retailers 3,300 stores around the world are now open, bar some in the Asia [...]
Revolution Bars reports recovery in trading to almost pre-Covid levels July 1, 2021 Cocktail bar group Revolution Bars said sales have surged as lockdown restrictions were lifted, and it expects revenue for the year to be ahead of previous expectations. Despite operating at 28 per cent of total capacity since indoor drinking was permitted from May 17, the group today reported that trading since that date has surged [...]
World Bank to bump Covid vaccine funding to $20bn June 30, 2021 The World Bank tonight said it would up to funding for Covid-19 vaccine purchases and deployment to $20bn due to a sharp increase in financing demand from developing economies. The multilateral body had previously targeted $12bn in spending on the vaccine programme. World Bank President David Malpass said the global development bank had given 51 developing countries more than $4bn to use [...]
Most vulnerable could get third Covid jab from September June 30, 2021 The most vulnerable people could be offered a third Covid-19 jab from September, according to the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Pending final recommendations, millions of the most vulnerable will be given a booster vaccination in order that they maintain protection against the disease through the winter months. The [...]