Government adviser says Test and Trace app usage “at all-time high” July 7, 2021 A Test and Trace adviser to the government has dismissed suggestions that people are deleting the app and instead said usage is at an “all-time high”. Epidemiologist professor Christophe Fraser, who advised the Department of Health on the programme, squashed suggestions that people were deleting the app because they were getting “pinged” too often as [...]
OECD: Covid-19 pushed 22m people out of jobs in advanced economies July 7, 2021 Around 22m more people are now jobless in major economies than before the pandemic, according to new research by the OECD. Of these 22m people living in rich countries that have been pushed out of work during coronavirus, 8 million are unemployed and over 14 million people are classed as inactive. In its annual employment [...]
Kwarteng: Businesses “can’t have it both ways” with self-isolation rules July 7, 2021 Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has defended the government’s decision to keep self-isolation rules while other restrictions are dropped from 19 July. It comes after Conservative MPs and business leaders – especially in the hospitality industry – slammed the decision for the effect it would have on staff operating capacity. Kwarteng told Sky News: “You can’t [...]
Half of the total UK population is now double-vaxxed July 6, 2021 More than 33m people have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the latest government figures, but the number of deaths from Covid is slowly edging up too. The number of people who have now received full vaccine protection in the UK equates to 50.5 per cent of the total UK population of [...]
Hedge fund Marshall Wace plots investments in cryptocurrency companies July 6, 2021 The London-based hedge fund group is planning to buy stakes in privately held digital asset companies that are at a late stage in their development. Marshall Wace is planning a long term crossover strategy to make late-stage venture capital investments in digital finance companies, a person with knowledge of the plans told City A.M. The [...]
Pupil isolation and school ‘bubble’ restrictions in England to end July 6, 2021 Gavin Williamson has confirmed that key restrictions on education and childcare will come to an end when the UK is expected to reach its fourth and final step out of lockdown on 19 July. The secretary of state for education said that the current system of “bubbles” and isolation in schools will end when England [...]
Sadiq Khan: Londoners who get their first Covid vaccine can win Euro 2020 final tickets July 6, 2021 The Mayor of London is putting up tickets to the Euro 2020 final that Londoners have a chance to win if they sign up for their first vaccine. As part of a drive to get more Londoners vaccinated, Sadiq Khan is putting up one pair of tickets for Sunday’s final at Wembley and 50 pairs [...]
Sajid Javid says carrying a face mask after 19 July is ‘responsible thing to do’ July 6, 2021 The new health secretary said he would be carrying a face covering with him “for the forseeable future”, after the PM last night announced masks would become voluntary after 19 July. “For the foreseeable future I will be carrying a face mask with me, I think that’s a very responsible thing for anyone to do. [...]
KKR sets up dedicated team for snapping up UK companies July 6, 2021 KKR will set up a team of dealmakers who will specifically target more UK takeover deals, as the private equity “raid” on British companies reaches record highs. The private equity giant has announced it will expand its global operations to include a new team of five British dealmakers who will focus on snapping up companies [...]
Hospitality chiefs celebrate 19 July announcement but warn of long road to recovery July 5, 2021 The hospitality industry welcomed Boris Johnson’s lockdown easing announcement this evening with open arms, but still fears the hangover from Covid-19 restrictions will damage trade. Business owners in the industry have hailed the government decision to lift compulsory restrictions on so-called “Freedom Day”, meaning pubs, bars and restaurants will be able to operate at full [...]