Coronavirus: Whole of Italy put on lockdown as death toll soars March 9, 2020 Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has placed the entire country on lockdown in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus, as the death toll jumped by 97. It extends the emergency measures the government put in place over the weekend for Lombardy and 14 other provinces in the north of the country, the epicentre [...]
Coronavirus: Fifth death in UK as confirmed cases rise to 319 March 9, 2020 A fifth person has died from coronavirus in the UK as the number of confirmed cases in the UK rose to 319. The patient who was in their seventies was being treated at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. Chief executive Daniel Elkeles said: “We can confirm that sadly, a patient in their [...]
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 [...]
Oaknorth Bank doubles profits but reports a slowdown in growth March 9, 2020 Oaknorth Bank nearly doubled its profits last year, but reported a slowdown in growth. The five-year-old challenger bank reported a 95 per cent jump in pre tax profit to £65.9m, up from £33.9m in 2018. Oaknorth said it had kickstarted efforts to broaden its customer base outside of its core market of London and the [...]
Trial over downing of flight MH17 begins without suspects March 9, 2020 A trial against the four individuals charged with the murder of 298 people and the downing of flight MH17 will begin in the Netherlands today. Last year, arrest warrants were issued for three Russians and a Ukrainian identified by a Dutch-led joint investigation team. Russians Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin, and Ukrainian Leonid [...]
Retail woes continue as high street footfall drops eight per cent March 9, 2020 The fragility of the British high street was laid bare last month as severe and ongoing rain led to a drop in high street footfall. February saw a drop in footfall of 7.8 per cent as shoppers stayed away from high streets, according to the latest figures by Springboard. However shopping centres and retail parks [...]
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 [...]
Coronavirus: Foreign Office changes travel advice after lockdown in Italy March 8, 2020 The Foreign Office has changed its travel advice stating that it advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. Following the lockdown in northern regions, the government has advised against travel to the Lombardy region, which includes the city of Milan, and other regions in lockdown. It faced backlash after advising against [...]
Coronavirus: Tesco rations essential food and household items March 8, 2020 Tesco has begun rationing essential food and household items as shoppers stockpile amid the coronavirus outbreak. Customers are limited to buying no more than five of each of the rationed goods, including antibacterial gels, wipes and sprays, dried pasta and UHT milk. The rules apply both in store and online. Waitrose has also reportedly introduced [...]
Firms send staff home as coronavirus arrives in Canary Wharf March 6, 2020 Contagion fears gripped Canary Wharf last night after a host of multinational firms pressed the button on coronavirus contingency plans in what could be just a taste of things to come. On a rollercoaster day in one of the globe’s most important financial hubs HSBC took the decision to evacuate more than a hundred staff [...]