Coronavirus: Government sends food packages to the most vulnerable March 29, 2020 The first food packages have been sent to those who were asked by the government to isolate for 12 weeks and shield themselves from coronavirus due to being particularly vulnerable. The government has dispatched 2,000 food parcels already over this weekend to those who are unable to leave their homes because of severe health conditions [...]
Boris Johnson will write to every UK household with coronavirus advice March 28, 2020 Boris Johnson is to write to 30m households across the UK to urge them to stay at home and protect the NHS. A letter from the Prime Minister will be posted to homes across all four UK nations from next week and outline the latest coronavirus advice. Johnson will urge the public to follow the [...]
Coronavirus: Employees can defer annual leave for two years, says business secretary March 28, 2020 Employees unable to take all their annual leave this year due to the coronavirus pandemic will be allowed to carry it over for two years, the business secretary announced today. Alok Sharma, standing in for self-isolating Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the government’s daily briefing, said the government had introduced new measures to facilitate this. [...]
Coronavirus UK: Death toll passes 1,000 after biggest daily increase March 28, 2020 The number of people to have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has reached 1,019 – passing the 1,000 mark for the first time. It comes after a further 260 people were confirmed to have died today by the department of health, in the UK’s biggest daily increase. The vast majority of [...]
UK credit rating downgraded due to coronavirus impact and Brexit uncertainty March 28, 2020 The UK’s credit rating has been downgraded to AA- from AA due to the budget impact of the coronavirus outbreak and Brexit uncertainty. Credit rating agency Fitch has forecast that the UK’s economic output would drop by almost four per cent for the year. It said it had concerns about the UK’s “fiscal loosening stance” [...]
Coronavirus testing to be rolled out for frontline NHS staff this weekend March 28, 2020 NHS staff in England are set to be tested for coronavirus from this weekend in an effort to prevent frontline healthcare workers from being required to take unnecessary time off. Those with symptoms or in a household with people who have symptoms will be checked as a priority. Critical care doctors and nurses will be [...]
Carluccio’s left on the brink as coronavirus threatens to cause permanent closures March 28, 2020 Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s is in danger of collapse as it warned it was facing permanent branch closures. The company is working with administrators as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all restaurants, among other public venues, were to shut indefinitely a week ago in a bid to control [...]
Trump signs largest financial stimulus package in US history March 28, 2020 US President Donald Trump has signed the largest financial stimulus package in US history, worth a total of $2tn (£1.7tn). The cross-party bill was passed by the House of Representatives as the country attempts to control the fallout caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The number of US citizens filing for unemployment reached record highs on [...]
Virgin Atlantic set to ask for government bailout March 27, 2020 Virgin Atlantic is set to ask the UK government for a package of commercial loans and guarantees worth hundreds of millions of pounds. The airline will be among the first to do so, according to the Financial Times, after the government said this week it would only help the struggling aviation industry as a “last [...]
BrewDog opens 102 virtual bars to encourage people in isolation to socialise March 27, 2020 Craft pub chain BrewDog is set to open 102 virtual bars at 6pm tonight to allow friends to get together and enjoy a beer. The independent craft brewery has lined up a series of events including beer tasting and homebrewing masterclasses, as well as live music, pub quizzes and comedy. It is hoping to replicate [...]
