EU looking into reports of rare nerve disorder after Astrazeneca vaccine The EU’s medicines regulator is investigating reports of a rare nerve-degenerating disorder in people who have received Astrazeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, it announced this afternoon. The watchdog has requested more detailed data on the cases from the company. As part of a regular review of safety reports for the vaccine, Vaxzevria, the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) safety [...]
Indian Covid mutation declared ‘variant of concern’ over fears of rapid spread A coronavirus strain first detected in India has been declared a “variant of concern” over fears that it may be spreading more quickly than the dominant Kent strain. Public Health England (PHE) said it had “moderate confidence” that the Indian mutation, known officially as B16172, spreads at least as quickly as the strain first found in Kent last [...]
Covid prevalence drops across England with 1 in 1,180 infected The prevalence of Covid-19 infections in England has fallen for the fourth week in a row, although the decline has slowed alongside widespread easing of lockdown restrictions across the country. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 1 in 1,180 people in England were estimated to have been infected with coronavirus [...]
Under-40s in Britain to be offered alternative to Astrazeneca vaccine May 7, 2021 People under the age of 40 in Britain will be offered an alternative to the Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine following concerns of rare blood clots. In a press conference this morning, the government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that adults in the UK aged between 30 and 39 should seek an alternative vaccine. Professor [...]
Holiday Inn owner IHG sees signs of recovery following pickup in demand May 7, 2021 Holiday Inn owner Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) said it has seen a “notable” pickup in demand in the first quarter led by a flurry of bookings in America and China. IHG, whose brands also include the Crowne Plaza, Regent and Hualuxe hotel chains said it outperformed the wider hotel industry in key markets following a [...]
Tui offers £20 Covid tests for British holidaymakers May 6, 2021 Tui will offer British holidaymakers cut-price Covid tests following the government’s announcement earlier this week that vaccine passports would not be ready in time for the resumption of international travel. The British airline said it would slash the cost of mandatory PCR tests for travellers returning to the UK to £20 under new plans to [...]
Tweaked Moderna vaccine ‘effective’ against new Covid variants May 6, 2021 Moderna’s “tweaked” vaccine against new Covid variants that emerged in South Africa and Brazil has successfully neutralised them in laboratory trials, the US company announced last night. Data from a small-scale trial of 40 patients showed that a third dose of either its current coronavirus jab or an experimental new vaccine candidate increases immunity against [...]
British holidaymakers face expensive Covid tests amid delay in vaccine passports May 6, 2021 British holidaymakers face hefty Covid tests at borders as a result of delays in the development of vaccine passports for overseas travel, Downing Street admitted yesterday. Number 10 said earlier this week that tweaks to the NHS app to display proof of vaccination were unlikely to be made in time for the lifting of the [...]
Next raises profit outlook on strong winter sales May 6, 2021 Next has raised its profit outlook for the second time in two months as the high street retailer reported stronger than expected sales for the winter period. The group raised its pre-tax profit guidance for the year to £720m, up from £700m forecast in April. Shares jumped 0.9 per cent to 8,200p at market open. [...]
Rishi Sunak: Wealthy will be spared from post-pandemic tax raid May 5, 2021 Wealthy families will escape a post-pandemic tax raid earmarked to boost the economy, Rishi Sunak has suggested, as the chancellor praised Britain’s already “very progressive tax system”. Sunak said yesterday that he is “cautiously optimistic” about an upswing in economic growth, as Brits prepare to spare pent-up cash alongside the relaxing of lockdown restrictions. Speaking [...]
