‘Vaccines are working’ against new Covid variants, says Jonathan Van-Tam February 24, 2021 “Vaccines are working” against the Kent Covid variant and will likely reduce the risk of severe disease from new mutations, the deputy chief medical officer has said. Jonathan Van-Tam said the B117 strain of coronavirus first identified in Kent now accounts for around 95 per cent of all Covid cases in the UK. Speaking to [...]
Heathrow plummets to £2bn loss in ‘toughest year in airport’s history’ February 24, 2021 Heathrow Airport plummeted to a loss of more than £2bn last year, amid the “toughest year by far” in its 75-year history, the company announced this morning. The airport crashed to an annual pre-tax loss of £2.01bn for the 12 months to 31 December, down from a profit of £546m in 2019. Revenue plunged 62 [...]
Boris Johnson plots domestic vaccine passports for pubs, theatres and football matches February 23, 2021 The Prime Minister has announced plans to explore introducing vaccine passports for entry to pubs, theatres and football matches, marking a major government U-turn after ministers previously ruled out the idea. Boris Johnson said he was confident all Covid restrictions will be lifted by 21 June, after outlining his roadmap for leaving lockdown last night. [...]
Labour slams Hancock’s claim there was no PPE shortage ‘an insult’ February 23, 2021 Labour has hit back at claims by the health secretary that there has been no shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic as “an insult”. Speaking to BBC’s Today programme this morning, Matt Hancock said the UK never had a national shortage of PPE last year. “It’s easy to ask questions, but what [...]
Matt Hancock: International travel could return sooner if vaccines work against new Covid variants February 23, 2021 The health secretary has left the door open for international travel to return sooner than planned this summer if available vaccines work against emerging Covid variants. Unveiling his roadmap for exiting lockdown yesterday, the Prime Minister said international travel will only resume from 17 May at the earliest. Boris Johnson said the government first needed [...]
Unemployment hikes to 5.1 per cent in biggest leap in a decade February 23, 2021 The UK unemployment rate marked its highest increase in 2020 in more than a decade, according to the latest official statistics, as the labour market continues to feel the weight of months of closures during the pandemic. The annual increase in the unemployment rate last year was the largest jump since the wake of the [...]
When will pubs, shops, cinemas and theatres reopen under Boris Johnson’s roadmap? February 22, 2021 The Prime Minister unveiled his roadmap for leaving lockdown this afternoon, promising that it would provide a “one way road to freedom… after a wretched year”. Boris Johnson said England would “start reclaiming our freedoms” in a fortnight’s time, with all legal limits on social contact set to end on 21 June at the earliest. [...]
‘All over by June’ under Boris Johnson’s roadmap for leaving lockdown February 22, 2021 All Covid restrictions will be lifted by late June under the Prime Minister’s roadmap for exiting lockdown, as the government grows increasingly confident in the UK’s vaccine rollout. Announcing the timeline in the Commons, Boris Johnson said that “all of the legal limits on social contact can be removed no earlier than 21 June” in [...]
Pfizer vaccine cuts Covid transmission by up to 85 per cent February 22, 2021 “Vaccines are working,” the health secretary has announced, after new data showed the Pfizer vaccine cuts Covid transmission by up to 85 per cent and reduces the risk of death and hospitalisation by three-quarters. In a major boost for the Prime Minister’s plans to lift lockdown restrictions, early data from Public Health England’s (PHE) first [...]
Covid vaccines reduce hospitalisations by up to 94 per cent in Scotland February 22, 2021 The vaccine rollout has had a signifiant impact on driving down Covid-related hospitalisations and risk of serious illness in Scotland, new data has shown. Research from Public Health Scotland (PHS) found that the Pfizer and Astrazeneca vaccines reduced the risk of hospitalisation from Covid-19 by up to 85 per cent and 94 per cent respectively. [...]
