Blessing in disguise: Omicron variant may be ‘very positive’ news for the world if new Covid mutation kills off more lethal Delta coronavirus Very mild symptoms reported Hospitals and GPs across Southern Africa are increasingly reporting that the symptoms of the aggressive new Covid strain Omicron are “unusual but very mild,” according to various media in South Africa this weekend. Around 90 per cent of all new infections in the Johannesburg region are now caused by the Omicron strain but, so far, [...]
Omicron: How Europe is reacting covid-19 With news of a new, potentially worse strain of Covid-19 – known as Omicron – countries in Europe have been quick to shutter restrictions in a bid to limit its spread. The UK has told incoming travellers that they must take a PCR test on the second day of arrival and must quarantine until they [...]
Millions dished out to inactive or new companies under covid loan scheme Lenders reportedly dished out a whopping £130m to questionable companies under a government Covid support scheme that issued loans up to £5m.
One in four Brits admit to at least one rule-breaking activity during isolation November 24, 2021 One in four people carry out at least one Covid-19 rule-breaking activity while self-isolating, according to new data today. Around 25 per cent of surveyed Brits admitted to leaving their homes or having visitors for reasons that go against the pandemic measures. However, the majority of people who tested positive for Covid-19 in the first [...]
Covid-19 global pandemic to be ‘regional epidemic’ by next year, says AstraZeneca boss November 23, 2021 AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot said that he expects the global Covid-19 pandemic to become a regional epidemic by next year, after the pharmaceutical giant decided to start profiting from its vaccine. The chief executive of the pharmaceutical giant told Sky News that by 2022, “essentially most of the world at that point will be in [...]
Collision of pandemic and Brexit pushes £18bn loss in travel services trade November 22, 2021 The collision of the pandemic and leaving the European Union (EU) has tipped an £18bn loss in travel services trade, according to the latest figures. While total service exports and imports grew in the second quarter, trade in services remained well below levels seen prior to Covid-19, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed. Weaker [...]
Fresh restrictions blanket new Covid epicentre – Europe November 18, 2021 Ireland has become the latest European country to impose fresh Covid-19 restrictions, as the continent becomes the epicentre of the pandemic. From today, the country’s population will work from home where possible, though universities will not sink back into online teaching. Hospitality has also been impacted, with bars and restaurants having been ordered to [...]
Antivaxxers targeting Tesco Christmas ad set to complain to advertising watchdog November 17, 2021 The antivaxxers who began the #BoycottTesco trend at the weekend have reportedly arranged a campaign to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority. Tesco became the latest subject to antivax protest after it included a double vaccinated Santa in its Christmas advert. Antivaxxers, those who have been against the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, took to Twitter to [...]
Covid: WHO expert urges world leaders to wear masks as Europe cases climb November 10, 2021 A World Health Organisation (WHO) lead has urged world leaders to wear a mask, just days after prime minister Boris Johnson was seen maskless during a hospital visit. Johnson had been seen posing with masked hospital staff in a corridor at Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland, without wearing a mask himself. Though the prime minister [...]
ONS: Firms increasingly hiking prices as supply chain crisis bites November 4, 2021 Nearly two-fifths of UK firms reported higher costs across their supply chains in new official data, with many passing on the increase to consumers. New ONS data has seen a significant increase in the number of firms putting up prices, from 4 per cent at the start of the year to 15 per cent in [...]