Pandemic festivities: A ‘normal Christmas’ is on the horizon, says Sajid Javid October 25, 2021 A “normal Christmas” is on the way, providing everyone “plays our part”, health secretary Sajid Javid has said today. Responding to concerns that this Christmas could face the same fate it did last year, Javid told BBC Breakfast: “What we know about this virus is that it’s unpredictable and I don’t think any sensible health [...]
Airlift 240m Covid-19 vaccines says Gordon Brown after COVAX scheme misses target October 17, 2021 Former prime minister Gordon Brown has urged that 240m Covid-19 vaccines being distributed to countries in the global south could save 100,000 lives. It follows the global COVAX scheme, a World Health Organisation (WHO) programme designed so wealthier countries can donate vaccine doses to states less able to bulk buy, missed its target, according to [...]
UK railways prepare for 2m passenger slump as budget cuts loom October 13, 2021 UK railways are preparing for a 2 million passenger fall as, post-Covid commuting patterns have changed, prompting rail companies to start swinging the axe on jobs. Forecasts prepared by the railway industry’s Covid forecasting group for Network Rail highlighted that, in the worst case scenario, numbers will only go up to 60 per cent of [...]
French Connection boss steps down as group recovers from Covid October 12, 2021 French Connection’s chief executive Stephen Marks will retire from the global retailer, as the company recovers from Covid-19. Commenting on the six-month results, he said: “This is an appropriate time for me to step back from the business that I founded in 1972, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our [...]
TfL unveils designs for Covid-19 transport victims’ memorial October 11, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled designs for a memorial to honour London’s transport workers who died from Covid-19. Set in Aldgate’s Braham Street, the memorial will feature a plaque paying tribute to the pandemic’s transport victims and will be surrounded by several benches and a cherry tree. TfL is expected to submit a planning [...]
Sajid Javid: Long Covid is affecting huge numbers of people October 11, 2021 Health secretary Sajid Javid is reportedly concerned about the increasing numbers of people suffering from long Covid symptoms. As reported by the Independent, the secretary told a private meeting of health officials that the problem was “huge” and “getting bigger”. During the private meeting, which was set up to give an update regarding long Covid [...]
Free Covid testing could be scrapped as Treasury looks to cut costs October 9, 2021 The government reportedly plans to scale back on free Covid testing amid concerns that the scheme costs the taxpayer billions of pounds. Discussions are underway in government over whether to scrap mass testing policies which allow people to attain free lateral flow and PCR tests the Telegraph first reported. France and Germany both announced that [...]
Covid to be like the common cold – one day, says AstraZeneca vaccine co-designer September 23, 2021 It is likely that Covid-19 will become just like the common cold, the professor who co-designed the AstraZeneca vaccine has said. However, the big question remains as to how long it will take to get there, Dame Sarah Gilbert explained. Speaking to a Royal Society of Medicine webinar, Gilbert assured that Covid-19 will “eventually” become [...]
Wales gives Covid-19 passes the green light ahead of New Zealand rugby showdown September 17, 2021 Wales has given Covid-19 passes, similar to the UK’s proposed passports, the green light, meaning people will have to prove vaccination or a negative test to attend events. The new rules, which come into effect on October 11, will see large-scale ever goers and clubbers use an NHS Covid Pass to be allowed entry. The [...]
Sajid Javid defends the march back to the office despite SAGE warnings September 15, 2021 Health secretary Sajid Javid has defended the march back to the office after government scientific advisors warned it could trigger a spike in infections. Ditching work from home advice could push daily hospital admissions to rise to 7,000 by next month, experts advising the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned yesterday. However, the [...]