Health department’s Covid response was an ‘absolute total disaster’, says Dominic Cummings March 17, 2021 The health department’s initial response in the early days of the Covid pandemic was an “absolute total disaster”, Dominic Cummings has told MPs. The Prime Minister’s former chief aide added that the health department was a “smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE”. “Obviously last year we saw that the Department for Health had [...]
Insolvencies fell to two-year low in February March 17, 2021 The number of company insolvencies last month stood at 686, the lowest monthly number recorded since January 2019. Figures released by the government’s Insolvency Service found the number of company insolvencies in February 2021 was 49 per cent lower than the same month in the previous year. February 2020 marked the month before the UK [...]
Which countries in Europe have suspended the Astrazeneca vaccine? March 17, 2021 Fifteen countries across Europe have suspended the rollout of the Astrazeneca vaccine while the EU medicines regulators investigates reports of blood clots among patients. Sweden yesterday joined a growing list of countries including Italy, Germany, France and Norway to issue a temporary ban on the jab. State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said the pause was a [...]
Exclusive: City’s venture capital guru on Brexit, fundraising and impact investing March 17, 2021 With Brexit just behind us, and the pandemic gradually being brought under control, it seemed like a good time to measure the temperature of London’s venture capital investment space. City A.M. sat down with David Hall, for his first major interview as chairman of the Venture Capital Trust Association, since succeeding Stuart Veale in January [...]
Iceland to open borders for fully vaccinated travellers this week March 17, 2021 Iceland will this week open its borders to all visitors who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 without mandatory testing or quarantine. The North Atlantic country hopes more tourists will help revive its pandemic-hit economy. In a statement, the government said it will welcome all fully vaccinated visitors into the country without being subject to border [...]
EU leaders promise to U-turn on Astrazeneca ban if regulator clears it March 17, 2021 France and Italy have signalled that they are prepared to U-turn on their suspension of the Astrazeneca Covid vaccine if the European regulator declares it is “firmly convinced” over the jab’s safety. French President Emmanuel Macron and new Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said they would “promptly restart the administration of the Astrazeneca vaccine” if it was [...]
Half of UK adults will be vaccinated by the end of the week, says minister March 17, 2021 More than half of Britain’s adult population will have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the week, as nation’s largest ever immunisation programme continues at pace, the business minister has said. Kwasi Kwarteng told BBC Breakfast: “I think by the end of the week 50 per cent of the [...]
Funeral firm Dignity swings to annual loss despite UK deaths rising 14 per cent March 17, 2021 Funeral providers Dignity today posted an annual loss of £19.6m as a sharp rise in yearly deaths were met by Covid funeral restrictions. The firm saw underlying profit plummet 12 per cent to £55.7m, while pre-tax profit dropped by more than a quarter to £30.7m. Dignity made a yearly loss before tax of £19.6m compared [...]
Pandemic-graduates fear diminished work prospects amid record competition March 17, 2021 A near two-thirds of graduates fear the pandemic will negatively shape their future career prospects, as 53 per cent are concerned over remote working difficulties, according to new research. Milkround data has revealed that the pandemic has pushed 11 per cent of graduates to stay in education for longer than anticipated, with 64 per cent [...]
Two more cases of Brazil variant found in England March 16, 2021 Two more cases of the Brazil coronavirus variant have been found in England, bringing the total number of reported cases of the variant in Britain to 12. Public Health England said both of the new cases – one in the West Midlands and one in Haringey – were linked to international travel with Brazil. The [...]