Covid: UK trials new drug that could cut risk of severe illness by 80 per cent January 13, 2021 The UK has launched large-scale trials of a new drug that could cut the risk of Covid patients developing severe illness by as much as 80 per cent. Thirty-four-year-old Alexandra Constantin became the first patient to receive the drug, produced by London-listed biotech firm Synairgen, after receiving the dose at Hull Royal Infirmary yesterday afternoon. [...]
Christine Lagarde backs economic outlook despite Covid-19 resurgence in Europe January 13, 2021 The eurozone economy will rebound this year provided lockdown measures curb the Covid-19 pandemic, according to European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. Speaking earlier today, Lagarde highlighted the importance of easing lockdown restrictions and delivering successful vaccination programmes, conceding that early rollouts had posed challenges. Last month, the ECB predicted economic growth of 3.9 per [...]
Staff returning to offices three days a week would be ‘royal result’ post-pandemic January 13, 2021 If staff who have been working from home during the pandemic return to the office for three days a week post-Covid, it will be a “right royal result”, David Buik has said. Buik, who has worked for more than 50 years in the City of London and contributes to the Great Wave of Change podcast, [...]
Ministers mull moving patients to hotels as hospitals become overwhelmed January 13, 2021 The NHS is considering plans to transfer patients to hotels as hospitals become overwhelmed with Covid-19, the health secretary said this morning. Matt Hancock announced the government would not rule out any options to relieve pressures on the NHS and refused to speculate about how long lockdown restrictions could last. The health secretary told BBC [...]
UK ‘to trial’ Covid-19 vaccine passports with new app January 13, 2021 The UK is said to be starting trials of a vaccine passport that could play a key role in efforts to inoculate the population against coronavirus. Thousands of Brits who have already received their Covid-19 jab will be offered a passport proving they have been vaccinated as part of a government-funded trial, the Telegraph reported. [...]
PwC bags £2.5m government contract to oversee PPE audit January 12, 2021 Accounting giant PwC has landed a £2.5m contract to oversee an audit of the government’s procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, following a scathing report from the UK’s spending watchdog. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) yesterday published details of a £2.5m contract with the UK’s largest accounting and advisory [...]
Priti Patel pledges more police on streets to crack whip on Covid rulebreakers January 12, 2021 The government will place more police on the streets to hand out fines to “irresponsible” people breaking lockdown rules, the home secretary has announced. In a stern warning to the nation, Priti Patel said: “If you do not play your part, our police officers who are out there, risking their own lives everyday to keep [...]
Covid-19 drives employment tribunal claims up 17% January 12, 2021 The number of claims received by employment tribunals has jumped 17 per cent in the last year to 42,392, up from 36,336 in the previous 12 months. Employment law firm GQ Littler said the increase was “significantly faster” than the 7 per cent rise that occurred between 2017/18 and 2018/19 and ties in with the [...]
Business secretary slams firms not allowing staff to work from home January 12, 2021 New business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has urged employers to take “every possible step” to help employees work from home during the pandemic. His comments come after City A.M. revealed some firms have at points offered staff unpaid leave as an alternative to returning to the office. Kwarteng said: “The law is clear that you may [...]
PwC to examine possible fraud in govt coronavirus loan programme January 12, 2021 The government-owned British Business Bank (BBB) has brought on PwC to examine cases of possible fraud in its Covid-19 business loans programme. The loan programme was established to help smaller businesses impacted by coronavirus. According to website Consultancy.co.uk, BBB tapped PwC to look into possible fraud, having previously worked with the Big Four firm and [...]