Lockdown could last until 31 March, government smallprint reveals January 6, 2021 England’s third national lockdown could last until 31 March, according to smallprint in the government’s newly-published Covid regulations. It comes despite Boris Johnson earlier this week telling the public that restrictions will last until mid-February. Speaking in an address to the nation from Downing Street on Tuesday, the PM said he had “no choice” but [...]
Met Police to crack down on Covid rulebreakers with fines for mask flouters January 6, 2021 Londoners breaching lockdown rules will face hefty police fines from today as part of a tougher crackdown Covid rulebreakers. The Metropolitan Police announced it will no longer “reason with” those not wearing masks in indoor public spaces, and will instead hand out fines more quickly. In a new hardline approach, the Met warned that people [...]
Pharmacies to roll out Covid vaccine in ‘Herculean effort’ to immunise Britain January 6, 2021 High street pharmacies will form a major part of the “Herculean effort” to vaccinate the nation against coronavirus, the vaccines tsar has announced. Nadhim Zahawi, the minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment, told BBC’s Today programme that community pharmacy networks will be “very much involved” in plans to vaccinate 13.4m Brits by mid-February. Current government plans [...]
UK on course for double-dip recession amid lockdown ‘gloom’ January 6, 2021 The UK is on course for a double-dip recession as a fresh lockdown compounds the “strikingly downbeat” end to 2020, according to a new report. After the sharpest decline in history in the second quarter last year, indicators showed economic activity improved only slightly in the last three months of the year and remained well [...]
The three Cs driving WFH and their impact on global cities January 5, 2021 | City Talk Investors in the office sector face a divergent picture due to the working from home (WFH) trend, says fund manager Tom Walker. Recent encouraging news regarding a Covid-19 vaccine means many of us are looking forward to resuming our “normal” lives. Getting out of the house will be top priority for many, particularly those of [...]
Yoga, colouring books and maths lessons: How to survive home-schooling (again) January 5, 2021 Homeschooling is back – with all the stresses that can sometimes entail. City A.M. asked the experts at Quizlet for their guide to delivering the best learning experience for children – whilst keeping parents and teachers sane. These are anxious times, but they are also hopeful times: countries are sharing knowledge and know-how; politicians are [...]
Exclusive: London’s Nightingale Hospital to reopen next week at just 1.5 per cent capacity January 5, 2021 The Nightingale Hospital at London’s Excel Centre is due to reopen next week at an estimated 1.5 per cent of its original capacity, as the NHS scrambles to find enough staff to treat patients. The emergency hospital has been “reactivated” to provide non-Covid related care for around 60 patients, senior sources close to the Nightingale [...]
Police issue warning over scam Covid-19 vaccine text message January 5, 2021 Police have issued an urgent warning over a scam text message telling Brits they are eligible to apply for the Covid-19 vaccine. The fake message, which purports to come from the NHS, reads: “We have identified that your [sic] are eligible to apply for your vaccine.” It then prompts recipients to click on a link [...]
How Covid is affecting sport in 2021: Will Premier League, Tokyo Olympics, England’s Test series in Sri Lanka and the Lions tour go ahead? January 5, 2021 The first wave of Covid-19 saw professional sport grind to a halt as countries across the world imposed lockdowns. With cases on the rise again, particularly in England, some sports – including football, rugby union, boxing and snooker – have already been disrupted. So how is elite sport in 2021 being affected by the pandemic [...]
Test and Trace failed to reach 30,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus in week before Christmas January 5, 2021 The Test and Trace scheme failed to reach more than 30,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus in the week before Christmas, at the same time the government warned that a new coronavirus mutation was spreading across the country. Latest official figures showed that 232,169 people tested positive for Covid at least once between 17 [...]