Small businesses ‘more prepared’ for second lockdown, research shows November 17, 2020 Two-thirds of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in England felt more prepared for the current national lockdown compared to when restrictions were first introduced in March. Businesses said they were more prepared for the new coronavirus rules, under which hospitality venues and non-essential stores have been ordered to close. The latest research showed that [...]
Unused office space ‘to cost London firms £13bn’, survey shows November 16, 2020 The shift to homeworking, accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, could cost London businesses almost £13bn in unused office space, according to the latest research. London office workers want to spend an average of 2.7 days per week back in the office once all coronavirus restrictions are lifted, as long as they have the resources to [...]
Breaking: UK secures 5m doses of Moderna vaccine November 16, 2020 The UK has today secured 5m doses of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, which proved 95 per cent effective in late-stage clinical trials, the health secretary has announced. Speaking at today’s Downing Street press conference, Matt Hancock said: “I can announce that we have today an initial agreement for 5m doses of the Moderna vaccine.” The doses [...]
Sweden U-turns on herd immunity with tighter lockdown restrictions November 16, 2020 Sweden has U-turned on its herd immunity approach to the pandemic by introducing tighter lockdown restrictions, after health chiefs warned the country has failed to prepare for a second wave. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven today announced new limitations on public gatherings to eight people across the country, down from a previous upper limit of [...]
US stocks surge as Fauci promises widescale vaccine rollout by April November 16, 2020 US stocks surged this afternoon as America’s top infectious disease expert suggested the country’s general population will likely start being vaccinated against coronavirus in the Spring. Speaking in a US press call, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the “general population without underlying health conditions” would start receiving Covid vaccines in April. Fauci’s comments boosted gains across [...]
Exclusive: Coronavirus stalls nearly a third of promotions November 16, 2020 Some 28% of full time workers were due a promotion in 2020 that has been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, exclusive research has revealed. The research found more than a third (36%) of full-time workers felt their professional development had regressed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Among 18 to 34 year-olds the [...]
Government to double coronavirus testing with two new ‘megalabs’ November 16, 2020 The government has announced it will open two new “megalabs” to process a total of 600,000 coronavirus tests a day as part of plans to return Britain to normality next year. The sites, in Leamington Spa and Scotland, will double the UK’s current testing capacity when they open in early 2021. The government last month [...]
All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner Mitchells & Butlers to close 20 sites November 16, 2020 All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner Mitchells & Butlers will permanently close 20 sites due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The pub and restaurant chain, which also owns Harvester, O’Neills and Miller & Carter, said it had decided not to reopen the sites after assessing expected footfall and business layout. It opened [...]
Anti-vaxxers may be barred from pubs and offices: Senior Tory MP November 16, 2020 People who refuse to take a Covid-19 vaccine may be barred from restaurants, pubs and offices, a senior Conservative MP has suggested. Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told HuffPost UK he could “certainly see the day” when people are refused entry into pubs and restaurants, [...]
Janssen begins stage three Covid vaccine trial in UK November 16, 2020 Janssen has today begun stage three trials of its coronavirus vaccine, the third such company to do so in the UK. 6,000 volunteers across the country will take part in the tests of the vaccine, which has been developed in partnership with US giant Johnson & Johnson. The trials come after Pfizer last week announced [...]