Boris Johnson is facing growing pressure to allow fully vaccinated people who have been identified as close contacts of coronavirus cases to be exempt from isolation. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has joined business leaders in calling for more workers to be allowed to skip quarantine if they are alerted by the NHS COVID-19 app to
Business
The UK’s economic bounce-back has slowed sharply partly thanks to the impact of the “pingdemic” causing workers to isolate, according to a key business survey. A “flash” estimate of private sector activity for July showed the weakest expansion since March as Britain’s firms battle to recover from the coronavirus crisis. The reading of 57.7 –
Emergency measures to exempt food supply chain workers from coronavirus self-isolation rules will not be extended to other businesses, Environment Secretary George Eustice has told Sky News. On excluding other sectors such as hospitality, the cabinet minister said he understood it was frustrating, but stressed the need to “dampen the pace and velocity” at which
Supermarkets Sainsbury’s, Iceland and Co-op have revealed they are suffering stock shortages as concerns grow about the impact of the so-called “pingdemic”. Sainsbury’s, Britain’s second biggest supermarket, said it “might not always have” products customers want while Iceland revealed it was also being hit and urged customers not to stockpile. Co-op said it was “running
The government is “very concerned” about the numbers of people being pinged by the NHS app, the business secretary has told Sky News. Speaking to Kay Burley, Kwasi Kwarteng said ministers were “monitoring” the situation and would be setting out a list of exempt critical workers “very soon”. Live COVID updates from the UK and
Boris Johnson has apologised to businesses impacted by a rising number of staff members having to self-isolate due to coming into close contact with a positive coronavirus case. Speaking at the last PMQs before the summer recess, the prime minister – himself isolating at Chequers after coming into contact with COVID-positive Health Secretary Sajid Javid
MPs have promised a new amendment to help flat owners “trapped” in buildings affected by the cladding crisis. Leaseholders who bought flats in blocks that were later found to be unsafe have seen the value of their homes wiped out while they wait to be told of the scale and cost of repairs. On Wednesday,
Before Michelle Arevalo co-founded IMPAQTO, the first certified B Corporation in Ecuador, the concept of impact entrepreneurship was foreign to the Latin American country. Eight years later, what was once a start-up for people looking to set up businesses with a conscience has evolved into a hub for socially dynamic companies from across the Andean
The government will not draw up a list of critical jobs that will be exempt from full self-isolation if workers are “pinged”. Instead, employers will have to apply to government departments to allow workers to effectively circumvent the rules. Boris Johnson announced on Monday that critical workers, who have been fully vaccinated for at least
The government’s plan to enforce people to show full proof of vaccination to enter nightclubs and other “crowded venues” from the end of September has been condemned as an “absolute shambles” by the industry. Boris Johnson revealed on Monday that in two months’ time, those wishing to enter venues where large numbers of people gather
The FTSE 100 and the pound have fallen as Britain’s “freedom day” failed to assuage growing fears about COVID case numbers and disruption. London’s leading share index was just over 100 points, or 1.4%, lower in early trading – taking it below the 7,000-mark – led by a 5% fall for British Airways owner International
Business leaders have strengthened their calls for an immediate overhaul of self-isolation rules for double-jabbed people ahead of tomorrow’s final lifting of restrictions across England. The Confederation of British Industry has demanded those who have received two doses of a COVID vaccine should not have to self-isolate for 10 days if they are a contact
Half of managers (50%) think the government is lifting coronavirus restrictions too quickly, according to a Chartered Management Institute poll. Shared exclusively with Trevor Phillips on Sunday, it reveals 39% believe the changes are happening at the right pace, while 8% think they are occurring too slowly. Public sector managers were slightly more concerned than
One of the great puzzles emerging from the last year has been why, in spite of COVID, repeated lockdown, and surging self-isolation, recruitment agencies have seldom been busier. Employment levels are still rising and unemployment has – so far – not become the scourge many anticipated. In theory, such a tight labour market should generate
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Britain’s biggest accountancy firm, is preparing to unveil record profits following a surge in demand for its services during the pandemic. Sky News has learnt that partners at PwC have been told in recent days that they can expect average pay for the year to June 30 of £818,000 – a 19% increase
Pubs chains including Wetherspoons have said they will do away with mask requirements for customers from next week – but will still require staff to wear face coverings in some cases. Pub giants including Greene King, Mitchell and Butler, and Wetherspoons, who run nearly 6,000 sites between them, have promised that from Monday punters will