6:54 am, July 27, 2021
Covid-19 cases drop for sixth day in a row as hospital admissions rise
The number of Covid-19 cases newly reported in the UK has dropped for the sixth day in a row amid a rise in hospital admissions in England, according to official figures.
The UK recorded a further 24,950 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases as of 9am on Monday, the government said, down from the 46,558 reported on July 20.
Meanwhile, NHS data showed that a total of 5,055 patients were in hospital with Covid-19 in England on Monday. This is up 33 per cent from the previous week and the highest since March 18, but still well below levels seen in the second wave of the pandemic.
More key workers eligible for daily testing instead of isolation
Bin collectors, prison staff and those working in defence will be able to take daily tests rather than self-isolating if they come into contact with someone who has coronavirus, the Government has announced.
More key workers will be eligible for the scheme under the plans, with 1,200 new workplace sites introduced in a bid to avoid disruption to crucial services as cases soar.
They join those working in the food industry, transport workers, Border Force staff, frontline police and fire services, after several sectors warned of staff shortages caused by the ‘pingdemic’.
Police stop and search powers to be boosted under Johnson crackdown
Stop and search powers for police are set to be permanently enhanced under Boris Johnson’s new strategy to tackle crime.
The prime minister will use his first day after leaving self-isolation following a positive coronavirus contact to detail his new Beating Crime Plan, much of which was trailed in the media over the weekend.
It will include a permanent relaxing of conditions on the use of Section 60 stop and search powers, under which officers can search someone without reasonable grounds in an area where serious violence is expected.
UK floods ‘a sober reminder’ of need for urgent climate change fix – Cop26 head
Heavy rain and flash flooding “on our own doorstep” in recent days is a reminder for the UK about the urgent need to tackle climate change, the head of the Cop26 summit has said.
But Alok Sharma, speaking at a press conference, expressed disappointment at a lack of progress made during a two-day meeting with ministers from more than 50 nations on the prospect of ditching coal as an energy source.
The UK is pushing for an agreement at the Glasgow climate conference to limit global warming to 1.5C, but Sharma – appointed by the prime minister to lead the negotiations in November – said the target would be ‘extremely difficult’ to achieve without all the countries in the G20 signing up to a pledge to phase out coal.
SsangYong’s X200 concept gives glimpse of upcoming SUV
SsangYong has given an early look at its future SUV models with the X200 concept.
Designed to preview the design of the firm’s next-generation off-roader, the X200 will follow on from the firm’s recently announced J100 electric car which is expected to enter production next year and forms part of SsangYong’s ‘self-rescue’ plan that was announced last month.
The X200 has a bold and muscular look, with a large front grille framed by circular headlights. With chunky proportions, the X200’s plastic-clad wheelarches sit over alloy wheels wrapped in knobbly off-road tyres. At the rear, there’s a similar square look with box-like lights and a large rear diffuser-style section.
Monday Car Dealer headlines you might have missed:
- Car Dealer Live: Semiconductor crisis and new car shortage could see carmakers hiking prices
- IM Group completes takeover of Mitsubishi’s UK aftersales operation as site goes up for sale or let
- Nissan announces major recruitment drive with 400 new roles at Sunderland plant
- BMW is most-viewed luxury car brand on TikTok, new research by Dick Lovett finds
- Polestar to double retail environments as part of worldwide expansion
- Used car buyers spending longer online researching next purchase and use more search platforms than pre-Covid
- First drive: Could the P400e plug-in hybrid be the perfect Land Rover Defender?
- Vauxhall adds Griffin variants to Corsa-e and Crossland models
Addison Lee to keep screen partitions in cabs until next summer
Cab company Addison Lee has said it will keep partition screens between drivers and passengers in its vehicles until at least summer 2022.
The firm introduced screens for its 4,000 vehicles in May last year, and said it already has safety screens across its 2,500 ComCab taxis, having bought the firm earlier this month.
Addison Lee chief executive Liam Griffin said: ‘The safety of our passengers and drivers has, and always will be, our number one priority.’
Bentley develops 22-inch carbon fibre wheel
Bentley has announced a new carbon fibre wheel specifically developed for its Bentyaga SUV.
The wheel has been in development for years, and Bentley says it’s the largest of its type and offers a vast range of benefits beyond the initial 6 kg improvement in unsprung mass per wheel.
It’ll be available for order later this year.
TfL faces ‘difficult decisions’ as new budget published, warns Sadiq Khan
London mayor Sadiq Khan has warned that ‘very difficult decisions remain’ after Transport for London (TfL) published a revised budget.
He called on the government to commit to bridging a £500m funding shortfall in this financial year. TfL was required to produce a new budget under the terms of its latest government bailout which secured the continuation of services until December 11.
The transport body said the latest figures show a reduction in its funding gap for 2021/22 compared with its previous budget, published in March. This is due to operational savings, the deferral of some capital spending into 2022/23, and the use of its own cash.
An unsettled day
Thundery showers will spread across most of the UK today, reports BBC Weather, along with a few sunny spells. There may be longer spells of rain in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Tonight, showers will ease in the south but linger for many elsewhere.
