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England reports no Covid deaths for first time in 14 months

England reports no Covid deaths for first time in 14 months

UK's vaccine programme received a shot in the arm as England reported zero deaths due to Covid-19, according to its latest daily update.

Since the pandemic broke out in March last year, Sunday (9) was the first day that had no deaths from Covid-19. More than 112,000 people have died since then, starting with the first wave and then followed by the highly infectious UK strain of the virus.


Now, the government's aggressive vaccination drive has allowed to ease lockdown measures and helping the economy to reopen. With further easing of restrictions next week, people will be allowed to meet indoors at pubs, restaurants and cinemas.

England and other nations part of the United Kingdom, calculate Covid-19 fatalities by counting the number of people who died within 28 days after their first test returned positive. Scotland and Northern Ireland also reported no deaths on Sunday (9), while four people died in Wales.

UK has the fifth-highest death toll in the world.

However, there are now concerns over the Indian Covid variant, which reports suggest is becoming more prominent in Britain and spreads faster than the Kent mutation.

According to experts, in the two weeks to May 1, the number of Indian variant cases have gone up from one per cent to 11 per cent, with other variants being less than one per cent.

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London tourist levy

The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024

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London to introduce tourist levy that could raise £240 million a year

Kumail Jaffer

Highlights

  • Government expected to give London powers to bring in a tourist levy on overnight stays.
  • GLA study says a £1 fee could raise £91m, a 5 per cent charge could generate £240m annually.
  • Research suggests London would not see a major fall in visitor numbers if levy introduced.
The mayor of London has welcomed reports that he will soon be allowed to introduce a tourist levy on overnight visitors, with new analysis outlining how a charge could work in the capital.
Early estimates suggest a London levy could raise as much as £240 m every year. The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give Sadiq Khan and other English city leaders the power to impose such a levy through the upcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. London currently cannot set its own tourist tax, making England the only G7 nation where national government blocks local authorities from doing so.

A spokesperson for the mayor said City Hall supported the idea in principle, adding “The Mayor has been clear that a modest tourist levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London’s reputation as a global tourism and business destination.”

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