Contingency Plans for local lockdowns are being considered by ministers in Britain, the Times says
May 18, 2021, 7:00 am

Contingency Plans for local lockdowns are being considered by ministers in Britain, the Times says

By Reuters Staff

The Times newspaper reported on May 17 that: "British ministers are considering contingency plans for local lockdowns or a delay to reopening after June 21 in response to concern about the spread of the COVID-19 variant first discovered in India."

The paper said that: "Officials have developed plans modelled on the Tier 4 restrictions introduced last year." People would be advised to stay at home and non-essential shops and hospitality would be closed if the variant was not brought under control," it added

The newspaper said that: "Companies in restricted areas would receive grants of up to £ 18,000 (US $ 25,440) and the scheme would be administered by local authorities, with payments adjusted in accordance with the length of the restrictions.."

The report said: "Grants will be available for the hardest hit sectors such as nightclubs and for "major events" including festivals in another scenario, which will be considered with a delay for reopening after June 21st."

Earlier on Monday, PM Johnson’s spokesman said that: "The government has yet judge on whether to go ahead with a further easing of lockdown restrictions in England on June 21 and wants to see as much data as possible before making decision."

Britain reported 1,979 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and five deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, while the data showed 36.7 million people had been given their first vaccine dose.

Source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”