Is there a third wave for coronavirus?
May 22, 2021, 10:16 am

coronavirus

Bolton accounted for 10 per cent of cases in the UK on Thursday (Lee McLean / SWNS)

The rapid spread of a coronavirus variant first detected in India has lead to rising concerns that the next phase of lockdown easing may be delayed.

Boris Johnson has identified 21 June as the date from which England could enjoy the full relaxation of restrictions – a move that would see all legal limits on social contact removed and businesses such as nightclubs opening.

However, there are increasing concerns that the variant first detected in India could put a spanner in the works after confirmed cases in the UK rose by more than 160 per cent over the last week.

There have been 3,424 confirmed cases of the B.1.617.2 variant in the UK, according to Public Health England (PHE) data. There were 1,313 cases last Thursday.

The spread of B.1.617.2 has already meant delays to Scotland’s tiered unlocking. While the rest of mainland Scotland entered level two restrictions on Monday, Moray and Glasgow were kept in the stricter level three measures due to outbreaks linked to the virus variant.

Expanded testing is being deployed, while younger people living in a number of certain postcodes are being invited to get their vaccine.

The variant is also causing a surge in cases in Bolton, which accounted for almost 10 per cent of the UK’s daily cases on Thursday. Blackburn with Darwen is also among the areas in England recording a rising number of variant cases.

How big a threat does the Indian variant pose?

There is evidence that B.1.617.2 may be more transmissible than the Kent variant that emerged last year in the UK – but scientists aren’t sure by how much.

Speaking at a press briefing earlier this week, deputy chief medical officerJonathan Van-Tam said that most scientists believe the Indian variant to be less than 50 per cent more virulent than the one first detected in Kent.

There are cases in several parts of the UK, with new infections being confirmed each day – so it is likely that combined with its higher level of transmissibility, it could become the UK’s dominant strain.

Fortunately, scientists are optimistic that existing vaccines are effective against the Indian variant, with the health secretary, Matt Hancock, saying that early tests from Oxford University offer a “high degree of confidence” that the jabs offer protection against B.1.617.2.

More than 37 million people – some 70 per cent of the UK’s adult population – have now had a first vaccine dose, and 21 million have received both shots.

Will it mean a third wave?

Despite the protection offered by vaccines, some experts believe that the variant could result in the UK being hit by a third coronavirus wave.

Prof Andrew Hayward, an expert in infectious disease at University College London, said he thinks the UK could already be at the start of a third wave due to the variant.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Thursday, Prof Hayward, who is a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said: “Obviously we’re doing everything we can to contain the spread of that but it’s likely that more generalised measures may start to be needed to control it.”

But he said the scale of the problem posed by the variant is larger than others the UK has dealt with so far.

“Previously, we’ve been able to halt the spread of some other variants through localised like surge testing, but the scale of this is different and the number of places affected is different and the number of cases is different and the speed of increase is different,” he said.

Prof Hayward said he had a “hunch” that B.1.617.2 was going to become “the dominant strain across the country, maybe even across the world”, adding that it was “a race against the vaccine and the virus“ in which “the virus just got faster”.

Will the end of lockdown be delayed?

It remains to be seen whether the final roadmap phase will be delayed – but the government has repeatedly stressed over the last week that it is a real possibility.

The prime minister’s spokesperson added on Monday that the government cannot yet be definitive about restrictions being ended on 21 June, reinforcing Mr Johnson’s point last Friday that the variant could cause “serious disruption” to the roadmap plans.

Mr Hancock confirmed on Wednesday that the government will announce on 14 June whether the next phase of unlocking on 21 June will go forward.

The Independent, May 21, 2021

Image Ownership the Independent

Why Iran’s election boycott will be unprecedented this time around Amnesty International named one of Cuba's leading dissidents a "prisoner of conscience"

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.