The ongoing coronavirus situation is changing by the hour with announcements being made about businesses and services that are being forced to adapt and change.

Punchline is committed to trying to keep you up to date with all the news that matters to you and your business.

Our team will update this story throughout the day, to ensure the latest important developments can be found in one - clickbait free - place.

If you or your business has any news, views or advice to share with the Gloucestershire business community, get in touch with Punchline team at news@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk.

Friday, July 30

Update #8843 - 10.48 BA parent company IAG has further losses 

The parent company of airline British Airways, International Airlines Group (IAG) who also own Aer Lingus and Iberia has announced today losses of €2 billion in the first half of the year, which is roughly £1.7 billion.

The airline industry has been severely affected by the covid pandemic. 

Shares in the firm were down 3.8 per cent this morning. The company's whole fleet of airlines flew at a combined capacity of 21.9 per cent in the second quarter.

On a positive note, these losses are half of the losses they made in the same period of 2020. Compared to 2019, pre-pandemic, capacity levels on all IAG routes are down 84 per cent.

Update #8842 - 10.32 Up to 1.6 million still on furlough

Between 1.1 and 1.6 million people are still on full or partial furlough, as tax payer funded support for the scheme is going to be eased again soon.

This amounts to around 5 per cent of the workforce, says the Office for National Statistics. 

This is down from 1.9 million on the job retention scheme at the end of June.

Update #8841- 10.09 Pingdemic affecting supermarket dairy supplies

Milk supplier Arla has said that the lorry driver crisis is affecting its delivery of dairy to supermarkets. It is having to cut back on deliveries.

The Road Haulage Association believes there is a current shortage of around 100,000 lorry drivers. The BBC spoke to the Arla UK managing director, Ash Amirahmadi. Normally Arla supply to 2,400 shops daily.

"Last Saturday, there were 600 stores that we couldn't deliver milk to," Amirahmandi said.

Update #8840 - 09.53 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 129,515 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 85 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 31,117 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hour period and 5,801,561 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 46,733,115 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of July 27 and 37,782,252 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic sits at 33,571, as of Thursday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive remained at 927.

Cases for the latest 24 hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 9,408 cases (increase of 67)

Cheltenham - 5,969 cases (increase of 44)

Stroud - 5,567 cases (increase of 47)

Tewkesbury - 4,583 cases (increase of 42)

Forest of Dean - 4,300 cases (increase of 24)

Cotswold - 3,744 cases (increase of 17)

Thursday, July 29

Update #8839 - 10.00 Pfizer sales boosted by Covid jab

US drug firm Pfizer has predicted sales in excess of £24 billion for the Covid jab which it developed with Bioentech.

British pharmaceutical firm GlaxosmithKline (GSK), meanwhile, which did not bring a shot to market has posted a seven per cent fall in half year revenue to £15.5 billion, with a fall in profits to £3 billion.

Moderna has taken in £14 billion and Johnson & Johnson £1.8 billion.

GSK's usual vaccine business worth £7 billion has been affected as countries prioritised the Covid jab over other inoculation programmes.

Update #8838 - 9.45 Employers' contribution to furlough increases this weekend

The Government's furlough scheme winds down a further notch this Sunday with the start of August.

Employers will be expected to make a bigger contribution to the wages of workers who have been sent home during the Covid disruption.

Under the scheme, workers staying at home get 80% of wages. From 1st July the Government has contributed a reduced 70% with employers making up the shortfall. From 1st August this is reduced to 60%.

The scheme ends altogether on 30th September. It has cost the taxpayer nearly £50 billion but has prevented largescale job losses. Nevertheless, there are fears of a spike when it is withdrawn completely.

Update #8837 - 08.33 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 129,430 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 91 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 27,734 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hour period and 5,770,928 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 46,689,242 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of July 27 and 37,610,911 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic sits at 33,330, as of Wednesday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive rose to 927 - an increase of two on the day before.

Cases for the latest 24 hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 9,341 cases (increase of 81)

Cheltenham - 5,925 cases (increase of 74)

Stroud - 5,520 cases (increase of 40)

Tewkesbury - 4,541 cases (increase of 36)

Forest of Dean - 4,276 cases (increase of 34)

Cotswold - 3,727 cases (increase of 30)

Wednesday, July 28

Update #8836 - 12.30 Barclays posts 5 billion pound profit

Barclays bank has reported a trebling of its first half year profits to £5 billion.

Government intervention to support businesses and an improved market mean it can now release money that it set aside in the first part of the Covid disruption.

Like other banks, it had feared a large number of loan defaults which were avoided.

The bank now plans a new share buy-back of up to £500m.

Update #8835 - 12.15 Tesco offers £1,000 bonus for new drivers

Supermarket firm Tesco is offering lorry drivers a joining bonus of £1,000, as it bids to tackle the current shortage of qualified drivers which is affecting supply chains.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has estimated there is a 100,000 shortage of HGV drivers across the UK.

Meanwhile, rivals Morrisons is offering to pay the training costs for employees who want to retrain to obtain HGV qualification.

Some 30,000 HGV driving tests did not take place last year because of the Covid situation.

Many drivers have also been told to self-isolate in the so-called 'pingdemic' of alerts from the NHS Covid app, aggravating an already serious problem.

Update #8834 - 08.33 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 129,303 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 131 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 23,511 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hour period and 5,745,526 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 46,653,796 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of July 26 and 37,459,060 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic sits at 33,035, as of Tuesday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive test remains at 925.

Cases for the latest 24 hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 9,260 cases (increase of 60)

Cheltenham - 5,851 cases (increase of 27)

Stroud - 5,480 cases (increase of 29)

Tewkesbury - 4,505 cases (increase of 20)

Forest of Dean - 4,242 cases (increase of 14)

Cotswold - 3,697 cases (increase of 26)

Tuesday, July 27

Update #8833 - 08.40 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 129,172 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 14 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 24,950 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hour period and 5,722,298 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 46,589,211 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of July 25 and 37,287,384 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic sits at 32,859, as of Monday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive test remains at 925.

Cases for the latest 24 hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 9,200 cases (increase of 43)

Cheltenham - 5,824 cases (increase of 40)

Stroud - 5,451 cases (increase of 39)

Tewkesbury - 4,485 cases (increase of 33)

Forest of Dean - 4,228 cases (increase of 11)

Cotswold - 3,671 cases (increase of 19)

Monday, July 26

Update #8832- 12.10 2021 not looking good for Heathrow Airport

Heathrow airport is predicting fewer passenger numbers this year than 2020 due to the traffic light travel system and the expensive restrictions including quarantine hotels and PCR testing.

The aiport's results from the first half of the year include losses of £2.9bn as the travel and airline industry has been severely affected by the covid pandemic.

The passenger numbers Heathrow has seen from Janaury-June this year, it would normally have been able to reach in just 18 days of 2019.

The travel hub believes 21.5 million passengers will set foot in its airport this year, a number that is down from the 22.1 million in 2020 and 90 million in 2019.

Update #8831 - 10.24 Demand for flexible office space up 48 per cent

Flexible office specialist Workthere has reported that is has seen UK enquiries for flexible office space increase 48 per cent on pre-Covid levels.

When anaylsing where demand is coming from in H121, Workthere found that those individuals previously working from home, but were now seeking a co-working desk or private office, accounted for 22 per cent. This figure eclipses groups that had seen a larger share of enquiries in previous years such as lease expiries and new business.

This rise in demand is also supported by a growth in positive sentiment, with Workthere's latest survey showing that 79 per cent of respondents are optimistic about the next three months and 100 per cent are optimistic about the sector for the next 12 months.

Jack Williamson, head of Workthere UK said: "The strong increase in both the demand levels that we have seen at Workthere and sentiment support the trend we expected to see as we ease out of restrictions and indicate renewed appetite for the sector.

The significant rise in demand also reflects the high proportion of pent-up demand that was waiting to move back into serviced office space having not renewed a contract during the pandemic." 

Update #8830 - 08.25 Latest coronavirus figures for the UK and Gloucestershire

The latest data for coronavirus cases and deaths of patients with COVID-19 were released yesterday by the Government's department of health and social care and NHS England.

Updated UK figures show the total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test rose to 129,158 - which includes those in care homes, hospitals and in the community.

This is an increase of 28 on the previous day's figures.

Across the UK, 29,731 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hour period and 5,697,912 since the outbreak began.

But on a more positive note, 46,563,452 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of July 24 and 37,160,659 have received their second dose.

Latest Public Health England figures show that the total number of cases within the county since the start of the pandemic sits at 32,674, as of Sunday afternoon.

The total number of deaths in Gloucestershire within 28 days of a positive test sits at 925.

Cases for the latest 24 hour period are split across the following regions:

Gloucester - 9,157 cases

Cheltenham - 5,784 cases

Stroud - 5,412 cases

Tewkesbury - 4,452 cases

Forest of Dean - 4,217 cases

Cotswold - 3,652 cases