The weekly sales growth of the fashion retailer H&M in the first half of 2020 was significantly lower than a year prior. The coronavirus pandemic, which emerged early 2020, has had drastic negative effects on businesses around the world. The same can be said for H&M Group, where starting week 12 of 2020, the weekly year-on-year sales growth was minus 65 percent. Beginning week 20, the weekly year-on-year sales growth began to slightly improve. Although by week 22, the sales growth was still at -34 percent compared to the year prior.

Coronavirus impact on the clothing industry

The clothing and retail industry is one of the worst impacted industries due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Europe, production of clothing units in 2020 was down 37.4 percent compared to the year prior. Furthermore, retail sales of clothing were down 43.5 percent in Q2 2020 compared to the same period a year prior. Similar negative trends were observed in other metrics such as turnover from clothing businesses.

Attitudes towards the fashion industry

The coronavirus pandemic has given clothing and fashion consumers time to reflect on the fashion industry’s negative social and environmental impacts. In an April 2020 survey, 83 percent of UK consumers agreed that ‘clothing should be designed to last longer and be repairable’ and that ‘fewer plastics should be used in the production of clothing’. Similarly, consumers in Germany believed that the fashion industry had the responsibility to reduce their negative impact on the environment.

The objective of this research is to obtain a good picture of the societal effects of the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and how the outbreak is handled in the Netherlands. The study contains questions that are also fielded in similar panels in Germany and in the United States so that a comparison is possible.
Suggestions for data usage: The data files are accessible via Centerdata. For more information, please use the link under Relations or www.lissdata.nl.

Willingness, beliefs, and awareness towards COVID-19 vaccine among Latinos.

Debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, el ejercicio 2020 supuso el fin de la tendencia creciente que venía experimentado H&M durante todo el periodo de estudio y que le había llevado a contar con cerca de 5.080 tiendas operativas a cierre de su año fiscal 2019. En los años siguientes se mantuvo este decrecimiento y a 30 de noviembre de 2024, el número se había reducido a 4.253

Over 150,000 sexual offences were recorded by police in year ending March 2020 (ONS, 2020), and there are indications that the Covid-19 lockdown increased some sexual offences (e.g. online -facilitated abuse, or sexual abuse perpetrated by family members) and decreased others (e.g. assaults by strangers/peers). However, there has been no research into the specific effects of Covid-19 on criminal justice system (CJS) policies and practices relating to sexual offences, nor on the journeys of survivors through the CJS during this period. Prior to the pandemic, there were significant challenges for the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences and conviction rates were extremely low. Some of these challenges may well have been exacerbated by Covid-19 and lockdown e.g. further delays to investigating cases, postponement of Achieving Best Evidence interviews. At the same time, however, Covid-19 has generated significant innovation within the CJS, e.g. the introduction of a video platform within the courts enabling all parties in a criminal hearing to engage securely and remotely, and this may sow the seeds for improvement in survivors’ journeys through the CJS.

Drawing on the perspectives and experiences of CJS stakeholders, including complainants and families, police, Crown Prosecution Service, HM Courts and Tribunals Services, the Judiciary, Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, this project provide unique insights into the impact of the pandemic on the CJS in sexual offence cases. The data shared here is based on 72 interviews conducted with survivors/family members, and professionals from the police, SARCs and the third sector. The findings identify how the pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges, posed new difficulties, and provoked innovations that could improve the experiences of victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse.

Over 150,000 sexual offences were recorded by the police in the year ending March 2020 (ONS, 2020), and there are indications that lockdown increased some sexual offences (e.g. online-facilitated abuse, sexual abuse perpetrated by family members) and decreased others (e.g. assaults by strangers/peers). However, there has been no research into the specific effects of Covid-19 on criminal justice system (CJS) policies and practices relating to sexual offences, nor on the journeys of survivors through the CJS during this period.

Prior to the pandemic, there were significant challenges for the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences and conviction rates were extremely low. Some of these challenges may well have been exacerbated by Covid-19 and lockdown e.g. further delays to investigating cases, postponement of Achieving Best Evidence interviews. At the same time, however, Covid-19 has generated significant innovation within the CJS e.g. the introduction of a video platform within the courts enabling all parties in a criminal hearing to engage securely and remotely, and this may sow the seeds for improvement in survivors' journeys through the CJS.

Drawing on the perspectives and experiences of CJS stakeholders, including complainants and families, police, Crown Prosecution Service, HM Courts and Tribunals Services, the Judiciary, Sexual Assault Referral Centres, and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, this research will provide unique insights into the impact of the pandemic on the CJS in sexual offence cases. Changes to procedures precipitated by Covid-19 might offer longer-term benefits for survivors and stakeholders and we aim to identify these and promote their implementation.

The COVID-19 situation in Brazil is complex due to large differences in the shape and size of regional epidemics. Here we tested monthly blood donation samples for IgG antibodies from March 2020 to March 2021 in eight of Brazil's most populous cities. The inferred attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 adjusted for seroreversion in December 2020, before the Gamma VOC was dominant, ranged from 19.3% (95% CrI 17.5% - 21.2%) in Curitiba to 75.0% (95% CrI 70.8% - 80.3%) in Manaus. Seroprevalence was consistently smaller in women and donors older than 55 years. The age-specific infection fatality rate (IFR) differed between cities and consistently increased with age. The infection hospitalisation rate (IHR) increased significantly during the Gamma-dominated second wave in Manaus, suggesting increased morbidity of the Gamma VOC compared to previous variants circulating in Manaus. The higher disease penetrance associated with the health system's collapse increased the overall IFR by a minimum factor of 2.91 (95% CrI 2.43 – 3.53). These results highlight the utility of blood donor serosurveillance to track epidemic maturity and demonstrate demographic and spatial heterogeneity in SARS-CoV-2 spread.

Esta estadística desglosa por áreas geográficas los nuevos cierres de H&M durante el ejercicio de 2021. En un año todavía marcado por la pandemia de COVID-19, la firma sueca cerró un total de 217 establecimientos. Destacó especialmente Europa y África, regiónes en las que se registraron más de 140 cierres de tiendas de alguna de las marcas de la empresa sueca.

Contexte La lutte contre l’épidémie de Covid-19 se déploie sur plusieurs fronts. Dans le domaine du soin, cette lutte ne passe pas seulement par des avancées thérapeutiques, mais aussi par une meilleure prise en charge des personnes atteintes. Les objectifs sont d’identifier, à partir de l’expérience des patients hospitalisés au pôle Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales de l’AP-HM et au service infectiologie du CHU de Nice pour la Covid-19, leur parcours de soins préhospitalier, caractériser leurs prises en charge ambulatoire et identifier les axes d’amélioration pour la prise en charge des patients atteints de la Covid-19. Population cible Ensemble des patients hospitalisés pour Covid-19 entre le 1er septembre 2020 et le 31 Mai 2021 au pôle Maladies infectieuses et Tropicales du CHU de Marseille et dans le service infectiologie du CHU de Nice. Méthode Enquête transversale réalisée par e-questionnaire entre le 17 mai et le 2 juillet 2022. Les numéros de téléphone (ou les adresses électroniques si elles n'étaient pas disponibles) de l’ensemble des patients éligibles à l’enquête ont été extraits des dossiers médicaux des patients. Un message texte (ou email) a été envoyé pour les inviter à participer à l'enquête. Un entretien téléphonique a également été proposé aux patients dont l'état de santé aurait pu les empêcher de répondre à un questionnaire en ligne. Taille de l'échantillon et taux de réponse Un numéro de téléphone a été récupéré pour 2608 patients sur les 3259 patients éligibles. Parmi les 2608 patients contactés, 10 ont refusé de participer à l'étude et 944 ont fourni une adresse électronique valide pour recevoir le lien vers le e-questionnaire. Sur ces 944 patients, 312 ont répondu au questionnaire en ligne. Background This study is one of the first to use patients’ experiences to describe and interpret all the events structuring primary (i.e., pre-hospital) care pathways in persons hospitalized (i.e., consulting in an emergency department and then either discharged or transferred to a hospital department) for COVID-19 in France during the pandemic’s first wave. Design and study population Cross-sectional online survey between May 17th and July 2nd 2022. It targeted patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between September 2020 and May 2021 in the IHU and CHU. These two hospital departments are located in the University Hospitals of Marseille and Nice, respectively, in southeastern mainland France. All patients were eligible irrespective of their mode of entry to the hospitals. Patients who died before the start of the survey were excluded. Because we anticipated a relatively low response rate, we did not apply any sampling to our target population. A phone interview was also proposed to patients whose physical condition might have hampered their ability to respond to the online questionnaire. Sample size and response rate A phone number was retrieved for 2608 of the 3,259 eligible patients. The former were asked to provide their email address if they wished to participate. Of the 944 who provided a valid email address to receive the link to the online questionnaire, 312 answered the survey.

La pandemia de COVID-19 marcó el año 2020 y afectó considerablemente a los diferentes sectores del mercado. Así, no sorprende que el grupo sueco Hennes & Mauritz tuviera un beneficio después de impuestos de apenas 122,5 millones de euros en el ejercicio 2020 frente a los cerca de 1.300 millones que registró durante el eño fiscal anterior. Sin embargo, en 2021, con la campaña de vacunación y el levantamiento de muchas restricciones, la situación empezó a mejorar hasta el punto que la empresa registró, a cierre del ejercicio, unos beneficios superiores a los 1.300 millones de euros. Esta situación no se repitió en 2022, con un considerable decrecimiento de los beneficios, pero sí lo hizo en 2023 y 2024. Y es que las ganancias de H&M en ese último año se situaron en torno a los 1.030 millones de euros.

South Korea Electronic Payments: Value: Payment Gateway: Others data was reported at 37,357.000 KRW hm in Dec 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 32,495.000 KRW hm for Sep 2019. South Korea Electronic Payments: Value: Payment Gateway: Others data is updated quarterly, averaging 3,352.000 KRW hm from Dec 2009 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37,357.000 KRW hm in Dec 2019 and a record low of 1,501.000 KRW hm in Jun 2010. South Korea Electronic Payments: Value: Payment Gateway: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The Bank of Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.KA020: Electronic Banking Statistics. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Data for CDC’s COVID Data Tracker site on Rates of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Vaccination Status. Click 'More' for important dataset description and footnotes

Dataset and data visualization details: These data were posted on October 21, 2022, archived on November 18, 2022, and revised on February 22, 2023. These data reflect cases among persons with a positive specimen collection date through September 24, 2022, and deaths among persons with a positive specimen collection date through September 3, 2022.

Vaccination status: A person vaccinated with a primary series had SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen detected on a respiratory specimen collected ≥14 days after verifiably completing the primary series of an FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. An unvaccinated person had SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen detected on a respiratory specimen and has not been verified to have received COVID-19 vaccine. Excluded were partially vaccinated people who received at least one FDA-authorized vaccine dose but did not complete a primary series ≥14 days before collection of a specimen where SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen was detected. Additional or booster dose: A person vaccinated with a primary series and an additional or booster dose had SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen detected on a respiratory specimen collected ≥14 days after receipt of an additional or booster dose of any COVID-19 vaccine on or after August 13, 2021. For people ages 18 years and older, data are graphed starting the week including September 24, 2021, when a COVID-19 booster dose was first recommended by CDC for adults 65+ years old and people in certain populations and high risk occupational and institutional settings. For people ages 12-17 years, data are graphed starting the week of December 26, 2021, 2 weeks after the first recommendation for a booster dose for adolescents ages 16-17 years. For people ages 5-11 years, data are included starting the week of June 5, 2022, 2 weeks after the first recommendation for a booster dose for children aged 5-11 years. For people ages 50 years and older, data on second booster doses are graphed starting the week including March 29, 2022, when the recommendation was made for second boosters. Vertical lines represent dates when changes occurred in U.S. policy for COVID-19 vaccination (details provided above). Reporting is by primary series vaccine type rather than additional or booster dose vaccine type. The booster dose vaccine type may be different than the primary series vaccine type. ** Because data on the immune status of cases and associated deaths are unavailable, an additional dose in an immunocompromised person cannot be distinguished from a booster dose. This is a relevant consideration because vaccines can be less effective in this group. Deaths: A COVID-19–associated death occurred in a person with a documented COVID-19 diagnosis who died; health department staff reviewed to make a determination using vital records, public health investigation, or other data sources. Rates of COVID-19 deaths by vaccination status are reported based on when the patient was tested for COVID-19, not the date they died. Deaths usually occur up to 30 days after COVID-19 diagnosis. Participating jurisdictions: Currently, these 31 health departments that regularly link their case surveillance to immunization information system data are included in these incidence rate estimates: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, New York City (New York), North Carolina, Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia; 30 jurisdictions also report deaths among vaccinated and unvaccinated people. These jurisdictions represent 72% of the total U.S. population and all ten of the Health and Human Services Regions. Data on cases among people who received additional or booster doses were reported from 31 jurisdictions; 30 jurisdictions also reported data on deaths among people who received one or more additional or booster dose; 28 jurisdictions reported cases among people who received two or more additional or booster doses; and 26 jurisdictions reported deaths among people who received two or more additional or booster doses. This list will be updated as more jurisdictions participate. Incidence rate estimates: Weekly age-specific incidence rates by vaccination status were calculated as the number of cases or deaths divided by the number of people vaccinated with a primary series, overall or with/without a booster dose (cumulative) or unvaccinated (obtained by subtracting the cumulative number of people vaccinated with a primary series and partially vaccinated people from the 2019 U.S. intercensal population estimates) and multiplied by 100,000. Overall incidence rates were age-standardized using the 2000 U.S. Census standard population. To estimate population counts for ages 6 months through 1 year, half of the single-year population counts for ages 0 through 1 year were used. All rates are plotted by positive specimen collection date to reflect when incident infections occurred. For the primary series analysis, age-standardized rates include ages 12 years and older from April 4, 2021 through December 4, 2021, ages 5 years and older from December 5, 2021 through July 30, 2022 and ages 6 months and older from July 31, 2022 onwards. For the booster dose analysis, age-standardized rates include ages 18 years and older from September 19, 2021 through December 25, 2021, ages 12 years and older from December 26, 2021, and ages 5 years and older from June 5, 2022 onwards. Small numbers could contribute to less precision when calculating death rates among some groups. Continuity correction: A continuity correction has been applied to the denominators by capping the percent population coverage at 95%. To do this, we assumed that at least 5% of each age group would always be unvaccinated in each jurisdiction. Adding this correction ensures that there is always a reasonable denominator for the unvaccinated population that would prevent incidence and death rates from growing unrealistically large due to potential overestimates of vaccination coverage. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs): IRRs for the past one month were calculated by dividing the average weekly incidence rates among unvaccinated people by that among people vaccinated with a primary series either overall or with a booster dose. Publications: Scobie HM, Johnson AG, Suthar AB, et al. Monitoring Incidence of COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, by Vaccination Status — 13 U.S. Jurisdictions, April 4–July 17, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:1284–1290. Johnson AG, Amin AB, Ali AR, et al. COVID-19 Incidence and Death Rates Among Unvaccinated and Fully Vaccinated Adults with and Without Booster Doses During Periods of Delta and Omicron Variant Emergence — 25 U.S. Jurisdictions, April 4–December 25, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:132–138. Johnson AG, Linde L, Ali AR, et al. COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality Among Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Persons Aged ≥12 Years by Receipt of Bivalent Booster Doses and Time Since Vaccination — 24 U.S. Jurisdictions, October 3, 2021–December 24, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:145–152. Johnson AG, Linde L, Payne AB, et al. Notes from the Field: Comparison of COVID-19 Mortality Rates Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years Who Were Unvaccinated and Those Who Received a Bivalent Booster Dose Within the Preceding 6 Months — 20 U.S. Jurisdictions, September 18, 2022–April 1, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:667–669.

In response to the extensive economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom's Government created a range of measures to help support businesses survive the loss in revenues and cashflow. To help mid-sized and larger enterprises with a group turnover of more than 45 million British pounds, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) was set up.

The scheme operates through the British Business Bank via accredited lenders, which can provide up to 200 million British pounds in finance. These lenders can then provide finance in the form of term loans, revolving credit facilities (overdrafts), invoice finance and asset finance. For term loans and revolving credit facilities, finance that could be offered was increased from 50 million GBP after an announcement by HM Treasury on the 19th of May 2020.

Between the 10th of May, 2020 and the 31st of May, 2021, the cumulative number of approved facilities through the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) in the United Kingdom (UK) has amounted to 753 at a cumulative value of more than 5.6 billion British pounds.