Roundup

‌The week in summary, delivered straight to your inbox.

What's new this week?

Dear Reader,

This week we've been busy pulling together the latest news and topics of interest for our new weekly letter. Here's what you might have missed.

Updates come at us daily, if not about the dreaded 'B' word, then certainly about the 'C'. Gibraltar has surely been through a colourful few months, but as always we pull through as a community with determination and reserve.

The framework for an 'In-Principle' Agreement regarding Gibraltar's future relationship with the EU came through at the eleventh hour on New Year's Eve, signalling the end of an era and the start of something new. Once the Agreement is in place, under Schengen acquis we will no longer pass through a land border to travel to Spain for our weekend jaunts; instead we will be afforded unrestricted movement through all Schengen areas, with our current air and sea ports as new EU frontiers.

We find ourselves once again in lockdown, though hopefully not for as long a period as the last. Saturday saw the arrival of the new Pfizer vaccine, and with it a sigh of relief that we are finally coming out the other side of the year-long pandemic.

What lays beyond that remains to be seen, but if one thing is for certain, we come practised and prepared!

COVID stats →

967 active cases. 66 new cases today. 99 individuals recovered since yesterday. 39 individuals in Covid wards. 11 in ICU. 9 on ventilators. 30 deaths. 4187 individuals have received the vaccine.

Restrictions →

At present we are in lockdown with a ‘Major Incident’ status. Leaving the home is permitted only for work (where working from home is not possible), to exercise, medical reasons, or to shop for essentials. There is a Gibraltar-wide curfew of 10pm. Non-essential retail remains closed (although some businesses are offering home delivery). Travelling by car is only permitted for the purposes of travel to work or for essential matters such as shopping for food.

Schools →

The start of the school term has been postponed to February 1st. St Martin’s School may open much sooner. This will be reviewed every week by the Minister for Education, Department of Education and NASUWT following Public Health recommendations. Exams will not take place this year.

Business →

A series of Business Employee Assistance Terms (BEAT) measures were recently announced to help combat the effects of the ongoing pandemic on local businesses. Businesses are hoped and expected to reopen before the 31st January.

Flights →

Flights will be greatly reduced during lockdown in both the UK and Gibraltar, but they will still operate. British Airways will be operating one service per week from London Heathrow on Saturdays, with EasyJet operating one service per week from London Gatwick on Fridays. This will be revised as lockdowns develop. All international arrivals (including UK nationals) to England will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure as from 4am 18 January 2021.

£ $ ₿ →

The pound hit its highest level against the dollar for 2020 on the final day of the year. The pound has been slowly but steadily strengthening since the destabilisation brought on by last March’s lockdown, with a rise of 0.4% to $1.3675, and 0.5% to €1.1135. Bitcoin also hit a milestone, reaching as high as $41,973 last week. However, this week, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies plummeted, wiping around $200 billion off the cryptocurrency market.

COVID Vaccines

The RAF delivered 6000 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on the 9th of January, signalling the start of the end of the past tumultuous 10 months.

4,187 individuals have now received the vaccine, comprising 1,215 front line staff, 437 ERS frontline staff, 2535 over 70s, ERS residents, and hospital patients. Read more →

A Post-Brexit Deal

Under an extended application of the Schengen legislation to include Gibraltar, Gibraltarians and certain other citizens living in Gibraltar will be afforded freedom of movement into Spain and other Schengen areas. This is a positive step away from what could have been a hard border. Read more →

Independent Monitoring Authority

An independent public body set to protect the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens in the UK and Gibraltar was formed on 31 December 2020. The IMA, of which ISOLAS’ Marcus Killick is a non-executive member, will monitor UK public bodies to make sure they implement the rights of these citizens and identify any underlying issues. Read more →

Latest News from ISOLAS LLP

See all →

By Sarah Bray,
Partner at ISOLAS LLP

Stamp Duty Frequently Asked Questions

Looking to purchase a property? Whether a first or second time buyer, Sarah answers some of the most common questions regarding the latest changes to stamp duty in Gibraltar.

Read more →

By Jonathan Garcia,
Partner at ISOLAS LLP

The Evolution
of Assets.

Asset classes continue to dominate the majority of investment conversations – but how have these changed over time? And what will they look like going forward? Jonathan explores

Read more →

Happy News

Because we could all do with a little reprieve after this week's news.

Arlo Clark, a 10-month-old boy who is partially deaf in both ears, was recently fitted with a hearing aid. In a video that's guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, little Arlo lets out a giggle as he hears his mother's voice for the first time.

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Watch the video →

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ISOLAS

15-01-21 Isolas Roundup - Covid stats, the rise and fall of Bitcoin, and the latest news.