Haven't had COVID yet? It could be more than just luck

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I Wei Huang/Shutterstock We all know a few of those lucky people who, somehow, have managed to avoid ever catching COVID. Perhaps you’re one of them. Is this a Marvel-esque superpower? Is there any scientific reason why a person might be resistant to becoming infected, when the virus seems to be everywhere? Or is it simply luck? More than 60% of people in the UK have tested positive for COVID at least once. However, the number of people who have actually been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is thought to be higher. The calculated rate of asymptomatic infections varies depending on the study, though most agree it’s fairly common. But even taking into account people who haveContinue Reading

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COVID boffin Jonathan Van-Tam missed out on his knighthood ceremony — after catching the virus. The popular professor, known as JVT, could not make Tuesday’s event to make him a Sir because he was isolating at home. Covid boffin Jonathan Van-Tam missed out on his knighthood ceremony — after catching the virus The straight-talking deputy chief medical officer, 58 — a famous face thanks to his lockdown TV appearances — tested positive last week. It was tough luck for the medic as Covid cases are at their lowest in five months. He said: “This shows us that, much as we’d all like to think this pandemic is over and Covid has gone away, it hasn’t.” And football-loving JVT said oneContinue Reading

The Conversation

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The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020. But it’s only in recent days, in May 2022, that the secretive Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) has reported its first confirmed cases of the virus. While it may seem somewhat astounding that a country has managed to get so far into the pandemic without an outbreak, North Korea has reportedly had its borders sealed since January 2020, with no movement in or out of the country. So it is plausible that they’ve had no COVID until now. But now, the country, which has a population of roughly 26 million people, looks to be facing a very sizeable and rapidly-spreading outbreak of the omicron variant. As ofContinue Reading

Children's physical activity dropped during COVID lockdowns but didn't bounce back – new UK research

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matimix/Shutterstock During the COVID pandemic, lockdowns and school closures brought about significant changes to children’s opportunities to be active. While the precise rules varied around the world, most countries experienced some level of restrictions for a time. Unsurprisingly, when everything is closed and the guidance is to stay at home where possible, activity levels go down. For children, when schools are closed, there’s no walking or cycling to school, no physical education lessons, no playing in the playground and no clubs after school. Where their access to parks and play areas is restricted, and when sports clubs and facilities are closed, kids lose further opportunities to be active. So it’s not surprising that evidence from around the world shows childrenContinue Reading

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BRITAIN should “reopen” the debate on fixed penalty notices after thousands were dished out during Covid lockdowns, a Cabinet minister says. Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Sun that the fines “reverse the traditional British burden of proof” as they assume guilt rather than innocence. Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Sun that Britain should ‘reopen’ the debate on fixed penalty notices It comes after 100 fines were issued to Downing Street lockdown breakers last week, and Sir Keir Starmer said he would resign if handed one over his Durham beer and curry knees up. FPNs were first brought in during the 1980s to deal with minor traffic offences but are now used to deal with a raft of other petty crimes. Mr Rees-MoggContinue Reading

Four strange COVID symptoms you might not have heard about

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ShotPrime Studio/Shutterstock Well over two years into the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of COVID cases continue to be recorded around the world every day. With the rise of new variants, the symptoms of COVID have also evolved. Initially, the NHS regarded a fever, cough, and loss or change in sense of smell or taste as the main symptoms which could indicate COVID infection. Now, recently updated NHS guidance suggests also looking out for symptoms including a sore throat, blocked or runny nose, and a headache. But what about some of the more obscure signs and symptoms? From skin lesions to hearing loss, emerging data is increasingly showing us that COVID symptoms can go beyond what you might expect from aContinue Reading

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THE Coronavirus was first detected in the United States back in January 2020, causing a pandemic just a few months later. Now, the US has seen over one million deaths with no end in sight. AP President Joe Biden ordered flags half-mast on May 13, 2022[/caption] Why are flags at half mast today? In honor of those who have lost their lives because of the Covid-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden has ordered federal flags to fly at half-mast. “Today, we mark a tragic milestone: one million American lives lost to Covid-19. One million empty chairs around the dinner table. Each an irreplaceable loss,” the president said in a statement. “Jill and I pray for each of them.” The president then ordered flagsContinue Reading

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DOCTORS have discovered the symptoms of Covid that can last for two years or more.  Their research has shown that half of patients admitted to hospital are still likely to have at least one persistent problem two years later. Alamy The symptoms most likely to stick two years after Covid infection have been revealed[/caption] The study, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, has the longest follow-up period of patients to date.  Researchers are only able to analyse what symptoms exist after two years given the coronavirus emerged in late 2019. So it’s possible problems like fatigue and anxiety could stick around even longer. Lead author Professor Bin Cao, of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, China, said: “Our findings indicate that forContinue Reading

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THE worst performing secondary schools in England according to Ofsted have been revealed – is yours on the list? Schools across the country have been facing unprecedented pressures recently as they have had to contend with the Covid pandemic and some have found this harder than others. Alamy Schools are recovering from the Covid pandemic but some are doing better than others[/caption] The government’s education watchdog Ofsted said in a report this week that while schools were making good progress in their recovery some still faced challenges which could have longer-term consequences. For some schools, the Covid pandemic came at an already critical time as teachers battled to raise standards after a critical Ofsted inspection. According to Ofsted’s grading systemContinue Reading

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SIR Keir Starmer WILL be investigated by police over his Beergate lockdown scandal after “significant new information” came to light. Cops today finally announced a probe into the Labour leader’s suspicious beer and curry bash in April 2021 amid mounting pressure. Sir Keir Starmer today after discovering he’s facing a police investigation over ‘beergate’Getty The Labour leader was snapped clutching a bottle of San Miguel If fined he will come under enormous pressure to quit after demanding Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak resign for their fixed penalty notices. Sir Keir swigged lager and ordered £200 of Indian takeaway in Durham last year during the local elections despite a ban on indoor socialising. He has insisted no rules were broken asContinue Reading