Severe COVID is equivalent to 20 years of ageing – new study

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Hyejin Kang Severe COVID results in cognitive impairment similar to that sustained between 50 and 70 years of age and is the equivalent of losing ten IQ points, our latest research shows. The effects are still detectable more than six months after the acute illness, and recovery is, at best, gradual. There is growing evidence that COVID can cause lasting cognitive and mental health problems, with recovered patients reporting symptoms including fatigue, “brain fog”, problems recalling words, sleep disturbances, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) months after infection. In the UK, a study found that around one in seven people surveyed reported having symptoms that included cognitive difficulties 12 weeks after a positive COVID test. And a recent brainContinue Reading

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A NEW Covid variant could be to blame for the mysterious hepatitis outbreak in children. Health chiefs have said it is one of their working theories, as they probe what is behind the surge in cases. Getty – Contributor A new Covid variant is one of the theories behind the rise in mystery hepatitis cases[/caption] The UK Health Security Agency has listed it as their fifth option on the list of “hypotheses” in a report from April 28. It includes “a drug, toxin or environmental exposure”, “novel variant adenovirus” or an increased susceptibility to normal adenovirus infections due to lockdown. In the latest report into the outbreak, the UKHSA said they had not yet found enough evidence of a newContinue Reading

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A MAJOR change to ‘stay a home’ Covid rules in Scotland has come into force today. The Scottish Government announced last week that new public health advice was coming for people who have tested positive for the virus, or for those who have symptoms. Splash Scots will no longer have to take a PCR test or self isolate[/caption] From today, people with symptoms or a positive test will no longer have to take a PCR test or self isolate. Instead, people will be asked to stay at home until their fever has gone or if until they feel well enough to carry out normal activities. The new rule change will also see all contact tracing come to an end. TestingContinue Reading

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A SALES manager skipped her way to financial freedom after being furloughed during the first lockdown. Lauren Flyman, known online as Lauren Jumps, used to have to watch her cash when she worked nine-to-five – but now she’s raking it in making a living with a skipping rope. Lauren Flymen / @lauren.jumps Lauren Flymen – known as Lauren Jumps online – is a full-time jump rope content creator[/caption] Lauren Flymen / @lauren.jumps The 30-year-old was furloughed during the first lockdown and now makes a living online[/caption] lauren.jumps She regularly posts videos of herself doing skipping tricks[/caption] Lauren, 30, spends six hours a week physically skipping – and the rest of her time choreographing routines and building her brand on socialContinue Reading

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A FURTHER 19,795 people have tested positive for coronavirus today, new data has revealed. One in 18 people in the UK currently have the bug, but infections have fallen in all four nations for the first time since January. A further 284 deaths were reported today, 28 days after a positive coronavirus test. It’s the first time in over a week and a half that deaths have been under 300-a-day. Cases have plummeted in the UK and fresh statistics from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), showed that the crucial R rate has also fallen. It’s currently between 0.9 to 1.1, a fall from two weeks ago when the range was between 1.1. to 1.2. Read more on Covid-19 LONGESTContinue Reading

Effect of lockdowns on birth rates in the UK

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Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock Many wondered whether the COVID lockdowns would lead to a baby boom or a bust. We finally have some answers – for the UK, at least. Broadly, provisional data from the Office for National Statistics suggests there was a temporary decline in babies conceived during the first three months of the first lockdown in 2020, but then the fertility rate rebounded to levels above those seen in previous years. Let’s take a closer look. Read more: COVID-19 pandemic may produce dramatic changes in life expectancy, birth rates and immigration The earliest we would have expected COVID to affect people’s decisions to become pregnant would have been February 2020, influencing births on average from November 2020. In theContinue Reading

The Valneva COVID vaccine has been approved for use in the UK – here's what the evidence says

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Jacob Lund/Shutterstock The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a new COVID vaccine. VLA2001 is manufactured by French pharmaceutical company Valneva for use in the UK and was approved on April 14 for use in adults between the ages of 18 and 50 for first and second doses. The Valneva vaccine is the sixth COVID vaccine to be approved in the UK. But it’s the first whole-virus inactivated COVID-19 vaccine to gain MHRA approval. These types of vaccines are based on viruses grown in tissue culture before being chemically inactivated. An inactivated version of a whole virus (in this case SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19) cannot replicate or cause disease, but teaches the immune systemContinue Reading

Hepatitis cases are increasing among children in the UK – could COVID have a role to play?

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Beenicebeelove/Shutterstock There has been a sharp increase in severe hepatitis cases among children under ten in the UK over recent months. The UK Health Security Agency has been informed of 74 cases since January 2022, with 49 of these in England, 13 in Scotland and the remaining 12 spread between Wales and Northern Ireland. Other isolated cases of severe acute hepatitis in children have been identified in the US, Spain and Ireland. Severe hepatitis in children is very rare and we don’t yet know what’s causing this highly unusual rise in cases. The leading theory is that it’s some kind of viral infection, perhaps even SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But how likely is it that these hepatitis casesContinue Reading

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SICKENING footage appears to show cops in Shanghai stuffing dozens of live cats in bags to be slaughtered under the world’s strictest lockdown. The distressing clip shows nine big rubbish bags placed on the side of the road, as the cats inside can be seen moving. Twitter The clip shows dozens of cats in bags[/caption] Twitter The cats are reportedly set to be slaughtered[/caption] The disturbing video was shared on Twitter with the caption: “26 million people in lockdown in Shanghai. “People are committing suicide from their balconies and Pets from people getting tested positive for #Covid are being collected to be killed and slaughtered in #Shanghai / #China This is pure evil!” It comes as earlier this week aContinue Reading

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COPS in hazmat suits seized Chinese homes to use as Covid isolation units as the world’s strictest lockdown continues. Shocking footage has emerged showing police in Shanghai clashing with residents over the harsh coronavirus measures. SCMP A man is seen with his arms raised before being led away by cops[/caption] SCMP Shanghai cops wrestle with a protestor[/caption] SCMP Cops in white hazmat suits are met with protestors from the Shanghai housing complex[/caption] SCMP Cops lead a man away during the protest[/caption] Screaming and shouting can be heard as a large number of cops in white hazmat gear order residents at a housing complex about. A man with his arms raised, as if surrendering, can be seen being forcibly led awayContinue Reading