Early in the coronavirus pandemic, researchers stumbled on an unexpected finding: smokers seemed to be protected from COVID’s worst effects. Initially discovered on a review of hospitalised patients in China, this “smoker’s paradox” was later reported in studies from Italy and France. But it turns out that this wasn’t true,Continue Reading
GETTING the right Covid-19 tests to go abroad can cost British families thousands of pounds. Despite the relaxed rules around international travel, you may still need to take a series of PCR tests to prove you’re fit to fly and when you return to the UK. Alamy Holidaymakers need aContinue Reading
CASH-STRAPPED Brits have fewer Covid financial help schemes to apply for from today, but there is still support available. Families can still apply for tax relief, test and trace payments and a new Covid fund to help pay for essentials. There is help available if you’re worried about the endContinue Reading
COVID was leaked from a Wuhan lab in the “cover up of the century” that is “worse than Watergate”, former intelligence chiefs and diplomats have claimed. The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) – a high security facility specalising in coronaviruses – has been in the eye of the storm asContinue Reading
NiarKrad/Shutterstock Nearly half the world’s population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But figures vary widely between countries. Many low and middle-income countries have barely started their vaccination campaigns. But the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan isn’t one of them. By the end of July, itContinue Reading
Flotsam/Shuttestock It took a while to be officially recognised, but smell loss eventually became known to be one of the defining features of COVID-19. It’s now widely acknowledged that COVID-19 has a unique effect on smell receptors, and about 10% of those who lose their smell are still reporting problemsContinue Reading
Studio Romantic/Shutterstock In unvaccinated people, around one in 20 who get symptomatic COVID-19 experience symptoms for at least eight weeks. Around one in 50 have symptoms that drag out for three months or more. We wanted to know whether COVID-19 vaccines might protect against developing long-lasting symptoms. To find out,Continue Reading
Social media is awash with bogus COVID treatments. First, there was hydroxychloroquine, then bleach, followed hard on the heels by ivermectin – a cattle dewormer. The latest on the scene is povidone-iodine, an antiseptic. Some people have claimed on social media that gargling with iodine can prevent the spread andContinue Reading
The UK has become the latest country to offer COVID-19 vaccines to all children aged 12 to 15, following many others including France, Germany, the US, Canada and Japan. The UK government has said that parental consent will be sought for vaccinations, but that children can consent themselves (without parents)Continue Reading
Israel has been one of the focal points of the pandemic in 2021 owing to its rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. By late February, authorities had administered at least one dose to 50% of the population, with much of Israel’s immunisation programme using Pfizer vaccines. Society then in effect reopenedContinue Reading
