Covid: UK variant appears to linger in body longer, as Boris Johnson urged to lift lockdown slowly
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Your support makes all the difference.Research has found the UK variant of the coronavirus appears to linger far longer in the body than other versions of the virus, potentially calling into question the government’s current self-isolating protocol.
Scientists from American universities, including Harvard and Yale, have discovered it takes the immune system almost 30 per cent longer to clear infection caused by the variant first detected in Kent, which is now dominant in the British population.
Separate research from Public Health England and the University of Birmingham has also shown the UK variant generates higher viral loads in people.
These two factors may explain the variant’s higher infectivity and widespread prevalence across the UK.
Boris Johnson has stressed he will be taking a “cautious and prudent approach” to easing lockdown restrictions, suggesting pubs and restaurants will be among the last parts of society to reopen this time.
The prime minister is being urged to focus on “data, not just dates” and to not relax restrictions “prematurely”.
Slavery reparations could have reduced Covid infections and deaths, Harvard study says
A Harvard study has claimed that slavery reparations could have reduced the Covid-19 death toll of Black Americans, who have been disproportionally affected by the virus.
The study, a collaboration between researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Lancet Commission on Reparations and Redistributive Justice, looked at how reparation payments would have affected coronavirus transmission in Louisiana.
James Crump reports:
Slavery reparations could have reduced Covid infections and deaths, Harvard study says
‘Our study simply gives yet another example of how racism gets into people’s bodies and makes them sick,’ says Dr Eugene Richardson
GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology Inc have announced they will expand their existing partnership developing antibody therapies for Covid to other diseases.
The companies announce a partnership in 2020 to help research coronavirus antibody treatments. These are given to people who have been diagnosed with the illness with the aim of making the infection less severe.
One of the companies’ trial therapies for coronavirus is currently in the final stage of two global trials with results expected in the first quarter of this year.
Reuters reported that the Covid pandemic has made large pharma companies more interested in researching new ways to treat infectious pathogens, including influenza.
GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology Inc said they go on to try and further develop Vir’s experimental treatment for influenza A, a virus that causes flu.
Biden vows to get America vaccinated by end of July
Data released by NHS England shows that a total of 13,891,042 Covid-19 vaccinations were administered in England between 8 December 2020 and 16 February 2021, this includes both first and second doses.
The breakdown by region is as follows:
London - 1,595,410 total Covid vaccinations
The Midlands - 2,649,662 total Covid vaccinations
East of England - 1,669,006 total Covid vaccinations
North East and Yorkshire - 2,185,038 total Covid vaccinations
North West - 1,835,439 total Covid vaccinations
South East - 2,271,662 total Covid vaccinations
South West -1,617,625 total Covid vaccinations
Boris Johnson’s levelling up plan is ‘just a slogan’ unless children put at centre, warns outgoing commissioner
Boris Johnson’s pledge to “level up” the country is “just a slogan” unless children are placed at the heart of plans, the outgoing children’s commissioner has warned.
The prime minister must show he is serious about vulnerable children by putting them at the centre of ‘build back better’ plans following the pandemic, Anne Longfield said in her final speech in the role.
Zoe Tidman has more:
Boris Johnson’s levelling up plan is ‘just a slogan’ unless children put at centre, warns outgoing commissioner
Children must not be defined by having grown up through pandemic, Anne Longfield says
Gwyneth Paltrow reveals Covid left her with ‘long-tail fatigue and brain fog'
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed that she was infected with Covid-19, saying that it left her with “long-tail fatigue and brain fog.”
The celebrity wrote on her wellness blog, on her website Goop, saying that she was in the process of starting a long-term healing plan.
Ms Paltrow revealed: “All jokes aside (no, 2021 wasn’t the easiest year to do dry January), cleaning up my diet, exercise, and even thought patterns last month left me feeling energised, healthier, and -believe it or not - wanting more. I’m extending this focus further, through the full first quarter.
“A little background: I had Covid-19 early on, and it left me with some long-tail fatigue and brain fog.”
The actress is the latest celebrity to share the experience of having Covid. Others to have done so include Sharon Osbourne, Tom Hanks, Idris Elba and Bryan Cranston.
Extend list of Covid symptoms to pick up missing infections, scientists say
Extending the symptoms for Covid-19 beyond the ‘classic triad’ of cough, fever and loss of smell could help to detect millions more infections, scientists have said.
Anyone who feels unwell has been urged to get a test by the researchers behind a new study which suggests that broadening the list of symptoms to include fatigue, sore throat, headache and diarrhoea would help pick up around a third more Covid-19 cases.
Samuel Lovett has more details:
Extend list of Covid symptoms to pick up missing infections, scientists say
Only those with a cough, fever and loss of smell are currently eligible for PCR test from the NHS
UK death toll rises by 738
The government has confirmed a further 738 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of today, bringing the UK total to 118,933.
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have been 138,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.
The government also said that, as of 9am today, there had been a further 12,718 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.
It brings the total in the UK to 4,071,185.
New York sues Amazon for 'failing’ to protect workers during Covid pandemic
The attorney general of New York has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the online giant of "flagrant disregard" for worker safety requirements during the coronavirus pandemic.
Liam James has more details:
New York sues Amazon for ‘failing’ to protect workers in pandemic
Online behemoth ‘cut corners’ to boost profit at expense of employee safety, says attorney general
Man denies ‘offensive’ tweet following death of Captain Sir Tom Moore
A man has denied sending an offensive tweet about Captain Sir Tom Moore after the death of the fundraising centenarian.
Joseph Kelly was charged under the Communications Act after the post on 3 February - the day after the Second World War veteran died.
The 35-year-old, from Castlemilk, in Glasgow, was not present when the case called at Lanark Sheriff Court today and a not guilty plea was submitted by lawyer Archie Hill on his behalf.
The court charge states: "On 3 February 2021 at Waverly Court, Lanark, you Joseph Kelly did cause to be sent by means of a public electronic communications network a post to the public using social media that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, and that did utter offensive remarks about Captain Sir Tom Moore, now deceased."
Sheriff Nikola Stewart set an intermediate appearance for 19 May before a trial date of 17 June.
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