Covid-19 news: Test and Trace has not achieved its goals, say MPs

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By Michael Le Page , Clare Wilson , Jessica Hamzelou , Sam Wong , Graham Lawton , Adam Vaughan , Conrad Quilty-Harper , Jason Arunn Murugesu and Layal Liverpool

Latest coronavirus quality arsenic of 11am connected 27 October

Damning study says NHS Test and Trace programme has not delivered its objectives

The UK’s Test and Trace programme “has not achieved its main objective” to alteration radical to instrumentality to a much mean mode of beingness contempt being handed “eye-watering” sums of money, according to a study by members of parliament (MPs). The Public Accounts Committee said that the programme’s outcomes person been “muddled” and a fig of its aims person been “overstated oregon not achieved”.

Test and Trace had a fund of £22 cardinal successful 2020–21 and it estimates that it spent £13.5 cardinal of that. The committee highlighted that the programme has inactive not managed to trim the fig of costly contractors – who are paid an mean of £1100 per time – and has not developed a “flexible” attack to utilizing laboratories, which “risks wasting nationalist money”.

It has been focused connected getting programmes up and moving and “paid little attraction to ensuring these programmes delivered the benefits they promised”, it adds. And uptake of services provided by the programme is “variable” arsenic immoderate susceptible radical are overmuch little apt to instrumentality a trial than others.

“The nationalist Test and Trace programme was allocated eye-watering sums of taxpayers’ wealth successful the midst of a planetary wellness and economical crisis,” said Meg Hillier, seat of the Public Accounts Committee. “It acceptable retired bold ambitions but has failed to execute them contempt the immense sums thrown astatine it.

“Only 14 per cent of 691 cardinal lateral travel tests sent retired had results reported, and who knows however galore took the indispensable enactment based connected the results they got, oregon however galore were ne'er used. The continued reliance connected the overpriced consultants who ‘delivered’ this authorities of affairs volition by itself outgo the payer hundreds of millions of pounds.”

Jenny Harries, main enforcement of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said successful a statement: “NHS Test and Trace (NHSTT) has played an indispensable relation successful combating this pandemic. As the Public Accounts Committee acknowledges, determination person been improvements successful investigating capacity, turnaround times and velocity and scope of interaction tracing – and improved collaboration with section authorities. The information is NHSTT is redeeming lives each azygous time and helping america combat covid-19 by breaking chains of transmission and spotting outbreaks wherever they exist.”

Other coronavirus news

Experts are urging ministers to measurement up efforts to vaccinate large women, with lone 15 per cent of this radical afloat vaccinated. “Women are being turned distant from clinics and present determination are immoderate trusts offering it arsenic portion of the maternity service, but it is not cosmopolitan truthful determination are inactive barriers,” Marian Knight, the pb for the MBRRACE-UK survey connected maternal wellness astatine the University of Oxford, told The Guardian. At slightest 13 large women died with covid-19 betwixt July and September this year, according to the study’s data.

A sheet of experts advising the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has overwhelmingly recommended approving the Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. If the FDA follows the advice, children successful this radical could statesman receiving the shots adjacent week. “Use of this vaccine volition forestall deaths, volition forestall ICU admissions and volition forestall important semipermanent adverse outcomes successful children,” said Amanda Cohn, a paediatric vaccine adept and a subordinate of the panel.

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The Rules of Contagion is astir the caller subject of contagion and the astonishing ways it shapes our lives and behaviour. The author, Adam Kucharski, is an epidemiologist astatine the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and successful the publication helium examines however diseases dispersed and wherefore they stop.

Previous updates

26 October

Modelling probe suggests UK covid-19 cases volition autumn without other restrictions

Modelling probe carried retired for the UK authorities suggests that levels of coronavirus corruption could soon autumn dramatically, adjacent without further restrictions.

The model, produced by researchers astatine the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), is 1 of respective that pass the government’s covid-19 policymaking. Other models by Imperial College London and the University of Warwick are little optimistic but besides suggest that a alteration successful lawsuit numbers is realistic.

John Edmunds, who led the LSHTM team, told BBC News that it is hard to beryllium precise astir erstwhile cases volition autumn and by however much, but says helium expects a “hiatus” to hap astatine immoderate constituent implicit the winter.

The exemplary assumes that astir over-50s volition instrumentality up their booster vaccinations and levels of societal interaction stay little than pre-pandemic. The researchers pass that if determination are higher levels of mixing, that could alteration the picture.

“The mid-winter festive play usually sees antithetic mixing behaviour that could person a akin effect to the Euro 2020 shot matches,” the study says, referring to the emergence successful cases seen during the tourney successful June. “If akin were to hap again… it is imaginable that these modelling results whitethorn beryllium excessively optimistic.”

In the past week, elder figures from the National Health Service and the British Medical Association person called for the authorities to instrumentality “Plan B” measures from its coronavirus strategy, specified arsenic vaccine passports, mandatory disguise wearing and moving from home. Ministers person said they bash not deliberation that Plan B is presently needed.

Other coronavirus news

Getting covid-19 is associated with a greater hazard of uncommon neurological complications than a archetypal vaccine dose, a study suggests. According to the research, radical who received the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab had an accrued hazard of processing 2 types of complications – Bell’s palsy and Guillain-Barré syndrome – successful the 28 days aft receiving their archetypal dose. Those receiving the Pfizer vaccine had an accrued hazard of haemorrhagic stroke. However, covid-19 corruption carried a overmuch higher hazard of processing neurological complications than either vaccine, the probe suggested.

The US volition assistance its prohibition connected entry from a big of countries connected 8 November, alternatively requiring travellers to beryllium vaccinated against covid-19. Any vaccines that person been approved by US regulators volition beryllium accepted. Unvaccinated travellers volition person to amusement a antagonistic covid-19 trial taken wrong 1 time of departure. Children nether 18 volition beryllium exempt from the vaccine requirement, but indispensable amusement a antagonistic trial wrong 3 days of travel. Since January 2020, astir non-citizens person been barred from entering from China, India, Brazil and overmuch of Europe.

25 October

UK wellness caput rejects calls to follow Plan B to curb rising infections

The UK wellness secretary, Sajid Javid, has said helium is “leaning towards” making vaccines compulsory for National Health Service workers arsenic the authorities faced continuing calls to enforce tougher measures to power covid-19. “If they haven’t got vaccinated by present past determination is an contented astir diligent information and that’s thing the authorities volition instrumentality precise seriously,” Javid told Sky News.

Javid rejected calls to instrumentality “Plan B” successful the government’s wintertime coronavirus strategy, which includes measures specified arsenic vaccine passports, mandatory look masks and guidance to enactment from home. “We don’t deliberation we person reached the constituent wherever Plan B needs to beryllium activated, but, of course, we volition support it nether review,” helium said connected BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Peter Openshaw of Imperial College London, a subordinate of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), told the Today programme a deficiency of wide messaging has contributed to the precocious levels of corruption successful the UK. “What we’re facing astatine the infinitesimal is unacceptable. We’ve got astir 1 successful 55 radical infected, which is an astonishingly precocious complaint compared to astir different westbound European countries,” helium said.

“It’s precise wide that the measures that are included successful Plan B are sensible and not precise disruptive. It’s not problematic to springiness wide enactment astir the usage of look masks, and moving astatine location if you tin is besides not peculiarly disruptive for galore people. Those measures are apt to pb to a beauteous bully simplification successful the truly unacceptable fig of cases that we’ve got astatine the moment. To my mind, the instauration of vaccine passports is besides good – it’s been accepted precise easy successful astir different occidental European countries,” Openshaw said.

Other coronavirus news

Scientists astatine the US Food and Drug Administration person concluded that the extortion offered by giving covid-19 vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 would intelligibly outweigh the tiny hazard of myocarditis, a imaginable broadside effect successful the heart. An advisory committee is owed to conscionable time to marque a proposal connected whether to authorise vaccines for this property radical successful the US. Pfizer person besides announced proceedings information showing that their vaccine is 91 per cent effectual astatine preventing covid-19 successful 5 to 11-year-olds.

China volition commencement vaccinating children arsenic young arsenic 3 arsenic it seeks to power a caller covid-19 outbreak, Associated Press reports. Local governments successful astatine slightest 5 provinces person issued notices announcing that children aged 3 to 11 volition beryllium required to get vaccinated, according to the report. Entry to Beijing is being restricted for radical travelling from districts with confirmed infections, BBC News reports.

22 October

Pfizer/BioNTech booster jab recovered highly effectual successful objective trial

A booster shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine was recovered to beryllium 95.6 per cent effectual against covid-19 successful a randomised trial, the 2 companies person announced. The proceedings progressive much than 10,000 radical who had received 2 doses of the vaccine successful earlier objective trials. The median property of the radical was 53 and the median clip betwixt the 2nd and 3rd doses was 11 months. All were randomly assigned to get a booster changeable oregon a placebo. There were 5 cases of covid-19 successful the radical that got the other vaccine, and 109 cases successful the placebo group. The findings person not yet been peer-reviewed.

Yesterday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave its backing for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to beryllium fixed arsenic booster shots successful the US, having already recommended Pfizer/BioNTech boosters past month. The caller proposal allows radical to “mix and match” by getting a antithetic vaccine for the booster to their archetypal vaccine.

The UK authorities has launched a media run contiguous encouraging eligible radical to travel guardant for their booster jabs. The Guardian reports that ministers are considering allowing radical to get their booster 5 months aft their 2nd dose, alternatively of six months, to get much radical boosted earlier the Christmas holidays.

Other coronavirus news

UK premier curate Boris Johnson has rejected calls to reimpose covid-19 measures arsenic the fig of regular cases passed 50,000 for the archetypal clip since mid July. “The numbers of infections are precocious but we are wrong the parameters of what the predictions were, what Spi-M [a modelling group] and the others said we would beryllium astatine this signifier fixed the steps we are taking. We are sticking with our plan,” helium said successful a televised statement.

Restrictions connected question person been introduced successful immoderate parts of China successful effect to a caller outbreak of covid-19. The state reported 28 caller locally transmitted cases connected Thursday. Tourist attractions person been closed and immoderate long-distance autobus and obstruction services suspended successful the Gansu and Ningxia regions of northwestern China, Reuters reports. In areas of the Changping territory of Beijing deemed high-risk, radical were banned from leaving residential compounds, schoolhouse classes were suspended and businesses were ordered to close.

21 October

‘Time is now’ for coronavirus Plan B, says person of doctors’ union

The person of the UK’s doctors’ national has accused UK ministers of being “wilfully negligent” aft the wellness caput ruled retired instantly implementing the government’s coronavirus “Plan B”. Sajid Javid said radical indispensable get their covid-19 vaccines and immoderate booster shots, arsenic good arsenic doing things similar wearing masks successful crowded places arsenic helium repeated a informing that cases could scope 100,000 a day. But helium said the authorities volition not beryllium implementing its “Plan B” strategy astatine this point.

England’s autumn and wintertime coronavirus strategy includes “Plan B” arsenic a contingency measurement if the NHS comes nether unsustainable pressure. That could see legally mandating look coverings successful immoderate settings, introducing mandatory vaccine-only covid presumption certification and asking radical to enactment from home.

Chaand Nagpaul, seat of the British Medical Association Council, said: “The Westminster authorities said it would enact ‘Plan B’ to forestall the NHS from being overwhelmed; arsenic doctors moving connected the frontline, we tin categorically accidental that clip is now. By the wellness secretary’s ain admittance we could soon spot 100,000 cases a time and we present person the aforesaid fig of play covid deaths arsenic we had during March, erstwhile the state was successful lockdown. It is truthful incredibly concerning that helium is not consenting to instrumentality contiguous enactment to prevention lives and to support the NHS.

“It is wilfully negligent of the Westminster authorities not to beryllium taking immoderate further enactment to trim the dispersed of infection, specified arsenic mandatory disguise wearing, carnal distancing and ventilation requirements successful high-risk settings, peculiarly indoor crowded spaces,” Nagpaul added. “These are measures that are the norm successful galore different nations.”

Other coronavirus news

The UK authorities has agreed deals with pharmaceutical companies to proviso 2 caller antiviral treatments for covid-19, taxable to support by the UK medicines regulator. The drugs would beryllium aimed astatine those astir astatine hazard from the virus, including the aged and those with weakened immune systems, either arsenic treatments for infected radical oregon to forestall corruption successful radical exposed to the virus. The Department of Health and Social Care said it has secured 480,000 courses of Molnupiravir, made by Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD), and 250,000 courses of Pfizer’s PF-07321332/ritonavir. Molnupiravir has been shown successful objective trials to trim the hazard of infirmary admittance oregon decease for at-risk adults with mild to mean covid-19 by 50 per cent, portion Pfizer’s antiviral is astatine the opening of its signifier 3 trials.

The Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine is highly effectual astatine preventing corruption and unwellness from the delta variant among adolescents, according to information from Israel. The study included information connected 94,354 young radical aged 12 to 18 who had been fixed the vaccine and the aforesaid fig of unvaccinated participants. The vaccine was estimated to beryllium 90 per cent effectual against covid-19 corruption and 93 per cent effectual against symptomatic covid-19 connected days 7 to 21 aft the 2nd dose.

20 October

Rising corruption numbers punctual telephone to reintroduce coronavirus restrictions

A elder fig successful the National Health Service has urged the UK authorities to instantly enforce “Plan B” coronavirus restrictions oregon “risk stumbling into a wintertime crisis”. Matthew Taylor, main enforcement of the NHS Confederation, called for ministers to instrumentality the back-up strategy which involves measures including mandatory look coverings successful nationalist places.The informing comes arsenic coronavirus deaths successful the UK roseate to their highest regular level since aboriginal March, portion cases are astatine their highest for astir 3 months.

Downing Street said it was keeping a “very adjacent eye” connected rising lawsuit rates, but added that the premier curate has “absolutely nary program to present Plan B”, which could besides impact introducing vaccine passports for nightclub entry.

The NHS Confederation is the rank organisation that speaks for the full healthcare strategy successful England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Taylor said the NHS is preparing for what could beryllium “the astir challenging wintertime connected record” and urged the nationalist to “show other enactment for the NHS” by “behaving successful ways that volition support themselves and others safe”.

“It is clip for the authorities to enact Plan B of its strategy without hold due to the fact that without pre-emptive action, we hazard stumbling into a wintertime crisis,” helium said. “Also, wellness leaders request to recognize what a ‘Plan C’ would entail if these measures are insufficient. The authorities should not hold for covid infections to rocket and for NHS pressures to beryllium entity precocious earlier the panic alarm is sounded.”

Speaking connected BBC Breakfast, the concern caput Kwasi Kwarteng said the authorities does not “feel that it’s the clip for Plan B close now”. “The corruption complaint was ever apt to spell up arsenic we opened up the economy,” helium said. “But what was critically important was the hospitalisation complaint and the decease complaint arsenic well.”

“We’re simply trying to analyse the information arsenic we spot it and travel up with the close policies. Now, that’s thing which could alteration but, astatine the moment, we deliberation that the people that we’re plotting is the close one,” Kwarteng said.

Other coronavirus news

The UK authorities is keeping a “close eye” connected a descendant of the coronavirus delta variant that is being seen successful a increasing fig of cases. Downing Street said it was monitoring the AY4.2 variant, but said determination was nary grounds it spreads much easily. Scientists accidental AY4.2 carries 2 diagnostic mutations successful the spike protein, Y145H and A222V, some of which person been recovered successful assorted different coronavirus lineages since the opening of the pandemic, but they person remained astatine debased frequence until now.

Children successful England aged betwixt 12 and 15 volition beryllium capable to get their covid-19 jabs astatine vaccination centres pursuing concerns astir rollout delays. Health caput Sajid Javid told MPs the nationalist booking work volition beryllium opened up to younger teenagers to publication their covid-19 vaccinations extracurricular of schoolhouse to “make the astir of half-term”. It comes aft headteachers’ unions called for vaccines to beryllium offered to pupils successful walk-in centres, arsenic good arsenic school, aft figures revealed the standard of the debased take-up of the covid-19 jab among the cohort.

The latest attendance information from the Department for Education (DfE) shows the fig of children retired of schoolhouse for covid-19 related reasons successful England has risen implicit the past fortnight. The DfE estimates that 2.6 per cent of each pupils – astir 209,000 children – were not successful people for reasons connected to coronavirus connected Thursday past week. This is up from much than 204,000 children, oregon 2.5 per cent of each pupils, connected 30 September.

Latest connected coronavirus from New Scientist

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19 October

The UK faces “challenging” months ahead, Downing Street has warned arsenic the country’s regular lawsuit numbers attack 50,000 for the archetypal clip since July. Figures from the Office for National Statistics amusement coronavirus corruption levels successful England are getting adjacent to the highest seen astatine the tallness of the 2nd question and are mostly being driven by infections among schoolchildren.

“We ever knew the coming months would beryllium challenging,” the premier minister’s spokesperson said. “What we are seeing is lawsuit rates, hospitalisations and deaths inactive broadly successful enactment with the modelling arsenic acceptable retired a fewer months backmost now. The vaccination programme volition proceed to beryllium our archetypal enactment of defence, on with caller treatments, investigating and nationalist wellness advice. But we volition evidently support a adjacent ticker connected cases.”

Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist astatine Imperial College London and subordinate of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that different lockdown is unlikely, but urged caution. “People request to beryllium alert that we person presently higher levels of corruption successful the assemblage than we’ve astir ever had during the pandemic,” helium said. “For the past 3 oregon 4 months we’ve been up astatine good implicit 1 per cent of the colonisation infected astatine immoderate constituent successful time.”

Ferguson suggested waning immunity is 1 crushed wherefore the UK has higher corruption rates than different European countries that began vaccine rollouts aboriginal on, and said it is “critical” that we accelerate the booster programme, arsenic good arsenic vaccination for teenagers.

Other coronavirus news

A backstage laboratory suspected of issuing implicit 40,000 mendacious antagonistic results for covid-19 PCR tests was not afloat accredited to execute the work, contrary to statements by wellness officials, The Guardian has reported. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced connected Friday that it was investigating Immensa Health Clinics Ltd, which has received astir £170 cardinal successful test-and-trace contracts since being acceptable up successful May 2020. Both the UKHSA and a authorities spokesperson said the laboratory had been afloat accredited earlier being appointed. But UKAS, the UK accreditation body, told The Guardian that neither Immensa Health Clinicas Ltd nor its sister company, Dante Labs, has ever been accredited by the service.

The US Food and Drug Administration is readying to let booster shots from a antithetic shaper to a person’s archetypal vaccination, according to The New York Times. Last period the FDA authorised booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for immoderate groups, but lone for those who had antecedently received that vaccine. The bureau is expected to o.k. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to beryllium fixed arsenic boosters this week, and volition let a “mix-and-match” attack to alteration greater flexibility, the paper reports.

18 October

Valneva vaccine shows bully outcomes successful examination with AstraZeneca jab

A covid-19 vaccine made by Valneva produced stronger antibody responses and less broadside effects than the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine successful a objective trial, the French institution has announced. The proceedings included much than 4600 participants successful the UK, who were randomly allocated 1 of the 2 vaccines, portion delta was the predominant coronavirus variant successful circulation. The complaint of covid-19 cases was akin successful the 2 groups and nary participants developed terrible unwellness from covid-19.

Valneva’s experimental vaccine, VLA2001, consists of inactivated full microorganism particles, successful operation with 2 adjuvants – drugs fixed to augment the immune response. “This is simply a overmuch much accepted attack to vaccine manufacture than the vaccines truthful acold deployed successful the UK, Europe and North America and these results suggest this vaccine campaigner is connected way to play an important relation successful overcoming the pandemic,” said Adam Finn astatine the University of Bristol, UK, main researcher for the trial, successful a property release.

Last month, the UK authorities scrapped an bid for 100 cardinal doses of Valneva’s vaccine, with wellness caput Sajid Javid aboriginal telling MPs it had been wide the vaccine “would not get approval” by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency successful the UK. Valneva said on 13 September that the UK authorities served announcement implicit allegations of a breach of the proviso agreement, which the institution strenuously denied.

Other coronavirus news

Lockdown measures volition stay successful spot successful Auckland, New Zealand, for 2 much weeks, premier curate Jacinda Ardern has announced. The country’s largest metropolis has been nether terrible restrictions since mid-August successful an effort to incorporate an outbreak of the delta variant. Earlier this month, Ardern announced plans for a modulation retired of lockdown, but said contiguous that restrictions would beryllium needed for a portion longer. “Any interim easing of restrictions… volition not enactment towards our program of minimising cases portion we summation vaccinations,” she told a quality conference.

Thousands of children person returned to schoolhouse successful Sydney, Australia, for the archetypal clip successful months arsenic a tranche of covid-19 restrictions were eased successful the city. The vaccination complaint successful the authorities of New South Wales reached 80 per cent, enabling the adjacent signifier of relaxations to spell up nether the nationalist covid-19 strategy. Many shops and businesses tin present reopen with capableness limits to let societal distancing. In Melbourne, a stay-at-home bid that has lasted 73 days volition beryllium lifted adjacent Friday with the vaccination complaint successful the authorities of Victoria owed to walk 70 per cent.

15 October

Operations suspended astatine Wolverhampton investigating laboratory aft investigation

An estimated 43,000 radical whitethorn person been fixed mendacious antagonistic results connected covid-19 PCR tests, the UK Health Security Agency has said. NHS Test and Trace has suspended investigating operations provided by Immensa Health Clinic Ltd astatine its laboratory successful Wolverhampton pursuing an probe into reports of radical receiving antagonistic PCR trial results aft they person antecedently tested affirmative connected a lateral travel test.

Samples that would person gone to the laboratory are present being redirected to others. “There is nary grounds of immoderate faults with LFD [lateral flow] oregon PCR trial kits themselves and the nationalist should stay assured successful utilizing them and successful different laboratory services presently provided, said Will Welfare, nationalist wellness incidental manager astatine UKHSA.

The errors subordinate to trial results fixed to radical betwixt 8 September and 12 October, chiefly successful the southwest of England. It is estimated that astir 400,000 samples person been processed done the lab. A afloat probe is being carried retired into wherefore incorrect results were given, NHS Test and Trace said. It is present contacting the radical who could inactive beryllium infectious to counsel them to instrumentality different test. Close contacts who are symptomatic volition besides beryllium advised to instrumentality a test, arsenic is already recommended.

Problems person besides been identified astatine the Newbury Showground investigating site successful Berkshire. West Berkshire Council said immoderate antagonistic results whitethorn person been fixed incorrectly. Anyone who got a antagonistic effect astatine the tract betwixt 3 and 12 October has been urged to instrumentality different test.

Other coronavirus news

People who are taking statins whitethorn beryllium little apt to dice from coronavirus than akin radical not connected the medication, probe suggests. Statins are a communal attraction prescribed for lowering cholesterin successful the blood. The research, published successful PLOS Medicine, analysed information from 963,876 residents of Stockholm implicit the property of 45 betwixt March and November 2020. It recovered that statin attraction was associated with a somewhat little hazard of dying from covid-19. It is unclear whether the statins themselves origin a little decease rate, oregon if different factors are responsible.

Charities person called the rollout of booster vaccines for radical with compromised immune systems successful the UK “a chaotic failure”, with little than fractional of those eligible contacted truthful far. Surveys by Blood Cancer UK and Kidney Care UK recovered that betwixt 55 and 60 per cent of some diligent groups person yet to beryllium invited for a 3rd dose. “It is present wide that the rollout of the 3rd doses for the immunocompromised has been a nonaccomplishment that was poorly planned and severely implemented,” said Gemma Peters, main enforcement for Blood Cancer UK.

Latest connected coronavirus from New Scientist

Long covid clinics: There are an estimated 706,000 radical successful England with agelong covid symptoms, and lone 89 specializer clinics acceptable up to assistance them. Support groups fearfulness that capacity whitethorn beryllium stretched if determination is different ample highest successful cases this winter.

14 October

Lateral travel tests are much close than archetypal thought, investigation suggests

Positive results connected lateral travel tests should beryllium trusted erstwhile levels of covid-19 successful the colonisation are high, accidental researchers aft a caller investigation of the tests’ accuracy.

Lateral travel (LF) tests, which tin beryllium carried retired astatine location and springiness accelerated results, are considered little reliable than PCR tests done successful a laboratory. However, the tests measurement antithetic things: LF tests observe worldly from the aboveground proteins of the microorganism and place radical who are apt to beryllium infectious, portion PCR tests observe familial worldly from the microorganism which tin stay successful the assemblage for weeks aft idiosyncratic is infectious. This means it is expected that LF tests volition not place each the aforesaid cases arsenic PCR tests, truthful a like-for-like examination is inappropriate, says Irene Peterson astatine University College London.

Using a caller look to measure the tests’ sensitivity, Peterson and her colleagues recovered that LF tests are much than 80 per cent effectual astatine detecting immoderate level of covid-19 corruption and apt to beryllium much than 90 per cent effectual astatine detecting who is astir infectious erstwhile they instrumentality the test.

UK authorities guidance says that radical who trial affirmative connected LF tests should person the effect confirmed with a follow-up PCR test, but this is not necessary, Peterson suggested to BBC News.

The uncovering has implications for reports of an expanding fig of radical who are investigating affirmative successful lateral travel tests and past getting antagonistic PCR tests. There is interest that these antagonistic PCR results are giving mendacious reassurance to radical who are presently infectious (see yesterday’s update).

Other coronavirus news

Coronavirus infections were rising exponentially among 5 to 17-year-olds successful England successful September, coinciding with the commencement of the autumn schoolhouse term. The latest results from the React-1 study, based connected much than 100,000 swabs from a random illustration of the population, amusement that the wide prevalence of the microorganism has remained stable, with 1 successful 120 radical infected betwixt 9 and 27 September. However, the corruption complaint grew among those aged nether 18, and fell among those aged 18-54. The information besides amusement that for vaccinated people, the hazard of corruption increases much than 3 months aft vaccination. This uncovering “reinforces the request for a booster programme”, survey person Paul Elliott astatine Imperial College London told The Guardian.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a caller squad of 26 scientists charged with investigating the origins of the covid-19 pandemic. Its archetypal probe concluded successful March 2021 that the microorganism was astir apt transmitted from bats to humans via different animal, but said more probe was needed. The caller Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (Sago) volition reappraisal what is already known and measure what further studies should beryllium undertaken. “This is our champion chance, and it whitethorn beryllium our past accidental to recognize the origins of this virus,” said Mike Ryan, enforcement manager of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. However, Chen Xu, China’s Ambassador to the UN, said the results of the archetypal survey were “quite clear” and teams should beryllium sent to different places.

13 October

UK authorities analyse discrepancies betwixt PCR and lateral travel tests

The UK Health Security Agency is investigating reports of radical investigating affirmative for the coronavirus successful lateral travel tests but getting antagonistic results connected PCR tests, galore of whom besides person symptoms of covid-19. Under existent rules, those who person antagonistic results connected PCR tests bash not person to self-isolate, but scientists are progressively acrophobic that PCR tests whitethorn beryllium giving mendacious assurances.

PCR tests are mostly considered to beryllium the “gold standard”, but immoderate studies suggest they springiness mendacious antagonistic results to as galore arsenic 30-40 per cent of radical who really person the virus. However, the proportionality of lateral travel positives that were confirmed by PCR tests dropped successful the astir caller NHS Test and Trace statistics, suggesting thing other too mendacious PCR negatives is happening, Oliver Johnson astatine the University of Bristol told The Guardian.

Some person speculated that a caller variant is not getting picked up by PCR tests, but this is considered unlikely. Genomic surveillance has not detected a caller variant and PCR tests people 3 parts of the viral genome, making it improbable that a caller variant could look that would person mutations successful each three.

One anticipation is that lateral travel tests are responding to a antithetic seasonal coronavirus. Alternatively, determination whitethorn beryllium a occupation with the PCR investigating process, specified arsenic a faulty batch of reagents.

Other coronavirus news

The US volition reopen its onshore borders with Canada and Mexico for afloat vaccinated travellers adjacent month. Only indispensable question has been permitted since the commencement of the pandemic. The US volition judge travellers who person been immunised with immoderate of the vaccines approved by the World Health Organization, not conscionable those successful the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Essential travellers specified arsenic motortruck drivers volition besides person to beryllium vaccinated, but this request volition not travel into unit until January, officials said.

Around 1 successful 3 UK doctors bash not judge their organisation is acceptable for the challenges of winter, a doctors’ radical is warning. A canvass for the Royal College of Physicians recovered that medics besides felt personally unprepared to woody with upcoming pressures, with galore experiencing exhaustion and feeling demoralised. In the canvass of much than 800 doctors, 8 retired of 10 of whom were consultants and astir of whom worked successful the NHS, 36 per cent said their organisation was not astatine each prepared for winter. Some 27 per cent of doctors said they were personally unprepared, and astir two-thirds said they were feeling bushed oregon exhausted.

12 October

French survey finds 3 covid-19 vaccines highly effectual astatine preventing hospitalisation

Vaccination cuts the hazard of dying oregon being hospitalised with covid-19 by implicit 90 per cent, according to a French study that is the largest of its benignant yet. The probe compared 11.3 cardinal vaccinated radical implicit the property of 50 with the aforesaid fig of age-matched unvaccinated radical betwixt December 2020 and July 2021. The effectiveness was akin for the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, and did not diminish during the five-month play of the study.

The delta variant emerged successful France conscionable 1 period earlier the extremity of the study, but the results suggest that successful this period, the vaccines were 84 per cent effectual for those aged 75 and implicit and 92 per cent effectual for those aged 50 to 74.

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Members of parliament person criticised the UK government’s effect to the covid-19 pandemic successful a wide-ranging study published today, accusing ministers of adopting a “fatalistic approach” to however overmuch it could dilatory the dispersed of the virus. The study says the authorities made superior mistakes including ending assemblage investigating successful March 2020, waiting excessively agelong to instrumentality a lockdown, and allowing infected radical to beryllium sent from hospitals to attraction homes. Read our afloat communicative for much details.

The politician of Texas, Greg Abbott, has signed an enforcement order prohibiting immoderate entity from enforcing covid-19 vaccine mandates successful the state. The bid conflicts with caller rules being drawn up by the Biden Administration requiring employers with much than 100 workers to guarantee their unit are vaccinated oregon tested play for the virus.

11 October

Unvaccinated large women marque up 1 successful six of the astir critically sick covid cases

One successful six critically sick covid-19 patients successful England are unvaccinated large women, according to caller figures from July to September. Of the 118 covid-19 patients successful England who received extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during this time, 20 of them were pregnant. ECMO is usually fixed to critically sick radical who person not responded to going connected a ventilator.

Of the 20 large women who received ECMO, conscionable 1 had been vaccinated – though she had lone received 1 dose, NHS England said. In April, the UK’s Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation advised that large women should beryllium offered covid-19 vaccines, preferably the Pfizer/BioNTech oregon Moderna jabs.

Out of the different 98 radical who received ECMO betwixt July and September, lone 7 radical had been afloat vaccinated, and 3 had received 1 dose of a vaccine.

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The strict lockdown successful Sydney, Australia, ended today. The metropolis has had choky restrictions for 4 months successful an effort to tackle the delta variant. Over 70 per cent of radical aged 16 and implicit are present afloat vaccinated, and regular caller corruption numbers are falling.

Infection numbers are rising successful New Zealand arsenic the state continues to easiness restrictions. On Sunday 60 caller cases of coronavirus were reported – 56 of them successful Auckland. “We are inactive connected the knife-edge,” Michael Plank astatine the University of Canterbury successful Christchurch told Stuff. The authorities announced plans to unbend Auckland’s lockdown past Monday – efficaciously ending its elimination strategy. Experts fearfulness the microorganism could dispersed retired of the metropolis to little vaccinated populations.

Covid passports volition beryllium required successful Wales to be large events oregon nightclubs from today. They volition beryllium compulsory for over-18s and volition amusement whether radical are afloat jabbed oregon person tested antagonistic for the microorganism recently. Wales’s rugby crippled against New Zealand connected 30 October volition beryllium 1 of the archetypal wide events to necessitate Covid passes.

7 October

Vaccines are up to 94 per cent effectual implicit 6 months successful radical who’ve besides had covid-19

People who were infected with covid-19 and past received 2 vaccine doses person higher immunity against the microorganism than those who ne'er had a earthy infection.

Figures from users of the Zoe Covid Symptom Study App suggest that radical who got 2 Pfizer/BioNTech jabs aft having the unwellness saw a 94 per cent simplification successful their chances of a further corruption wrong six months of their 2nd dose, compared with 80 per cent extortion for radical who hadn’t ever had covid-19.

For the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, radical who’d had covid-19 were 90 per cent protected, compared with 71 per cent successful radical who hadn’t caught it.

The figures besides bespeak that having covid-19, but not getting vaccinated, gives 65 per cent extortion against getting infected – and this did not wane for up to 450 days aft being infected.

“This is truly affirmative quality for wide immunity levels successful the UK and means that ample numbers of radical volition person effectual and agelong lasting extortion from covid-19,” Tim Spector astatine King’s College London, who is the pb idiosyncratic connected the Zoe app, said successful a statement. “This is besides beardown grounds to enactment the request for vaccination, adjacent for those who person already had covid-19.”

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More than 400,000 radical successful the UK accidental they person had agelong covid for a twelvemonth oregon more, according to caller figures from the Office for National Statistics. The astir communal symptoms were fatigue, shortness of breath, nonaccomplishment of odor and trouble concentrating. About 1.1 cardinal radical oregon 1.7 per cent of the colonisation were experiencing self-reported long covid of immoderate duration, defined arsenic symptoms lasting for much than 4 weeks aft the archetypal suspected coronavirus infection.

Countries are rushing to bargain supplies of molnupiravir, the archetypal antiviral cause shown to trim the hazard of terrible covid-19 that tin beryllium taken erstwhile radical archetypal get infected. Australia, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore person announced deals to bargain five-day courses of the medicine, with Taiwan and Thailand besides successful talks with US-based shaper Merck. When taken doubly daily, the drug halves people’s chances of needing infirmary attraction oregon dying.

6 October

Study explains wherefore microorganism whitethorn pb to tegument information connected hands and feet

The tegument information known arsenic “covid toe” whitethorn beryllium a broadside effect of the immune system’s effect to warring disconnected the virus, a survey has found. The grounds results successful chilblain-like inflammation and redness connected the hands and feet, which tin past for months astatine a time. It typically develops wrong a week to 4 weeks of being infected and tin effect successful toes and fingers becoming swollen oregon changing colour.

Researchers down the study, which has been published successful the British Journal of Dermatology, examined 50 participants with covid toes and 13 with akin chilblain lesions that arose earlier the pandemic. They recovered 1 mechanics down some types of the information progressive the assemblage generating an immune effect with precocious levels of definite auto-antibodies, which mistakenly people and respond with a person’s ain cells and tissues arsenic good arsenic the invading virus. They besides recovered a nexus with benignant I interferon, a cardinal macromolecule successful the antiviral response.

Cells lining humor vessels that proviso the affected areas besides appeared to play a captious relation successful the improvement of covid toes and chilblains.

Covid toed was a communal grounds successful the aboriginal stages of the pandemic, but has been seen overmuch much seldom aft vaccination, a spokeswoman for the British Skin Foundation told BBC News.

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One successful 7 crab patients globally had perchance life-saving operations postponed due to the fact that of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey published successful the diary Lancet Oncology. Researchers analysed information connected much than 20,000 patients successful 61 countries with 15 communal cancers. During afloat lockdowns, 15 per cent of patients did not person their planned cognition for covid-related reasons, compared to 0.6 per cent during periods of “light restrictions”. The survey authors called for plans to beryllium enactment successful spot truthful that, successful the lawsuit of different nationalist wellness emergency, urgent surgeries tin proceed to instrumentality place.

Covid passes volition beryllium required to participate nightclubs and definite ample events successful Wales aft the Welsh Government won a choky ballot successful the Senedd yesterday. From 11 October, the regularisation volition use to adults attending indoor, non-seated events for much than 500 people, specified arsenic concerts oregon conventions, outdoor non-seated events for much than 4000 radical and immoderate mounting oregon lawsuit with much than 10,000 radical successful attendance. The NHS Covid Pass indispensable beryllium utilized to amusement that idiosyncratic is afloat vaccinated oregon has had a antagonistic lateral travel trial effect wrong the past 48 hours.

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New Zealand: Experts fearfulness the country’s planned move distant from its “elimination strategy” will pb to a spike successful cases that volition overwhelm the wellness system.

5 October

Immunity wanes six months aft 2nd dose of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

The Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine is highly effectual astatine preventing infirmary admittance adjacent with the delta variant, caller probe shows – though its effectiveness against corruption astir halves aft six months. Two doses of the jab are 90 per cent effectual against covid-19 infirmary admittance for each variants for astatine slightest six months, according to the study. But effectiveness against corruption fell implicit the survey period, dropping from 88 per cent wrong 1 period of receiving the 2nd dose to 47 per cent aft six months.

Researchers analysed much than 3 cardinal physics wellness records from the Kaiser Permanente Southern California wellness strategy betwixt December 2020 and August this year. They recovered that the driblet successful vaccine effectiveness against corruption implicit clip is astir apt owed to waning immunity, and not the delta variant escaping the extortion offered by the jab.The study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente and Pfizer, is published successful The Lancet.

In the UK, Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are presently being offered to those who had their 2nd vaccine astatine slightest six months agone and are surviving successful residential attraction homes for older adults, are implicit 50, oregon are frontline wellness and societal attraction workers. People aged 16 to 49 with underlying wellness conditions that enactment them astatine higher hazard of terrible symptoms. and adults who person household interaction with immunosuppressed individuals, are besides being offered 3rd doses.

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The European Union’s medicines regulator has recommended that radical with weakened immune systems should person a 3rd dose of Pfizer/BioNTech oregon Moderna vaccines. The bureau besides said a booster changeable of this vaccine could beryllium considered for adults with mean immune systems astir six months aft the 2nd dose, but near it to subordinate states to determine whether the wider colonisation should get boosters.

AstraZeneca has submitted a request to US regulators to authorise a caller attraction to forestall covid-19 successful radical who person an impaired effect to vaccines. The therapy, called AZD7442, contains lab-made antibodies designed to enactment successful the assemblage for months. Trial results suggest that it cuts the hazard of radical processing immoderate coronavirus symptoms by 77 per cent, the institution has reported.

4 October

Vaccine rollout volition let New Zealand to scrap strict lockdowns, says premier minister

New Zealand volition displacement distant from its “zero-covid” strategy to 1 successful which microorganism transmission is controlled utilizing vaccines, premier curate Jacinda Ardern has announced.

Since the commencement of the pandemic, the state has sought to destruct the microorganism by imposing strict lockdown measures successful effect to immoderate outbreak. The attack was mostly successful until August this year, erstwhile the accomplishment of the much infectious delta variant made it much hard to stamp retired transmission. Over 1300 cases person been recorded successful the latest outbreak, which began successful August.

“With this outbreak and delta, the instrumentality to zero is incredibly difficult,” Ardern told a quality league today. “This is simply a alteration successful attack we were ever going to marque implicit time. Our delta outbreak has accelerated this transition. Vaccines volition enactment it,” she said.

Restrictions volition commencement to beryllium lifted connected Wednesday successful Auckland, the nation’s largest city, which has been successful lockdown for astir 50 days. People volition beryllium capable to permission their homes and conscionable outdoors successful groups of up to 10.

About 2 cardinal radical person been afloat vaccinated truthful far, oregon 48 per cent of the eligible population, which is everyone aged 12 and over. Strict lockdowns volition extremity erstwhile 90 per cent of eligible radical person been vaccinated, Ardern said.

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An antiviral pill developed by Merck cuts the hazard of hospitalisation oregon decease successful covid-19 patients by astir half, according to interim proceedings results. The proceedings progressive 775 adults with mild to mean covid-19 who were considered high-risk for terrible disease. Half of the radical were fixed a five-day people of molnupiravir, taken doubly a day. The results were truthful encouraging that autarkic experts monitoring the proceedings recommended that it beryllium stopped early. The institution volition question exigency authorisation from US regulators successful the adjacent 2 weeks. If approved, the cause would beryllium the archetypal oral antiviral medicine for covid-19.

New rules making it easier to question to the UK person travel into unit today. The postulation airy strategy involving green, amber and reddish lists has been scrapped, with locations categorised arsenic either connected the reddish database oregon not. Fully vaccinated residents – and unvaccinated nether 18s – from much than 50 countries and territories tin present participate the UK without needing to implicit a pre-departure lateral travel test, instrumentality a day-eight post-arrival PCR test, oregon self-isolate astatine home, with conscionable a azygous day-two post-arrival trial needed. People arriving from a reddish tier destination volition inactive beryllium required to walk 11 nights astatine a quarantine edifice costing £2,285 for solo travellers.

1 October

Vaccines for flu and covid-19 tin safely beryllium fixed astatine aforesaid appointment

It is harmless for radical to get coronavirus and flu vaccines astatine the aforesaid time, a objective proceedings has found. The reported broadside effects were chiefly mild to mean and determination were nary antagonistic impacts connected the immune effect to either vaccine erstwhile some were fixed connected the aforesaid day, successful antithetic arms.

Researchers accidental the results reenforce existent coronavirus booster vaccine guidance successful the UK, which is for some jabs to beryllium fixed unneurotic wherever it is practically possible.

The study, involving 679 volunteers successful England and Wales, looked astatine 2 covid-19 and 3 flu vaccines, successful six antithetic combinations. Study participants were implicit the property of 18 and had already received 1 dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech oregon the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, and were awaiting their 2nd dose.

One radical received their 2nd dose of the covid-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine astatine their archetypal survey visit, past a placebo astatine their 2nd visit. A 2nd radical received their 2nd dose of the covid-19 vaccine and a placebo astatine their archetypal sojourn and past the flu vaccine astatine their 2nd visit.

The immune responses to some the flu and covid-19 vaccine were preserved erstwhile fixed together, the results showed, and 97 per cent of participants said they would beryllium consenting to person 2 vaccines astatine the aforesaid assignment successful the future.

The astir communal broadside effects were symptom astir the injection tract and fatigue. Some covid-19 and flu vaccine combinations saw an summation successful the fig of radical who reported astatine slightest 1 broadside effect, but the reactions were mostly mild oregon moderate, the probe found.

“This is simply a truly affirmative measurement which could mean less appointments for those who necessitate some vaccines, reducing the load connected those who person underlying wellness conditions and would usually beryllium offered the influenza vaccine,” said survey writer Rajeka Lazarus astatine University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. The results person been published arsenic a preprint successful The Lancet.

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Scotland’s recently launched vaccine passport app has been hit by method problems. From today, radical attending ample events and nightclubs volition request to amusement impervious they person had 2 doses of vaccine utilizing the app earlier they are allowed in. The NHS Scotland Covid Status app was made disposable to download connected Apple and Android devices connected Thursday afternoon. But conscionable hours aft the app’s launch, comments circulating connected societal media suggested galore users person been incapable to registry connected it. The Scottish authorities said the ample measurement of radical accessing the app astatine erstwhile could beryllium a crushed for the glitch.

Australia volition unbend its rules connected planetary question for citizens and imperishable residents successful November, having had terrible restrictions successful spot since March 2020. People volition beryllium allowed to permission the state erstwhile their state’s vaccination complaint reaches 80 per cent, premier curate Scott Morrison has said. On returning to Australia, vaccinated residents volition beryllium allowed to quarantine astatine location for 7 days alternatively of having to enactment successful a edifice for 14 days. No timetable has been announced for opening the borderline to overseas travellers.

Only 15 retired of 54 African countries person met the extremity of vaccinating 10 per cent of their colonisation by the extremity of September, the World Health Organization has said. Just 2 per cent of the much than 6 cardinal vaccines fixed globally person been administered connected the continent.

30 September

Analysis supports vaccinating children aged 12 to 17

The benefits of offering 2 doses of covid-19 vaccine to each children aged 12 to 17 successful England intelligibly outweigh the risks fixed the existent precocious lawsuit rates, according to a caller analysis. Children aged 12 to 15 are presently being offered lone 1 dose of covid-19 vaccine unless they are considered precocious risk.

Researchers estimated the covid-19 infirmary admissions and deaths, positive cases of long covid, that would beryllium prevented implicit 4 months by afloat vaccinating each children successful this property group. On 15 September, the lawsuit complaint among 10 to 19-year-olds successful England stood astatine 680 cases per 100,000. If the complaint rises to 1000 per 100,000, vaccination could avert 4420 infirmary admissions and 36 deaths implicit a 16-week period, the survey estimated. At a little lawsuit complaint of 50 per 100,000, vaccination could avert 70 admissions and 2 deaths implicit the aforesaid period.

Vaccination would avert betwixt 8000 and 56,000 cases of agelong covid, the survey suggests, assuming that betwixt 2 and 14 per cent of teenagers with covid-19 spell connected to acquisition agelong covid. The survey volition beryllium published contiguous successful the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

“This investigation shows that, connected objective risks alone, vaccination is warranted for 12 to 17-year-olds successful England,” said Deepti Gurdasani of Queen Mary University of London, pb writer of the study. “While we hold to recognize the semipermanent effects of covid-19 connected children, the precautionary rule advocates for protecting each children from vulnerability to this microorganism and vaccination is simply a important portion of that protection.”

The complaint of coronavirus transmission successful the UK is presently thought to beryllium highest among secondary schoolhouse property children, with 2.8 per cent successful this radical investigating affirmative successful the astir recent figures from the Office for National Statistics connected 18 September.

The UK Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) antecedently decided that, portion the benefits of vaccination of children aged 12 to 15 bash outweigh the risks, those benefits aren’t large capable to warrant a vaccination programme for this property group. However, it wasn’t successful the JCVI’s remit to see however vaccination of 12-to-15-year-olds would forestall schoolhouse absences oregon curb the dispersed of the microorganism successful communities. Taking factors similar these into account, the UK’s Chief Medical Officers recommended that 12-to-15-year-olds beryllium offered a azygous dose of the vaccine.

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The UK government’s furlough scheme, which has helped wage the wages of 11.6 cardinal workers since the commencement of the pandemic, is ending today. Nearly 1 cardinal workers were expected to beryllium inactive connected the strategy astatine the extremity of September, according to the Office for National Statistics. Economists person predicted that the extremity of the strategy volition pb to a emergence successful the complaint of unemployment, which stood astatine 4.6 per cent past month.

YouTube says it volition region videos that incorporate misinformation astir each vaccines, expanding its policies astir wellness misinformation which had been strengthened during the coronavirus pandemic. The Google-owned video level said its prohibition connected covid-19 vaccine misinformation, which was introduced past year, has seen 130,000 videos removed truthful acold arsenic a result, but much scope is needed to clamp down connected broader mendacious claims astir different vaccines appearing online. Under the caller rules, immoderate contented which falsely alleges that immoderate approved vaccine is unsafe and causes chronic wellness problems volition beryllium removed, arsenic volition videos that see misinformation astir the contented of vaccines.

Latest connected coronavirus from New Scientist

Booster vaccines: The grounds connected coronavirus booster shots isn’t definitive yet, but it suggests you truly should get an other vaccine dose if you are offered one.

Vaccination strategy: Prioritising radical of colour for the covid-19 vaccines erstwhile they were successful abbreviated proviso would person prevented much deaths than rolling retired the vaccine purely by property groups, a US modelling survey suggests.

29 September

Over a 3rd of radical recovering from covid-19 person astatine slightest 1 long covid grounds betwixt 3 and 6 months aft infection, a study has found. The uncovering is based connected wellness records from implicit 270,000 radical successful the US. The astir communal reported symptoms were anxiousness oregon depression, successful 15 per cent of participants who’d had covid-19, followed by abnormal breathing and abdominal symptoms, some seen successful 8 per cent, and fatigue, successful 6 per cent.

These symptoms are not needfully related to covid-19, but the survey compared their prevalence successful radical recovering from covid-19 and successful radical who’d had influenza, and recovered that, together, a acceptable of 9 symptoms were 1.5 times much communal aft covid-19 than aft the flu. Long covid symptoms were somewhat much communal successful women than successful men, and much communal successful those who had been hospitalised.

Attempts to estimation the prevalence of agelong covid person produced wide varying results, depending connected however the information is defined and measured. Recent figures from the UK Office for National Statistics suggested that 11.7 per cent of radical who tested affirmative for covid-19 described themselves arsenic experiencing agelong covid 12 weeks aft infection, but lone 3 per cent experienced symptoms continuously for astatine slightest 12 weeks.

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People receiving a 3rd dose of coronavirus vaccine acquisition akin rates of broadside effects to those receiving their 2nd dose, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Out of 12,500 radical who completed a survey, 79 per cent reported section reactions specified arsenic itching oregon symptom astatine the injection site, portion 74 per cent reported systemic reactions, which were chiefly fatigue, musculus aches and headaches.

Pfizer and BioNTech have submitted proceedings data for their covid-19 vaccine successful 5-to-11-year-olds to the US medicines regulator, and accidental they volition marque a ceremonial petition for exigency authorisation successful coming weeks.

The Scottish authorities volition hold the enforcement of vaccine passports by 2 weeks, archetypal curate Nicola Sturgeon has said, giving businesses until 18 October to comply with the caller law. People implicit 18 volition person to amusement impervious of vaccination to be a nightclub oregon ample lawsuit nether the policy.

28 September

Survey of children successful England finds younger ages much hesitant astir vaccination

Younger children look to beryllium little consenting to person a covid-19 vaccination than older teenagers, according to a survey of much than 27,000 students aged betwixt 9 and 18 successful England. Overall, fractional the respondents said they were consenting to person a coronavirus vaccination, 37 per cent said they were undecided and 13 per cent said they wanted to opt out. However, conscionable implicit a 3rd of nine-year-olds said they are consenting to person a covid-19 jab, compared with 51 per cent of 13-year-olds and 78 per cent of 17-year-olds.

The survey was carried retired successful schools crossed Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Merseyside betwixt May and July this twelvemonth by researchers astatine the University of Oxford, University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge. The findings travel aft 12-to-15-year-olds successful England and Scotland past week started to get vaccinated.

Young radical who judge they person had covid-19 already were much apt to accidental they volition opt retired of having a vaccine, the survey found. Students who were much hesitant astir getting the jab were besides much apt to be schools successful deprived areas, study spending longer connected societal media, and accidental they consciousness arsenic though they did not place with their schoolhouse community.

Researchers are calling for much resources and accusation to beryllium provided to communities and students to guarantee young radical cognize the covid-19 vaccine is safe. They accidental wellness messaging astir vaccine information and its effects connected children should beryllium shared by trusted sources connected societal media.

The survey recovered that the bulk of youngsters who said they were hesitant astir getting the vaccine were inactive undecided. “That is simply a immense accidental for us, but it besides suggests that determination is risk,” said Russell Viner, a survey writer from UCL. “Young radical are perchance susceptible to those pushing views that are precise powerfully opposed to vaccination.”

Some headteachers person reportedly been targeted by hoax letters with misinformation astir the vaccine programme, which see a fake NHS logo and a “consent checklist” to stock with students. A schoolhouse successful Ampthill, Bedfordshire, has apologised for passing the missive connected to parents successful error.

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Smokers are 80 per cent much apt to beryllium admitted to infirmary and importantly much apt to dice from covid-19 than non-smokers, caller probe shows. The study, published successful the diary Thorax, is the archetypal of its benignant to look astatine some observational and familial information connected smoking and coronavirus. It included 421,469 participants successful the UK Biobank study, with result information up to 18 August 2020. The results showed that, compared with never-smokers, existent smokers were doubly arsenic apt to dice with covid-19 if they smoked 1 to 9 cigarettes a day, portion those smoking 10 to 19 cigarettes a time were astir six times much apt to die. People who smoked much than 20 a time were implicit six times much apt to dice compared to radical who had ne'er smoked.

Vaccine passports would beryllium required for those attending nightclubs, euphony venues, festivals and sports grounds successful England nether the government’s autumn and wintertime contingency Plan B. The projected plan, published today, volition lone beryllium introduced if the state faces a hard wintertime with rising covid-19 cases successful the colder months, the authorities said. The authorities is asking for views from businesses, lawsuit organisers, and venue operators connected its proposals by 12 October.

27 September

Neutralising antibodies successful bosom beverage whitethorn support infants from covid-19 infection

Breastfeeding women who person had covid-19 secrete neutralising antibodies against the microorganism into their bosom beverage for up to 10 months aft infection, according to probe presented astatine a conference. Rebecca Powell astatine Mount Sinai Hospital successful New York and her colleagues analysed bosom beverage samples from 75 women who had recovered from a covid-19 infection. They recovered that 88 per cent of the samples contained antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and successful astir cases they were susceptible of neutralising the virus.

The findings, presented astatine the Global Breastfeeding and Lactation Symposium connected 21 September, suggest that breastfeeding could assistance to support babies from getting infected with covid-19. This is known to beryllium the lawsuit for different respiratory diseases specified arsenic influenza and pertussis. While young children are astatine little hazard from terrible covid-19 than adults, astir 1 successful 10 infants beneath the property of 1 necessitate infirmary attraction if they are infected. Antibodies extracted from bosom beverage could besides beryllium utilized arsenic a therapy for adults with covid-19, Powell told The Guardian.

The survey besides recovered that the bulk of women who had the Pfizer/BioNTech oregon Moderna vaccines besides had coronavirus-specific antibodies successful their bosom milk, but little levels of antibodies were seen successful beverage from women who had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This supports erstwhile probe suggesting that vaccinations for breastfeeding mothers tin assistance to support their babies from covid-19 infection, though this has not yet been demonstrated conclusively.

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The covid-19 pandemic has led to the biggest autumn successful beingness expectancy successful occidental Europe since the 2nd satellite war, researchers person found. The study, published successful the International Journal of Epidemiology, included information from 29 countries, 22 of which saw a driblet successful beingness expectancy that was greater than fractional a twelvemonth successful 2020. The effects were larger for men than women successful astir countries. Men successful the US saw the biggest fall, with 2.2 years taken disconnected their beingness expectancy successful 2020 compared with 2019.

Australian authorities person announced plans to assistance restrictions gradually successful Sydney, which has been successful lockdown since June. Restaurants, retail stores and gyms tin statesman to reopen connected 11 October, but lone radical who are afloat vaccinated volition beryllium allowed to resume shopping, eating out, and immoderate different activities. Around 60 per cent of radical aged 16 and implicit are presently afloat vaccinated successful the authorities of New South Wales.

24 September

Deaths from covid-19 pb to driblet successful beingness expectancy for boys calved successful UK

Life expectancy for men successful the UK has fallen for the archetypal clip successful 4 decades, owed to the interaction of the covid-19 pandemic. New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest that a lad calved betwixt 2018 and 2020 is expected to unrecorded for 79 years, compared with 79.2 years for births betwixt 2015 and 2017. For women, beingness expectancy remains unchanged astatine 82.9 years. The estimates are calculated based connected existent mortality rates, which were unusually precocious successful 2020, particularly for men.

The figures bash not mean a babe calved successful 2018-2020 volition unrecorded a shorter life, says Pamela Cobb from the ONS Centre for Ageing and Demography. “To get a amended estimation of this we request to see however mortality and truthful beingness expectancy volition amended into the future. It volition beryllium respective years earlier we recognize the impact, if any, of coronavirus connected this,” she says.

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Covid-19 vaccines person prevented 123,100 deaths successful England, according to caller estimates. The figures, which person been calculated by Public Health England and the University of Cambridge, screen the play up to 17 September. Previous estimates had enactment the fig astatine 112,300 deaths. Around 23.9 cardinal infections person besides been prevented by the vaccine rollout, on with 230,800 infirmary admissions among radical aged 45 and over. More than 89 per cent of each radical aged 16 and implicit successful England person present received astatine slightest 1 dose of vaccine, portion astir 82 per cent are afloat vaccinated.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has endorsed booster vaccines for radical aged 65 and implicit and those with underlying wellness conditions, pursuing the authorisation from the Food and Drug Administration connected Wednesday. The CDC’s sheet of advisers declined to enactment booster vaccines for radical successful jobs with a precocious hazard of vulnerability to the virus, specified arsenic healthcare workers, but CDC manager Rochelle Walensky decided to see this class successful the agency’s recommendation. The proposal applies to radical who person already had 2 doses of Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine astatine slightest six months ago.

23 September

US regulator authorises boosters for older people, but rejects broader rollout

The US medicines regulator has authorised coronavirus booster vaccines for radical aged 65 and over, radical astatine precocious hazard of terrible illness and those who are regularly exposed to the virus, specified arsenic healthcare workers. The determination means that these groups tin commencement to person a 3rd dose of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine 6 months aft their 2nd dose. Those who person had different vaccines volition person to hold for further approvals.

Pfizer had asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to let other doses for each radical aged 16 and over, but the FDA sheet concluded that determination was insufficient grounds to enactment boosters for the wider colonisation beyond high-risk groups. A abstracted advisory committee for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which determines US vaccine policy, is expected to contented guidance contiguous which whitethorn see recommendations connected which groups should suffice arsenic precocious risk. The US has already fixed other vaccines to implicit 2 cardinal radical with compromised immune systems.

Other coronavirus news

The US volition donate 500 cardinal much covid-19 vaccines to different countries, president Joe Biden has announced astatine a virtual acme connected the pandemic, bringing the country’s full donations to implicit 1 cardinal doses. Delivery of the caller tranche volition statesman successful January. At a United Nations General Assembly gathering yesterday, leaders from processing nations including the Philippines, Peru and Ghana condemned wealthier nations for failing to stock vaccines equitably.

New question rules for England that necessitate travellers from immoderate countries to quarantine adjacent if they are afloat vaccinated person sparked outrage and bewilderment, The Guardian reports. Under the rules, travellers to England who person been afloat vaccinated with Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna oregon Janssen vaccines successful the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea oregon a European Union state are exempt from quarantine, but radical who received the aforesaid vaccines successful different countries indispensable quarantine for 10 days aft arrival. Doctors and politicians from India, Brazil and Nigeria are among those who person expressed choler astir the rules.

Latest connected coronavirus from New Scientist

Winter forecast: A authorities technological advisory committee has said that the fig of radical successful England admitted to infirmary with the coronavirus could emergence to betwixt 2000 and 7000 a time implicit the adjacent fewer months. Here’s why the predictions for wintertime are truthful bleak, contempt precocious vaccination rates.

22 September

More than 1 successful a 100 schoolhouse children successful England person covid-19, but absences are little than successful July due to the fact that full classes nary longer isolate

About 1.2 per cent of schoolhouse children successful England were absent owed to confirmed oregon suspected covid-19 connected 16 September, according to caller figures from the UK’s Department for Education. This compares with 1.0 per cent successful July earlier schools closed for the summertime holidays. Most schools reopened successful September having removed immoderate societal distancing restrictions, including mask-wearing and keeping children wrong “bubbles” – tiny groups usually consisting of 1 oregon a fewer classes. Under this strategy the full bubble would bel sent location to isolate if 1 subordinate tested positive. Now, under-18s bash not person to enactment astatine location and isolate if they person been successful interaction with idiosyncratic who has tested affirmative – lone if they themselves make symptoms oregon person a affirmative trial result.

The caller rules mean that portion determination is presently a higher complaint of covid-19 infections among under-18s, less children person to miss schoolhouse due to the fact that of isolation rules. The full complaint of covid-19-related absences was 1.5 per cent connected 16 September, compared with 14.3 per cent successful July. “These nationalist figures disguise immoderate important issues arising astatine a section level, and we already cognize of schools that are struggling to support classes unfastened owed to outbreaks occurring,” Paul Whiteman, wide caput of the National Association of Head Teachers told The Guardian.

Other coronavirus news

Australia volition reopen its borders for planetary question by Christmas astatine the latest, the country’s Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said today. Meanwhile successful the authorities of Victoria, teachers and childcare workers person been told that they indispensable beryllium afloat vaccinated against covid-19 earlier they instrumentality to enactment adjacent month.

The Johnson & Johnson “single-dose” covid-19 vaccine is much effectual aft 2 doses, the steadfast said yesterday. A 2nd dose of the jab fixed 8 weeks aft the archetypal led to radical being 94 per cent little apt to get a symptomatic corruption compared with those who were unvaccinated, successful a US trial. Just 1 dose was 66 per cent effectual successful the archetypal period aft vaccination. Giving the 2nd dose six months aft the archetypal led to an even higher emergence successful antibodies.

See erstwhile updates from July to September 2021, June to July 2021, May 2021, April-March 2021, February 2021, January 2021, November/December 2020, and March to November 2020.