Infection rate

A new poll shows Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden widening his lead over President Donald Trump to 7 percentage points in Georgia, a solidly red state that hasn't gone for a Democratic candidate since 1992. In the latest Quinnipiac poll, released Wednesday, Trump trailed Biden by seven percent with 44 percent of support from likely voters in the state, compared to Biden's 51 percent. Four percent of respondents were undecided. The former vice president's lead over his Republican opponent grew by 4 points since the last poll conducted by Quinnipiac in September, which had Biden at 50 percent and Trump at 47. The last survey was taken before the two candidates faced off in their first presidential debate and Trump's coronavirus infection. Biden's favorability rating has also grown in Georgia. Today's poll showed Biden drawing a net positive favorability rating—51 percent favorable among likely voters in the state and 46 percent unfavorable. In the September survey, … [Read more...] about After Trump’s COVID infection, Biden doubles lead to 7 points in Georgia—a state democrats haven’t won since 1992

Greene King is to cut up to 800 jobs and shut dozens of pubs after warning that ministers' 10pm curfew has trashed the hospitality industry. The pub operator, which employs 38,000 people, will close 79 of its 3,100 sites due to the restrictions - with a third expected to never reopen. Greene King has started a consultation process with 800 staff regarding potential redundancies, Sky News reported. The company - owned by Hong Kong's richest man Li Ka-shing - will try to move workers to remaining sites where possible. The announcement will pile further pressure on Boris Johnson to scrap the 10pm closing time for pubs and restaurants, as backbench opposition mounts amid questions over the science behind the curfew and its impact on infection rates. Last month Greene King said that fewer than 1pc of its sites have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace since they reopened in July, suggesting infection rates are low. A spokesman for Greene King said: “The continued tightening of … [Read more...] about Greene King cuts 800 jobs as curfew rule hits pubs

High risk contacts of monkeypox patients are required to isolate for three weeks, guidance from UK health chiefs states. Others who had a lesser degree of exposure are advised to steer clear of children, people with conditions affecting their immune systems and pregnant women - but are not required to stay home. Guidelines introduced in 2018 state that everyone identified as a contact is assessed on a "case by case" basis in order to contain the disease. Those identified as being at risk are divided into three categories, with those in the highest level ordered to quarantine for 21 days. The rules were brought in following cases of monkeypox in 2018, and have not been changed in light of the latest outbreak. Scroll down to see the guidance for each category of contact The hands of a patient with monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( Image: via REUTERS) The UK has confirmed 20 cases of monkeypox in the past fortnight - having previously recorded … [Read more...] about UK monkeypox isolation rules explained with 21 day quarantine for those at highest risk

The mystery outbreak of hepatitis among children has peaked, experts believe, but those affected will have their DNA sequenced to find out if there is a genetic link to the condition. Since January, 176 children have been diagnosed with unexplained acute hepatitis in Britain, with 11 requiring a liver transplant . Doctors and scientists are still baffled about what is causing the condition , but suspect that some children may be having an unexpected reaction to an adenovirus, a common infection which can cause colds, sore throats, pneumonia and diarrhoea. More than 70 per cent of children diagnosed with the condition were also found to have had an adenovirus infection, although experts are unsure what is the current background rate in the wider population. Link to dogs ruled out Fears that children could be picking up an infection from dogs was ruled out on Thursday by the UK Health Security Agency, and experts also no longer think that a coronavirus infection is … [Read more...] about Children’s hepatitis cases ‘have peaked’ as doctors study genetic link to disease

A politician who publishes a book while still active is usually making a career move. In this sense, people are right to see Jeremy Hunt’s new book, Zero , as contributing to a leadership bid . His book is about the National Health Service, drawing on his experience as the longest-serving health secretary in history (six years). Later, Theresa May promoted him to foreign secretary. Boris Johnson – who beat him for the Tory leadership – deposed him. Mr Hunt is currently working on a book about foreign policy. Taken together, these two books – the first domestic, the second global – will convey a message: “I have a grasp of these things. I am a serious player.” They imply a second message, one which Mr Hunt is too courteous to make explicit: “Boris is not a serious player.” The main generalisation the book makes about leadership is: “The best leaders are often not those with the biggest presence. [They] have succeeded … because they are more likely to assemble strong leadership … [Read more...] about Patients are failed by the NHS’s blind belief in its own altruism – and no politician can admit it

The number of people waiting for NHS treatment may be twice the figures being reported, with millions missing from official data, the Telegraph has learned. Analysis seen by this paper shows that the current method of counting vastly underestimates the true scale of the problem , with some patients lost in the system or removed before treatment is complete. Latest official figures show that a record 6.4 million patients were waiting for treatment in March, one in 10 of the population, an increase of three per cent since February. But the Telegraph understands the true figure may be closer to 13 million, almost one in five people in Britain. Insiders have warned that hospitals are being incentivised to bring patients in for a first appointment and get them off the waiting list quickly, even though they may still require many months of treatment or operations. The NHS considers a patient removed from the waiting list once they are seen following a Referral for … [Read more...] about Number of people waiting for NHS treatment may be ‘more than twice as long as official list’

Covid deaths in England and Wales during the omicron wave fell to similar levels as usual winter mortality from flu and pneumonia, latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown. The ONS reported that from December 2021 to March 2022, deaths due to coronavirus had “fallen more in line” with what would normally be expected during the winter in pre-pandemic years. Figures showed that an average of 3,178 people a month died from flu or pneumonia in the four winter months between 2001-02 and 2018-19. Last winter, 2,909 people died on average each month due to Covid. 'Too soon to tell' Covid seasonal patterns “Deaths due to flu and pneumonia have fallen to historic lows during the coronavirus pandemic,” the ONS said in a release. “While deaths due to Covid-19 in the latest winter were still double that of those due to flu and pneumonia, they were more in line with those seen due to flu and pneumonia in pre-pandemic years. “However, it’s … [Read more...] about Covid deaths this winter similar to normal level of flu and pneumonia fatalities

Breakfast Speaking on Breakfast on Monday, Epidemiologist Dr Anne Rimoin said the disease is generally mild. Health authorities around the world are on the alert for cases of monkeypox, although the Ministry of Health says there’s only a “low” risk of importing the disease into this country. In its latest update, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 92 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox in the past few weeks in countries where the virus is not endemic. None of the cases are in New Zealand, but single cases have been confirmed in Sydney and Melbourne, in men who recently returned from Europe and the UK. So far, no travel links had been established between those with the disease in the current outbreak, and the West and Central African areas where it was endemic, WHO said. READ MORE: US says it has vaccines to treat monkeypox amid concerns over disease's spread Ministry of Health: Risk of monkeypox in New Zealand low What is monkeypox … [Read more...] about Everyone is talking about monkeypox – so should you be worried?

Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic Covid-19 is associated with impaired function of the right side of the heart, new research on intensive care patients has found. Led by experts from NHS Golden Jubilee, the Covid-RV study was carried out in 10 intensive care units in Scotland. It assessed the impact the virus had on 121 critically ill patients who required treatment on ventilators. About one in three patients showed abnormalities in the side of the heart that pumps blood to the lungs. Nearly half (47%) of ventilated patients in the study died because of Covid-19, a figure comparable to national and international death rates. The research, conducted at the height of the pandemic from September 2020 to March 2021 before the full impact of the vaccine programme kicked in, sought to help improve future … [Read more...] about Covid-19 linked to impaired heart function, study finds