In neither case was it found that these variants increased transmission of the disease. However, it is now clear that this not the case for variant VUI-202012/01. What scientists must now tackle are concerns about the impact of the new variant – in particular whether it will lead to an increase in cases of severe Covid illness or actually result in fewer cases. The other big issue is whether the new variant will be able to bypass the protection offered by the Covid-19 vaccines now being administered across Britain. … [Read more...] about What is the new Covid strain – and will vaccines work against it?
Infectious diseases
Italy shuts bars and restaurants in five more regions as another eight million people are added to ‘orange zones’ amid ‘out-of-control’ virus outbreak
Italy's death toll leaped by 580 today, the highest figure since April. Deaths are now at an average of 419 per day, up from 25 a month ago although lower than the peak in the spring, when a single-day record of 969 deaths was set on March 27 … [Read more...] about Italy shuts bars and restaurants in five more regions as another eight million people are added to ‘orange zones’ amid ‘out-of-control’ virus outbreak
Europe is running low on intensive care beds – and the doctors and nurses to staff them – amid coronavirus spike
Dr Robert Guerri, head of the infectious diseases department and coordinator of Covid-19 admissions at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, said: 'On the one hand, the health workers are tired; on the other hand, the number of people that are working on the front line is limited.' … [Read more...] about Europe is running low on intensive care beds – and the doctors and nurses to staff them – amid coronavirus spike
Hospitals in Japan close to collapse as serious Covid cases soar
More than 30,000 people with no or mild Covid symptoms have been asked to recuperate at home as more hospitals near capacity. As of last weekend, 14,806 people were being treated in hospital, while a further 7,781 were staying at specially designated hotels and other accommodations, Kyodo said. … [Read more...] about Hospitals in Japan close to collapse as serious Covid cases soar
Covid killing one person every EIGHT MINUTES in LA as 2,700 bodies are stacked up in morgues
"One, double down on the public health measures we've been talking about all the time," he continued. "Be very compulsive, as the president-elect says, at least for the first 100 days and maybe more, everybody wear a mask, keep the distance, avoid congregate settings." … [Read more...] about Covid killing one person every EIGHT MINUTES in LA as 2,700 bodies are stacked up in morgues
