Self isolation

Some of the first people to check into quarantine hotels have had their first taste of freedom upon their release today after self-isolating for 11 nights. From last Monday, UK and Irish nationals returning to England from a "red list" country deemed at high risk for COVID-19 have had to check into quarantine hotels. Hotel "guests" have criticised the £1,750 fee for the stay , which is punishable by a fine of up to £10,000 or 10 years in prison if breached. The rule applies to people returning to Scotland from any destination. One couple, Wagner and Elaine Araujo, who were among the first people to be released from hotel quarantine, said the experience was "horrible" but they enjoyed spending quality time together. Advertisement More from Covid-19 Bus driver jailed for life after battering wife to death during first coronavirus lockdown COVID-19: People in their 40s first for phase two of vaccine rollout - no priority for … [Read more...] about COVID-19: First travellers released from hotel quarantine – ‘It was horrible’

A single dose of the Pfizer /BioNTech coronavirus vaccine may block 75 per cent of symptomless infections, a study on NHS workers has suggested. Asymptomatic screening of staff at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge showed the number of people testing positive fell from 0.8 per cent to 0.2 per cent 12 days after their injection. The 'very impressive' findings are another sign that the UK's gamble to delay the second dose in a bid to get wider coverage quicker has paid off. Curbing symptomless infections is crucial to stopping outbreaks from growing unknowingly because people who do not feel ill are less likely to self-isolate. Numerous studies had indicated that a single injection of the Pfizer jab prevented severe illness and death but to what degree it blocked asymptomatic spread was unclear. Research has also suggested Oxford University's jab stops more than 60 per cent of asymptomatic cases. The study, led by Cambridge University, analysed thousands of weekly Covid … [Read more...] about Single dose of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine blocks three-quarters of symptomless infections, study on NHS staff finds

GREECE is aiming to welcome tourists from the UK in ten weeks’ time in what would be a “dovetailing” of plans to open up travel between the two countries. The Greek tourism minister Haris Theocharis praised the British prime minister’s unveiling of a roadmap out of lockdown, saying it provided the clarity for travel plans to finally be made. He said: “We’ll try to dovetail with the plan that has been announced in the UK, a May 17 date has been announced there a nd we want to be certain to be ready by then and more generally support [the UK’s] opening.” Athens has been pushing for vaccine passports to be endorsed by the EU, saying certificates proving the Covid-status of  travellers will help accelerate mass tourism. He added: “ The roadmap was a very, very good move by the UK government … planning is a pre-requisite for the travel industry, there are so many things we have missed and this year it seems for many people to be a necessity to go on vacation.” The Greek … [Read more...] about Greece aims to welcome Brit tourists in 10 weeks – with ‘fast-track vaccinated lanes’ at airports and cheap rapid tests

ALMOST half of those struck down with Covid-19 develop depression, new research has found. Experts revealed that a high number of patients have been suffering with mental health issues as well as common coronavirus symptoms. The three main symptoms of Covid-19 include a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell. If you have any of the above symptoms then you need to get a test and isolate. British scientists from Anglia Ruskin University have now warned that symptoms you can't see - such as depression could be more common than experts previously thought. Study co-author Professor Shahina Pardhan said those who are more vulnerable were more likely to suffer from depression. The experts warned that 48 per cent of participants were categorised as having moderate to severe depression. The findings were taken from 1,002 patients aged 18 to 81 over September and October. Researchers found that those most prone to suffer from depression … [Read more...] about Half of Covid sufferers develop depression, doctors warn – the 5 signs to watch for