Tag Archives: coronavirus

Krakenimages/Shutterstock Müge Çevik, University of St Andrews and Antonia Ho, University of Glasgow A close friend – let’s call him John – recently called, asking for advice. He woke up with severe muscle aches and fatigue. Understandably worried that it could be COVID-19, he asked whether he should go to work, run to get a test or stay home. Because …

Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock Connor Bamford, Queen’s University Belfast y Grace C Roberts, Queen’s University Belfast With coronaviruses taking over our news feeds – and lives – you may be fooled into thinking it’s the only virus affecting humans at the moment. But it’s important to remember that there are many viruses, especially respiratory viruses, that regularly infect us. These viruses range …

A man wearing a continuous positive airway pressure mask – one of the techniques preferred over using a mechanical ventilator. Kiryl Lis/Shutterstock Michael Steiner, University of Leicester As the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic hits hospitals, the hiss and bubble of advanced respiratory support is an increasingly familiar sound on medical wards. This is because some patients who become …

Tom Solomon, University of Liverpool The Oxford vaccine – developed in partnership with AstraZeneca – stops 70% of people developing COVID symptoms. And, depending on how the doses are given, may even protect up to 90% of people. This follows recent announcements from Pfizer and from Moderna that their vaccines provide greater than 90% efficacy. The positive news about COVID-19 …

Adrienne Yong, City, University of London and Sabrina Germain, City, University of London We were told at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic that the virus did not discriminate. But the truth is that COVID-19 has brought to light the structural inequalities in healthcare that have existed for decades. In the UK, people from an ethnic minority background are more …

Mark Toshner, University of Cambridge I’m a clinical trials geek. I keep hearing people talk about the seven to ten years it takes to make a vaccine and how dangerous speeding this up might be. The word that keeps popping up is “rushed”, and it is making the average person nervous about vaccine safety. So, as a clinical trials doctor, …

Jimmy Whitworth, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine As the northern hemisphere moves into winter, coronavirus rates are rising in parts of Europe and the USA. Experts are warning of a long winter ahead as COVID-19 and influenza put the squeeze on hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In response to the threat presented by the second wave, European countries …

Simple steps like wearing a face mask can lower the risk of getting COVID-19 for the wearers and those around them. Jennah Moon/Getty Images Melissa Burdi, Purdue University As temperatures fall, people are spending more time indoors. That heightens the risk of the coronavirus spreading, but there are some simple steps you can take to help protect yourself and everyone …

Open windows and doors to boost air flow and help remove airborne particles. Daniela Torres/EyeEm via Getty Images Shelly Miller, University of Colorado Boulder The vast majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs indoors, mostly from the inhalation of airborne particles that contain the coronavirus. But in spite of the obvious risks posed by being inside, according to the Centers for Disease …

Health fads have come and gone over the decades. Is CBD another one? Getty Images / Lauri Patterson C. Michael White, University of Connecticut The claims for CBD’s alleged healing powers have been so exaggerated that it’s no surprise that a CBD maker was recently warned by the New York attorney general for claiming that the molecule can fight COVID-19. …