Covid-19 news: UK data reveals 56 per cent rise in recorded cases

By Michael Le Page, Clare Wilson, Jessica Hamzelou, Sam Wong, Graham Lawton, Adam Vaughan, Conrad Quilty-Harper, Jason Arunn Murugesu, Layal Liverpool, Carissa Wong, Alex Wilkins and Alexandra Thompson Commuters exit a London Overground train, Liverpool Street, London AFP via Getty Images Latest coronavirus news as of 1pm 14 March Nearly 400,000 people in the UK … Read more

Covid-19 news: Arthritis drug shows promise to treat severe cases

By Michael Le Page, Clare Wilson, Jessica Hamzelou, Sam Wong, Graham Lawton, Adam Vaughan, Conrad Quilty-Harper, Jason Arunn Murugesu, Layal Liverpool, Carissa Wong, Alex Wilkins and Alexandra Thompson Baricitinib Felipe caparros cruz/Alamy Latest coronavirus news as of 12pm on 4 March Immune-suppressing treatment reduces deaths even in people already taking existing covid-19 medicines Another treatment … Read more

Some Children Die Without Explanation. Genetics Is Finally Giving Us Answers

The sudden and unexpected death of a child is a tragedy made all the worse when there’s absolutely no explanation. Each year in the United States, hundreds of children die for undetermined reasons, usually in their sleep or while resting. Due to the way deaths are investigated and certified, it’s hard to say how often this … Read more

Long-Haul COVID Cases Could Spike after Latest Wave

When Omicron started its gigantic surge across the country, many Americans took solace in data suggesting that this variant is milder than earlier versions of the coronavirus. But one urgent question is whether Omicron changes the risk of “long COVID,” a cluster of debilitating symptoms that include fatigue, headache, pain and shortness of breath that … Read more

Lots of People Die Every Year During or After Having Sex. A Pathologist Explains Why

Sex has many beneficial physical and psychological effects, including reducing high blood pressure, improving the immune system and aiding better sleep. The physical act of sex and orgasm releases the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which is important in building trust and bonding between people.   But there’s a dark side: people sometimes die … Read more

In rare cases, coronavirus vaccines may cause Long Covid–like symptoms | Science

In late 2020, Brianne Dressen began to spend hours in online communities for people with Long Covid, a chronic, disabling syndrome that can follow a bout with the virus. “For months, I just lurked there,” says Dressen, a former preschool teacher in Saratoga Springs, Utah, “reviewing post after post of symptoms that were just like … Read more

We’re Facing a Myopia ‘Epidemic’, Scientists Say. Here’s Why

Scientists are warning of an emerging ‘epidemic‘ of myopia or near-sightedness, having observed sharp increases in the adult onset of myopia among late baby boomers. Based on data collected from 107,442 participants in the extensive Biobank program in the UK, people born in the late 1960s are 10 percent more likely to be near-sighted than … Read more

Covid-19 news: Falling cases in UK suggests omicron wave has peaked

By Michael Le Page, Clare Wilson, Jessica Hamzelou, Sam Wong, Graham Lawton, Adam Vaughan, Conrad Quilty-Harper, Jason Arunn Murugesu and Layal Liverpool Stewards check covid-19 passes at a football match in Manchester, England AFP via Getty Images Latest coronavirus news as of 12pm on 17 January A fall in coronavirus cases and plateau in hospital … Read more

Scientists Identify Specific Gene Variant That Protects Against Severe COVID-19

Researchers have discovered a protective gene variant that seems to shield people from severe cases of COVID-19, and the finding could lead to new breakthroughs in fighting the coronavirus.   Since much earlier in the pandemic, scientists have been busily investigating how patient genetics influence the severity of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, exposing the inherited factors … Read more

Covid-19 news: Wales rows back omicron restrictions as cases fall

By Michael Le Page, Clare Wilson, Jessica Hamzelou, Sam Wong, Graham Lawton, Adam Vaughan, Conrad Quilty-Harper, Jason Arunn Murugesu and Layal Liverpool A man wears a Wales face mask on Queen Street in Cardiff, Wales Matthew Horwood/Getty Images Latest coronavirus news as of 1pm on 14 January Wales joins Scotland and Northern Ireland in planning … Read more