COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom has often foreshadowed what came later elsewhere. The highly contagious Alpha variant was first detected there, and the country then reported high caseloads of the more-contagious Delta strain before this variant dispersed around the rest of the world. The United Kingdom also saw a wave of infections that seems to have preceded a similar glut now sweeping Western Europe.

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UK - London

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Read more about Why scientists worldwide are watching the UK's COVID infections experiences
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Life expectancy fell sharply in the U.S. and Russia last year because of COVID

Thu, 2021-11-04 10:57 — mike kraft

The United States had the second-steepest decline in life expectancy among high-income countries last year during the pandemic, according to a study of death data spanning several continents.

The only country studied that saw a starker overall trend was Russia.

The study, published Wednesday in The BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal), assessed premature death in 37 countries, comparing observed life expectancy in 2020 with what would have been expected for the year based on historical trends from 2005-2019. Life expectancy dropped in 31 of these countries during the pandemic.

The U.S. trend was among the worst. ...

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Experts are warning that the push to vaccinate kids has already been seized on by groups looking to spread anti-vaccination messages.

Thu, 2021-11-04 10:26 — mike kraft

Dr. Natasha Burgert is well aware of the concerns parents have about the Covid-19 vaccines.

The Kansas pediatrician, who is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said she’s already been counseling some parents about their fears. And she worries that they are entering a particularly sensitive time — one that anti-vaccination activists could exploit.

“If the anti-vaccine industry starts doing what we anticipate, with those very graphic and emotionally charged videos, and bringing out their supposed experts, I think it’s going to affect a new group of parents,” she said.

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Rules issued: American businesses have until after the holidays to implement Biden Covid vaccine mandate

Thu, 2021-11-04 10:12 — mike kraft

Businesses have until after the holidays to implement Biden Covid vaccine mandate The newly released Labor Department rules apply to businesses with 100 or more employees. Spencer Kimball,Leslie Josephs CNBC

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Britain approves Merck's COVID-19 pill in world first shown to treat COVID

Thu, 2021-11-04 08:52 — mike kraft

UK authorizes Merck antiviral pill, 1st shown to treat COVID LONDON (AP) — Britain granted conditional authorization on Thursday to the only pill shown to successfully treat COVID-19 so far. It is the first country to OK the treatment from drugmaker Merck, although it wasn't immediately clear how quickly the pill would be available. AP NEWS

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Scientists fear animals could harbor coronavirus and then pass it back to humans

Wed, 2021-11-03 20:25 — mike kraft

Scientists fear animals could harbor coronavirus and then pass it “This also raises the possibility of the spillback from deer back to humans, especially in exurban areas with high deer densities,” researchers said. Joseph Guzman TheHill

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COVID proteins that trigger strokes and heart attacks identified by Israeli team

Wed, 2021-11-03 20:12 — mike kraft

COVID proteins that trigger strokes and heart attacks identified by Israeli team Discovery, made through ‘peek in virus's black box,’ could lead to therapies that halt havoc wrought on vascular system, say Tel Aviv University scientists timesofisrael

Israeli scientists have identified the virus proteins that are triggering strokes and heart attacks in COVID-19 patients, in a breakthrough they expect will pave the way for new drugs.

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