New Covid test that spots variants faster could HALVE the time it takes to identify mutant strains, experts say New variant test will soon be testing every Covid positive sample for mutations Genotype assay testing could halve the time it takes to spot virus mutations The new system is currently being trialled in NHS Test … Read more
Two strains of coronavirus that emerged in California last summer and fall have been declared ‘variants of concern’ by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health officials think that each variant is about 20 percent more transmissible than the currently dominant ‘original’ variant, based on early data. Lab studies also suggest that some … Read more
Mutant strains of the coronavirus are ‘very unlikely’ to stop the UK having a normal summer, a top scientist has said. Head of the Covid-19 Genomics UK scientific body Professor Sharon Peacock said tweaking vaccines will allow Britain to ‘stay ahead’ of Covid-19. Prof Peacock said she was ‘optimistic’ Britain’s world-leading jab rollout means the … Read more
Common UK garden animals like hedgehogs, rabbits and even the domestic cat have the potential to harbour new strains of coronavirus, a new study reveals. UK researchers used machine learning to predict associations between 411 strains of coronavirus and 876 potential mammal host species. Their machine learning model integrated characteristics extracted from genomes, such as protein structure, as … Read more
Austria Austria, has, according to latest data, recorded 75 cases of the South African variant and 25 of the British variant. It has recently warned against non-essential travel to its Alpine province of Tyrol because of an outbreak of the so-called South African variant of the coronavirus there, the government said in a statement on … Read more
MARKET REPORT: Novacyt in demand after it launches products that can detect new variants of the Covid virus By Francesca Washtell For The Daily Mail Published: 22:53 GMT, 2 February 2021 | Updated: 22:53 GMT, 2 February 2021 Novacyt proved it is still a fast mover in the battle to beat Covid after launching products … Read more
After throwing its doors open to partygoers over the New Year, Dubai is now facing the economic cost of surging coronavirus cases as flight bans threaten its £23billion tourism sector. Britain last night placed an outright travel ban on the Middle East party haven where the New Year revelry has been blamed for a spike … Read more
Porton Down scientists are ‘confident’ that all mutant strains of coronavirus can be beaten with vaccines Porton Down scientists increasingly confident vaccines will counter new strains Research lab says this includes the so-called South African and Kent variants British firm ConserV Bioscience’s vaccine aims to protect against all strains By Daily Mail Reporter Published: 01:14 … Read more
Nursing leaders have called for higher-grade face masks to be given to staff to protect them against highly transmissible strains of Covid-19. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the British Medical Association (BMA) warned that members had raised fears they were being given inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) in a letter to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). … Read more
Scanning sewage for new coronavirus variants is a viable strategy for speeding up detection of new strains which may be more infectious, a study has found. Wastewater analysis has previously been identified as a good way of spotting signs of local infection, but now Covid is rife around the world the focus has shifted towards … Read more