A new "no swab" saliva coronavirus test that lets people collect their own sample at home by spitting into a pot is being trialled in the UK.More than 14,000 GP staff and other key workers, along with the people they live with, will take part. The pilot, led by Southampton University, will run for four weeks. Experts hope a saliva test will be an easier option for people - swabs can be uncomfortable and need to go deep into the nose and throat. The tests are designed to identify if a person is currently infected with coronavirus. Participants in the trial, which will include some university...…A new "no swab" saliva coronavirus test that lets people collect their own sample at home by spitting into a pot is being trialled in the UK.More than 14,000 GP staff and other key workers, along with the people they live with, will take part. The pilot, led by Southampton University, will run for four weeks. Experts hope a saliva test will be an easier option for people - swabs can be uncomfortable and need to go deep into the nose and throat. The tests are designed to identify if a person is currently infected with coronavirus. Participants in the trial, which will include some university...WW…

Scientists are running a trial to see if ibuprofen can help hospital patients who are sick with coronavirus. The team from London's Guy's and St Thomas' hospital and King's College believe the drug, which is an anti-inflammatory as well as a painkiller, could treat breathing difficulties.They hope the low-cost treatment can keep patients off ventilators. called Liberate, half of the patients will receive ibuprofen in addition to usual care. The trial will use a special formulation of ibuprofen rather than the regular tablets that people might usually buy. Some people already take this lipid...…Scientists are running a trial to see if ibuprofen can help hospital patients who are sick with coronavirus. The team from London's Guy's and St Thomas' hospital and King's College believe the drug, which is an anti-inflammatory as well as a painkiller, could treat breathing difficulties.They hope the low-cost treatment can keep patients off ventilators. called Liberate, half of the patients will receive ibuprofen in addition to usual care. The trial will use a special formulation of ibuprofen rather than the regular tablets that people might usually buy. Some people already take this lipid...WW…

Washing your hands at least six to 10 times a day makes catching infections such as coronavirus much less likely, a study by UK researchers suggests. It looked at data, from 2006-09, on viruses structurally very similar to the deadly pandemic strain circulating now. Coronaviruses are a family of virus that most usually cause mild illness such as the common cold. And all of them, including the pandemic one, can be killed by soap and water. Each winter the Medical Research Council asks people in England whether they have flu-like respiratory symptoms and tests those who do for common cold...…Washing your hands at least six to 10 times a day makes catching infections such as coronavirus much less likely, a study by UK researchers suggests. It looked at data, from 2006-09, on viruses structurally very similar to the deadly pandemic strain circulating now. Coronaviruses are a family of virus that most usually cause mild illness such as the common cold. And all of them, including the pandemic one, can be killed by soap and water. Each winter the Medical Research Council asks people in England whether they have flu-like respiratory symptoms and tests those who do for common cold...WW…

A drug treatment called remdesivir that appears to shorten recovery time for people with coronavirus is being made available on the NHS. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was probably the biggest step forward in the treatment of coronavirus since the crisis began. Remdesivir is an anti-viral medicine that has been used against Ebola. UK regulators say there is enough evidence to approve its use in selected Covid-19 hospital patients. For the time being and due to limited supplies, it will go to those most likely to benefit.The US and Japan have already made similar urgent arrangements...…A drug treatment called remdesivir that appears to shorten recovery time for people with coronavirus is being made available on the NHS. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was probably the biggest step forward in the treatment of coronavirus since the crisis began. Remdesivir is an anti-viral medicine that has been used against Ebola. UK regulators say there is enough evidence to approve its use in selected Covid-19 hospital patients. For the time being and due to limited supplies, it will go to those most likely to benefit.The US and Japan have already made similar urgent arrangements...WW…

Dominic Cummings has faced a media grilling over his decision during lockdown to drive his family 260 miles to his parent's property in Durham.While he was defending his actions, it emerged the family also took a 30-minute car trip to the town of Barnard Castle at the end of their 14-day quarantine for coronavirus symptoms. They had not been sightseeing, he said.It had been to test his eyesight, which had "been affected" by the virus, before the long drive home to London. His boss, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, backed the claim, saying: "On the point about eyesight, I'm finding I have to...…Dominic Cummings has faced a media grilling over his decision during lockdown to drive his family 260 miles to his parent's property in Durham.While he was defending his actions, it emerged the family also took a 30-minute car trip to the town of Barnard Castle at the end of their 14-day quarantine for coronavirus symptoms. They had not been sightseeing, he said.It had been to test his eyesight, which had "been affected" by the virus, before the long drive home to London. His boss, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, backed the claim, saying: "On the point about eyesight, I'm finding I have to...WW…

A cheap and widely available drug can help save the lives of patients seriously ill with coronavirus.The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is a major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus, UK experts say. The drug is part of to see if they also work for coronavirus. It cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth.Had the drug had been used to treat patients in the UK from the start of the pandemic, up to 5,000 lives could have been saved, researchers say.And it could be of huge benefit in poorer countries...…A cheap and widely available drug can help save the lives of patients seriously ill with coronavirus.The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is a major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus, UK experts say. The drug is part of to see if they also work for coronavirus. It cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth.Had the drug had been used to treat patients in the UK from the start of the pandemic, up to 5,000 lives could have been saved, researchers say.And it could be of huge benefit in poorer countries...WW…

Loss of smell or taste have been added to the UK's list of coronavirus symptoms that people should look out for and self-isolate with. Until now, only a fever and cough were triggers for people to shut themselves away in self-isolation in case they had and could spread the infection. Ear, nose and throat doctors had been warning for weeks that more symptoms should be included. Scientific advisers told the government to update the advice. If you or someone you live with has any of these symptoms - a new, continuous cough, fever or loss of smell or taste (also called anosmia) - the advice is...…Loss of smell or taste have been added to the UK's list of coronavirus symptoms that people should look out for and self-isolate with. Until now, only a fever and cough were triggers for people to shut themselves away in self-isolation in case they had and could spread the infection. Ear, nose and throat doctors had been warning for weeks that more symptoms should be included. Scientific advisers told the government to update the advice. If you or someone you live with has any of these symptoms - a new, continuous cough, fever or loss of smell or taste (also called anosmia) - the advice is...WW…

A suspected case of bubonic plague has been reported to Chinese authorities. It is not known how the patient became infected, Plague is one of the deadliest diseases in human history - but it can now be easily treated with antibiotics. that is caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis that live in some animals - mainly rodents - and their fleas. Bubonic plague is the most common form of the disease that people can get. The name comes from the symptoms it causes - painful, swollen lymph nodes or 'buboes' in the groin or armpit. From 2010 to 2015 there were 3,248 cases reported worldwide,...…A suspected case of bubonic plague has been reported to Chinese authorities. It is not known how the patient became infected, Plague is one of the deadliest diseases in human history - but it can now be easily treated with antibiotics. that is caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis that live in some animals - mainly rodents - and their fleas. Bubonic plague is the most common form of the disease that people can get. The name comes from the symptoms it causes - painful, swollen lymph nodes or 'buboes' in the groin or armpit. From 2010 to 2015 there were 3,248 cases reported worldwide,...WW…

People with diabetes are being offered help and support as a study reveals some people with the condition may be at higher risk if they catch coronavirus. Although the threat of coronavirus is still low for most diabetic people, diabetes was linked to a third of virus deaths in England from 1 March to 11 May, NHS England research shows. High blood sugar levels and obesity add to the risk. But age is a bigger risk factor.People with type 1 or 2 diabetes are strongly advised to follow the government's coronavirus advice. Diabetics are not included in the list of people at highest risk who...…People with diabetes are being offered help and support as a study reveals some people with the condition may be at higher risk if they catch coronavirus. Although the threat of coronavirus is still low for most diabetic people, diabetes was linked to a third of virus deaths in England from 1 March to 11 May, NHS England research shows. High blood sugar levels and obesity add to the risk. But age is a bigger risk factor.People with type 1 or 2 diabetes are strongly advised to follow the government's coronavirus advice. Diabetics are not included in the list of people at highest risk who...WW…

A new strain of flu that has the potential to become a pandemic has been identified in China by scientists. It emerged recently and is carried by pigs, but can infect humans, they say. The researchers are concerned that it could mutate further so that it can spread easily from person to person, and trigger a global outbreak. While it is not an immediate problem, they say, it has "all the hallmarks" of being highly adapted to infect humans and needs close monitoring. As it's new, people could have little or no immunity to the virus. The scientists write in the journal that measures to...…A new strain of flu that has the potential to become a pandemic has been identified in China by scientists. It emerged recently and is carried by pigs, but can infect humans, they say. The researchers are concerned that it could mutate further so that it can spread easily from person to person, and trigger a global outbreak. While it is not an immediate problem, they say, it has "all the hallmarks" of being highly adapted to infect humans and needs close monitoring. As it's new, people could have little or no immunity to the virus. The scientists write in the journal that measures to...WW…