Science & Health
Zero flu cases in UK as seasonal virus suppressed by Covid measures

Zero flu cases in UK as seasonal virus suppressed by Covid measures
But experts fear drop in immunity may pave way for major influenza epidemic next winter
26 Feb 2021
How many people need to be vaccinated to get life back to normal?

How many people need to be vaccinated to get life back to normal?
Vaccine campaign expanded to over-65s after UK hits target of 15m jabs by mid-February
25 Feb 2021
EU under fire amid warnings of ‘no major breakthroughs’ on jabs

EU under fire amid warnings of ‘no major breakthroughs’ on jabs
European leaders holding emergency meeting as calls for urgent action grow
25 Feb 2021
Everything we know about schools reopening

Everything we know about schools reopening
School leaders have raised concerns that implementing mass testing before students return on 8 March may be impossible - but England’s deputy chief medical officer says ‘the whole spread of child welfare depends upon them going back to school’
25 Feb 2021
California Covid variant ‘may be more infectious and deadly’

California Covid variant ‘may be more infectious and deadly’
Early research into new coronavirus strain finds increase in hospitalisations and deaths
25 Feb 2021
How Belgium succumbed to the highest Covid death rate in the world

How Belgium succumbed to the highest Covid death rate in the world
Regional divisions and flawed reporting of deaths put EU nation at the top of the table nobody wants to lead
24 Feb 2021
How Israel’s ‘green pass’ could be adapted for UK

How Israel’s ‘green pass’ could be adapted for UK
Downing Street is studying coronavirus certificate that has allowed Israeli venues to reopen
24 Feb 2021

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The reason Johnson won’t end lockdown sooner

The reason Johnson won’t end lockdown sooner
Scientific experts, Tory MPs and even cabinet ministers yesterday implied that the third national shutdown could be lifted more quickly if infections fall more quickly than expected. But No. 10 has moved swiftly to dampen expectations
24 Feb 2021
Why you shouldn’t panic about the UK’s slowing vaccine rate

Why you shouldn’t panic about the UK’s slowing vaccine rate
Dip caused by short-term supply issues to be offset by ‘bumper’ deliveries of Covid jabs
24 Feb 2021
Why we’re on the slow road out of lockdown

Why we’re on the slow road out of lockdown
Papers released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have provided some insight into why the prime minister is moving so cautiously in his effort to return the country to normal life
23 Feb 2021
Has ‘scaremongering’ about the Oxford jab undermined EU’s vaccination campaign?

Has ‘scaremongering’ about the Oxford jab undermined EU’s vaccination campaign?
People in Germany and France are refusing to be inoculated with the UK-developed vaccine
23 Feb 2021
Timeline: the UK’s roadmap out of lockdown

Timeline: the UK’s roadmap out of lockdown
Boris Johnson reveals long-awaited route out of the country’s third shutdown
23 Feb 2021
Tory anger at slow-release ‘hammer blow’ 

Tory anger at slow-release ‘hammer blow’
Boris Johnson has set out a four-stage approach to reopening the country in which the last social restrictions could be lifted by 21 June. But while many health experts welcomed the cautious approach, Tory MP Steve Baker said the schedule is “a hammer blow” to business
23 Feb 2021
Everything we know about the end of lockdown

Everything we know about the end of lockdown
‘Rule of six’ to replace advice to stay at home from 29 March
22 Feb 2021
How Melbourne became a case study for defeating coronavirus

How Melbourne became a case study for defeating coronavirus
Complex modelling and the world’s longest lockdown have paved way for return to near-normal life
19 Feb 2021
Coronavirus: who should be vaccinated next? 

Coronavirus: who should be vaccinated next?
The UK has hit its target for vaccinating the most vulnerable – but questions linger over who should be prioritised
19 Feb 2021
Perseverance rover begins Martian search for ‘extraterrestrial life’

Perseverance rover begins Martian search for ‘extraterrestrial life’
Six-wheeled rover will collect samples and could pave way for humans on the planet
19 Feb 2021
Brits in their 40s ‘to get Covid vaccines by end of March’

Brits in their 40s ‘to get Covid vaccines by end of March’
Government advisers reportedly pushing for next phase of jabs rollout to focus on age rather than prioritising key workers
19 Feb 2021
Inside Johnson’s dossier that will determine when lockdown ends

Inside Johnson’s dossier that will determine when lockdown ends
Timetable based on latest evidence may see shops and hotels reopen in April
18 Feb 2021
Four things we learnt about the jab campaign from vaccine taskforce boss

Four things we learnt about the jab campaign from vaccine taskforce boss
Clive Dix says speedy rollout will not slow down due to supply shortages
17 Feb 2021
How the UK is handling the Kent Covid strain

How the UK is handling the Kent Covid strain
Study finds variant discovered prior to Christmas may be 70% more deadly
17 Feb 2021
Johnson preparing mass testing ‘blitz’ as part of plan to lift lockdown

Johnson preparing mass testing ‘blitz’ as part of plan to lift lockdown
Government aiming to deliver up to 75 million tests a week by April
17 Feb 2021
How India suppressed Covid while reopening its economy

How India suppressed Covid while reopening its economy
Experts left searching for answers after dramatic - and unexplained - decline in Covid infections
16 Feb 2021
How Covid-19 data will dictate Johnson’s plan to end lockdown 

How Covid-19 data will dictate Johnson’s plan to end lockdown
Preliminary figures suggest vaccine campaign is cutting infections by around two-thirds
16 Feb 2021
New Ebola outbreak: what you need to know

New Ebola outbreak: what you need to know
Guinea declares epidemic after first deaths since 2016
15 Feb 2021
European countries split over use of medical-grade face masks

European countries split over use of medical-grade face masks
Germany and Austria mandate use of expensive FFP2 masks while WHO backs fabric coverings
15 Feb 2021
Four key pieces of data as the UK hits 15m vaccinations target

Four key pieces of data as the UK hits 15m vaccinations target
Jab campaign extends to over-65s and some younger people after most at-risk receive first dose
15 Feb 2021
The three scenarios being drawn up for ending lockdown

The three scenarios being drawn up for ending lockdown
Plans are based on vaccine success and range from ‘optimistic’ to ‘pessimistic’
15 Feb 2021
All of the coronavirus in the world could fit inside a Coke can

All of the coronavirus in the world could fit inside a Coke can
A maths expert explains how such a tiny quantity of Covid could cause such chaos
12 Feb 2021
Arthritis drug could save ‘could save one in 25’ Covid patients

Arthritis drug could save ‘could save one in 25’ Covid patients
New study found that Tocilizumab cuts death risk and speeds recovery
12 Feb 2021
Swedish towns ban face masks despite mounting Covid death toll

Swedish towns ban face masks despite mounting Covid death toll
Vetoes follow a string of anti-mask statements by nation’s top officials
11 Feb 2021
What Israel’s lockdown easing plan may tell us about Johnson’s roadmap

What Israel’s lockdown easing plan may tell us about Johnson’s roadmap
World leader in the vaccination race begins staged exit from the country’s third shutdown
11 Feb 2021
EU facing pressure to follow UK lead on delaying second vaccine

EU facing pressure to follow UK lead on delaying second vaccine
World Health Organization backs decision to leave eight to 12 weeks between doses
11 Feb 2021
What we know about the Covid strain found in Bristol

What we know about the Covid strain found in Bristol
Experts move to play down fears over new variant evading existing vaccines
10 Feb 2021