What's the science behind mink and coronavirus? (bbc.com)

What's the science behind mink and coronavirus?

Mutations in coronavirus have triggered culls of millions of farmed mink in Denmark.

Part of the country has been put under lockdown after Danish authorities found genetic changes they say might undermine the effectiveness of future Covid-19 vaccines.

More than 200 people have been infected with mink-related coronavirus.

And the UK has imposed an immediate ban on all visitors from Denmark amid concerns about the new strain.

Read the complete story on bbc.com.

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 11/09/2020 - 18:21

Tiny variants in genes may dictate severity of coronavirus (theguardian.com)

Tiny variants in genes may dictate severity of coronavirus

It has been one of the most baffling aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Healthy young men and women have become infected with the virus and developed life-threatening side effects. But at the same time, many of their contemporaries have simply shrugged off the condition.

Unknown factors are clearly leaving some people vulnerable to the pandemic’s worst effects even though some of them are young, are not overweight and do not suffer from other obvious health problems. Scientists think that tiny genetic differences are causing some to be struck down while many others are spared.

Submitted by Admin on Tue, 11/03/2020 - 19:54

Coronavirus: Slovakia holds national test but president calls for rethink

Coronavirus: Slovakia holds national test but president calls for rethink

Slovakia has begun an ambitious project to test everyone over the age of 10 for Covid-19, but the president has said she thinks the idea is "unfeasible".

The operation to test four million people is to last over two weekends.

Infections have soared in Slovakia and officials argue the only alternative would be a total lockdown.

President Zuzana Caputova called for a rethink of the plan after armed forces chiefs said there were not enough trained health workers to carry it out.

Submitted by mo2 on Mon, 11/02/2020 - 04:54
Taiwan just went 200 days without a locally transmitted Covid-19 case. Here's how they did it CNN Digital Expansion Shoot, Joshua Berlinger

(CNN)As much of the world struggles to contain new waves of the Covid-19 pandemic, Taiwan just marked its 200th consecutive day without a locally transmitted case of the disease.

Submitted by mo2 on Fri, 10/30/2020 - 16:10

White House science office says Trump ended COVID-19 pandemic as US hits record cases (thehill.com)

White House science office says Trump ended COVID-19 pandemic as US hits record cases

The White House science office listed "ending the COVID-19 pandemic" as the top accomplishment of President Trump's first term, even as the U.S. has set records for new daily infections and numerous hospitals across the country are stretched to their breaking points.

Submitted by mo2 on Tue, 10/27/2020 - 19:50

UK study finds evidence of waning antibody immunity to COVID-19 over time (reuters.com)

UK study finds evidence of waning antibody immunity to COVID-19 over time

LONDON (Reuters) - Antibodies against the novel coronavirus declined rapidly in the British population during the summer, a study found on Tuesday, suggesting protection after infection may not be long lasting and raising the prospect of waning immunity in the community.

Scientists at Imperial College London have tracked antibody levels in the British population following the first wave of COVID-19 infections in March and April.

Submitted by mo2 on Mon, 10/26/2020 - 19:36