New Covid test could HALVE the time it takes to identify mutant strains, experts say 

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

Covid UK: Countries with variant strains left off red travel list

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 as it battles new Covid strains

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

Dubai is blamed for exporting new virus strains

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

British firm creates vaccine aimed at protecting against all mutant strains of Covid

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

Nurses call for higher-grade face masks to protect against new coronavirus strains

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

Future mutant strains of coronavirus could be detected faster by studying SEWAGE

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

JANET STREET-PORTER: Tier 4, 2021, mutant strains – bring them all on

Is this the worst Christmas ever? As most of the country enters Tier 4 from Boxing Day, l’m trying to look on the bright side, find light in the gloom, things to be cheerful about. After all, I’m not spending the next two days holed up in a smelly lorry cab parked on a disused … Read more

Fears over mutant strain’s spread among children puts January return in doubt

Schools could be closed for all of January amid fears that the mutant coronavirus strain spreads more easily among children. With cases surging in many parts of the country, Downing Street sources admitted yesterday that it was ‘too early’ to guarantee all pupils would be back in their classrooms by January 11. Officials told the … Read more

Coronavirus: Scientists test cannabis strains against infection

A team of Canadian scientists is testing whether or not marijuana compounds can block coronavirus infection. Researchers at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta looked at 400 cannabis strains and focused on about a dozen that showed promise in preventing the virus from ‘hijacking’ our cells. They say extracts of cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychoactive … Read more