CORONAVIRUS NEWS
UK COVID-19 rapid antibody tests are approved for professional use
The COVID-19 rapid antibody test, developed by Abingdon Health, the medical device manufacturer leading the UK-Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC), has received its CE mark. This means it is approved for professional use in the UK and EU.
NICE publishes guideline on planned hospital treatments
NICE has published a guideline on the arrangements the NHS should put in place for patients needing elective surgery and other planned treatments and procedures (including diagnostics and imaging) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government advice on masks ‘confusing’ warns BMA
The BMA has warned that Government measures and public guidance on face covering rules in England are unclear, inconsistent and are causing widespread confusion.
Scanning solution helps tackle COVID pressures at North Tees
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has implemented a containerised CT scanning solution that will help meet increased demand for scanning services, during the COVID crisis, while protecting non-infected patients.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine shows promising results in early trial.
A clinical trial of the UK’s vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) has shown promising results.
First findings published from home COVID-19 testing programme
A major programme of community coronavirus testing that is tracking levels of infection in England has published its first report.
Plans to deal with winter pressures and potential second wave vital
A second wave of COVID-19, on top of these challenges, would put the NHS under considerable pressure, so it’s sensible to look at potential worst case scenarios, as this report does, so that we can plan and put mitigating measures in place.
Optometrists advise how to wear glasses with facemasks to prevent fog
Wearing a facemask or face covering is becoming the new normal, but one of the minor problems of the COVID-19 pandemic is fogged-up eyewear. This happens when warm breath escapes from the top of the mask and lands on the cooler surface of the lens.
NHS deploys COVID-19 risk assessment tool to protect front-line staff
Working for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, intelligent automation firm Rainbird has developed a COVID-19 risk assessment tool to help potentially vulnerable front-line workers limit their exposure to undue levels of risk from the virus.
Urgent cancer referrals being turned down
The charity, Cancer Research UK, has reported that around a quarter of GPs surveyed said that urgent referrals for suspected cancer have been inappropriately turned down by hospitals 'more often than before the pandemic'.
Finding local COVID rate should be 'as easy as checking the weather'
Up-to-date local data on the number of COVID-19 infections should be promoted to the public across England in an easy to interpret way similar to weather forecasts or pollen counts, the British Medical Association has asserted.
NHS to launch online COVID-19 rehab service
People who are suffering long-term effects of Coronavirus will have access to an on-demand recovery service, the Government has announced.
Majority of children no longer need to shield
The majority of children currently considered extremely clinical vulnerable to COVID-19 will be able to be removed from the shielded patient list, the Government has confirmed in the latest shielding guidance.
Miele washer disinfector aids in ventilator challenge
A Miele washer disinfector proved a key product to aid the UK Ventilator Challenge in the fight against COVID-19.
Point-of-care Covid-19 antibody testing kits ready for mass production
The UK-Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC), a group of UK scientists and expert medical manufacturers led by Abingdon Health, has reached “design freeze” for its Covid-19 antibody test.
Bio-Rad accelerates production of antibody test
Bio-Rad Laboratories is accelerating production of its Platelia SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab test, a blood-based immunoassay kit to help determine if an individual has developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus associated with COVID-19 disease.
Regular retesting rolled out for care homes
Staff and residents in care homes for over 65s and those with dementia will receive regular coronavirus tests from next week as part of a new social care testing strategy.
Brain complications found in some patients with severe COVID-19
A study of 153 patients treated in UK hospitals during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic describes a range of neurological and psychiatric complications that may be linked to the disease.
COVID-19: fatalities 'rare' in children
Children with COVID-19 generally experience a mild disease and fatalities are very rare, according to a study of 582 patients from across Europe.
COVID-19: Bacteriophage could decrease mortality
A type of virus that preys on bacteria could be harnessed to combat bacterial infections in patients whose immune systems have been weakened by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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