CORONAVIRUS NEWS
New research to investigate COVID-19 and ethnicity
The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) have announced a multi-million-pound investment in six new projects to improve understanding of the links between COVID-19 and ethnicity.
Surgical instrument manufacturer to package and sterilise PPE for NHS
Single Use Surgical, part of Eakin Healthcare Group, has signed a contract to package and sterilise 1.92 million surgical isolation gowns – a move that will create 45 new jobs and protect frontline NHS staff against COVID-19.
Roll-out of two new rapid coronavirus tests ahead of winter
Millions of rapid coronavirus tests will be rolled out to hospitals, care homes and labs across the UK to increase testing capacity ahead of winter.
Two thirds of doctors worry that COVID has indirectly harmed patients
A survey of members of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has found that almost two thirds (60%) of doctors worry that patients in their care have suffered harm or complications following diagnosis or treatment delays during the pandemic.
UK and US healthcare workers report higher rates of COVID-19
Frontline healthcare workers in the UK and US were at least 3.4 times more likely to report a positive COVID-19 test compared with the general community, after accounting for differences in testing frequency between the two groups.
Common cancer treatments ‘do not worsen coronavirus infection’
According to a new study from Memorial Sloan Kettering, published in Nature Medicine, patients in active cancer treatment who develop COVID-19 infection don't fare any worse than other hospitalised patients.
Asthma not a compounding factor for COVID-19 cases
A study by researchers at Bicêtre Hospital, on patients hospitalised for COVID-19, has shown that asthmatics do not present an increased risk of developing a severe form of the disease.
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.
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