Another record rise in coronavirus infections has propelled Russia past Germany and France to the fifth highest tally in the world, as the Frenchgovernment confirmed the country would start gradually lifting its strict eight-week lockdown from Monday. With much of Europe now easing itself out of confinement, Russia has become ... Read More »
WHO says ‘there can be no going back to business as usual’ after coronavirus pandemic
The World Health Organization warned world leaders Wednesday that there can be “no going back to business as usual” following the coronavirus pandemic, which has upended economies and wreaked havoc on nearly every country across the globe. “This virus likes to find opportunities to spread and if these lockdown measures are ... Read More »
From new ultraviolet wavelengths to virucidal face masks: Could these new technologies help defeat coronavirus?
Scientists and health experts believe that the government should examine a range of new antiviral technologies while planning their lockdown exit strategy. They say that there are at least half a dozen such technologies and strategies that could be combined to help make any exit strategy more effective – and ... Read More »
Inflation collapses around the world amid coronavirus pandemic
Global economy heads for deepest recession since Great Depression as business comes to near standstill Inflation in the wealthiest countries has collapsed at the fastest pace since the financial crisis, as the coronavirus outbreak sinks the world into the deepest recession for almost a century. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation ... Read More »
Oil Extends Gains as Virus-Hit Economies Ease Curbs
Oil extended gains in Asia Tuesday on signs of improving demand as coronavirus-hit major economies begin to ease strict curbs and as top producers slash output. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for June delivery was up 7.26 percent at $21.87 a barrel in morning trade. The contract ended about three ... Read More »
Coronavirus: ‘Fast and accurate’ antibody test developed by Edinburgh researchers
Company claims machine can produce 36,000 test results a day with 99.8 per cent accuracy A blood-screening company claims it has developed a “fast and accurate” antibody test – and is urging UK ministers to begin talks to bring it to the NHS. Quotient said its screening machines, which have received European ... Read More »
Is air pollution making the coronavirus pandemic even more deadly?
Dirty air is well known to worsen the heart and lung risk factors for Covid-19 – early research is cause for concern In many respects, it makes perfect sense. Patients with severe Covid-19 are twice as likely to have had pre-existing respiratory diseases and three times as likely to have ... Read More »
Europe emerges from lockdown as global virus cases top 3.5m
Millions of Europeans emerged from lockdown on Monday, with hardest-hit Italy leading the way out of its two-month coronavirus confinement. Blue skies greeted Romans as they stepped into a world forever changed by the pandemic that has now infected 3.5 million people. The milestone came as US Secretary of State ... Read More »
Coronavirus: Oxford vaccine trial backed by drug giant and could have early results by mid-June
Experts at the University of Oxford said the first results of coronavirus vaccine trials could by ready as early as mid-June, as the institution announced a new partnership with drug giant AstraZeneca. The agreement with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company will allow for rapid large-scale distribution of the vaccination around the world if the candidate proves ... Read More »
Record ozone hole over Arctic in March now closed – UN
Ozone depletion over the Arctic hit a “record level” in March, the biggest since 2011, but the hole has now closed, the U.N. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday. The springtime phenomenon in the northern hemisphere was driven by ozone-depleting substances still in the atmosphere and a very cold ... Read More »