What you need to know about the coronavirus on Thursday, January 14

by

A new study led by Public Health England, a government agency, found that people infected with Covid-19 can have immunity to the virus for at least five months. The findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed, but provide some reassurance to primary care health professionals.

The researchers followed nearly 21,000 health workers from across the UK between June and November and tested them regularly to see if they were infected with Covid-19. Of those checked, 6,614 people were found to have had the virus before, and 44 of them developed possible new infections.

The study concluded that a previous infection reduces the chance of contracting the virus by 83% for at least five months, Zamira Rahim writes.

There are some important caveats. The researchers cautioned that the protection was not absolute and it was unclear how long any immunity lasts. It’s also possible that those who have some degree of immunity to the virus can still pass it on to others. Early insight from the next phase of the research shows that some people with pre-existing immunity have high virus levels.

Science may sound complicated, but the implications for real life are not. You may be immune to the virus once you recover from Covid-19, but you still need to wear a mask and distance yourself socially to protect those around you.

A nurse works with a patient in the Intensive Care Unit of St George's Hospital in London.

YOU ASKED. WE ANSWER

Q: How do the Covid-19 vaccines work?

A: Vaccines usually mimic some of the virus they protect against, triggering a response from the immune system. The Covid-19 shots use different approaches.

Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use a new technology. The vaccines deliver messenger RNA, or mRNA, which is a genetic recipe for creating the spikes that sit on top of the coronavirus.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with a team from the British University of Oxford, is called a vector vaccine. It uses a cold virus called an adenovirus to transport the spike protein from the coronavirus to the cells. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine and Russian Sputnik V use a similar approach.

Learn more about how some of the other vaccines work here.
Send your questions here. Are you a health professional fighting Covid-19? Send us a message on WhatsApp about the challenges you are facing: + 1347-322-0415.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TODAY

Two WHO scientists have blocked entry to China over a failed test for coronavirus antibodies

An international team of 13 scientists is said to land in the central Chinese city of Wuhan today, where cases of the coronavirus were first recorded in late 2019. They will investigate the origins of the pandemic, but two members of that team will remain in Singapore after “testing positive for IgM antibodies,” the World Health Organization said. This is the second delay for the WHO team. IgM antibodies are among the earliest possible signs of a coronavirus infection, but can also occur in someone who has been vaccinated or previously infected.
The news came just as China reported its first Covid-19-related death in 242 days and daily new infections hit the highest level since July.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine shows promise in early studies

Early-stage trials of the Johnson & Johnson experimental coronavirus vaccine show that it generated an immune response in almost all volunteers, with minimal side effects, after a single dose. The company expects to report details of more advanced studies later this month and hopes to file for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration soon after.
The vaccine would be the first single-dose vaccine to be approved in the US. It uses a weakened version of a cold virus to transport genetic material from the virus to the body, causing human cells to produce pieces of the virus that are then recognized by the immune system.

Covid cases remain lowest among younger children even after schools reopen

A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Covid-19 cases among younger children remained low even after schools restarted for personal learning. However, in order to safely reopen schools, transfer in communities must be controlled.

Why I lost it on live TV

CNN correspondent Sara Sidner couldn’t hold back tears as she reported live on the Los Angeles coronavirus crisis. Looking back at the moment, she writes: “I suddenly felt raw and naked and ashamed. As a woman I have long learned ‘never let them see you cry’ – not in public and especially not at work.

“What brought me to tears was just anger at first. Anger at those who don’t take our ailments seriously and those who actively fight the truth. They endanger people’s lives.”

ON OUR RADAR

  • The African Union has secured 270 million vaccine doses for African countries, with at least 50 million injections available from April to June.
  • Biden aides told Congressional allies to expect a Covid aid package with a price tag of about $ 2 trillion.
  • Operation Warp Speed, chief scientific advisor Moncef Slaoui, has resigned at the request of the incoming Biden government, a source with knowledge of the events told CNN.
  • Turkey has authorized the use of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine in emergency situations, and the massive rollout begins today.
  • The California hospital was fined more than $ 40,000 after Santa Clara County said it delayed reporting the Covid-19 outbreak.
  • Yes, Martha Stewart received her first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine near a facility named after her, but rest assured she says she didn’t jump the line.
  • The English football Premier League tells teams that handshakes, high fives and hugs should be avoided and that post-match shirt swapping is now prohibited.
  • A nurse who works with Covid patients has just won a $ 1 million lottery jackpot.

TOP TIP

New Year’s resolutions often wither and die unless you can turn them into habits. That’s why we asked behavioral scientist BJ Fogg how to maintain good intentions.

One of his tips: If someone wants to exercise or feels they should, the key is to find an exercise that makes them feel successful or enjoyable – one or the other.

TODAY’S PODCAST

What teens really like is that we are around and asked to be available but have no agenda but when they are ready to talk know where to find us. – Lisa Damour, clinical psychologist

The pandemic has been a troubling time for many children. Socialization is limited, school is not the same and parents themselves are often stressed. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, talks to psychologist and bestselling author Lisa Damour about what kids want and need right now. Listen now.

.Source