Editor’s Note, January 19, 2021: This article has been updated with today’s daily data.
These are the stories of the British coronavirus that you need to know today.
1 in 8 may be COVID-19 positive
An estimated one in eight people in the United Kingdom would have tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in December. Numbers from the National Bureau of Statistics (ONS) showed.
According to ONS, 1 in 10 was positive in Wales and 1 in 11 in Scotland.
Northern Ireland has the lowest proportion, with an estimated 1 in 13 having antibodies last month.
In England, there was considerable regional variation in antibody positivity, with 16.8% in Yorkshire and Hamburg, compared to 4.9% in the southwest.
The interim analysis was based on the results of blood tests taken from randomly selected subsamples of individuals 16 years and older.
Lawrence Young, a virologist and professor of molecular oncology at Warwick Medical College, Told the Science Media Center A new variant of SARS-CoV-2 detected in the United Kingdom “is more contagious and may explain the increased levels of infection detected by the antibody.”
Estimates were derived from a long-term study to track COVID-19 in the general population produced in partnership with Oxford University, the University of Manchester, and the UK Public Health Services.
COVID-19 Mortality
Currently, more than 90,000 people are killed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. New figure It is shown. Within 28 days of the positive test, 91,470 people died.
Another 1610 died report Today, and 33,355 positive cases.
In the week leading up to January 8, 17,751 deaths were registered in England and Wales, an increase of 7682 from the previous week. ONS numbers shown..
Of the deaths registered in the first week of January, 6057 referred to COVID-19, accounting for 34.1% of all deaths in England and Wales.
Of these deaths associated with COVID-19, 88.6% recorded this as the root cause of death.
Statisticians have warned that the latest numbers will be affected by Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Bank Holidays.
Scotland blockade confirmed until mid-February
The Scottish pandemic blockade was extended until at least mid-February.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she hopes schoolchildren will gradually return to class in the middle of next month.
Sturgeon Told MSP The Scotland remained in a “very unstable position.”
She states: “Even if the number of cases is decreasing, relaxing the blockade with a large number of cases can quickly reverse the situation.
“We believe that blockade restrictions, and the sacrifices that everyone is making, are beginning to have an impact, but it is important to be careful.”
Level 4 restrictions have been enforced in most of Scotland since Boxing Day.
Vaccine deployment
The Ministry of Health praised the “significant milestone” in the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine, saying that by January 17, 4.06 million people had been vaccinated for the first time in the UK.
It is said that more than half of the people over 80 years old and more than half of the residents of the elderly home were vaccinated.
DHSC said 10 major vaccination centers will open in the UK today.
10 new vaccination sites can be found at:
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Bournemouth International Center
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Taunton Racecourse
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Blackburn Cathedral
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Salt Hill Activity Center, Slough
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Norwich Food Court, Castle Quarter
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The Lodge, Wickford, Essex
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Princess Royal Sports Arena, Lincolnshire
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St Helens Rugby Ground
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Park and ride at Ascumbar in York
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Olympic Office Center, Wembley, London
Immune response study for long COVID
The risk of developing long-term COVID may be established by the patient’s initial immune response shortly after infection with SARS-CoV-2. Research preprint..
A Research team led by Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge We have found that an early strong immune response without systemic inflammation is associated with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19.
More severe and progressive disease was associated with evidence of severe persistent abnormalities of circulating immune cells and early systemic inflammation.
The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, was based on 207 patients with COVID-19 of varying severity, conducted in regular interviews over the first three months after the onset of symptoms. They were compared with samples from 45 healthy controls.
Scientists have noted early strong adaptive immune responses in infected individuals whose illness was asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic.
Among inpatients, the initial adaptive immune response was delayed and many leukocyte subsets showed serious abnormalities.
Dr. Laura Bergamaski, the lead author of the study, said: It’s only slow to regenerate, but for other cells, such as some types of T cells and B cells, something seems to continue to drive activity. “
Senior co-author Dr. Paul Lyons added: As for how the disease needs to be managed, it suggests that treatment should be started to stop the immune system from causing damage very early on. “
Experts called for extensive research to confirm the results.
University of Warwick virologist Prof Young Said: “This may mean that early intervention in treatments that target viruses and the immune system can prevent serious illness and even the development of long-term COVID.”
Young people in a pandemic “can’t deal”
The pandemic has had a “catastrophic blow” to the mental health of young people. New report Said.
According to the Prince’s Trust Tesco Youth Index, 26% of people aged 16-25 feel they haven’t been able to cope with their lives since the pandemic began.
For those without work, education, or training, it increased to 40%.
We also found that 50% of the 2,180 adolescents surveyed stated that their mental health had deteriorated due to COVID-19.
Jonathan Townsend, Chief of Charity, said:
“They face educational turmoil, shrinking job markets, and isolation from friends and loved ones, resulting in many losing all hope for the future.
“As usual, unemployed youth and young people with little qualifications or confidence have even more negative experiences.”
Matt Hancock self-separates after being “pinged”
Matt Hancock / Twitter
Matt Hancock is self-quarantining after being “pinged” by the NHS Coronavirus App on Monday night. The UK Health Minister said he would work from home for the rest of the week and would not leave home until Sunday.
“I know from the app that I’m in close contact with someone who has been tested positive. This is how we break the chain of infections,” he said. twitter.
At the end of March last year, Hancock revealed that he had a positive COVID-19 test.
See more global coronavirus updates in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center.
