Humza Yousaf has rejected claims he and his deputy misled Holyrood - as opposition leaders criticised his government's dealings with the UK COVID-19 inquiry. Pressed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during First Minister's Questions on Thursday, the first minister did however admit the Scottish government had interpreted requests for messages from the inquiry "too narrowly". Deputy First Minister Shona Robison was forced to release a timeline of events on Wednesday, stating requests for WhatsApp messages had been made by the inquiry in February as opposed to September, as previously stated. The timeline was laid out after the inquiry "asked us to set out in more detail the full timetable of requests for information of the Scottish government", Ms Robison said. Asked to admit he "didn't tell the truth" by … 阅读全文

Diseases transmitted from animals to humans could kill at least 12 times as many people in 2050 than they did in 2020, a study has warned. Epidemics caused by some zoonotic infectious diseases - also known as spillovers - could occur more frequently in future due to climate change and deforestation, US biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks said. Researchers found the number of epidemics has been increasing by almost 5% every year between 1963 and 2019, with deaths up by 9%. "If these annual rates of increase continue, we would expect the analysed pathogens to cause four times the number of spillover events and 12 times the number of deaths in 2050 than in 2020," the study said. However, researchers said the figures were probably an underestimate because COVID was not … 阅读全文

Dominic Cummings, Martin Reynolds and Lee Cain are among the former Downing Street employees who will be giving evidence to the COVID Inquiry next week. It forms part of Module 2 of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, which is "examining core UK decision-making and political governance". Mr Cummings has previously provided bruising testimonies when appearing before public committees. In May 2021, he appeared before a joint committee on technology and health, in which he criticised various aspects of the government's response to the pandemic. And in a post on his blog earlier this month, Mr Cummings said he had been going through his statement to the inquiry in a "painful" process. Politics latest: Rishi Sunak says AI can have same impact as Industrial Revolution Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge Sky News … 阅读全文

Humza Yousaf has pledged the Scottish government will "fully investigate" claims from the UK COVID-19 Inquiry that messages, including WhatsApps, have not been handed over. The first minister said he has ordered Solicitor General Ruth Charteris to investigate the matter. He said he is "seeking assurances" that "do not destroy" notices issued by the inquiry had been "fully complied with, not just by ministers but by every relevant Scottish government official". He pledged the action after counsel to the inquiry Jamie Dawson KC said the Scottish government had been asked to provide "all communications related to key decisions made during the pandemic", including informal messages on WhatsApp, but "no messages" had been handed over. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross raised the issue at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood on Thursday, … 阅读全文

'Long colds' can be just as common as long COVID, scientists have discovered. A study found people experienced prolonged symptoms after having respiratory infections such as colds, flu and pneumonia - in the same way they might after getting COVID. Common symptoms of a "long cold" include coughing, stomach pain and diarrhoea lasting for more than a month. Long COVID patients were more likely to suffer lightheadedness, dizziness and problems with taste and smell. They also experienced heart palpitations, sweating and hair loss. Some symptoms overlapped, including breathlessness and fatigue. Researchers at the Queen Mary University of London analysed data from 10,171 adults in the UK for the study, which has been published the The Lancet's EClinicalMedicine journal. More on Covid COVID anniversary: Day of reflection across UK to mark … 阅读全文

WhatsApp messages between Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings and Matt Hancock have revealed the 'infighting' in government at the start of the pandemic, the COVID Inquiry heard today. Lead counsel Hugo Keith KC read out the evidence on the first day of the second part of the inquiry on Tuesday, which focuses on political decision-making in Westminster between January 2020 and February 2022. Mr Keith revealed WhatsApp messages between Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings and others "portray a depressing picture of a toxic atmosphere" during the pandemic. He said the messages also showed "factional infighting and internecine attacks on colleagues". A significant number of WhatsApp and diary entries refer to Matt Hancock. The messages imply Mr Johnson and a number of officials and advisers held the then health secretary in low regard. … 阅读全文

The Nobel Prize in medicine has been awarded to two scientists for their research which led to the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. The accolade, among the most prestigious in the scientific world, went to Katalin Kariko, from Hungary, and Drew Weissman, from the United States. "Through their groundbreaking findings, which have fundamentally changed our understanding of how mRNA interacts with our immune system, the laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times," the panel that awarded the prize said. Both COVID-19 vaccines Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna use something called messenger RNA (mRNA) to send genetic instructions to the body's cells to recognise and destroy a particular part of the coronavirus called the spike protein. When … 阅读全文

A drug used to treat COVID-19 could be linked to mutations in the virus, scientists have said. Molnupiravir works by causing mutations in the virus's genetic information, or genome, many of which kill or harm the virus, reducing the amount of COVID in the body. Used across the world to treat COVID, it was one of the first antivirals available to doctors during the pandemic. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:14 1:14 Long COVID patient: 'I lost my identity' But researchers who mapped virus mutations across global databases, have found that some COVID mutations linked to patients taking molnupiravir were very different to the usual mutations they saw, meaning it could lead to further infection. Christopher Ruis, from the Department of Medicine at the University … 阅读全文

COVID and flu vaccines are rolling out across England today having been brought forward after a new coronavirus variant emerged in the UK. The vaccines are being prioritised for people who are housebound or in care homes, though the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends the jab to over-65s, those with a weakened immune system, pregnant women and people who live with others in these high risk groups. These other groups will be invited by the NHS to get inoculated from next week. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 7:39 7:39 New COVID variant 'not more severe' The COVID variant, BA.2.86, has not been classified as a "variant of concern", however it is closely being monitored due to its proclivity to mutate. Speaking to Sky News, … 阅读全文