Study finds commonly used blood pressure medications safe for COVID-19 patients

Medications to treat high blood pressure did not affect outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, found an international team led by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The study, published today in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, is the first randomized controlled trial to show there is no risk for patients continuing these medications while hospitalized for COVID-19.

UK scrambles for hospital beds as virus surges

Hospital chiefs in England were scrambling for hospital beds on Thursday as the surge in coronavirus cases risked overwhelming the system, healthcare providers and medics said.

South Africa buys 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

South Africa says it will import 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate the country's health workers. This is South Africa's first announcement of the purchase of a COVID-19 vaccine as cases there soar.

WHO calls for intensified measures over 'alarming' virus variant

The World Health Organization's European branch on Thursday said more needed to be done to deal with the alarming situation brought on by a recently discovered variant of the novel coronavirus.

Research paves the way for new anti-fibrotic therapy for glaucoma

Scientists at the University of Birmingham, UK, have shown that a novel low molecular weight dextran-sulphate, ILB could play a key role in treating open angle glaucoma (OAG), a neurodegenerative disease that affects over 70 million people worldwide and causes irreversible blindness.

Research explains why crocodiles have changed so little since the age of the dinosaurs

New research by scientists at the University of Bristol explains how a 'stop-start' pattern of evolution, governed by environmental change, could explain why crocodiles have changed so little since the age of the dinosaurs.

Mexico reports record coronavirus deaths, cases

Mexico on Wednesday reported 1,165 coronavirus deaths and more than 13,000 additional cases, setting grim new records in one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic.

Japan to declare virus state of emergency in Tokyo region

Japan's government will declare a coronavirus state of emergency in the greater Tokyo area on Thursday, as media said the capital would again report a record daily number of infections.

China reports highest COVID-19 figures since July

China reported 63 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday—the highest single-day tally since July—as authorities try to stamp out an outbreak of the virus in a city of 11 million near Beijing.

Asian nations toughen virus fight as pandemic rages worldwide

Countries in Asia were stepping up their fight against the coronavirus again on Thursday in a fresh effort to suppress an illness they had previously tamed, joining Europe in imposing new curbs.

California hospitals prepping for grim COVID-19 choices

California hospitals struggling with a skyrocketing coronavirus surge are trying to prepare for the possibility that they may have to ration care for lack of staff and beds—and hoping they don't have to make that choice.

How quickly do I need a second COVID-19 vaccine shot?

How quickly do I need a second COVID-19 vaccine shot?

Campaigners hail Mexican ban on genetically modified corn

Environmental campaigners have welcomed a Mexican ban on growing genetically modified maize and the phasing out of a controversial weedkiller—a step that has met opposition in the private sector.

Bayer, CureVac to 'join forces' on Covid-19 vaccine candidate

German pharmaceutical firms Bayer and CureVac said Thursday that they have joined forces in the development of CureVac's COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Beijing freezes as temperature hits five decade lows

Temperatures in the Chinese capital plunged to their lowest for more than five decades on Thursday, as Beijing was hit by gale-force winds and bitter conditions.

Quebec orders 8 p.m. curfew beginning Saturday, for 4 weeks

Quebec's premier announced Wednesday that he is imposing a provincewide 8 p.m. curfew beginning Saturday as a way to curb surging coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.

Arizona deemed 'hot spot of the world' amid virus surge

Five months after President Donald Trump hailed Arizona as a model for how it dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, public health experts warned Wednesday that the state has become "the hot spot of the world" and that health restrictions the governor has been hesitant to impose could have tamped down the crisis.

Governors scramble to speed vaccine effort after slow start

New York's governor threatened to fine hospitals if they don't use their allotment of COVID-19 vaccine fast enough. His South Carolina counterpart warned health care workers they have until Jan. 15 to get a shot or move to the back of the line. California's governor wants to use dentists to vaccinate people.

Indonesia's Merapi volcano spews hot clouds, 500 evacuate

Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano spewed avalanches of hot clouds Thursday morning as hundreds more residents were evacuated from its fertile slopes.

COVID-19 infection linked with higher death rate in acute heart failure patients

Patients with acute heart failure nearly double their risk of dying if they get COVID-19, according to research published today in ESC Heart Failure, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The small, single centre study highlights the need for patients with heart failure to take extra precautions to avoid catching COVID-19.

Meeting India's air quality targets across south Asia may prevent 7% of pregnancy losses, modelling study estimates

Poor air quality is associated with a considerable proportion of pregnancy loss in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, according to a modelling study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal.

Global experts urge everyone to talk about COVID-19 vaccines responsibly

A team of renowned scientific experts has joined forces from across the world to help fight the spread of misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines, which hold the key to beating the deadly pandemic and releasing countries from debilitating lockdown restrictions.

Human migration patterns connected to vitamin D deficiencies today

A new study in the Oxford Economic Papers finds that migration flows the last 500 years from high sunlight regions to low sunlight regions influence contemporary health outcomes in destination countries.