Articles for Public Health England

No, vapes aren’t 95% less harmful than cigarettes. Here’s how this decade-old myth took off
1 year, 7 months ago

No, vapes aren’t 95% less harmful than cigarettes. Here’s how this decade-old myth took off

The Hindu  

The Harlem Shake is on the radio and e-cigarettes are becoming a thing. But one of those “guesstimates” has gone on to become the most cited piece of vaping misinformation globally: e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco cigarettes. How the guesstimate took off Public Health England used the 95% figure in its 2015 review of e-cigarettes, but failed to …

Health Public Cigarettes Public Health England Factoid Guesstimate
Discharging Covid patients to care homes was unlawful, High Court rules
2 years, 7 months ago

Discharging Covid patients to care homes was unlawful, High Court rules

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A woman whose elderly father died from Covid has called …

Health Homes High Court Care Risk Residents Hancock
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
3 years, 2 months ago

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week

Associated Press  

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. Here are the facts: ___ Supreme Court hasn’t ruled on COVID-19 vaccines or ‘universal vaccination’ CLAIM: After a legal challenge from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a group of scientists, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and “canceled universal …

Social Media England Video Supreme Court Virginia Vaccines New York
From Alpha, Beta, Gamma to Delta: What we know of coronavirus mutations so far
3 years, 5 months ago

From Alpha, Beta, Gamma to Delta: What we know of coronavirus mutations so far

Live Mint  

Viruses mutate all the time, including the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that’s caused the Covid-19 pandemic. University of Florida researchers found that for the Covid vaccines being rolled out on a global scale, the alpha strain led to “somewhat reduced” efficacy compared with the wild strain, while the beta and gamma variants led to considerably lower efficacy, they said in a paper …

Health India England Risk Vaccines Variants Covid
Covid, what Covid? 18,000 fans cricket fans party like it's 2019 at Edgbaston
3 years, 6 months ago

Covid, what Covid? 18,000 fans cricket fans party like it's 2019 at Edgbaston

Daily Mail  

Heat maps, 'human snakes' and negative lateral flow tests: The rules 18,000 cricket spectators have to follow at Edgbaston pilot event There is no social distancing at Edgbaston, but the stadium is using a range of measures to minimise the risk of transmission of Covid. They include: Obtaining a negative lateral flow test, which are less accurate than the more …

Government Health England London Cricket China Fans
Single vaccine dose can reduce household COVID-19 transmission by up to half: Study
3 years, 7 months ago

Single vaccine dose can reduce household COVID-19 transmission by up to half: Study

Deccan Chronicle  

London: A single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can limit household transmission by up to half, according to a study by Public Health England released on Wednesday, signalling the effectiveness of the vaccines at preventing spread. According to The Hill, the research -- which has yet to be peer-reviewed -- found that people who got COVID-19 three weeks after receiving …

Household Vaccines Hill Covid Transmission Cent Study
UK launches global 'assessment platform' to track new coronavirus variants as they emerge
3 years, 10 months ago

UK launches global 'assessment platform' to track new coronavirus variants as they emerge

Firstpost  

The UK launched a New Variant Assessment Platform on Tuesday, which it says will offer the country’s world-leading genomics expertise to identify new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 to countries who do not have the resources to do so. As part of the UK’s Presidency of the G7 this year, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock outlined the plans …

Health Global Platform Virus New Variants Phe Public Health England
UK launches new global platform to track new Covid-19 variants
3 years, 10 months ago

UK launches new global platform to track new Covid-19 variants

Hindustan Times  

The UK launched a New Variant Assessment Platform on Tuesday, which it says will offer the country's world-leading genomics expertise to identify new variants of the virus that causes Covid-19 to countries who do not have the resources to do so. As part of the UK’s Presidency of the G7 this year, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock outlined the plans …

Health Global Platform Virus Spread New Variants Phe
Government pauses key part of school testing plan, after PHE says balance between risk and benefit ‘unclear’
3 years, 11 months ago

Government pauses key part of school testing plan, after PHE says balance between risk and benefit ‘unclear’

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government …

Coronavirus School Tests Contact Testing Schools Daily
London goes into Tier 3: Matt Hancock confirms city will go into toughest lockdown from Wednesday
4 years ago

London goes into Tier 3: Matt Hancock confirms city will go into toughest lockdown from Wednesday

Daily Mail  

What are the Tier 3 rules? Pictured: London infection rates by borough week to December 6 Matt Hancock told the Commons today that a new strain of coronavirus could be driving a surge in cases as he announced millions of Londoners are to be plunged into a Tier 3 shutdown days before Christmas Boris Johnson is facing a backlash from …

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Government scientists advise Britons to avoid singing, dancing and even BOARD GAMES at Christmas
4 years ago

Government scientists advise Britons to avoid singing, dancing and even BOARD GAMES at Christmas

Daily Mail  

Tis not the season to be jolly. Families were last night advised by Government scientists to steer clear of singing, dancing and even board games when they meet up this Christmas In a raft of documents yesterday, the scientists warned that any relaxation of restrictions over the festive period could result in a 'large rise' in transmission rates which could …

Government England Christmas Coronavirus Board Games Festive Covid
Thousands fewer children immunised against common diseases because of lockdown
4 years, 1 month ago

Thousands fewer children immunised against common diseases because of lockdown

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Lockdown measures in England led to thousands fewer children receiving vital …

Health Children Vaccination Vaccines Mmr Diseases Health Check
More proof England's second wave of Covid-19 was slowing BEFORE lockdown
4 years, 1 month ago

More proof England's second wave of Covid-19 was slowing BEFORE lockdown

Daily Mail  

Downing Street today refused calls for England's second lockdown to be cut short and insisted it will run until December 2, despite four more sets of real-world data that show the second wave was already shrinking before the Government pushed the panic button on a drastic month-long shutdown. MailOnline's analysis of Public Health England statistics showed more than half of …

Government England London Data Labour Local Authorities Public Confidence
Lancashire 'will be placed under Covid curfew TOMORROW'
4 years, 3 months ago

Lancashire 'will be placed under Covid curfew TOMORROW'

Daily Mail  

Matt Hancock today admitted that a new national crackdown is on the cards as he warned infections are 'accelerating across the country' and more people will die. Concerns over new national rules come as: The Northeast saw a busy night in bars after Matt Hancock confirmed the region would be hit by a 10pm curfew from tonight; Lancashire is set …

Government Health England London Labour Northeast Test
Government AXE PHE and replace it with new institute run by former jockey Baroness Dido Harding
4 years, 4 months ago

Government AXE PHE and replace it with new institute run by former jockey Baroness Dido Harding

Daily Mail  

Matt Hancock faced scathing criticism today after he axed Public Health England and handed the reins of its replacement to a Tory peer who led the NHS Test and Trace fiasco and has no scientific background. Experts said making Baroness Dido Harding interim chief of the new National Institute for Health Protection made as 'much sense as Chris Whitty being …

Government Health England Infectious Diseases Test Conservative Testing
Tesco supermarket is hit by coronavirus outbreak amid surge in Covid cases across Swindon
4 years, 4 months ago

Tesco supermarket is hit by coronavirus outbreak amid surge in Covid cases across Swindon

Daily Mail  

A Tesco supermarket has been hit by a coronavirus outbreak amid a surge in cases across Swindon. A spokesperson for Tesco said: 'We have introduced extensive measures across all of our stores to help keep everyone safe, including protective screens at every checkout, social distancing signage and regular deep cleaning.' A spokesperson for Swindon Borough Council's Public Health department told …

Health Coronavirus Cases Covid Tesco Swindon Lockdown
Ministers are urged to speed up their review into 'inflated' daily Covid-19 death figures
4 years, 4 months ago

Ministers are urged to speed up their review into 'inflated' daily Covid-19 death figures

Daily Mail  

Professor Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the prestigious university, questioned why the review was taking so long and claimed it should be a 'straightforward' fix Pressure is mounting on ministers to speed up an official review into the way coronavirus deaths are calculated amid claims the daily counts were being inflated. Professor Carl Heneghan and Dr …

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England's coronavirus outbreak IS shrinking, official data shows
4 years, 5 months ago

England's coronavirus outbreak IS shrinking, official data shows

Daily Mail  

England's coronavirus outbreak is still shrinking and the number of new cases each day have more than halved in a week, according to the results of a government surveillance testing scheme. Separate figures, from King's College London, suggest the outbreak in England has stopped shrinking — but its estimate is lower than the ONS's at around 1,200 new cases per …

Health England London Data Positive Workers Testing