Scientists urge UK to expand official list of Covid symptoms

UK’s narrow clinical definition only includes high fever, continuous cough, or loss of smell and taste

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Senior scientists have called for the UK to expand its official list of Covid symptoms to reduce the number of missed cases and ensure more people know they should self-isolate.

The researchers, who include Prof Calum Semple, a member of the government’s Sage committee of experts, argue the UK’s narrow clinical definition of Covid leads to delays in identifying people with the disease and may miss them altogether, hampering efforts to disrupt the spread of the virus.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/01/scientists-urge-uk-to-expand-official-list-of-covid-symptoms

I haven’t cheated on my partner for over a year. As things open up, I’m worried it will happen again

If you want to stop cheating you need to figure out why you do it, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith, and that will take time, effort and help

One huge bonus of a year of lockdown and social distancing is that, for the first time in my relationship, I haven’t cheated on my partner for over a year. Women find me attractive and often flirt with me but I’ve never accepted an invitation to start an affair. Having been cheated on in the past I’m painfully aware of how the lies and deceit of an affair can make the betrayed person feel like they are going crazy, and the massive hurt that is caused when a long term affair is discovered.

Instead, when I get drunk at a party or night out, I start responding to these flirtatious behaviours and end up going home with a stranger, colleague or associate. It’s always a one-night stand and even if the other person wants it to continue I never do. Afterwards I feel terrible, give up drinking for a while and try strategies to prevent it happening again (eg mention my wife within one minute of conversation, don’t drink at festivals, impose a curfew on myself etc).

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source https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jul/01/i-havent-cheated-on-my-partner-for-over-a-year-as-things-open-up-im-worried-it-will-happen-again

Man who grabbed Chris Whitty sacked from job as estate agent

Lewis Hughes, 24, apologises for ‘any upset caused’ after video of incident in London went viral

A man who was called a “thug” by Boris Johnson after being filmed apparently accosting Prof Chris Whitty has apologised for “any upset I caused”.

Lewis Hughes, 24, said if he made England’s chief medical officer feel “uncomfortable”, then “I am sorry to him for that”. He said he has lost his job as a result of the video.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/01/man-who-grabbed-chris-whitty-sacked-from-job-as-estate-agent

Australia Covid live update: Atagi co-chair says AstraZeneca should only be used by under-40s in ‘pressing’ circumstances

Alice Springs is waking to its first full day of lockdown after a Delta variant outbreak that started in a central Australian mine grew by five. Follow latest updates

• NSW restrictions; Qld restrictions; WA, NT and SA rules
• NSW hotspots; Qld hotspots; WA exposure sites
• Border closures: where you can and can’t travel in Australia
• What you need to know about getting AstraZeneca in Australia
• Fewer than one in five Australians in disability care vaccinated

11.28pm BST

What. Is. Happening. In. This. Tweet.

For those that are still playing the morning coffee game with me take a massive SIP for inexplicable graphic design choices from the Queensland premier.

Keep staying safe pic.twitter.com/8cUTweyjcU

11.26pm BST

For those not watching Network Seven this morning, Simon Birmingham has admitted Australia is at the “back of the queue” for Pfizer vaccines.

His colleague, the health minister Greg Hunt has repeatedly claimed Australia was at the “front of the queue” for Covid vaccines – a phrase which has come back to bite as Australia waits for Pfizer and other mRNA vaccines to arrive to bolster the bungled vaccine rollout.

We’ve had challenges in terms of supply because European countries and drug companies have favoured those nations who’ve had high rates of Covid for the delivery of vaccines like Pfizer, which has put countries like New Zealand and Australia at the back of the queue in terms of receipt of some of those vaccines, but they’re coming.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/jul/01/australia-covid-live-update-atagi-astrazeneca-vaccines-scott-morrison-nsw-queensland-alice-springs-perth-lockdown

Employers warned not to discriminate amid rush for EU settled status

Citizens told to complain if rights have been breached, as number of applicants surges before deadline

Businesses and public bodies have been warned by the Brexit rights regulator not to discriminate against EU citizens as the new post-Brexit immigration regime enters into force at midnight.

The warnings come as Home Office helplines for EU citizens applying for immigration were reported to be “jammed” by a last-minute surge in EU citizens applying to remain in the UK, and charity workers helping applicants said they were also struggling to get through to the specialist hotline reserved for advisers.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/30/employers-warned-not-to-discriminate-amid-rush-for-eu-settled-status

Morning mail: vaccine tensions rise, Bill Cosby released, Donald Rumsfeld dead

Thursday: Fewer than one in five Australians in disability care fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Plus: Cosby’s sexual assault conviction overturned

Good morning. Vaccines are again dominating headlines locally after multiple state governments directly criticised the commonwealth’s new position on the AstraZeneca vaccine, with Queensland saying it does “not want under-40s to get AstraZeneca” and Victoria accusing Scott Morrison of creating unnecessary confusion. There was no argument inside national cabinet about Morrison’s AstraZeneca advice because he didn’t flag it – state and territory leaders found out about expanded access for under-40s when they watched the prime minister’s press conference.

The advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation remains that Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for under-60s due to an increased risk of rare clotting events. Many Australians under 40 have been left confused about whether they can get a Covid-19 vaccine. Here’s a handy explainer with everything you need to know.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/01/morning-mail-vaccine-tensions-rise-bill-cosby-released-donald-rumsfeld-dead

Rift between states and Morrison government over AstraZeneca vaccine for under 40s grows

Queensland chief health officer says she did not want under 40s getting the vaccine, as federal government says there has been no change to advice

• NSW restrictions; Qld restrictions; WA, NT and SA rules
• NSW hotspots; Qld hotspots; WA exposure sites
• Border closures: where you can and can’t travel in Australia

Multiple state governments have directly criticised the commonwealth’s new position on the AstraZeneca vaccine, with Queensland saying that it does “not want under 40s to get AstraZeneca” and Victoria accusing Scott Morrison of creating unnecessary confusion.

In a series of press conferences on Wednesday, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia all distanced themselves from the prime minister’s suggestion that people aged under 40 should approach GPs for the AstraZeneca dose.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/30/rift-between-states-and-morrison-government-over-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-under-40s-grows