Health & Science

Friday, January 15th 2021 - 09:29 UTC
PAHO warns new Covid-19 variants make it urgent to continue with public health measures

The appearance of new variants of the COVID-19 virus in several countries of the Americas, combined with an acceleration in the virus’s spread in virtually every country in the Americas, makes it urgent to continue public health measures such as social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands often, Pan American Health Organization Director Carisa F. Etienne said.
Friday, January 15th 2021 - 09:17 UTC
In 2021 the Earth is forecasted to spin faster making astronomical days shorter

In 2020, the Earth broke the previous record for shortest astronomical day, set in 2005. In effect the Earth broke the record 28 times in 2020, and it's still spinning faster. While Earth is, on average, pretty reliable and takes 86,400 seconds to rotate around its axis, this is not perfect.
Friday, January 15th 2021 - 09:15 UTC
Falkland Islands penguins’ catastrophic moulting and how you can help them

Falklands Conservation has illustrated that unlike all other birds, penguins go through what is called a “catastrophic” moult. For the penguin it is probably as bad as it sounds. Every penguin must moult once a year, normally between December to March, by drastically shedding all their feathers and re-growing new feathers in one go – hence the “catastrophic.”
Friday, January 15th 2021 - 09:10 UTC
Falklands extends domestic tourism incentive program until 31 May, including Easter

The Falkland Islands Government will be extending the Tourism Recovery Incentive Program (TRIP) by two months. The scheme, which was due to end on March 31, will now remain in operation until May 31. Falklands residents will have until that date to redeem their vouchers.
Friday, January 15th 2021 - 08:44 UTC
Urgent meeting of WHO emergency committee to address South Africa, Britain and Amazon Covid-19 variants

The World Health Organization's emergency committee met on Thursday, two weeks ahead of schedule to discuss the new coronavirus variants from South Africa and Britain that have rapidly spread to at least 50 countries and sparked widespread alarm.
Thursday, January 14th 2021 - 08:44 UTC
Britain trying to contain the coronavirus Brazil variant from reaching UK

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday the government was looking at ways to stop a variant of the novel coronavirus found in Brazil from entering Britain.
Thursday, January 14th 2021 - 08:39 UTC
New sanitary rules in UK to help overcrowded hospitals discharge patients

Britain on Wednesday altered its rules to allow coronavirus patients who have completed 14 days of isolation without showing symptoms of Covid-19 to move directly into care homes from hospitals without being re-tested for the disease.
Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:20 UTC
China's Sinovac vaccine is 50,38% effective according to leading Brazilian research center

Trials in Brazil show the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine Sinovac to be 50.38% effective, nearly 30 percentage points below the initial results released last week. The Instituto Butantan, the São Paulo-based research institute responsible for developing the vaccine and conducting trials in the country, announced last week the vaccine had a 78% overall efficacy, with total protection against severe cases.
Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:18 UTC
US tightens sanitary ring: arriving air travelers will need to present a negative coronavirus test

All air travelers arriving in the United States will need to present a negative coronavirus test, according to the latest announcement. Under the rules taking effect Jan. 26, travelers including U.S. citizens must show a negative test within three days of departure or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, under an order signed by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield.
Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:08 UTC
Brexit fallout: Ireland expects to receive Euros 1,05bn from EU

Ireland is set to receive 1.05 billion Euros (US$ 1.28 billion) this year from a European Union fund for countries worst affected by Britain's exit from the European Union, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Tuesday.