virus | Westminster World

Nov302020 by Ruth Boateng. Sub-editor - Amrita GillNo Comments

Are COVID Tests Reliable?

Photo Credit: Colin D Photo Credit: Raimond Spekking COVID test results in the UK are believed to be inconsistent. There are two main types of diagnostic tests, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the antibody tests. These tests detect whether a person has the virus now or had it previously. According to the NHS: the PCR detects the presence of the Ribonucleic acid (RNA) in a swab sample from your nose or throat. Whilst the antibody test searches for the virus in a blood sample. PCR tests are the most used in the UK. Though the NHS data suggests that the PCR test has a high reliability rate, the COVID results are thought to unreliable, as results sometimes indicate that people do not have the virus when they do. This is identified as a ‘false negative’. Research shows t

Nov302020 by Jinglin ZhouNo Comments

Coronavirus ‘steals’ thousands of students’ internships

Breaking News, Business, Covid-19, economy, Education, Health, International, Student, virus

A student from University Collage London is trying to find career help on the school's website. Photo by Jinglin Zhou Thousands of university students find it challenging to get an internship position due to the coronavirus pandemic. Anna Brown, a final year undergraduate student at the University of Westminster, was excited about her new internship offer. She just got a position as a copywriter intern in an education agency after struggling for 35 days. "I have worked part-time jobs in three companies in the four years of university. And this is the most difficult time," said Anna. Usually, the upcoming Christmas holiday is the best time for students to find a work placement. However, it's difficult this year due to the financial recession and increasing unemployment. Acc...

The latest ‘lateral flow’ Covid-19 tests bring hope for a return to normal

Covid-19, Explainers, Health, NHS, virus

New rapid testing technology for testing coronavirus antigens, known as lateral flow tests, have been rolled out in places like Liverpool for the city’s pilot testing scheme this November, and most recently universities across the country as part of an asymptomatic testing scheme. More lateral flow tests continue to be developed, with the latest tests to enable office workers and industries like construction, to return to normal. There is no patent protection against the lateral flow test, which allows different manufactures to work on this technology. This technology has been developed by numerous organisations; similar to the vaccines, groups have been working together. Some of these new tests are delivered by Healthcare Technology Solutions (HTS) – a healthcare management c

England could anticipate a third wave this Christmas?

Breaking News, Covid-19, Explainers, virus

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “If ministers do not get the balance right, England could face a third wave...” Streets of London all set for Christmas. Photo by Alejandra Angulo England’s lockdown ends this Wednesday. While citizens take it as a sign of no threat from the virus anymore, such is not the case. Latest figures show that total cases have risen to 1,605,172 with 58,030 deaths. Daily cases peak at 15,861 with 479 new deaths per day. The new system in England will segregate regions into three tiers: medium, high and very high. The restrictions on bars and restaurants will stay the same. Except Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly will be in the lowest tier; the rest of the England will be in the highest two tiers. Northern Ireland will co

Foreign students staying in London for Christmas break express why

brexit, Christmas, Covid-19, Education, EU talents, Explainers, London, Student, virus

The end of the lockdown approaching did not convince some foreign students to travel back. Seven out of ten interviewed told Westminster:World their decision to stay. Two of them have accepted to be featured on this article. Safety as the first priority Credit:Naima Tazergha "My father is not well and it is crucial to protect him from covid-19, and there is always a risk for me to catch the virus while travelling and submitting it to him." Charlotte is from Stockholm in Sweden. She moved to London this Autumn to study her first year of Interior Design at Regent's university. As the government reached to students to encourage them going back home between the 3rd and 9th of December, some don't even consider thinking about it. She is young but knows the risk- the one of c...

Are University Halls safer for Christmas?

Covid-19, Education, Explainers, virus

COVID tests for students in England are projected to be held on 30th November. A week of mass testing for students is proposed with the aim of preventing the spread of the virus as students return home. But the University Union, which represents university lecturers, said it was not yet clear whether all universities would take part in the testing programme or how many students would be included. What do students think? Ziad Mohamed, 19, from the University of Kingston told Westminster World: “That physical interaction won’t be there. You feel like you’re stuck inside a room, and having too much time on your own can affect your mental health in such a bad way”. Alexandra Davis, 20, from the University of Surrey agreed and told Westminster World: “It could dete

Mass testing is expected in London

Covid-19, Health, London, UK news, virus

Nineteen London boroughs plus the City of London are set to receive mass Covid-19 testing rollouts this week. A laboratory expert takes a Covid-19 swab test. Photograph by Mufid Majnun The daily number of 2,917 people tested positive for mass Covid-19 on 13th November in London. The total number of mass Covid-19 cases reported up to 13th November in London was 125,782. Daily cases from 6th to 10th November in London Data Source: PHE Covid-19 Dashboard Graphic by Peiyun He Department of Health and Social Care published a list on 10th November, which listed 66 local authorities where directors of public health in these areas would each receive 10,000 lateral flow devices. The list included 19 London boroughs, including Bexley, Bromley, Brent and Enfield....

Nov162020 by Haiyue Zhang & Jinglin ZhouNo Comments

Does the NHS Covid-19 app violate our privacy?

Breaking News, Covid-19, Explainers, Health, NHS, UK news, Video, virus

Around forty per cent of adults with eligible smartphones in the UK have downloaded the NHS Covid-19 app. During the epidemic, the UK has launched its own epidemic tracking system with this app. However, there is a question that many people concern: does this app violate our privacy? https://youtu.be/xcL7tCT3WQo Many people are anxious about the law enforcement and intelligence agencies could someday get in touch with tracing app's data, although others claim that the app is too private. According to the BBC, the tracing method of the NHS Covid-19 app is "led some to suggest we've got the balance between privacy and effectiveness wrong".

Apr152020 by Sera MathewsNo Comments

India under nationwide lockdown

Breaking News, Covid-19, Explainer, Explainers, Health, International, virus

As coronavirus forced countries into some kind of lockdown, India and its 1.37b residents have undergone an unprecedented situation of a total lockdown for 21 days. Watch how the action unfolded and why it is necessary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2BMeHEkZG0

Apr142020 by Editor2No Comments

The history of how people fought against viruses, explained

Explainer, Explainers, Health, virus

The pandemic of coronavirus has infected nearly 2 million people, taking approximately 120 thousand lives worldwide so far, four months after its outbreak in Wuhan, China， according to the Guardian. In certain countries, the epidemic has been under control at the cost of quarantining cities and forcing people to stay at home, while in other nations, it is continuously crashing the public health system, creating panic and resentment among people, and thus devastating the global economy. People may have somehow felt the weakness in front of viruses: why a tiny bit of creature can be so devastating? In fact, in the long history of human beings fighting against viruses, people had been slaughtered repeatedly for thousands of years before they found effective ways to save lives and stop the