Covid subvariants cast shadow over European summer
A resurgence of Covid-19 cases in Europe, this time driven by new, fast-spreading Omicron subvariants, is once again threatening to disrupt people's summer plans
WHO warns of obesity ‘epidemic’ in Europe
The WHO has said that "epidemic" overweight and obesity rates are linked to over 1.2 million deaths annually across Europe, calling for swift policy changes to reverse the dangerous trend
‘Perfect storm’: Europe Covid rise due to fewer curbs, subvariant
Covid-19 is again surging in Western Europe due to a "perfect storm" of governments lifting restrictions, waning immunity and the more contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, experts say
Get vaccinated, or get punished? How jab mandates divide
Do vaccine mandates work? Austria is set to become the first country in Europe to impose Covid-19 vaccination and others could follow as nations scramble to inoculate their populations against coronavirus
Spain leads calls for Covid-19 to be treated like flu
Spain is leading calls for governments to start tackling Covid-19 like any other endemic respiratory virus such as seasonal flu, despite WHO opposition and warnings that the approach is premature
Omicron: Mild or severe impact on the global economy?
After limping its way back from the Covid pandemic last year, the global economic recovery has been rattled by the Omicron variant's rapid rise
Omicron less severe but still a threat to health systems
Omicron is causing record numbers of cases around the world, and though it causes less severe Covid-19 experts warn this wave still threatens to overwhelm health systems
Europe’s bizarre rules for Covid vaccine passes
Pig slaughter parties, midnight dancing and going to a petrol station are just some of the events where Europeans are required to show either their vaccination status, a negative test or evidence of having had Covid
More contagious, less severe: What we know about Omicron
A month after it was first detected in southern Africa, Omicron is now known to be far more contagious than previous variants of Covid-19 but appears to cause a less severe illness than its predecessors
Why antibodies aren’t the only defense against Omicron
In the fight against the coronavirus, antibodies are less effective against the heavily mutated Omicron variant but thankfully the immune system can also call upon neutrophils, B and T cells to fight the virus