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People who test positive for coronavirus or show symptoms in the UK must now self-isolate for at least 10 days, rather than seven. The change, announced by the UK's chief medical officers, comes as ministers try to avoid a resurgence of the virus. Until now, those showing key symptoms - a new continuous cough, a temperature or loss of taste or smell - have had to self-isolate for at least a week. The new advice is in line with World Health Organization guidance. The chief medical officers said the change is "particularly important to protect those who have been shielding and in advance of the autumn and winter when we may see increased community transmission". Evidence shows that people with

Most people in England, about 30 million, are to be offered a free flu vaccine this year, the government says. It is to prepare for a winter that could see the annual flu season coincide with a surge in coronavirus. The NHS flu programme will add all over-50s, people shielding and those who live with them and children in their first year of secondary school. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wanted "everyone to have a flu jab in the run up to this winter". He said it was important to "protect the NHS in the winter months because we've still got Covid and the threat of a second spike of Covid, and its vital therefore to keep that pressure off the NHS by everybody getting a flu jab." How ba

Face coverings are now compulsory for customers in shops in England, after new coronavirus rules came into force within 12 hours of the government issuing guidance on the change. Coverings are mandatory in enclosed public spaces such as supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, transport hubs, banks and takeaways. Police can hand out fines of up to £100 to those who do not comply. But some retailers have insisted they will not enforce the rule. Sainsbury's and Costa Coffee said their staff would not challenge customers who entered their stores without masks, while Asda said enforcement was the "responsibility of the relevant authorities". But Waitrose will have staff at the entrance reminding c

Care home residents in England can begin to be reunited with one of their loved ones, the government has said, as it publishes new guidance. Visits will resume in care homes once local authorities and local public health directors say it is safe. Residents will be limited to seeing the same one visitor, where possible, the guidance says. Some providers began allowing outdoor, socially-distanced visits in June, in the absence of government guidelines. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was now possible to "carefully and safely" allow visits to care homes, while taking into account "local knowledge and circumstances for each care home". People in registered residential care and those in nur

Patients may soon be prescribed a walk in the great outdoors on the NHS. In a bid to reduce pressure on the health service, environment secretary George Eustice has said GPs and other medics in the UK will be able to hand out “green prescriptions” over pills from autumn. Under the £4m ($5m) scheme, doctors can encourage people to take up gardening, cycling or even planting trees in their local area. Vulnerable individuals, like care home residents, may even be sent on coach trips to national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. Officials hope the scheme will boost Briton’s mental health, while tackling obesity and even helping coronavirus survivors to recover. n an online speech to

More than one million people have given up smoking since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, a survey for charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) suggests. Of those who had quit in the previous four months, 41% said it was in direct response to coronavirus. Separately, University College London (UCL) found more people quit smoking in the year to June 2020 than in any year since its survey began in 2007. Government advice says smokers may be at risk of more severe Covid symptoms. Between 15 April and 20 June, a representative sample of 10,000 people, enrolled by pollster YouGov on behalf of Ash, were asked about their smoking habits. The results were used to estimate the total number of people givi

Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July. Those who fail to comply with the new rules will face a fine of up to £100, the government has announced. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it would "give people more confidence to shop safely and enhance protections for those who work in shops". The move will bring England into line with Scotland and other major European nations like Spain, Italy and Germany. Since mid-May, members of the public have been advised to wear coverings in enclosed public spaces, where they may encounter people they would not usually meet. Mask-wearing has been compulsory on public transport in England and at NHS fa

“Broken heart syndrome” is on the rise amid the coronavirus outbreak, research suggests. Scientists from the Cleveland Clinic have reported a significant increase in the number of people experiencing stress cardiomyopathy. Known as broken heart syndrome, this can occur when emotional distress triggers dysfunction of the heart muscle. Amid the pandemic, people around the world are mourning the loss of loved ones, with the death toll exceeding 550,000. Others are battling anxiety that they or those they care about may catch the infection. Months of lockdown has also triggered an economic fallout that has left many scared for their jobs, while the vulnerable may be enduring loneliness brought o

Demand for sexual health services has reportedly spiked after government officials relaxed the coronavirus lockdown. Boris Johnson announced on 11 June, people who live alone in England could form “support bubbles”, allowing them to visit one other household and even stay the night from 13 June. The government said the move was to help combat loneliness for those who had nothing but their own company for three months. Professor Linda Bauld from the University of Edinburgh called it a “very British way of saying intimacy matters”. The online doctor Zava reported a spike in sales in the week that followed the announcement, with demand for emergency contraception 43% higher than normal. Zava al

NHS England is launching a new service for people with ongoing health problems after having coronavirus. The government says "tens of thousands" of people have long-term symptoms after catching Covid-19. "Your Covid Recovery" will be an online portal for people in England to access tutorials, contact healthcare workers and track their progress. The project will be rolled out in two phases, with the web portal launching later this month. It will only be accessible via a personal log-in and will be available to virus patients who had to be treated in hospital, as well as to those who managed their illness at home. Later in the summer, tailored rehabilitation will also be offered to those who q

Changes in young people's eating habits, tracked during the lockdown in England, show both increases in snacking and families eating together. Researchers found 60% of young people thought more shared family meal times were positive for health and wellbeing. Young people in the study said they wanted to keep having meals together. The research, from the Guy's and St Thomas's Charity and the Bite Back 2030 healthy eating charity, studied over 1,000 14-19 year olds. The youth co-chair of Bite Back 2030 is Christina Adane, the 16-year-old Londoner who set up the petition for free school meals over the summer holidays, which footballer Marcus Rashford supported. "I don't want us to be the victim

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients can now get a "life-transforming" treatment on the NHS in England. Nine in 10 people with the genetic condition - more than 7,000 in England - could benefit from the three-drug combination called Kaftrio, say experts. NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens said a landmark deal had been made with Vertex Pharmaceuticals which makes the drug. NHS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could opt to do the same. Children under the age of 12 will not be able to access the treatment either because the European licence does not permit this. Alexandra Andrews, 45 and from Nottingham, who was able to start the treatment on compassionate grounds ahead of the announcement, called it "

The number of women and girls facing period poverty has risen sharply during the coronavirus lockdown, according to charities working to help them. Women unable to afford or access sanitary products have resorted to using items including newspaper, pillow cases, or tea towels. One charity said the number of packs it gave out had risen about five-fold. Poverty left some struggling to afford products and schools and community centres that distribute them have shut. The government said its scheme launched in January to give out free period products in schools was still in operation. National charity Bloody Good Period said it usually distributed 5,000 packs a month but had handed more than 23,0