Findings suggest the 14-day quarantine period used around world strikes a good balance Coronavirus – live updatesPeople infected with coronavirus are symptom-free for an average of five days, according to a study that reinforces the need for strict quarantine measures.The analysis found that 5.1 days was the median length of time before people started showing signs of illness, although there was...

Adam Castillejo, known as the London patient, goes public to give hope to others with illnessThe second person ever to be cleared of HIV has revealed his identity, saying he wants to be an “ambassador of hope” to others with the condition.Adam Castillejo, the so-called London patient, was declared free of HIV last year, 18 months after stopping antiretroviral therapy following a stem cell –...

Panic in the City and on Wall Street underlines the need for governments to do (and spend) whatever it takes in dealing with the coronavirus crisisAs coronavirus has spread globally since February, a tenuous balancing act has been attempted in Britain and much of the rest of the world. Governments have assured populations that necessary precautions and preparations are being undertaken to deal...

A summary of the biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreakFollow our latest coronavirus blog for live news and updatesKey developments in the global coronavirus outbreak: Continue...

Chief medical officer says new regime for minor illnesses likely to start in next fortnight Coronavirus latest - live updatesPeople with symptoms as minor as coughs and colds could be asked to self-isolate within the next two weeks, the government warned on Monday, as Boris Johnson defended the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.Speaking at a press conference with the prime...

Britons unknowingly passed on virus after contracting it on flight from London to VietnamCoronavirus latest - live updatesA British couple on holiday in Vietnam have been told they “left infections everywhere” over several days after unknowingly contracting coronavirus from a fellow passenger on their flight from Heathrow.Graham Craddock, 68, and his wife, Mary, 69, are in quarantine in Hanoi...

The answer’s to today’s colouring puzzlesEarlier today I set you the following puzzle:Here’s a square divided into eight segments, and the four ‘mirror lines’ of that square. In other words, you can reflect the square across each axis and the square looks exactly the same. Continue...

The truth about how easy it is to catch coronavirus, who is most vulnerable and what you can do to avoid infectionFollow our latest coronavirus blog for live news and updatesHow to protect yourself against coronavirusCoronavirus symptoms: what are they and should I see a doctor?Wearing a face mask is certainly not an iron-clad guarantee that you won’t get sick – viruses can also transmit...

World is looking at Beijing to see what lessons can be learned as new cases of infections fallCoronavirus – latest updatesAs coronavirus infections around the world rise, the number of new cases in China has plummeted dramatically, prompting some observers to look to Beijing for lessons.In recent days, the number of daily new cases in China has gone from almost 2,000 less than three weeks ago to...

What is Covid-19, how does it spread, what are the symptoms, and at what point should you call a doctor?Find all our coronavirus coverage hereHow to protect yourself from infectionCoronavirus – live updatesIt is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it has come from animals. Continue...

The number of international tourist arrivals is expected to drop sharply this year, the World Tourism Organization has said, reversing a previous forecast of a substantial increase. The UN body says arrivals are now projected to fall by 1-3% in 2020, instead of the previous forecast of 3-4% growth, with losses of $30bn-50bn (£23bn-£38bn) in international tourism receipts anticipatedTourist hubs...

Wildfires are ravaging California and Australia – and local fire departments are alarmingly underfunded and underpreparedIn the wake of the devastating Australian bushfires, Jeff Bezos announced last month that he will donate $10bn to fight the climate crisis. As a resident of California and the former president of The Sierra Club Foundation, I welcome any contribution toward the struggle...

A colourful puzzle for squaresFelt tips at the ready! Today’s puzzle involves colouring in. The image below shows a square divided into eight segments, and the four ‘mirror lines’ of that square. In other words, when you reflect the square across each of these axes, the square looks exactly the same. Continue...

Schools are first line of defence against hunger, Feeding Britain says, with up to 3m pupils at riskA charity led by the archbishop of Canterbury is preparing to help feed children if schools are closed by coronavirus, amid fears the withdrawal of free school dinners could leave up to 3 million children at risk of hunger.Feeding Britain, which runs food poverty schemes in 12 areas of England...

DCMS-based unit aims to identify disinformation about virus and establish its scopeA special cross-Whitehall unit has been set up to counter coronavirus-related disinformation, including from Russia and China, working closely with social media companies to rebut false and inaccurate claims about the disease.Housed in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the unit will aim to...