A leading researcher says the Omicron variant could halve the risk of suffering from so-called long Covid when compared with the Delta strain.
The study found the odds of experiencing long Covid symptoms were at least 20 per cent and as much as 50 per cent lower after the onset of Omicron as the dominant variant versus the Delta period, depending on age and time since vaccination.
A King’s College London team led by Dr Claire Steves used data from the Zoe Covid Symptom study.
“The Omicron variant appears substantially less likely to cause long Covid than previous variants but still one in 23 people who catch Covid-19 go on to have symptoms for more than four weeks," she said. “Given the numbers of people affected it’s important that we continue to support them at work, at home and within the NHS.”
The analysis showed that 4.4 per cent of Omicron cases were long Covid, compared to 10.8 per cent of Delta cases.
However, the absolute number of people who had long Covid was higher in the Omicron period because of the vast numbers infected with the variant from December 2021 to February.
The Office for National Statistics estimates the number of people with long Covid actually increased from 1.3 million in January to two million as of May 1.
Long Covid is defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines as having new or ongoing symptoms four weeks or more after the start of the disease.
Symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of concentration and joint pain.
As well as affecting day-to-day activities, for some people the condition can be severely limiting.
The study identified 56,003 UK adults who tested positive between December 20 last year and March 9, when Omicron was the dominant strain.
Researchers compared these to 41,361 cases first testing positive between June 1 and November 27 last year, when the Delta was the dominant variant.
The analysis is published in a letter to medical journal The Lancet.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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The%20specs
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
Honeymoonish
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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The%20specs
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