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The “new normal” brought about by the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be here for quite some time, with a change not likely until well into 2022, a leading scientist has said. Professor Helen Rees, who is a member of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) emergency committee for Covid-19, said measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing will have to continue. Her comments are the latest in a line of views shared by experts about when a sense of normality is likely to return. Prof Rees, who is from South Africa but has family in Wales, told BBC Wales Live: “I’m afraid ...

Updated Friday, 22nd January 2021, 2:42 pm People who refused to have the vaccine will continue to be at risk (Photo: Getty Images) Scientists are urging people not to rely on those who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 to keep them safe, as it is “pretty much impossible” for the UK to reach herd immunity. While vaccines will allow a return to normality for large parts of society, people who have not been immunised will be at ongoing risk from coronavirus. Vaccines won’t completely stop infection Professor Paul Hunter and colleague Alistair Grant, from the University of East Anglia...

Updated Friday, 22nd January 2021, 3:35 pm The Oxford jab was found to have an efficacy of 62 per cent (Photo: Getty Images) Scientists are recommending that all health and social care professionals should be vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccines as they have proved to be more effective. Researchers from the University of East Anglia have warned that the Oxford vaccine is ‘less effective’ in controlling the spread of the virus, and would need to be given to more than 90 per cent of the population to drive infection rates down. Why is the Oxford jab less effective? Profe...

A study found that 69 of the population would need to be given the Pfizer jab, or 93 the Oxford vaccine, to bring the R number below 1.

Will you still wear a mask once the pandemic is over? Will face masks remain a cultural norm in the UK even after the immediate danger of Covid-19 has passed? Scientists are quick to point out that Covid-19 is not going away any time soon: the most likely scenario is that the virus becomes endemic but, through a combination of vaccination and natural evolution in the virus, it will become much less harmful and disruptive, giving symptoms similar to the common cold. And, at that point, will we still feel compelled to cover our noses and mouths while in public places?