Research Updates

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Research shows some vitamin supplements may have a small effect on COVID-19 risk

December 1, 2020

Can vitamin supplements reduce your risk of catching COVID-19? We’ve been analysing your data to find out.

COVID-19 Vaccines: Are they safe? For everyone? What do they mean for the pandemic?

November 27, 2020

We spoke to immunologist Professor Peter Openshaw to find out whether COVID-19 vaccines are safe, who they will work for, and how they will change the course of the pandemic

How to get notifications working in the app

November 27, 2020

If you’ve recently stopped getting reminders to log your symptoms in the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app, it might be because of something we did. Here’s how to fix it.

Latest data shows COVID back under control

November 26, 2020

According to the ZOE COVID Symptom Study UK Infection Survey figures based on swab tests data from up five days ago, COVID cases are declining in most areas of the UK as R value drops below 1 again to 0.9.

Did lockdown 2.0 work? Here’s what’s going on with COVID-19 across the country

November 23, 2020

With the English lockdown due to be lifted soon ZOE COVID Symptom Study lead scientist Professor Tim Spector discusses whether the latest lockdown measures worked.

Decline in cases slows despite lockdown

November 20, 2020

According to the ZOE COVID Symptom Study UK Infection Survey figures based on swab tests data from up five days ago, the drop in the number of daily new cases for the UK overall has slowed down but the real picture is distorted by regional differences.

Cancer doesn’t stop because there’s a pandemic. Here are the symptoms to look out for.

November 19, 2020

Ignoring the signs of cancer and delaying diagnosis because of the pandemic costs thousands of lives. We chat to Cancer Research UK about the impact COVID-19 is having on cancer diagnoses and the symptoms you should look out for.

COVID declining across the UK

November 13, 2020

According to the ZOE COVID Symptom Study UK Infection Survey figures based on swab tests up to four days ago, the number of daily new COVID-19 cases is now declining across the UK.

Protecting schools from COVID-19

November 10, 2020

Our new School Communities programme lets schools see student symptom data provided by parents and carers, so they can make data-driven decisions that keep children, families and teachers safe.

Are we over the peak of the second wave?

November 6, 2020

According to the ZOE COVID Symptom Study UK Infection Survey figures based on swab tests up to four days ago, the number of daily new COVID-19 cases in the UK has improved, with overall figures starting to fall in a number of areas including Scotland and Wales.

Together, we’ll get through this

November 4, 2020

As we face further lockdown restrictions across England, with other UK nations bringing in their own rules, Professor Tim Spector shares his thoughts for the road ahead.

COVID rates are not surging

October 30, 2020

According to the ZOE COVID Symptom Study UK Infection Survey figures, the number of daily new COVID-19 cases in the UK are continuing to steadily increase and not surging as other sources have suggested this week.

Millions of contributors are helping the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s how.

October 28, 2020

The quest for a vaccine against COVID-19 is one of the most pressing scientific challenges facing us right now. Read how contributors to the COVID Symptom Study are helping.

Why are the daily questions in the COVID Symptom Study app changing?

October 28, 2020

We’ve made some changes to the daily health reporting questions in the COVID Symptom Study app to make it simpler to use and help with research through the winter.

Getting ahead of the curve: see COVID-19 rates in your area

October 27, 2020

COVID Symptom Study app contributors can now see how predicted COVID-19 rates are changing in their local areas

The younger generations are still driving COVID cases

October 23, 2020

The latest COVID Symptom Study data shows the growing divide between the Northern regions of the UK and the South and how the younger generations continue to be driving the rise in cases. Read the full press release for all the latest data.

One in 20 people likely to suffer from ‘Long COVID’, but who are they?

October 21, 2020

Our latest study shows that one in 20 people will suffer symptoms for more than 8 weeks and reveals who is most at risk of developing ‘long COVID’.

Researchers are using COVID Symptom Study app data to map local hotspots

October 20, 2020

Data from the COVID Symptom Study app is being used by researchers to map the pandemic in detail.

An apology from Prof. Tim Spector

October 19, 2020

An apology from Professor Tim Spector about the email that some of you received on Saturday.

Fundraising and masks

October 17, 2020

We were selling some donated designer masks that had been donated - that have now all been sold. 100 percent of these sales have gone towards our Long Covid research, the preliminary findings of which will be published next week.

Case rising steadily and rapidly in the North of England

October 16, 2020

The latest COVID Symptom Study data shows that cases are continuing to rise steadily in the UK and daily new cases in the North are rising rapidly. This week we introduce the new Tier Prediction model, which predicts which regions in the UK may be made a Tier 3 region.

Are you immune to COVID-19? And could you catch it again? Here's what we know so far

October 13, 2020

Am I Immune to COVID-19? Will antibodies protect me? Or can I get reinfected? Here's what we know so far. Can you catch coronavirus twice? Here’s what we know about COVID-19 immunity and your chances of reinfection.

Why our data wasn’t affected by the recent PHE issues

October 13, 2020

We wanted to make it clear that the recent issue with Public Health England and a technical glitch has had no impact on the COVID Symptom Study! Here's why.

Medical guidance about delirium in older people changed thanks to COVID Symptom Study data

October 12, 2020

Public Health England has updated its COVID-19 guidance for elderly people presenting with delirium, based on research from the COVID Symptom Study app. We speak to lead researcher, Dr Claire Steves, to find out more.

COVID cases still on the rise and North South divide continues

October 9, 2020

The latest COVID Symptom Study data suggests that the COVID-19 trends are slowing down, but there is a huge gap between the North and South of England. Read more about the data in this week's press release.

The COVID Symptom Study app and NHS COVID-19 app are different. Here’s why you need both!

October 6, 2020

Since the launch of the NHS COVID-19 app in England and Wales, we’ve had a lot of users of our COVID Symptom Study app asking us whether they should carry on logging daily if they also have the NHS app. In short, the answer is yes and here's why!

Delirium is a key sign of COVID-19 in frail, older people

October 5, 2020

A new analysis of data from the COVID Symptom Study app and patients admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in London has shown that delirium - a state of acute confusion associated with a higher risk of serious illness and death - is a key symptom of COVID-19 in frail, older people.