Research Updates

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Research updates

What are the symptoms of COVID?

November 19, 2021

The most powerful thing we can do to prevent the spread of COVID is to know how to recognise its symptoms, so we can stay at home and stop the spread. There’s more than just 3 symptoms but are you clear on what to look out for?

Can a pill cure COVID?

October 25, 2021

We take a look at the science behind the two drugs that have been put forward as COVID treatments: molnupiravir and ivermectin.

What impact has COVID-19 had on cancer?

October 21, 2021

COVID-19 has had a big impact on cancer services, but it’s still really important to get checked out by your doctor if something doesn’t seem normal for you.

Living with Long COVID summary

October 14, 2021

In this webinar, we hear about your personal experiences with Long COVID, and our experts discuss its definition, symptoms, and treatments.

Do I have COVID or the flu? How to tell the difference

October 11, 2021

Some scientists and academics are speculating that this winter could see many of us hit with a bad bout of flu. But what are the differences between COVID and flu and how can you protect yourself this winter?

Do I need a COVID vaccine if I’ve had COVID?

October 7, 2021

Data from ZOE COVID Study app contributors shows that having had a previous COVID infection, and being fully vaccinated gives you an even bigger, longer-lasting protection boost than the vaccine alone.

Does having COVID-19 affect mental health?

September 29, 2021

Data from ZOE COVID Study contributors shows that although testing positive for COVID can have a negative impact on mental health, thankfully the effects are small and short-lived.

Do I have COVID or a cold? How to tell the difference

September 21, 2021

Our tips for how to tell the difference between COVID and a cold, and when you should get tested.

You can now log any vaccine, including boosters, with ZOE

September 16, 2021

You can now log COVID-19 vaccine boosters and vaccines received as part of a clinical trial in the ZOE COVID Study.

Double COVID vaccination halves risk of Long COVID

September 2, 2021

Your data shows that double vaccination halves the chances of someone contracting Long COVID. Here’s what the research found.

COVID vaccines: are they working?

August 25, 2021

In this webinar, our experts discuss how well COVID-19 vaccines are working and whether we’ll need booster shots in the future.

Is COVID vaccine protection fading?

August 25, 2021

Our latest analysis shows that protection from the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs can start to fade within six months.

What to eat when you have COVID-19 or long COVID

August 24, 2021

Getting the right nutrition is important when you’re ill. While there are few clinical trials looking specifically at what to eat if you have COVID-19 or long COVID, here’s what we know so far from other similar illnesses.

Is loss of smell still an important symptom of COVID-19?

August 20, 2021

Your data helped to show that loss of smell (anosmia) was a key symptom of COVID-19 earlier in the pandemic. Here’s why it’s still worth watching out for any changes in smell or taste, especially if you don’t have access to testing.

Should I still wear a mask?

August 5, 2021

We answer your questions on face coverings, including whether they protect against COVID-19, and when and where you should consider wearing one.

Do children get long COVID?

August 4, 2021

King’s researchers have published a study in Lancet Child and Adolescent Health looking at data from the ZOE COVID Study and found that COVID-19 children are unlikely to suffer from long duration COVID symptoms.

Long COVID: What do we know so far?

July 27, 2021

In this webinar, our experts discuss what we have learned about long COVID over the past year, including how it’s defined, who is most likely to get it, potential treatments and the long-term implications.

What is the Delta variant and why is it so dominant?

July 14, 2021

In our latest webinar, our experts discuss what the Delta variant is, why it has become so dominant, and whether the vaccines can still protect us.

7 ways to improve diet quality and protect against COVID-19

July 13, 2021

Eating a plant-rich diet can help to protect against COVID-19. Here are our tips to support healthy eating during the pandemic and beyond.

Eating a plant-rich diet helps to protect against COVID-19

July 13, 2021

Results from our diet survey show that people who eat a high quality, plant-rich diet are less likely to catch COVID-19 or end up in the hospital.

Is a runny nose a symptom of COVID-19?

April 23, 2021

A runny nose is more likely to be a symptom of COVID-19 when rates of the disease are high in the population. 

Does vitamin D protect against COVID-19?

April 6, 2021

Does the evidence show that vitamin D supplements can help protect you against COVID-19? Professor Tim Spector and Dr John Campbell discuss what we know so far.

Has COVID changed the way we eat?

December 17, 2020

In October we set out to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we eat and live. With over 1.5 million participants, this is the world's largest study into diet and COVID-19. Here's what we've learned from the study so far.

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

December 3, 2020

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

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.

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

October 26, 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’.

Millions of COVID Symptom Study app users are helping the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s how.

October 9, 2020

Your daily logging is making a difference. Here's how millions of COVID Symptom Study app users are helping the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine.

App update: Diet & lifestyle questionnaire

September 30, 2020

This week, the COVID Symptom Study app has launched a detailed diet and lifestyle questionnaire to help researchers investigate the impact of diet and lifestyle on COVID-19 symptoms and severity. Here's how you can help.

Frontline healthcare workers more likely to test positive for COVID despite PPE

August 11, 2020

A new study published in Lancet Public Health has found that front-line healthcare workers with adequate PPE have a three-fold increased risk of COVID-19 infection, compared with the general population.

The COVID Symptom Study has revealed six distinct ‘types’ of COVID-19

July 17, 2020

Data from the COVID Symptom Study has revealed six distinct ‘types’ of COVID-19, each distinguished by a particular cluster of symptoms. Learn more about this groundbreaking research, which your daily logging has made possible.

Skin rash should be considered as a fourth key sign of COVID-19

July 16, 2020

Data from the COVID Symptom Study shows that characteristic skin symptoms should be considered as key diagnostic signs of the disease, even in the absence of any other symptoms. 

Lockdown eating insights: Has the pandemic turned us into a nation of snackers?

July 15, 2020

New data from the COVID Symptom Study suggests that snacking and alcohol consumption has increased significantly in the U.S. during lockdown, but what does this mean for our waistlines and health?

Can estrogen protect against coronavirus? Here are the latest results from the COVID Symptom Study

July 7, 2020

How do the menopause, the contraceptive pill, and hormone replacement therapies affect the risk of suffering from COVID symptoms? We have been analyzing your COVID symptom study data to find out.

New Spanish Language app!

July 1, 2020

Hemos lanzado una versión en español de la aplicación COVID-19 Symptom Study! / We have launched a Spanish language version of the COVID-19 Symptom Study app!

New TrialSpark Antibody Study

June 24, 2020

In a new study launched by Dr. Michael Mina at the Harvard School of Public Health, Massachusetts residents in select zipcodes may be offered at-home antibody tests. 

Now in the New England Journal of Medicine: The Importance of Digital Surveillance

June 24, 2020

In our new paper in the New England Journal of Medicine, we discuss how digital strategies like the COVID Symptom Study app are aiding efforts being made as we fight COVID-19.

How we’re helping to protect people with cancer during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic

June 24, 2020

In this post, we ask Dr. Alpa Patel from the American Cancer Society how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people with cancer, and how the COVID Symptom Tracker app can help protect cancer patients.

New app questions: Lifestyle and diabetes

June 19, 2020

Research suggests that nutrition and metabolic health may have a significant impact on who is most at risk of getting severe forms of COVID-19. Find out more about how these new key questions aim to help us better understand and reduce these risks.

Is being overweight a COVID-19 risk?

June 12, 2020

In this article, we explore why obesity might be a risk factor for becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, and why it’s so important to gather data to understand who is most at risk.

Is my skin rash a COVID-19 symptom?

June 11, 2020

Early reports suggest that skin can be affected by SARS-COV-2 in up to 20% of cases. We talk to two dermatologists to learn more about three main types of skin rashes associated with COVID-19 infection.

Our pledge for health equity

June 4, 2020

The events over the past two weeks have shaken us to our core. We invite you to learn, to listen and join us in our pledge for health equity for everyone.

What SARS, MERS, and flu can teach us about how to tackle the coronavirus pandemic

June 1, 2020

In this post, we take a look back at historical pandemics to find out how we can tackle COVID-19, and how our COVID Symptom Study app can help.

Sex, hormones and COVID-19: what do we know?

May 29, 2020

How do hormones and sex affect coronavirus and COVID-19?‍ We spoke to women’s health expert, Dr Louise Newson, and Prof Tim Spector to find out more about the links between estrogen, immunity, and COVID-19.

Eating to support gut health and immunity

May 28, 2020

Recent research suggests that gut health is linked to a well-functioning immune system. As the world faces the coronavirus pandemic, here are some suggestions for what you can eat to support your gut and help keep you well.

Nourishing your body during lockdown

May 27, 2020

Have your eating habits changed during lockdown? We caught up with two of our nutritionists to find out how being at home more often has influenced their food choices and what they've been eating during lockdown.

The key to staying mentally healthy during the coronavirus pandemic is kindness

May 24, 2020

Feelings of anxiety are common during a pandemic, so if you are struggling right now, you aren't alone. We take a look at how focusing on compassion and kindness is key to supporting our mental wellbeing during this difficult time.

Be kind: Five tips for coping with COVID-related anxiety

May 23, 2020

It's only human to feel anxious during a global crisis on the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic. We share our top five tips for dealing with pandemic-related anxiety.

Join this week's webinar

May 20, 2020

Sign up for this week's webinar! Dr Claire Steves and Professor Tim Spector will delve into the latest data from the COVID Symptom Study, including risk factors we've identified that may put individuals at risk of hospitalisation due to COVID.

You asked: Should I take vitamin supplements for COVID-19?

May 19, 2020

Which supplements should you take to boost your immunity against the novel coronavirus? Do they actually work? And even if they don’t, what’s the harm? We speak to Professor Tim Spector to find out.

Does diabetes increase your risk from COVID-19?

May 16, 2020

Our expert, Dr Paul Franks, provides insight into how COVID-19 affects people with diabetes, and what diabetics can do to best protect themselves during the coronavirus pandemic.‍

You asked: What should I eat during the pandemic?

May 13, 2020

Are you struggling to know how to eat healthily during the COVID-19 pandemic? We asked our experts for advice on how to eat to best support immunity and tips for what you can do if you are struggling to buy fresh fruit and vegetables at the moment.

Predicting COVID-19 likelihood with AI

May 11, 2020

Our research has been published in leading medical journal, Nature, today. Learn more about how your data has helped us predict COVID-19 without a test, and how this research could prevent the spread of the disease as lockdown measures are relaxed.

COVID-19 and the Risk of Being a Frontline Healthcare Worker

May 8, 2020

Frontline healthcare workers in US and UK are at much higher risk of testing positive for COVID-19, and those without access to proper PPE are even more vulnerable. Using the COVID Symptom Study app, we are examining the magnitude of the risk on healthcare workers.

Now in Science Magazine: How the COVID Symptom Study is Detecting Hotspots

May 7, 2020

Our newest publication in the journal Science outlines the efforts of our app to understand risk factors of COVID-19 and its effect on patients’ health in a diverse population.

Do hormone therapies affect COVID-19?

May 7, 2020

The COVID Symptom Study will be working together with NHS England to facilitate key research into better understanding the potential protective effects of hormonal therapies, like HRT or the pill, and COVID-19 risk.

Testing alone won't contain coronavirus

May 7, 2020

Testing alone won’t contain coronavirus. Find out why we need a combination of strategies, including testing and symptom monitoring, to help us get us out of lockdown and win the fight against COVID-19.

Increased risk of COVID-19 among healthcare workers

May 6, 2020

In an analysis of information from the U.K. and U.S., frontline healthcare workers had a nearly 12-times higher risk of testing positive for COVID-19.

You asked: Can exercise protect against COVID-19?

May 6, 2020

Our expert Dr Claire Steves shares insight into the role that exercise plays in supporting immunity, how much exercise we need right now, and some great ideas for how to stay fit during lockdown.‍

Why do we need a vaccine for COVID-19?

May 5, 2020

Vaccines help protect us by giving us immunity without having to get sick. In this post we take a closer look at how they are developed, and when we might expect a coronavirus vaccine to be available.

Webinar: COVID-19 in the USA vs the UK

May 4, 2020

We speak to our research leaders Professor Tim Spector and Professor Andy Chan about similarities and differences around COVID-19 in the USA and the UK - two countries with very different health systems and approaches to the crisis.

Protecting healthcare workers from COVID-19

April 30, 2020

Learn more about how our COVID-19 symptom tracker app is generating data that will help to protect healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic in this interview with lead researcher, Dr. Andrew Chan.

Genetics and COVID-19 symptoms

April 30, 2020

Do genes influence COVID-19 symptoms? Our latest data from identical and non-identical twins in the UK shows that genetic makeup does play a significant role in determining whether or not you might develop symptoms of coronavirus infection.

US COVID Symptom Tracker Data by State

April 22, 2020

We have received more than 1 million assessments from more than 150,000 COVID Symptom Tracker app users across the United States. We are happy to share state-by-state results for prevalence of symptoms and testing rates. Are you assisting our nationwide effort?

New research on loss of smell or taste

April 2, 2020

Our latest analysis of data from the COVID Symptom Tracker app suggests losing your sense of taste and smell may be the best way to tell whether you have COVID-19. Our researchers share their latest update direct from King's College London.

How your data will help fight COVID-19 in the US

March 30, 2020

As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic grips the United States, we are recruiting millions of citizen scientists across the nation. Our aim is to slow the outbreak of the disease and identify those at risk sooner. Here's how you can help out from home.

Who are the 1.5 million U.K. citizen scientists?

March 29, 2020

The COVID symptom tracker has now been downloaded over 1.5 million times. As the number of contributors continues to grow we take a look at who they are.

Could non-classic symptoms indicate mild COVID?

March 28, 2020

Scientists Tim Spector, Claire Steves and researchers from Kings College London report the state of the nation’s reported symptoms as of 3pm on 27th March 2020.

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