A LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE...

THE coronavirus pandemic has brought fear and anxiety — but it’s not all bad news. A BREATHING aid that can help keep coronavirus patients out of intensive care has been created by the Mercedes Formula 1 team in less than a week. The CPAP device pumps pressurised air into the lungs through a mask to keep the airway open.

CPAP devices have been used in China and Italy to treat coronavirus patients, with reports indicating that roughly half have avoided the need for ventilators.

The device ‘will help to save lives by ensuring that ventilators, a limited resource, are used only for the most severely ill,’ says Professor Mervyn Singer, a critical care consultant who is involved in the project. One hundred of the new devices are now being used in NHS hospitals.

A TEN- MINUTE exercise programme designed to help older people stay active at home during lockdown is being broadcast on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra.

The ‘10 Today’ workouts can be adapted to different levels of fitness and may be done standing or sitting, making them suitable for people who use wheelchairs or have mobility problems.

Listen on weekdays from 5am or on the BBC website: bbc.co.uk/ programmes/p087wddm

SCIENTISTS are working flat-out to find a vaccine for coronavirus but one hopeful, PittCoVac, is the first to be critiqued by scientists not involved in the original research.

The vaccine, tested on mice by the University of Pittsburgh, generated antibodies in quantities thought to be sufficient to ‘neutralise’ the virus within two weeks. Scientists are now applying to start human clinical trials.

The vaccine uses lab-made pieces of a protein called a spike protein, that scientists know is effective in producing immunity to the Sars and Mers viruses, which are closely related to Covid-19.

Human trials could take up to a year, researchers say.

NHS WORKERS are being offered a free subscription to a leading mental health and wellbeing app to help them deal with the stresses of fighting coronavirus.

Headspace has been shown in trials to reduce stress and increase resilience.

NHS workers can get free access until the end of the year by signing up with their NHS email address.

This will give them access to 1,200 hours of meditation and mindfulness content to improve anxiety.