An artificial intelligence can detect if YouTubers are infected with the omicron coronavirus variant with up to 80 per cent accuracy. Although vocal changes aren't considered a key symptom of any coronavirus infection, the researchers behind the AI argue their results suggest a subtle "Omicron-specific laryngitis".

An AI tool has predicted 540 mammalian species that are most likely to spread covid-19 using information about where they live and aspects of their biology. According to the model, mink, Sunda pangolins and bats are among the top 10 per cent of species most likely to spread covid-19, which matches results from lab experiments. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes covid-19, invades human and animal cells by engaging the ACE2 protein on host cells with its spike protein. This step is required to infect an animal and be transmitted to other hosts. Distinct species have different versions of the protein, so understanding how well their ACE2 protein binds to the coronavirus spike protein can help scientists predict which animals are most likely to spread covid-19.

After both a prior COVID-19 infection and two doses of Pfizer or Moderna's vaccine, some people's immune systems develop an incredible ability to respond to the virus. Researchers call this'superhuman immunity' or'hybrid immunity' - these patients' immune systems can produce a lot of antibodies able to respond to different variants, as documented in multiple studies in recent months. In one study, patients with this'hybrid immunity' demonstrated the ability to respond to current variants of concern, non-human coronaviruses, and potentially even new variants that don't yet exist. Scientists are studying these patients to better understand Covid immunity - and immunity against other viruses. After both a past Covid infection and vaccination, patients may have'superhuman immunity' against the coronavirus, studies suggest.

The UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) advised the government to introduce mandatory hotel quarantine for travellers arriving into the UK two weeks ago, according to minutes from a meeting on 21 January that were leaked to the Times. On Thursday 21 January, SAGE reportedly warned that "reactive, geographically targeted" travel bans couldn't be relied on to prevent faster-spreading coronavirus variants, such as those identified in South Africa and Brazil, from reaching the UK, adding that: "no intervention, other than a complete, pre-emptive closure of borders, or the mandatory quarantine of all visitors upon arrival in designated facilities, irrespective of testing history, can get close to fully preventing the importation of new cases or new variants." A Downing Street spokesperson said SAGE did not directly advise UK prime minister Boris Johnson to close borders. Universities minister Michelle Donelan told Sky News that the government "always based our decisions on the best medical and scientific advice" and said "the SAGE advice actually said it would probably be ineffective, in fact, to close the borders, which was the same advice that we got at the time from the World Health Organization". Johnson announced geographically targeted hotel quarantine measures for travellers returning from 30 countries, including Brazil and South Africa, last week. UK health minister Matt Hancock urged people living in postcodes in England singled out for enhanced coronavirus testing for the so-called South Africa variant to stay at home unless "absolutely essential". Urgent door-to-door testing for the faster-spreading variant has been deployed after 11 cases with no link to foreign travel were identified in parts of England.