Press releases
Coronavirus
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Vaccine passports: what businesses need to know – and why they should have more say
Imogen, a night club owner from London, hopes that COVID-19 “passports” could help with the return of customers to her venue. But the 42-year-old told us she is not happy about subjecting her customers to additional checks, and has concerns over a lack of clear guidance on their use.
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Bumble’s week off: employees suffering from burnout need more than an extra holiday
After a busy year involving a rise in customers, a stock market debut and all the pressures that come with a global pandemic, the dating app Bumble recently announced that all staff would be given a week off work.
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Leading light in region’s covid-19 vaccine programme honoured by Loughborough University
One of the leading lights in the covid-19 vaccine programme for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) is to be awarded an honorary degree by Loughborough University.
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Why COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy should fall as more people get the jab
Did you book your NHS COVID-19 vaccination on the phone? If you did, the first thing you heard was this automated message: “Thank you for your call. We are pleased so many people have responded to their invitations to get a COVID vaccination.”
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From the great plague to the 1918 flu, history shows that disease outbreaks make inequality worse
In May 2021, virologist Angela Rasmussen reflected how “if the last 18 months have demonstrated anything, it’s that we would do well to remember the lessons of past pandemics as we try to prevent future ones”. This includes ensuring we come out stronger.
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Leading research team supports mission to enhance sport's contribution to mental health and wellbeing
A team of leading researchers have been commissioned to support the joint mission of the Sport for Development Coalition and Mind to enhance the contribution that sport and physical activity can make to addressing the mental health and wellbeing crisis brought on by Covid-19.
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Dominic Cummings evidence: five key questions that must be investigated
In seven hours of testimony to MPs, Dominic Cummings, former ally of Boris Johnson, gave a scathing report on the government’s handling of the pandemic.
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HR professionals needed for study on managing long-term sick leave post COVID-19
Human resources and people professionals are being sought to share their views on the effects of the pandemic on long-term sick leave and what the future holds in managing long-term sick leave.
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Clean energy cooking in refugee camps should be prioritised on the humanitarian agenda, new briefing note argues
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 79.5 million people were forcibly displaced in the world at the end of 2019, and over the course of 2020, that number has soared beyond 80 million*.
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Loughborough student raises almost £1,000 for India appeal
A Loughborough student has taken part in a giant fund-raising event to support the huge battle against coronavirus being fought in India.
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Loughborough-led study on the airborne transmission of Covid-19 helping to kick-start large-scale events
A new Loughborough University-led study will create clear guidance on how to design and operate non-domestic buildings to minimise the risk of airborne transmission of Covid-19, and other viruses.
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Pets of the Pandemic: Facebook group members share their animal lockdown stories
Psychologist and avid social media user Dr Cheryl Travers has been asking animal lovers to share images and stories of their pets from the COVID pandemic.
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Loughborough experts to lead £170k project that will explore how best to design COVID-19 immunity passports
Design experts at Loughborough University are to lead a £170,000 project that will explore how best to design COVID-19 immunity passports.
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Loughborough design student helps develop ventilation hood that has the potential to save lives of COVID-19 patients
A third-year Loughborough University student has helped develop a ventilation product for coronavirus patients in intensive care.
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New guide sets out how to deliver successful national vaccination programmes
A guide for delivering safe and effective national COVID vaccination programmes is being rolled out around the world to help countries with mass immunisations.
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Video Q&A: Curious about COVID-19? Expert panel answer questions on vaccines, wellbeing and more
Are you immune to COVID-19 if you’ve had the vaccine? Is there going to be a ‘third wave’? How accurate are lateral flow tests? Will the coronavirus ever fully disappear?
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Five questions that need answering in a COVID public inquiry
Where there is much to be positive about regarding the UK’s strong vaccine rollout, a public inquiry into how this pandemic has been handled in the country since the first signs of COVID emerged will be required, to ensure mistakes aren’t repeated in the future.
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How the gig economy finally went into retreat
A loophole that many self-employed people have used to avoid paying income tax and national insurance in the UK has closed.
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New study shows how online endorsement could help address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
A third of the UK adult population intend to use social media and personal messaging to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a new, large scale, multi-university study involving Loughborough researchers has found.
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COVID-19 has highlighted the need to tackle the ‘obesity time bomb’ – here are two simple steps we could take
The urgency of tackling the obesity time bomb has been brought to the fore by evidence of the link to an increased risk from COVID-19, says the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care₍₁₎.
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Low-income families more vulnerable than ever due to the impact of coronavirus – new research
Two new reports published today have highlighted how the coronavirus pandemic has increased insecurity for low-income families.
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New low-cost ventilator which doesn’t need electricity could help hospitals treat COVID patients
A team of engineers from Loughborough University has designed and built a unique low-cost, non-electric ventilator in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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British people are really missing the pub – here’s why
The events of the past year have had a devastating impact on the hospitality sector in the UK. At the forefront of lockdown’s sacrifices for many is the closure of an institution that is a cornerstone of british culture – the pub.
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Report reveals the positive role pubs play in communities
A new Loughborough University report, commissioned by The Campaign to End Loneliness and in collaboration with HEINEKEN, has revealed how pubs are important social hubs that help to tackle loneliness and social isolation in local communities.
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Survey shows more wildflowers in bloom during January than ever before
A record number of wildflowers were found to be in bloom this winter, according to a new survey by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland.
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Experts in Sport: Insight into the relationship between exercise and cancer
This week’s Experts in Sport podcast takes a closer look at the relationship between exercise and cancer.
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The Midlands is delivering nearly £100m of research to support the nation’s fight against COVID-19
A new report - Mobilising Research Excellence in the Midlands to Tackle COVID-19 - published today (Friday, January 15 2021) reveals that the Midlands has moved swiftly to apply its wealth of capability in its hospitals, universities and businesses to deliver £90m of research to support regional, national and global efforts to tackle the Coronavirus Pandemic.
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Using COVID-19 in the classroom: How teaching can benefit from the global pandemic
Two Loughborough psychologists have put together a plan for how secondary school teachers can use the COVID-19 pandemic to help explain psychological concepts.
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New project in Peru aims to reduce the impact of coronavirus as mothers struggle to feed their infants and young children
Mothers in some of the poorest communities in Peru are at risk of being unable to adequately feed their babies with nutritious foods because of the impact of coronavirus.
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Modelling shows sneezes and coughs are like “mini atomic bombs” and regularly exceed two metres
Keeping two metres apart might not be far enough to stop the spread of coronavirus from sneezes and coughs, according to a new study.
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Technology for screening fruit juice could provide rapid Covid screening
Loughborough University researchers are hoping a technology they developed to quickly screen liquids for microorganisms can be adapted to provide rapid testing for Covid-19.
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It’s not just you – work during COVID has become much harder
The pandemic has seriously altered how we work. According to statistics published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in September 2020, US$35 trillion (£26 trillion) has been lost globally in labour income. There has also been an estimated loss of 17% of working hours worldwide since 2019, with young people and women being hit hardest. And many of those still in jobs are working under very different conditions.
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Electrophone: the Victorian-era gadget that was a precursor to live-streaming
As the battle against COVID-19 continues to rage, the plight of Britain’s theatres, which have suffered catastrophic financial strain thanks to lockdown, continues to rumble through the arts world.
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Loughborough research leads to potential Covid-19 diagnosis with a non-invasive breath test that provides almost instant results
Initial findings from a new study led by Loughborough University – published by The Lancet – have shown how Covid-19 can be detected via a non-invasive breath test, providing almost instant results.
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Low-income families will feel the financial pinch as coronavirus forces young adults to return home
The financial strains on low-income families is set to increase as more young adults are returning to their parents' homes.
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Life beyond COVID-19: What are Loughborough’s experts concerned about?
Loughborough academics have voiced their concerns about the impact of coronavirus as part of a new UK Parliament report.
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Coronavirus resurgence has hit working age people but second blow is expected for the elderly
People aged between 20 and 29 have been hit the worst by a resurgence in COVID-19 but there is a second wave expected for older people soon.
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Experts in Sport: The truth about exercise and weight management
Whilst millions of us tuned into Joe Wicks’ daily workouts during the height of lockdown, it is fair to say that many others swerved the idea of jumping around their living room and found solace in the biscuit tin instead.
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EXPERT COMMENT: Bolton lockdown data is out-of-date
The coronavirus data which the Government is using to lift lockdown restrictions in Bolton is not accurate, says Dr Duncan Robertson – an expert in dynamic modelling from Loughborough University.
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New toolkit to help employees return to work following sick leave during Covid-19 pandemic
Loughborough University has created a new toolkit for businesses based in the Midlands, which offers free resources and support to manage the return to work of employees on sick leave during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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The emotional stress caused by COVID-19 will lead to smaller babies being born, predicts Loughborough scientist
Being pregnant is a wonderful experience, but at the same it can be incredibly stressful – throw a global pandemic into the mix and those nine months may see an expecting mother go from happy and joyful, to fearful and concerned.
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Researchers use Facebook to learn more about people’s experiences of working from home during lockdown
RESEARCHERS have used Facebook to gather information about people’s experiences of working from home to learn more about the work-life balance of lockdown.
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Is humanity doomed because we can’t plan for the long term? Three experts discuss
While the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are still unclear, it is certain that they are a profound shock to the systems underpinning contemporary life.
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Disasters: Deconstructed launches new episodes on Apple Podcasts
The third series of the popular Disasters: Deconstructed podcast has been launched and looks at the history of ‘unnatural’ disasters as well as how they have been reported and perceived.
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Loughborough experts awarded UKRI funding to explore and enhance local-level responses to COVID-19
Leicester is the first city in Britain to be placed in a local lockdown and the situation highlights how different agencies – such as regional councils, police, and health authorities – need to coordinate their activities quickly and effectively in response to an emergency.
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Experts in Sport: ‘Support, develop, empower’ - the dual-career journey of an athlete
The life of an elite level athlete can be tough and unforgiving. Now, more than ever, athletes are balancing high performance sport with education and/or vocation.
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Academic experts come together to push forward innovation in clinical rehabilitation
COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of effective rehabilitation post serious illness or injury – saving lives is only one part of an overall care journey which necessarily needs good rehabilitation if a patient is to stand a chance of returning to their former selves.
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Women clinicians report significant difficulties with coronavirus PPE: “Apparently masks for smaller faces don’t exist!”
A new report which looks at how hospital PPE supplied to protect against the threat of COVID-19 has found that women experience significantly more issues than men.
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Summer statement: Tory benefits policy under coronavirus is finally beginning to help the poorest
As Rishi Sunak announces that the government will pay the wages of hundreds of thousands of young adults for 25 hours a week over six months, it’s worth remembering that this will be on a minimum wage more than a quarter higher than it was five years ago.
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The successes and failures of populism during the pandemic – new report
“My orders to the police and military ... if there is trouble and there’s an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead.” “Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you.” – President Rodrigo Duterte (Philippines) in a televised address to lockdown violators, April 2020
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Greater use of public spaces will increase vulnerability towards terror attacks when pubs and restaurants reopen
The knife attacks in Glasgow and Reading should set alarm bells ringing for the Government as the country prepares to reignite the economy and open pubs and restaurants next week, warns counter-terrorism specialist Dr Alasdair Booth.
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Coronavirus scams: the science of how to spot and deal with nuisance callers
Most of us have experienced unwanted calls at home. This is in spite of efforts by regulators, including the Information Commissioner’s Office and Ofcom, whose most recent report shows that around half of the UK population still receive nuisance calls.
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Experts in Sport: As athletes begin to return to training – what should practitioners be doing?
As government restrictions begin to slowly ease, many athletes have resumed training in a safe and considered manner. With that, support teams now have the difficult task of managing workloads and helping ensure the transition back to the ‘norm’ runs as smoothly as possible.
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Loughborough University welcomes elite level athletes back to campus
Loughborough University is gradually opening up some of its on-site sports facilities to enable elite level athletes to train.
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The potential impact of the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy on the protection of public spaces from terrorism
Coronavirus has changed the way businesses operate and how we use public spaces which brings new challenges when protecting against terrorism. Here, Dr Alasdair Booth assesses the impact and dangers of this emerging threat and how they are related to the Government's new COVID-19 Recovery Strategy.
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SURVEY: Struggled to buy eggs and flour during COVID-19? Experts investigating the effects of shortages want to know
A short anonymous research questionnaire on experiences with egg and wheat flour shortages during COVID-19 has been launched as part of a Loughborough University research project.
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Collaborating with the competition to cope with COVID-19: How Businesses are surviving the pandemic
Businesses around the world have had to collaborate with competitors in order to survive the coronavirus pandemic - in some cases they have grown – but sharing excessive amounts of information with rivals comes with risks.
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Jawad in race against time to make the Paralympic Games
Loughborough-based powerlifter Ali Jawad has revealed that he is in a race against time to make the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
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Inaction and slow response contributed to the spread of Covid-19 in UK prisons – Loughborough University academic
The government’s slow response to recognise the impact of coronavirus on UK prisons has led to unnecessary deaths amongst its population, according to Loughborough University academic Dr Christopher Kay.
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Emotional and social characteristics of young children can impact the success of positive feeding practices
Children’s emotional and social characteristics can impact the success of feeding practices used by parents and caregivers.
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Loughborough Sport’s support network proves vital for athletes during lockdown
Behind every great athlete is a strong support network, helping individuals and teams achieve their goals.
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Loughborough University staff are using their skills and expertise to help with the fight against COVID-19
Staff, students and the wider Loughborough University community have been working hard to help protect and assist those fighting the coronavirus pandemic head-on.
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Now is the time to look at the person behind the athlete – Sam Ruddock
The Covid-19 outbreak has understandably weighed heavily on the minds of elite athletes across the globe as major events have been wiped from the sporting calendar at pace.
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Key workers and vulnerable people struggled to buy basic goods when restrictions and panic buying hit supermarkets – new survey
People have shared their experiences of supermarket shopping following the recent phase of panic-buying and subsequent restrictions, with many reporting problems buying basic goods.
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Survey launched in a bid to understand how coronavirus restrictions affect osteoarthritis risk in over 60s
Researchers at Loughborough University are investigating how changes in physical activity that are a result of the global health pandemic are related to osteoarthritis development and symptoms.
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Fears coronavirus lockdown will increase child poverty in UK as latest figures show rise of almost a fifth in the last four years
New research shows that child poverty in the UK has increased by 2.8% in the last four years, but experts fear the figure will grow due to the impact of coronavirus.
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No pool? No problem for these Loughborough swimmers
The lockdown period has brought many challenges to all athletes involved in sport, but what if your essential training venue – in this case, a swimming pool – has temporarily closed its doors?
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Post-pandemic international relations: Four developments to watch
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly risen the political profile of the global scientific community, international institutions, and the science itself. We have also witnessed exceptional examples of international cooperation.
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Five lockdown lessons for helping fussy eating youngsters (VIDEO)
The coronavirus lockdown is forcing new challenges upon families, as well as reinforcing old ones, but encouraging children to eat an array of foods does not have to be one of them.
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‘My new training partner is a 5kg fluffy white ball’ – Meghan Beesley
Meghan Beesley, Loughborough University’s 400m hurdler, has found a new training partner during the Covid-19 outbreak – in the form of a four-legged friend.
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A washing line pole and a tin of beans – the new elite athlete training method
Finding the elite in the every day - with a little bit of help from her store cupboard and garden - Loughborough athlete and Olympic hopeful Holly Bradshaw is using unique ways to carrying on pole vault training during the lockdown period.
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Economic recovery will come with high levels of unemployment: how should governments respond?
Two key factors distinguish the economic consequences of coronavirus from those of previous crises.
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Experts in Sport: Can supplements boost your immune system?
A healthy immune system is vital to a healthy lifestyle. In a time where public health is dominating the headlines, this week’s ‘Experts in Sport’ podcast discusses what role – if any – supplements can play for both the general population and elite level athletes.
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Lockdown life: Top tips for creating workspaces at home that boost productivity and creativity
For some of us, it has almost been a month since we packed up our desks and set up shop at home as a result of the global health pandemic.
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Researchers investigating audience responses to news coverage of COVID-19 say disinformation is spreading fast and media freedom is under strain
A team of Loughborough University researchers are investigating how citizens in four European countries are using the media to keep up to date with the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
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Experts in Sport: How can athletes use this period of lockdown to work towards long term success?
With sport competition across the globe currently on pause, attention has turned to maintaining athlete health and well-being.
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The coronavirus 'Doomsday' clock: Level of recovery after three weeks
For the last three weeks, Dr Jon Seaton, of Loughborough's School of Business and Economics, has been illustrating, via a Doomsday-style clock, where the world is in relation to eradicating the coronavirus pandemic. He writes...
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Coronavirus lockdown: LGBTQ people face hostility and loneliness
A couple of days ago I was on the phone with Rajesh, a friend of mine (not his real name). Rajesh, 25, has just had to move back in with his parents. They had thrown him out of the house in Birmingham on learning he was gay.
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Research to investigate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family carers
The experience of family carers during the COVID-19 pandemic will be explored in a new international study by Loughborough University and several universities across the world.
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Coronavirus reveals how important the nation is to our daily lives
The coronavirus pandemic cuts across borders, cultures and political systems. As the virus spread across the planet, global institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO) called for worldwide solidarity, arguing that “we’re all in this together and we can only stop it together”.
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Working from home (WFH): Management styles must evolve to work effectively during the coronavirus lockdown
Managers who are having to adapt and lead virtual teams should adopt a more people-focused style of leadership, according to new research.
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Rapid manufacture of hospital ventilators could cost lives if not properly designed, according to new guidelines
Experts have warned that the rapid manufacture of ventilators by companies with no prior medical technology experience could be harmful to patients.
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Coronavirus: How to sleep better during the lockdown
We are all facing restrictions in a bid to minimise the transmission rate and impact of COVID-19, but there is no denying that life in lockdown is hard.
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The coronavirus ‘Doomsday’ clock: Are we approaching a period of new hope?
Britain has now moved past 1pm on the coronavirus clock.
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Tracking lifestyles over the course of a pandemic: New coronavirus survey aims to understand more about current and future health and wellbeing
Psychologists from Loughborough University have launched a study which aims to understand the impact of coronavirus on daily life.
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COVID-19: Evidence-based advice for health workers having difficult conversations about end of life
A Loughborough University academic is providing guidance to clinicians who are likely to be having - and training people who will have – difficult conversations with patients suffering from COVID-19 or those closest to them.
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Coronavirus is a once in a lifetime chance to reshape how we travel
The transport sector has been impacted as much as any by the coronavirus. This isn’t a normal period of disruption, which is usually caused by failures in supply such as road accidents or industrial action. In this case it is the lack of demand that is the problem.
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Global survey launched to measure changes in behaviour in response to COVID-19
A worldwide survey has launched with the aim of understanding how people’s attitudes and behaviours around coronavirus are impacted by official government actions and advice.
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How health professionals need to discuss end of life situations – during coronavirus and beyond
The coronavirus pandemic has led to many difficult and urgent conversations taking place in hospitals. There will doubtless be many more. Over the last few days, I’ve been drawing together advice about discussing sensitive and distressing topics based on evidence from my own work and from work by other researchers who study real life examples of these kinds of exchanges.
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The coronavirus ‘Doomsday’ clock: How close are we to midnight?
Britain has only just begun its battle with COVID-19, according to a new coronavirus clock which shows the various stages of pandemic faced by countries around the globe.
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Do not get complacent… What a playground chase and a board game tell us about sudden jumps in coronavirus deaths
Economist Dr Jon Seaton, of Loughborough School of Business and Economics, explains the difference a sudden onset of infection and a slow burn using chess and the children’s game tig.
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This anarchist thinker helps explain why we feel so driven to help each other through the coronavirus crisis
Empty supermarket shelves and panicked government briefings have become the defining images of the coronavirus crisis. But the community response, however, may well be a more enduring feature.
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Coronavirus: to save businesses, we should pioneer an unusual kind of insurance
The COVID-19 outbreak has triggered a collapse of revenues in sector after sector: transport, hotels, restaurants, tourism, recreation and culture, consumer durables and numerous others.
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How to talk to the world about coronavirus
The UK is now in lockdown along with another 20% of the global population as governments scramble to get to grips with the coronavirus pandemic.
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Boris is right… Don’t panic buy, but do plan your shopping to reduce the chance of infection by up to 99%
Dr Jon Seaton is an economist and is an expert in business and consumer behaviour. Here he explains why panic buying is bad... but infrequent shopping is essential for minimising the risk of catching coronavirus.
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PARENTS: Expert shares practical ideas for helping children and babies with their physical development at home
A Loughborough University academic has shared practical tips to help parents and guardians deliver physical development opportunities to children at home following the closure of nurseries and other childcare facilities.
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Coronavirus: not the first global health crisis to impact sport
Coronavirus has plunged the global sporting calendar into disarray. Football fixtures across Europe have now been postponed, including the Euro 2020, English Football League and the English Premier League. Such scenarios remove revenues from gate takings, significantly affect sport media broadcasters and leads to knock-on effects for sponsors and advertisers.
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Controlling the spread of coronavirus without shutting down society
Taking no action to curb the spread of COVID-19 would lead to an uncontrolled outbreak but completely isolating people would have a devasting impact on the economy.