When the last COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in England later this month, there could be 100,000 new infections a day, the UK health secretary has warned. Such a high infection rate would raise the risk of the coronavirus mutating and dangerous new variants emerging.

But this risk isn’t limited to infections in humans. Outbreaks among animals could also raise the variant risk, writes Sarah Caddy. Studies show that pets catch the coronavirus relatively infrequently, but that other farmed species, like mink, can catch and spread the virus much more easily. It’s therefore very important we monitor how the virus is reproducing not just in people, but in the animals around us too.

When people take drugs, some of them are excreted and end up in water courses, where they then affect wildlife. Fish can become hooked on addictive drugs, such as meth, or may even change sex if exposed to hormones found in the pill.

And in a survey of academics specialising in British history and politics, Theresa May has been scored as the joint worst post-war prime minister. She and Anthony Eden were ranked the least successful of the 14 leaders who have held the post.

Rob Reddick

Commissioning Editor, COVID-19

V. Belov/Shutterstock

COVID variants: could dangerous new ones evolve in pets and farm animals?

Sarah L Caddy, University of Cambridge

Early results from several studies have found that pets can pick up COVID-19 from their owner – but they are unlikely to be dangerous as a result.

Kletr/Shutterstock

Fish hooked on meth – the consequences of freshwater pollution

Matt Parker, University of Portsmouth; Alex Ford, University of Portsmouth

Chemicals in drugs can be excreted unchanged, infiltrating waterways via sewage and effluent.

An ill-starred administration: Theresa May was the lowest-rated post-war prime minister, alongside Anthony Eden. EPA-EFE/ Facundo Arrizabalaga

Theresa May joint worst post-war prime minister, say historians and politics professors in new survey

Kevin Theakston, University of Leeds; Mark Gill, King's College London

But academics also had a pretty low opinion of Boris Johnson's performance as PM so far.

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