News – Page 5

Articles in Covid-19

1 in 111 people in England likely now infected. Covid wave in England grew 11% last week. High risk of meeting a Covid infected person.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 5 October 2025

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Ben Clark

The Covid wave in England continues to grow, with infection levels up 11% in the last week. The risk level is hovering just below Very High. If you do not wish to catch Covid, please take precautions now. Please also get your Covid booster if you are eligible, or consider whether you can afford to get one privately.

As of 5 October, around 1 in every 111 people in England were infected, and the risk of encountering an infected person in most indoor places remains High. Unless the indoor air is fresh, or filtered/purified, good quality PPE respiratory masks are needed to protect yourself. If you need any advice about this, please do ask.

1 in 123 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels continue to rapidly rise. High risk of meeting a Covid infected person.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 28 September 2025

October 1, 2025October 1, 2025 Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England continue to rise very steeply, up 23% in the last week. While the overall risk remains High, we are anticipating that it will be raised to Very High next week. If you do not wish to catch Covid, please take precautions now. Please also get your Covid booster if you are eligible, or consider whether you can afford to get one privately.

As of 28 September, around 1 in every 123 people in England were infected, and the risk of encountering an infected person in most indoor places is now High. Unless the indoor air is fresh, or filtered/purified, good quality PPE respiratory masks are needed to protect yourself. If you need any advice about this, please do ask.

A caucasian woman wearing a red blouse and white headscarf looking gravely into the camera, against a neutral grey background

Covid & Cancer

September 26, 2025September 26, 2025 Ben Clark

There is now compelling medical evidence that Covid-19 infections can reactivate dormant cancer cells, and trigger the growth of secondary cancers (metastatic progression). In studies, cancer survivors who contracted Covid had a statistically significant higher risk of cancer-related deaths compared to uninfected cancer survivors.

This is such an important issue that BuDS has decided to run an awareness campaign over the autumn and winter. The aim of the campaign will be to warn cancer survivors of the very real additional danger that Covid poses to them.

We have worked hard to give you accurate information. However, you should always speak to your own GP, oncologist, or cancer clinic to get personal medical advice. We are not doctors, and we cannot give you medical advice.

1 in 152 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels rise nearly a fifth this week. High risk of meeting a Covid infected person.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 21 September 2025

September 25, 2025September 25, 2025 Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England have again risen sharply over the last week, as have other Covid measures. Infection levels are around a fifth higher, and the overall risk level remains High. It is clear that the next Covid wave is upon us, and we urge everyone take precautions against catching this dangerous virus. Now is also the time to get your Covid boosters (if available to you) as quickly as possible.

As of 21 September, around 1 in every 152 people in England were infected. This means that the risk of encountering an infected person in most indoor places is now High. Unless the indoor air is fresh, or filtered/purified, good quality PPE respiratory masks are needed to protect yourself. If you need any advice about this, please do ask.

A box of paracetamol on a grey background, with a strip of tablets laying over half of the front of the box

President Trump’s Claims About Paracetamol & Autism

September 23, 2025September 25, 2025 Ben Clark

This is a short post from social media, not a full briefing post. So much has been published by reputable sources on this subject already that BuDS has decided to focus on other issues where our input will be more valuable. If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Paracetamol – known as Tylenol in the US – does not cause or ‘trigger’ autism. If pregnant women take paracetamol, their chance of having an autistic child is not affected. It is extraordinary that we have to say this, but the bizarre news coming from America means we have to.

President Trump wearing a dark jacket and light blue tie speaking with his hands spread in front of him. In the background is seen Robert F Kennedy Jr.

President Trump’s Claims About Leucovorin & Autism

September 23, 2025September 23, 2025 Ben Clark

President Trump has claimed that a particular medication called Leucovorin is a “gamechanger” in autism treatment, and that “it could help make our kids healthy again”. This is entirely false. Leucovorin is a useful medicine to treat a highly specific condition found in some autistic children, but it is not a treatment for autism, and it does not have a significant positive impact on the symptoms of autism.

BuDS advises that the parents of autistic children, and autistic people themselves, take no notice of Trump’s announcement. It is simply not true.

This is twice in one week that we have been forced to correct dangerous misinformation from the US President and his coterie.

A young woman in a powered wheelchair sits in front of a grey wall with plants on top. She is smiling towards the camera, and is holding a mobile phone in her left hand

BuDDies Resources

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 Ben Clark

BuDDies Needed Poster

Use the buttons below to download this poster in various formats.

This poster is intended to encourage people to become a BuDDy. This poster is not intended to advertise the BuDDies scheme to disabled people looking for a BuDDy. By downloading this file, you agree to respect BuDS’ copyright in the image and only to use it for the purpose intended.

BuDDies Needed pdf – A4 poster with crop marks. Intended for professional printing.Download

BuDDies Needed pdf – A4 poster. Intended for web or email distribution.Download

BuDDies Needed png image – A4 poster. Intended for social media sharing Download

1 in 186 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels rise sharply over last two weeks. Covid risk level raised to HIGH.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 14 September 2025

September 16, 2025September 16, 2025 Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England have risen sharply over the last 2 weeks, as have other Covid measures. The overall risk level has risen from moderately high to High. It is clear that the next Covid wave is building fast, and we urge everyone to resume or continue precautions against catching this dangerous virus. Now is also the time to get your Covid boosters (if available to you) as quickly as possible.

1 in 224 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels again remain roughly the same. Precautions now needed in nearly all indoor places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 31 August 2025

September 1, 2025September 1, 2025 Ben Clark

After their recent big jump, Covid infection levels in England have again remained roughly static this week. As of 31 August, around 1 in every 224 people in England were infected. A further increase is only a matter of time, and we shall continue to closely monitor the situation. As the overall trend in infection levels is still upwards, we continue to advise people to resume strict precautions.

1 in 221 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels remain roughly the same. Precautions now needed in nearly all indoor places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 24 August 2025

August 28, 2025August 28, 2025 Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England, which jumped by nearly a fifth the week before last, have remained at roughly the same level this week. We continue to advise people to start resuming strict precautions if they do not wish to catch Covid, as we believe the trend in infection levels is still upwards.