The arthritis drug that prevents Covid deaths

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing February 12, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines A drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis [could cut the number of Covid deaths and speed up recovery](, a new scientific trial has found. The drug, tocilizumab, could save the lives of one in 25 coronavirus patients in hospital and reduce the need for ventilators in intensive care. Researchers say around half of the people admitted to hospital with coronavirus could benefit from the treatment. Scientists from the nationwide Recovery trial said when tocilizumab was given alongside the steroid dexamethasone, it reduced the absolute risk of mortality by four percentage points. The medicine was already being used by the NHS to treat some coronavirus patients after early results last month showed it reduced the risk of death as well as time spent in hospital by up to 10 days. As a result of the latest findings, the health secretary said the drug would be made more widely available on the NHS to help treat Covid patients. The UK’s economy [shrunk faster than at any point in 100 years]( in 2020, as gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 9.9 per cent, official figures show. The economic recovery slowed markedly in the final three months of 2020 as coronavirus restrictions were tightened to deal with a second wave of cases. Output of goods and services expanded 1 per cent between October and December, following 16.1 per cent growth in the previous three months, the Office for National Statistics reported. Each of the broad sectors of the economy grew in the final quarter of 2020, with services rising 0.6 per cent, production at 1.8 per cent and construction at 4.6 per cent. That was not enough to make up for a record plunge in GDP during the first lockdown earlier in the year. The overall decline in 2020 was more than twice as deep as 2009 when the country was hit by a global financial crisis. Donald Trump has been accused of both [inciting rioters and failing to protect those inside the US Capitol]( during the assault last month, as Democrats concluded their historic second impeachment prosecution of the former president. As it emerged Mr Trump’s lawyers may only take up three of the 16 hours available to them for their defence, Democrats drilled home the message that the former president was guilty on multiple fronts for the violence that swept the federal legislature building on 6 January. He incited his already angry and dismayed supporters with more false claims that the election had been rigged, when he addressed them that Wednesday morning, the Senate was told. After the violence broke out, and as his vice president and politicians from both parties were besieged by the mob, he did nothing to condemn the rioters, instead posting a video in which he spoke of his love for them. Finally, when the Capitol Hill police were overrun, he failed to send in support, one of his duties as commander-in-chief. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Meghan Markle wins privacy case against Mail on Sunday]( [Trade arrangements ‘an unmitigated disaster’ for food industry]( [Tokyo Olympics chief Mori resigns over sexist remarks]( . Get the full Independent perspective Subscribe today for £1 and enjoy unlimited access to our trusted journalism. [Subscribe now]( . More news - [China bans BBC news broadcasts in apparent retaliation]( - [Stock indexes wobble as investor caution offsets optimism]( - [Australian city Melbourne begins 3rd lockdown due to cluster]( - [No crowds, but Australian Open will continue during lockdown]( - [Cuban official asks Biden's gov't to reconsider sanctions]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.