Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, with me, Alison Rourke. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found close-fitting surgical masks worn underneath cloth masks – known as double masking – can significantly enhance protection against Covid-19. It’s the first CDC-backed research to recommend “double-masking”, although top US infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, has recommended the public consider the measure in past briefings. In other news: Italy will open its ski resorts in Lombardy from mid February – the first time skiing will be allowed this winter. A new study has found that a cheap asthma drug has appeared to significantly reduce the risk of people getting severely ill with Covid-19, if taken within the first week of developing symptoms. The WHO says that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine can be given to adults of all ages, after some countries decided not to give the dose to those aged over 65 over doubts about its effectiveness. The UK will be “more or less” free of Covid by the end of the year, according to Prof John Edmunds, a member of the UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. Germany is now expected to extend its lockdown until 7 March, but hairdressers may be allowed to open before the date. Brazil registered 59,602 new cases of coronavirus and 1,330 new deaths in the past 24 hours on Wednesday.