Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to suggestion made in Downing Street press conference that the new UK variant may be linked to higher mortality than the old variant (NERVTAG paper also now published)
Following an announcement made at the Downing Street press conference that the new UK variant, B.1.1.7, may be associated with … read more
expert reaction to latest data from the ONS Infection Survey and the latest R number and growth rates published by the government
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey, and the government have released the … read more
expert reaction to being overweight and heart health
A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology suggests being fat linked with worse heart health, even in … read more
expert reaction to preprint reporting that SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 variant (first detected in South Africa) escapes neutralisation by convalescent plasma
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at the escape of the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2, 501Y.V2, from … read more
expert reaction to press release from Lilly about their neutralising antibody bamlanivimab and results from the BLAZE-2 trial looking at prevention of COVID-19 in nursing homes in the US
Eli Lilly have published a press release today stating that their neutralizing antibody bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555) prevented COVID-19 in US nursing … read more
expert reaction to a preprint on vaccines and herd immunity
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at immunisation, asymptomatic infection, herd immunity and the new variants of COVID-19. … read more
why vaccination of the most vulnerable does not guarantee an early end to the pandemic
One of the questions we are all interested in now is WHEN the current programme of vaccinating those most at … read more
expert reaction to a preprint looking at viral load and lateral flow devices
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at viral load, how infectious an individual is, and detection by lateral … read more
latest interim results from the REACT-1 study on COVID-19 prevalence across England
This briefing covered the latest interim data from the largest community coronavirus testing programme, REACT. This batch of data is … read more
expert reaction to preprint giving the interim results from round 8 of the REACT-1 study on COVID-19 spread across England
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, reports on the latest data from the REACT-1 study on COVID-19 spread across … read more
expert reaction to trial from Brazil on arthritis drug tocilizumab in hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19
A trial in Brazil published in the BMJ suggests adding the arthritis drug tocilizumab to standard care for patients in … read more
expert reaction to modelling study looking at ‘test to release’ strategy for contacts of cases
A modelling study published in the Lancet Public Health looks the effectiveness of a ‘test to release’ strategy for contacts … read more
expert reaction to latest reported COVID-19 daily deaths on the Coronavirus dashboard
A comment from Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter on the latest reported COVID-19 daily deaths, including the 1,038 deaths recorded on … read more
expert reaction to study looking at cognitive decline in mice and a drug that reduces inflammation and boosts metabolism of macrophages
A study published in Nature looks at cognitive decline in mice when treated with a drug that reduces inflammation and … read more
expert reaction to preprint reporting that the South African SARS-CoV-2 variant 501Y.V2 escapes neutralisation by COVID-19 donor plasma
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, suggests that the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2, 501Y.V2, escapes neutralisation from antibodies … read more
expert reaction to a preprint suggesting the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine might be protective against the B.1.1.7 lineage of SARS-CoV-2 (‘the Kent variant’)
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, suggests the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine might be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 variant found in … read more
expert reaction to media reports of study results from Israel and comments made by Prof Nachman Ash, Israel’s coronavirus tsar, about the efficacy of a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine
There have been media reports of results from a serological study conducted at Israel’s Sheba Medical Centre suggesting Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine … read more
expert reaction to 1,610 newly-reported deaths within 28 days of positive COVID-19 test
The number of deaths reported today within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test has reached 1,610. Dr Michael … read more
expert reaction to second COVID-19 report on progress from The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
The second report on progress from the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response has been released. Dr Gail … read more
expert reaction to latest ONS Infection Survey data on antibodies
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey on antibodies for January 2021. Prof … read more