Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 25 December 2020
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released provisional counts of the number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the … read more
expert reaction to daily reported cases topping 60,000; and to ONS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey ad hoc release estimating around 2% of people or 1 in 50 in England had COVID-19
The number of people that have tested positive today for COVID-19 passed 60,000, and an ad hoc release from the … read more
expert reaction to government’s aim to have offered the first COVID-19 vaccine dose to everyone in the four top priority groups by mid-February
Several journalists have asked us about the government’s vaccination timeline, so here are some comments from scientists. Comments sent … read more
expert reaction to PM’s announcement of national lockdown
In his address to the nation this evening, the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown to begin from midnight tonight. … read more
expert reaction to the UK variant and whether it’s responsible for the recent rise in infections
In a statement from no. 10 it was suggested that the new UK variant led to the rapid rise in … read more
expert comment on combining different COVID-19 vaccine doses
Comments from scientists on combining different COVID-19 vaccines in a heterologous prime-boost regimen. Prof Helen Fletcher, Professor of Immunology … read more
expert reaction to the South African variant
Several journalists have asked us about the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2, so here are some comments from scientists. … read more
expert comment on whether giving two doses of COVID vaccine separated by a longer period is sensible
Comments from scientists on dose spacing of the COVID-19 vaccines. Prof Sheila Bird, formerly Programme Leader, MRC Biostatistics Unit, … read more
expert reaction to the new Imperial pre-print on the new SARS-CoV-2 variant
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, posted by Imperial College London reports on the transmission of the new SARS-CoV-2 … read more
expert reaction to number of COVID-related deaths reported today
The UK has recorded its highest daily increase in deaths since April, with 981 people dying within 28 days of … read more
expert reaction to the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine being approved for use in the UK by the MHRA
It has been announced this morning that the UK government has accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products … read more
expert reaction to latest ONS Infection Survey data
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus … read more
expert reaction to more areas of England moving up into tier 4 (and others into tiers 3 and 2) from Boxing Day
Matt Hancock announced that from Boxing Day a number of regions in England would move up into tier 4 (and … read more
expert reaction to South African variant of SARS-CoV-2, as mentioned by Matt Hancock at the Downing Street press briefing
Matt Hancock announced that two people in the UK who had returned from South Africa had a variant of SARS-CoV-2 … read more
expert reaction to Interim Evaluation Report from the Liverpool Covid-19 Community Testing Pilot
A report from the University of Liverpool, has done an interim analysis of the Liverpool Covid-19 Community Testing Pilot. This … read more
expert reaction to latest R number and growth rates, published by the government
The government have released the latest estimates for the COVID-19 R value and growth rates. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus … read more
expert reaction to comments made by Tony Blair suggesting we should consider using all available vaccine doses in January as first doses, rather than keeping some back for use as second doses
Tony Blair has made comments suggesting we should consider using all available vaccine doses in January as first doses, rather … read more
expert reaction to report 41 from the Imperial MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, looking at key epidemiological drivers and impact of interventions in England in the first and second waves
The Imperial MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis have released their latest report (41) into the epidemiological drivers and … read more
evidence on Mass Testing
As government sends the army to organise mass testing of lorry drivers sitting at ports, controversy continues about whether these … read more
expert reaction to REMAP-CAP trial collaboration pausing enrollment of critically ill COVID-19 patients into the anticoagulants trial
It has been announced that the international trials of anticoagulants (blood thinners) have paused enrollment of critically ill COVID-19 patients, … read more