Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 1 January 2021
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 observational study on gut bacteria and body’s response to COVID-19
An observational study, published in Gut, looks at gut microbiota composition, COVID-19 severity and immune response. Prof Daniel M … read more
expert comment on SARS-CoV-2 transmission within supermarkets
A comment from Professor Ashley Woodcock on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in supermarkets. Prof Ashley Woodcock, Professor of Respiratory Medicine … read more
expert comment about latest NHS COVID-19 vaccination stats in England
A comment from Professor Sheila Bird on the latest NHS COVID-19 vaccination statistics in England, for the week ending Sunday … read more
expert reaction to REMAP-CAP recruitment of severely ill COVID-19 patients into convalescent plasma trial being paused after initial analysis suggested it did not improve outcomes
It has been announced that the international trial of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma, REMAP-CAP, has paused enrollment of critically ill COVID-19 … read more
expert comments about outdoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and use of face masks outdoors
Following Chris Whitty’s interview this morning on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, we’ve had a few questions from journalists about … read more
expert reaction to media reports on US vaccine roll out
There have been reports in the US that President elect Joe Biden plans to release nearly all available vaccine doses … read more
expert reaction to government announcement that asymptomatic testing is to be rolled out across country starting next week
The government have announced today that community testing offer is to be expanded across all local authorities in England to test … read more
expert reaction to Sadiq Khan declaring major incident in London
A major incident has been declared today by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Dr Marisa Miraldo of Imperial College Business School said: … read more
expert reaction to study using genomic epidemiology to look at COVID-19 transmission chains during the first wave in the UK
A study published in Science uses genomic epidemiology to trace COVID-19 transmission chains during the first wave in the UK … 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. Dr Yuliya Kyrychko, Reader … 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 Professor … read more
expert reaction to Moderna vaccine getting UK approval
It has been announced that the UK government has accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory … read more
expert reaction to preprint suggesting the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine might be effective against new variants
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, suggests the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine might still be effective against the new SARS-CoV-2 … read more
expert reaction to Met Office forecast of atmospheric CO2 to be 50% higher in 2021 than before the industrial revolution
A Met Office forecast predicts that in 2021, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will reach levels 50% higher than before … read more
results from REMAP-CAP trial – updated analysis on tocilizumab and sarilumab for ICU patients with severe COVID-19
The REMAP-CAP trial (Randomised, Embedded, Multi-factorial, Adaptive Platform Trial for Community-Acquired Pneumonia), which began in March 2020, has been trialling … read more
expert reaction to preprint from the REMAP-CAP trial looking at tocilizumab and sarilumab in critically ill COVID-19 patients
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at Interleukin-6 receptor agonists, tocilizumab and sarilumab, in critically ill COVID-19 patients. … read more
expert general comment on travel restrictions and COVID-19
A few journalists have asked us about this topic, so here is a general comment from Professor Mark Jit ahead … read more
expert reaction to study looking at convalescent plasma in older patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) looks at convalescent plasma therapy to prevent severe COVID-19 … read more