Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to news report on mink being culled in Denmark due to fears of a new SARS-CoV-2 mutations
It has been announced that Denmark plans to cull its mink population of up to 17 million after reports that … read more
expert reaction to latest Test & Trace figures for the week 22-28 October
The government have released the latest statistics from the COVID-19 Test and Trace system. Prof Sheila Bird, Formerly Programme … read more
expert reaction to updated guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
The government have released new guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19. Prof … read more
expert reaction to latest ONS release on deaths registered in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 23 October 2020 (published yesterday)
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 study looking at delays in cancer treatment and risk of death
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the BMJ looks at mortality due to cancer treatment delay. Prof Clare … read more
expert reaction to study looking at air pollution and COVID-19 mortality
A study published in Science Advances looks at exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States. … read more
expert reaction to latest COVID-19 nowcast and forecast data from the MRC Biostatistics Unit at University of Cambridge
The MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge have released their latest nowcast and forecast of COVID-19. Prof … read more
OpenSAFELY preprint on living with children and COVID-19 outcomes
OpenSAFELY is a platform which analyses existing NHS electronic health records to look for patterns in patients who are hospitalised … read more
expert reaction to preprint from the OpenSAFELY platform looking at living with children and COVID-19 outcomes
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, from the OpenSAFELY platform, looks at the association between living with children and … read more
expert reaction to announcement that everyone in Liverpool will be regularly tested for coronavirus
The Prime Minister has announced a new whole city testing approach to launch in Liverpool from Friday. Dr Flavio … read more
expert comment about one of the graphs shown at the Downing Street press conference on Saturday, modelling a reasonable worst case planning scenario
During the Downing Street Press Conference on Saturday, a graph was shown that modelled a reasonable worst case planning scenario, … read more
T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalised individuals
Recent studies looking at the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 have raised concerns that immune responses following natural infection may not … read more
expert reaction to preprint looking at cellular responses six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a group of non-hospitalised individuals
A preprint, an un-published non-peer reviewed paper, looks at cellular responses six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a group of … read more
expert reaction to a report from the Institute of Global Change with Tony Blair commenting on therapeutic drugs being used to treat all coronavirus patients in hospital at serious risk of illness
A report has been posted by the Institute of Global Change in which Tony Blair comments on therapeutic drugs being … read more
expert reaction to Prime Minister’s announcement of a new national lockdown for England to come in to place from next Thursday until 2nd December
The government have announced new lockdown restrictions for England, which they plan to implement from next Thursday, to help slow … read more
expert reaction to media reports that Government will announce a move back into lockdown
It has been reported that the government will soon announce a new national lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. … read more
expert reaction to SPI-M document mentioning that in England we are breaching the number of infections and hospital admissions in the Reasonable Worst Case planning scenario that is based on COVID-S’s winter planning strategy
The Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, Operational sub-group (SPI-M-O) have released a consensus statement on COVID-19, mentioning that, in … read more
expert reaction to Regeneron statement announcing a pause in recruitment of COVID-19 patients with high oxygen requirements to the REGN-COV2 trial
Regeneron have announced a pause in the recruitment of COVID-19 patients with high oxygen requirements to their REGN-COV2 antibody cocktail … read more
expert reaction to preprint by an economist looking at Eat Out to Help Out scheme and COVID-19 spread
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed paper, by an economist at the University of Warwick looks at the Eat Out … read more
expert reaction to latest R number and growth rate estimates published by the government
The government have released the latest estimates for the COVID-19 growth rate and R value. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus … read more