Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to unpublished preprint simulating effect of facemasks on droplet spread
A preprint from the University of Edinburgh, uploaded to medRxiv*, has simulated the effect of facemasks on droplet spread. Prof … read more
expert reaction to unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint about convalescent plasma to treat hospitalised COVID patients
A preprint, uploaded to medRxiv*, has looked at usage of convalescent plasma to treat hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the US. … read more
expert reaction to media reports suggesting that the pandemic response work of PHE may be merged with NHS Test and Trace into a new body called the National Institute for Health Protection
There have been media reports, notably in The Sunday Telegraph*, that Public Health England (PHE) may be dissolved and its … read more
expert reaction to further easing of some lockdown measures going ahead this weekend, having been postponed two weeks ago
Further lockdown measures in the UK are being eased from Saturday, after the easing was paused two weeks ago due … read more
expert reaction to PHE investigation into the effectiveness of ‘double testing’ travellers incoming to the UK for signs of COVID-19
An investigation by Public Health England (PHE) from 17th June 2020, published today as part of the SAGE evidence, has … read more
expert reaction to latest R number and growth rates published by the government and latest data from the ONS Infection Survey
The government have published the latest estimates* for the COVID-19 R value in England and Wales, and the Office for … read more
expert comments on food packaging and how well the SARS-CoV-2 virus survives on surfaces
There have been suggestions that the new domestic COVID-19 cases in New Zealand were the result of samples of the … read more
expert reaction to France and other countries being added to those needing 2-week self-isolation on return to the UK
The UK government have announced* that France and several other countries have been added to the list of countries from … read more
expert reaction to government’s in-principle agreements for 60 million doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine and 30 million doses of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, and to support clinical trials
The UK government have announced* that they have made in-principle agreements to buy 60 million doses of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine … read more
expert reaction to preprint (not a published paper) looking at modelling city versus rural susceptibility to a second wave of COVID-19
A preprint from the University of Sussex, uploaded to medRxiv*, has modelled the susceptibility to a second wave of COVID-19 … read more
expert reaction to new PHE findings on excess mortality in England
Public Health England (PHE) have published new reports with data detailing excess mortality in the UK between 20th March and … read more
expert reaction to DHSC press release on Test & Trace app
The Department of Health and Social Care have announced* that the new NHS Test and Trace app is to begin … read more
expert reaction to latest weekly NHS Test & Trace statistics (30 July – 5 August)
The government have released the latest NHS Test and Trace statistics for England between the 30th July and 5th August … read more
expert reaction to results from the REACT-2 home antibody testing programme for COVID-19
Some papers detailing the results from the REACT-2 home antibody testing programme have been published. Some are currently in preprint … read more
REACT-2 study on COVID-19 home antibody test surveillance
The REACT-2 programme led by scientists at Imperial College London is a series of studies assessing a number of antibody … read more
expert reaction to ONS analysis on air pollution and risk of dying from COVID-19
The ONS (Office for National Statistics) have published* some analysis on a potential link between exposure to air pollution and … read more
expert reaction to study looking at COVID-19 cases in children in the first wave in England
Research, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, looked at COVID-19 cases in children in the first wave of … read more
expert reaction to study looking at breast screening women in their 40s and cancer deaths
A study, published in the Lancet Oncology, looked at breast screening women in their 40s and cancer deaths. Dr Imogen … read more
expert reaction to updated PHE measures to record COVID-19 deaths
Public Health England (PHE) have updated they way that they record COVID-19 deaths. Prof Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine, … read more
expert reaction to train derailment near Stonehaven
A passenger train has derailed in Aberdeenshire, resulting in the deaths of at least three people. Prof Roderick Smith … read more