Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to regional R estimates for England
The government have released regional data for the COVID-19 R value in England. Prof Keith Neal, Emeritus Professor of … read more
expert reaction to a study looking at mandatory face masks and number of COVID-19 infections in New York, Wuhan and Italy
A study, published in PNAS, looked at mandatory face masks and number of COVID-19 infections in New York, Wuhan and Italy. … read more
expert comments about 2 metre social distancing
There has been discussion in the media about the 2m social distancing rule, specifically regarding the benefits or disadvantages compared … read more
expert reaction to first statistics from the NHS Test and Trace Service for England from 28 May to 3 June 2020
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have released statistics on the first week of the NHS Test and … read more
NHS Test and Trace Service statistics – what do they show?
The SMC was asked to run a briefing for science, health and tech journalists about the statistics released on the … read more
expert reaction to a paper discussing a new human embryo-like model created from human stem cells
Research, published in Nature, looked at a new human embryo-like model created from human stem cells. Prof Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz FMedSci, Professor … read more
expert reaction to announcement at daily government press briefing that from 13th June, some individuals in England will be able to form ‘support bubbles’ with another household
In the Downing Street press conference today, Boris Johnson announced that from the 13th of July single adult households will … read more
expert reaction to comments by Prof Neil Ferguson at House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee
At a House of Commons Select Committee hearing today, Prof Neil Ferguson said instigating lockdown a week earlier in the … read more
expert reaction to modelling framework study looking at effectiveness of facemasks in combination with lockdown in managing the COVID-19 pandemic
A study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A, looked at the effectiveness of facemasks in combination with lockdown … read more
digest of the ONS stats on COVID-19 deaths
Once again we had three experts who looked through the latest ONS stats on COVID19-related deaths published every Tuesday morning, … read more
expert reaction to ONS statistics on comparison of weekly death occurrences in England and Wales: up to week ending 29 May 2020
The Office for National Statistics (ONS)have released the latest weekly figures for deaths in England and Wales, including deaths involving COVID-19 … read more
expert reaction to preprint looking at hospital traffic and search engine data in Wuhan in Autumn 2019
A preprint, an un-published non peer-reviewed study posted on the Harvard University website, looked at hospital traffic and search engine … read more
expert reaction to comments from Dr Maria van Kerkhove at yesterday’s WHO press conference that asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is rare
At the World Health Organisation (WHO) press conference on Monday 8th June, Dr Maria van Kerkhove stated that asymptomatic transmission … read more
expert reaction to launch of PHE study to monitor prevalence of COVID-19 in schools
Public Health England (PHE) have a launched a study which aims to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 in schools. … read more
expert reaction to new paper looking at clinical characteristics of 58 children in England hospitals with Kawasaki-like syndrome
A study, published in JAMA, looked at clinical characteristics of 58 children in England hospitals with Kawasaki-like syndrome. Prof Adilia … read more
expert comments about protests and COVID-19
There has been discussion in the media about the protests currently happening around the UK, and the possible implications for … read more
nowcasting and forecasting COVID-19 data
Journalists joined Prof Daniela De Angelis and Dr Paul Birrell, who lead the Medical Research Council (MRC) Biostatistics Unit’s work … read more
expert reaction to the RECOVERY trial reporting no clinical benefit from use of hydroxychloroquine in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19
The Chief Investigators of the Randomised Evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY (RECOVERY) Trial have announced that they will no longer be … read more
expert reaction to latest COVID-19 nowcast and forecast by the MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge and PHE
The MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge, working in partnership with Public Health England (PHE), have published an … read more
RECOVERY trial hydroxychloroquine update
Journalists joined Professor Peter Horby and Professor Martin Landray, Chief Investigators of the RECOVERY trial who provided results on the … read more