Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert comment about progress of COVID-19 vaccine candidates
There have been journalists questions about the progress of the COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Prof Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics, … read more
‘following the science’ – what does the Government mean?
‘Following the science’ has become a mantra for Government ministers and officials. Is it: a reassurance to the public that … read more
expert reaction to today’s apparently low number of deaths from COVID-19
Figures released today for the number of deaths from COVID-19 are significant lower than the normal trend. Dr Stephen … read more
expert reaction to latest figures on deaths in hospitals in England involving COVID-19
NHS England have published the latest figure for reported deaths in hospitals in England from COVID-19 – an additional 181 … read more
expert reaction to R now being between 0.7 and 1.0
The government have released new figures for the R value of COVID-19 in the UK, now believed to be between … read more
expert reaction to latest figures on deaths in hospitals in England involving COVID-19
NHS England have published the latest figure for reported deaths in hospitals in England from COVID-19 – an additional 186 … read more
expert reaction to ONS data on deaths within the care sector involving COVID-19, England and Wales
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have issued new data on deaths within the care sector involving COVID-19 for England … read more
expert reaction to data from the MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge nowcasting and forecasting COVID-19
The MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge have released new data which is nowcasting and forecasting the COVID-19 … read more
expert reaction to paper using machine learning tools to identify three biomarkers associated with COVID-19 death
Research, published in Nature Machine Intelligence, reports on machine learning tools used to identify three biomarkers associated with COVID-19 death. … read more
expert reaction to Cochrane rapid review on convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients
Cochrane have conducted a rapid review on convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients. Dr Lise Estcourt, Head of NHS Blood … read more
expert reaction to preprint on the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in rhesus macaques
A preprint, an un-published non peer reviewed paper posted on bioRxiv, reports on the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia … read more
expert reaction to latest data from the ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey, estimating numbers of people currently testing positive
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released new data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey which estimate the number of … read more
expert reaction to latest figures on COVID-19 deaths in England
NHS England have published the latest figure for reported deaths in hospitals in England from COVID-19 – an additional 207 … read more
expert reaction to the announcement of Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser FRS as the next CEO of UKRI
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have announced that Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser will be taking up the post as their … read more
expert reaction to news reports that PHE have said Roche antibody test is “a very positive development” and that assessments at Porton Down found it was ‘highly specific’
There have been News reports that Public Health England (PHE) have said a new antibody test, developed by the healthcare … read more
expert reaction to study reporting the suggestion that 25% of people in the UK are likely to have already been infected by the COVID-19 virus
Research, published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, reports on the number of people on the UK people who … read more
expert comment on risk of transmission while outside and vitamin D
There have been journalists questions about the risk of transmission of COVID-19 whilst outside, and the role of vitamin D. … read more
expert reaction to study looking at speech-generated droplets and COVID-19 transmission
Research, published in PNAS, reports on speech-generated droplets and COVID-19 transmission. Dr Michael Cotterell, NERC Research Fellow, University of Bristol, … read more
expert reaction to analysis of 10 cases of Kawasaki-like disease in young children reported in Bergamo, Italy
An observational study, published in The Lancet, has looked at 10 cases of a Kawasaki-like disease in young children that may … read more
expert comment on how policy makers and parents manage risks of schools re-opening with the risk of a rare syndrome in children associated with COVID-19
The below comment is based on comments said during an SMC briefing on the rare syndrome in children associated with … read more