Read our response to SAGE's principles principles for managing #COVID19 at #Universities
We agree the "It is highly likely that there will be significant outbreaks associated with HE" and agree on strategies to mitigate risk.
However, our recommendation about the purpose, extent and duration of our online teaching and learning strategy will maximise the effectiveness of other strategies such as residential segments and testing/tracing.
In sum: maximising remote learning at the start of term will enable subsequent pivots to in-person depending on infection rates, rather than away from it if there are cases.
It may also mitigate against SAGE's prediction that 'large outbreaks are possible, peaking during November."
Live now: We are one year into the pandemic. What could we have done differently? With latest figures from @chrischirp. Join us. pscp.tv/w/cyNN1TFNV0V3…
We start with the latest facts and figures from @chrischirp. The ONS survey released today shows cases in England and Wales are going down, NI is more flat and in Scotland there are signs that the number of people testing positive is going up.
As we are one year in, we know there is a way out of this pandemic, but we can't be complacent, says @chrischirp.
Watch this incredibly powerful account from palliative care doctor and writer Rachel Clarke @doctor_oxford of what life has been like working on the NHS frontline and the challenges that lie ahead for exhausted and traumatised staff.
"When you are at the front line of seeing patient after patient after patient, coming into the hospital with the same symptoms, dying in the same way, in numbers unimaginable to any of us, that hits you hard." @doctor_oxford
"The alternative to vigorous suppression of this virus is a continued experience for all patients of healthcare being provided in a way that's fundamentally transformed by the infection control measures you have to have in place to stop transmission of covid." @doctor_oxford
.@chrischirp is just talking us through the latest figures. Cases are continuing to come down (although the rate of decline is slowing) and we're now back at the levels we were at at the end of the last lockdown in Nov.
For the first time since September, cases in primary school children are higher than in secondary school children. This may reflect that currently around 25% of primary school students in school compared to 5% of secondary
Is it safe to see relatives at Christmas? What do the members of #IndependentSAGE think? And what are they personally choosing to do?
1/ First up, @Kit_Yates_Maths: "I have an 80 year old dad and a 70 year old step-mum, so we're taking the decision not to see them, even though it's legally allowed. For me, the risk is too great."
2/ @GabrielScally: "We'll see one of my daughters in the garden or outside somewhere... we've come through so much this year, it would be so wrong to risk anything at this point in time."
In case you missed our livestreamed briefing earlier, here's @Kit_Yates_Maths brilliant presentation of the latest figures. Warning: if you're in the mood for festive cheer, look away now. Thread 1/15
This is not a good situation, cases are high and they are rising rapidly
We can't promise festive cheer but we can give you the facts to make an informed choice on how best to keep your loved ones safe this Xmas. With @theAliceRoberts & @Kit_Yates_Maths crunching numbers. pscp.tv/w/cqtVCDFNV0V3…
We are live and @Kit_Yates_Maths is presenting the week's figures: 'This is the worst set of data I've presented so far, things are deteriorating quite rapidly and tiers are not keeping things under control'. Join us
'Even the toughest set of measures (Tier 3) is not enough to slow the virus down, which is extremely worrying' @Kit_Yates_Maths