A thread on cases and positivity rates in the UK.
Firstly, cases are going up almost as quickly as in September - Doubling every 9 days. We're nowhere near where we were at the peak in Jan, but be under no illusion, cases are rising quickly.
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Scotland's cases (per 100k) are currently rising fastest, reflecting the fact they seem to have been impacted by the delta variant earlier on.
Next fastest it England and then Wales.
In Northern Ireland cases still seem to be coming down.
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It's a similar story with positivity - rising most rapidly in Scotland, more slowly in England and Wales and declining in Northern Ireland.
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At a regional level in England, all regions are now seeing rises in cases (per 100k) and are moving away again from the lowest (September 1st) levels (green diamonds).
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These cross-regional rises are reflected in positivity rates as well. All regions are back up above their September 1st positivity levels.
North West is highest and rising fastest.
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Looking at the positivity rates by English local authority, the majority of English LAs (84%) showed week on week increases. Most (63%) now have positivity rates higher than September 1st.
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Science is under siege. Political forces are undermining expertise, dismantling research institutions, and replacing evidence based policymaking with ideology.
This is a global crisis.
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The covid-19 pandemic underscored the importance of scientific independence.
While vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics saved many lives, governments that ignored expert advice and downplayed the threat allowed lives to be lost.
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Sometimes, it became a political battleground as public health experts were vilified and disinformation flourished, with deadly consequences.
3/31 bmj.com/content/379/bm…
Today the Royal Society will meet to discuss “Fellows’ behaviour”. Without doubt the fellow they will primarily be discussing is Elon Musk.
The behaviour may range from his public dissemination of unfounded conspiracy theories to his attacks on the science
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Musk is also an important figure (some would argue the most important) within a US administration that is laying siege to science and to scientific inquiry itself.
2/38 researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-world-…
The new administration’s executive orders have restricted research, silenced climate scientists and cut funding, as part of a systematic targeting of the scientific community.
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Here's what I think we should be doing to ensure that the UK (and indeed other non-US countries) does not suffer the same fate.
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The United States is currently witnessing an unprecedented assault on its scientists and scientific institutions, driven by populist agendas that prioritise ideology over evidence.
These orchestrated attacks threaten the foundations...
Silence will not shield scientists from the consequences of an increasingly hostile political landscape.
UK and other non-US scientists must act to support our US colleagues.
Here's what I think we should be doing...
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Science thrives on collaboration and openness.
The people who practice science are committed to seeking truth and combatting falsehoods.
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In an era where political forces increasingly seek to distort, suppress, or co-opt scientific knowledge for ideological purposes, the global scientific community must recognise that staying silent in the face of these challenges is no longer an option.
Fiona Fox’s recent article in Research Professional News cautions that expelling Elon Musk from the Royal Society could undermine public trust in science.
I disagree...
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1/25 researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-vie…
I think that this perspective overlooks the critical role that scientific institutions play in upholding ethical standards and defending the integrity of science, especially at times when science and scientists are subject to threats and intimidation from political institutions
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It's imperative that scientists and their representative bodies actively engage in political discourse to protect scientific integrity, particularly when it is under direct threat, as has been clearly evidenced by recent developments in the United States
3 iflscience.com/us-science-is-…
After hearing some underwhelming testimony last month at the #COVIDInquiry on the use of respirators, @trishgreenhalgh and I decided to write a rapid response to the @bmj_latest to set the record straight.
Here's what we wrote...
1/15 bmj.com/content/386/bm…
"Respirators outperform surgical masks; fit-testing is desirable but not essential"
Professor Susan Hopkins (UK Covid Inquiry, 18th September 2024) claimed that evidence for the superiority of respirators (which are made to an industry standard and designed to fit ...
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closely around the face) over medical facemasks (which are not generally made to any quality standard and often fit loosely, leaving gaps around the sides) is “weak”.
She also claimed that respirators are of little use if they are not fit-tested.
3/15 bmj.com/content/386/bm…