Professor of Global Health Systems, Epidemiology and Evaluation, UCL Institute for Global Health. retweets ≠ endorsements. Views my own.
Aug 2, 2022 • 13 tweets • 4 min read
* Will masks and free tests do much to curb SARS-Cov-2 spread in the Omicron era? *
Nobody wants Covid but will these ‘non-restrictive’ policies make much difference?
Lets look at UK data in 2022 to get an idea:
THREAD 1/13
Here is ONS nationally representative Covid prevalence data for the UK We can see the Jan (7%), Apr (8%) and July (6%) peaks. ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulati…
2/
Jan 8, 2022 • 14 tweets • 2 min read
Twitter is great for quick reactions, though 2 years into the pandemic it’s frustrating to see so many Covid takes still not considering wider context, trade-offs or where it all might be heading. 🧵 1/14
The situation in the UK has changed a lot since 2020, and with omicron even a lot in the last few weeks!
2/
Jan 4, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Does anyone know when there will be good UK data on omicron re-infection severity vs omicron primary infection severity?
(or whether such data or analysis is already available?)
ok missed this (covers prev varts). Looks very promising for the future:
Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections as Compared with Primary Infections | NEJM nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
“Reinfections had 90% lower odds of resulting in hospitalization or death than primary infections.”
..
Dec 21, 2021 • 105 tweets • 15 min read
* COVID THREAD ON BEST WE CAN DO LONG TERM *
Yes we’re in an acute crisis with Omicron and that needs dealing with, but it has actually made me want to think a lot about how this horrible pandemic ends, maybe you too? Let’s go through it…
1/35 (sorry, but this is troubling me)
Firstly, to say this is mainly countering arguments from those still clinging to the possibility (Hopium?) of elimination, which I was also in favour of earlier in the pandemic, but now believe is impossible. My perspective is the UK, but relevant for many countries, I think.
2/
Jan 14, 2021 • 16 tweets • 3 min read
We need a
*PUBLIC INQUIRY ON THE COVID RESPONSE*
when this is all over. #Covid19UK
What will those with large platforms who’ve consistently denied/minimised Covid say?
Those who’ve urged government not to act or act too late?
Will any apologise? be held to account?
1/16
Of course first and foremost the government should apologise & be held to account. It really didn’t have to turn out like it has, and it was preventable. Especially the 2nd/3rd wave:
If this pandemic teaches anything to countries with the worst health & economic outcomes I hope it’s that early action is always best.
>90% of damage done due to late action. This is why UK just as bad as USA even though UK’s done more ‘lockdown’.
🧵 1/11
As Mike Ryan of WHO said early on (March 13th): “Be fast, have no regrets” “The greatest error is not to move”.
2/11
Jan 7, 2021 • 14 tweets • 4 min read
LOCKDOWN THREAD TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CONVINCED.
If this thread saves even one life by changing a few minds then I’m happy to live with any resulting abuse.
First important to say that nobody likes lockdown…
1/
But good to see most people understand its necessary & support it [remember Twitter is not representative!]
** One year of #UKCovid19 policy failures *** THREAD
One year on here are some reflections for the record.
1/
Perhaps useful for a future government to stop the next pandemic. This government doesn’t seem capable of understanding the need to get ahead of the epidemic to prevent greater suffering, death & social & economic damage.
2/
Mar 18, 2020 • 14 tweets • 3 min read
Please take a deep breath, sit down, take this in and stay calm. We will get through this but it's important to understand how big it is so we can ALL do our part. A Thread to try to clearly explain the best currently public evidence on #coronavirusuk:
1/ I think the current plan makes sense but should be stepped up to closures everywhere now. The government should not be asking people they need to tell institutions to shut. Shut the schools and universities, shut the pubs and restaurants so they can claim on their business...
