Face masks will have some benefit in halting the spread of the coronavirus in post-lockdown Britain, Number 10’s chief scientific adviser today said. Sir Patrick Vallance told MPs that masks could have a ‘marginal but positive’ impact on curbing transmission of the life-threatening infection. But ‘coverings of some sort might do’, he said in front of … Read more
An Oxford scientists leading Britain’s coronavirus vaccine race has urged the Government to help produce millions of doses before it has proven to be effective. Professor Sarah Gilbert said her team needed help manufacturing the jabs, warning the UK did not have the facilities to do it alone. Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is leading Britain’s … Read more
Don’t rely on a vaccine to end coronavirus crisis because it is a ‘long shot’ and will ‘take time’, Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance warns Sir Patrick Vallance has said that ensuring the Covid-19 jab is safe may take time There is some concern that a vaccine could dangerously alter immune systems It comes … Read more
A coronavirus vaccine could be ready by autumn, an Oxford University professor has said. Sir John Bell said trials could be finished by mid-August but warned the real challenge would be manufacturing ‘many billions of doses’. He also revealed the prestigious institution started human trials with a candidate vaccine this week. There have been conflicting reports over … Read more
Face masks could soon be an everyday sight in Britain as health officials admit that they are reconsidering their advice for people not to wear them. In countries such as China, Japan and South Korea, wearing face masks when you’re ill is common – East Asia has learned from deadly virus outbreaks in the past. … Read more
Patients suffering from coronavirus can safely take ibuprofen to ease the symptoms of the infection, a Government panel of experts has concluded. Claims had spread online and among the scientific community that the painkiller could weaken the immune system’s attempts to battle the virus. Last month, the NHS even removed advice for people to use the painkilling … Read more
Chief science adviser Patrick Vallance FINALLY admits that Britain failed to ramp up coronavirus testing numbers fast enough Sir Patrick Vallance has admitted testing numbers have not risen fast enough Chief science adviser said initial response was good but need to achieve scale Government facing mounting backlash over slow progress on mass screening Learn more … Read more
The UK is reviewing the evidence on face masks again, Number 10’s top scientific adviser revealed today. Sir Patrick Vallance claimed Downing Street would ‘definitely’ change its stance on wearing masks if the science became stronger. Britain has repeatedly insisted that healthy Britons do not need to wear face masks to try and protect themselves. … Read more
A furious row broke out among Government scientists tonight over whether they raised the alarm early enough over just how deadly coronavirus could be. A devastating Reuters investigation published today suggested that the scientific committees that advised Boris Johnson didn’t study, until mid-March, the option of a stringent lockdown. However, the chief scientific adviser Sir … Read more
Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, said statistics are starting to show the ‘beginning of change’ and that Britain’s coronavirus crisis did not appear to be accelerating The UK’s top scientist today offered the public a glimmer of hope that the strict coronavirus shutdown is having an effect after official statistics revealed the … Read more