Governments knew a pandemic was a threat – here’s why they weren’t better prepared

How is it possible that we were not ready? Not only had Bill Gates been banging on about this for a long time, but pandemics also featured strongly on regional and national risk registers produced by governments and bureaucrats, as well as international registers from non-governmental organisations.… Read More

Coronavirus response shows science in motion

Covid-19 has put science in the spotlight as never before. The prime minister invariably appears alongside the chief scientific adviser and chief medical officer, and repeatedly promises that he is being led by the science.
But, as in many fields, the science doesn’t speak with one voice. Instead government advisers have had to deliver evidence-based messages based on complex, incommensurate and sometimes competing data sets and models. … Read More