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The Definitive Evidence: Good Quality Masks work
On 22 May 2024 Professor Trisha Greenhalgh and colleagues published their awaited narrative review and meta-analysis summarizing a broad evidence base on the benefits—and also the practicalities, disbenefits, harms and personal, sociocultural and environmental impacts—of masks and masking. This surely lays the debate to rest and is a basis for clear policy measures and further Continue reading
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Data on Long Covid published at last
On 25 April the Office for National Statistics published data on self reported long covid from the Winter Covid-19 infections survey. This paints an alarming picture of continuing high rates of long covid, and suggests a growth in the number of sufferers since data was last published in March 2023. How many people have Long Continue reading
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Mask Abuse and Discrimination
Summary Back in 2020 and 2021 it was normal for people in the UK to wear masks, and it was sometimes mandatory in healthcare, supermarkets and other public buildings, for example. However, after the so called freedom day in July 2021 fewer and fewer people wear masks, even in very high risk settings which has Continue reading
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Preparing for the Next Pandemic
Earlier this year the World Economic Forum at Davos held a discussion about ‘Disease x’ and how to prepare for it. This blog discusses the issues focusing on the UK context in terms of preparedness for another pandemic. I am fully aware that we are still in the current pandemic as confirmed by the World Continue reading
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The Saga of Vaccination against Covid-19 in the UK continues…
As we await the opening of bookings for those eligible for the free spring 2024 Covid booster (listed in the photo above), this blog summarises what the situation is regarding private vaccines this spring and discusses wider issues about access and equity and updates my earlier post. Novavax Early optimism about the potentially relatively low Continue reading
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Failings of the British Public Broadcaster – the BBC
Summary I have posted a number of my complaints made about BBC news coverage of Covid-19 on this website. In my assessment the BBC has shown a consistent, pro government bias throughout the pandemic and has failed in its public duty to warn the public about the continuing dangers posed by Covid-19. I and many Continue reading
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WHO – Covid-19 is airborne!
Yes, we have known for years that Covid-19 is airborne (SARsCoV2) and indeed, individual officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have been admitting it for years. Yet a powerful body within the WHO has clung onto their original line that it is transmitted by droplets. This all changed on 28 March when the WHO Continue reading
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Longer Term Economic Impacts of Covid – the Labour Market
The pandemic had a serious impact on the economy during the lockdowns of 2020 and early 2021, but it has continued to cast a long shadow over the economic performance of the UK and far more so than many other western economies. So what is going on? This blog focuses on the labour market impacts, Continue reading
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Measuring Excess Deaths
Summary The way the Office for National Statistics (ONS) measures the number of excess deaths has never attracted much controversy before. The current method is relatively simple to understand and although far from perfect, it is a very easy task to explain the potential problems. It has proved particularly useful during the pandemic as a Continue reading
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Short Summary of Why clean air is important in preventing the spread of infections in hospitals and healthcare
The recent mini TV series ‘Breathtaking’ has sparked renewed interest across most of the media in the pandemic and some commentators, including the author of the book that the series is based on have raised questions about the effectiveness of current policies in protecting staff from Covid. A recent demonstration outside St Thomas’ Hospital, London Continue reading
GILLIAN SMITH About Me
I am a semi retired social researcher and have previously held a number of senior social research positions in Whitehall Departments. See an interview with me here. I live in a London suburb with my husband who has suffered multiple serious illnesses over the last few years. I myself am living with MND.
This series of blogs represent a personal, evidence based perspective based on living in the UK at a time when we are all meant to be ‘living with COVID’. Although I am a social scientist by training, I have worked closely with people from different disciplines throughout my career in order to present a complete picture of the evidence on specific policy issues. I am therefore scientifically literate but where I quote evidence based on research beyond my particular expertise it is always validated with relevant experts. I am a member of the Clinically Vulnerable Families group, though please note that the information presented here and any views expressed are my own. We are a friendly, supportive group and can be found via Facebook in private mode or in public mode via X (formerly twitter) Or BlueSky.Social
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Living on Plague Island 