COVID-19 articles
COVID-19: ensuring a safe and effective vaccine
Scientists around the world are working hard to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine to suppress the pandemic. How can the EU guarantee that rapidly approved vaccines are safe and effective? We asked senior representatives from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for their thoughts.
Cary Funk: “It is important to engage with people who have a low level of trust in scientists”
Cary Funk from Pew Research Center talks about the impact of people’s ideology and education on their trust in scientists, medical treatments and vaccines, and how science communication can overcome this.
The role of school settings in COVID-19 transmission
So far, sending children back to school does not seem to have increased COVID-19 community transmission rates, even though EU countries have adopted different strategies. Keeping schools open is very important for children’s health and well-being.
COVID-19 : tracking clusters to keep ahead of fresh surges
With many countries around the world beginning to see or anticipating a resurgence of COVID-19, attention has been turning to how to avoid an economically punishing second round of lockdowns while keeping transmission down. One method is by examining the types of hotspots where clusters of cases emerge. During the virus, clusters have already been ...
“Unlocking” COVID-19: the use and misuse of tests
“Test, test, test” was one of the mantras of the WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus against COVID-19. The issue is particularly relevant in the “unlocking” phase several European countries are going through, as the curve of the pandemics bends. At this stage, and while effective vaccines or therapies are still not available, tests are crucial to keep the disease at bay. But are they effective and reliable?
From COVID-19 to climate change: seeing the issues beyond the news cycle
COVID-19 and climate change may seem to belong to different worlds. However, direct causal links can be discovered by looking through a systems thinking lens. How should journalists and science communicators report on complex issues like climate change?
COVID-19: how our behaviour can help stop the coronavirus
The spread of infectious diseases is linked with human behaviour, so behavioural science could be used to inform effective modelling and communication strategies to reduce transmission and contain COVID-19.
The differences between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2
Although according to the World Health Organization the novel coronavirus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes, some scientists suggest we should also consider the possibility of aerosol transmission. As the pandemic continues to unfold, research and discussions are ongoing to determine how best to tackle it. Two leading experts offer their opinions, alongside an exploration into some of the vital research being conducted.
