Day: 6 September 2020

This is a review of the evidence concerning the medical complications and lingering effects of COVID-19 by an epidemiologist and a retired Professor of Forensic and Biological Anthropology. COVID-19 death rates have fallen across much of Europe since a peak in early April, irrespective of governments’ responses to the virus. Even in those countries at lower latitudes – Brazil, India and the southern United States – death rates also appear to be falling, following a flatter trajectory. These patterns are akin to those of another seasonal respiratory virus – influenza, where declining fatality rates reflect a natural seasonal waning of the disease. In the absence of a high seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the evidence of natural immunity – including innate and T-cell mediated immunity and cross-immunity conferred by exposure to other coronaviruses – offers an explanation at the community, cellular and molecular level for how immunity to COVID-19 may be leading to a decline in infection rates across the world. Nonetheless, acute complications of COVID-19 in children, and the persistence of symptoms following serious and, as noted in the media, mild illness may be seen as posing sufficient risk to justify attempts to maximally suppress SARS-CoV-2 through ongoing or intensified Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions. But how substantial are the complications of COVID-19 in children? What are the connotations of symptom persistence? And are ...

by Michael Lewis and Sinéad Murphy Open letter in response to the requirement for staff to wear face-masks while teaching, announced by the Executive Board of Newcastle University on July 22nd 2020 During the last six months, Newcastle University has repeatedly stated that its primary goal is to protect the safety of its staff and students. We respond that the primary goal of a university should be to educate its staff and students. By failing to uphold the value of education, the university is reneging upon its rightful mission. Planned restrictions in response to the Covid virus, on learning conditions and on campus life more generally – restrictions that actually exceed current government dictates – profoundly undermine the prospect of meaningful academic experience at the precise moment when financial crisis and limitations on travel already threaten its viability. We cannot in good conscience simply acquiesce in the repurposing of the university as an institution that valorises safety above education, and bare life in preference to the good life. The Latin origins of the word ‘education’ reveal its role in ‘leading forth’. Never has this role been more vital, especially given that students, and young people more generally, although almost invulnerable to the virus, have arguably paid the highest price for its suppression, and now face a future of economic, social ...

Piers Corbyn Arrested – Again Brave police officers risk life and limb to subdue highly dangerous 73 year-old man Piers Corbyn solicitor has written to let us know that he was arrested again yesterday at an anti-lockdown rally in Sheffield. Just to let you know that Piers Corbyn has been arrested and roughy handled by police in Sheffield today and was detained overnight while the police “gather evidence” that he is an organiser even though he was just a speaker.We are starting to live in a Police State if this is how they treat a 73 year-old man for daring to speak at a peaceful political rally, in alleged breach of a Regulation that has never been debated in Parliament, for a non-imprisonable offence. To justify the arrest they claim it was done to out of necessity “for his own protection!” – a ludicrous assertion. It appears quite arbitrary, disproportionate and unnecessary, and conveniently prevents him speaking at the 12 noon rally today in Glasgow.In my view it’s a shocking abuse of state power and should be utterly repellent to anybody who values the civil liberties that people in this country are meant to be proud of.There was also an arrest of Kate Shemerani by police yesterday outside Downing Street, again for organising a political rally. Fortunately, she was released ...