Day: 23 August 2021

A summary of all the most interesting stories that have appeared about politicians’ efforts to control the virus — and other acts of hubris and folly – not just in Britain, but around the world.

In this week’s episode of London Calling, James and I discuss the end of the special relationship, Trump urging his supporters to get vaxxed, Australia’s descent into a police state and the rainbow-coloured police cars.

Professor Robert Dingwall has written an excellent piece for Social Science Space criticising the imposition of mask mandates. There's little evidence that masks work and the plenty of evidence they cause harm.

Flu vaccines could be less effective this year due to the total focus on Covid and the drop in global shipments of influenza surveillance samples over the past year of lockdowns.

More than 50 companies will be removed from the Gov.uk site that lists approved travel testing providers following reports that many are charging more than their advertised costs and are failing to hand over results.

In a new paper, the economic consultant L. Jan Reid has attempted a cost-benefit analysis of lockdown in the United States. He concludes that the “cost of the lockdowns was up to ten times greater than the benefits”.

A summary of all the most interesting stories that have appeared about politicians’ efforts to control the virus — and other acts of hubris and folly – not just in Britain, but around the world.