Even researchers can't settle on how society must battle COVID-19

Keep in mind those early days in the COVID journey, where everybody talked about “following the science”?

Looking back, it seems nearly childishly naïve.

Back then we were only simply learning about principles like “the R rate” or “T cell immunity,” and Zoom tests were a novel way to spend an evening rather than something to shiver about.

Now, six months after the very first lockdown and facing rising infection levels once again, we are negative COVID-19 veterans.

We now understand that our researchers – like our political leaders – are imperfect. They disagree. We can’t just blithely “follow the science” because there is no such thing as “the science” – simply various analyses of incomplete and untrustworthy evidence.

I’ve become acutely conscious that we require to challenge our scientists in the very same way that we challenge our political leaders – inquiring to explain their reasoning, putting alternative analyses to them and listening to a variety of views.

On Sophy Ridge on Sunday we’ll be attempting something that we have not done prior to in the pandemic – asking two researchers to discuss with one another.

Teacher Sunetra Gupta is a professor of theoretical public health at the University of Oxford. On Monday she signed an open letter in addition to 32 other researchers, refuting local and nationwide lockdowns and prompting limitations for those more susceptible to the illness.

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The R number across the UK

She thinks that since 89%of COVID-19 deaths are in the over-65 group and those with pre-existing medical conditions are also susceptible, they ought to be subject to tighter limitations while those who are less at danger should be permitted to continue life in a less restricted way.

This point of view is extremely inflammatory within the clinical community.

A second letter was released by 22 researchers, headed by Dr Trisha Greenhalgh of Oxford University, arguing that it is merely not possible to separate those most at threat from the rest of the population.

Just how much could Rishi Sunak’s plan cost?

What data should we trust?

The information sets might be the exact same, however the conclusions drawn will be deeply personal.

If you believed the policy debate between political leaders was fiery, it’s absolutely nothing compared to the rows raging among researchers.