Coronavirus is no longer seen as high risk by many – and that’s undermining control measures
During the era of US prohibition, illegal speakeasies thrived. And while the UK socially distances, there are similar reports of secret parties and raves today. Beyond such gatherings, there have been anecdotes of people from all walks of life ignoring advice to self-isolate, illicitly mixing with other households and refusingContinue Reading
2020-11-13
How plague reshaped colonial New England before the Mayflower even arrived
The English believed God communicated through plague – and viewed the epidemic which decimated Algonquian territory between 1616-19 as a sign. John Eliot Preaching to the Indians, Gift of Martha J. Fleischman and Barbara G. Fleischman, 1999, The Met The Europeans who began colonising North America in the early 17thContinue Reading
2020-11-13
Teacher motivation is vital – and COVID-19 may be hurting it
Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock During the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping students motivated as classes move online has been crucial. The role of student motivation in the process of learning is well known and is supported by research. However, the area of teacher motivation has not received as much attention. Even teachers themselves sometimesContinue Reading
2020-11-13
Coronavirus: four traps governments fall into when making decisions about lockdown
Lockdowns have been a key tool in the war chest of many governments trying to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. Some, however, have questioned the wisdom of lockdowns, arguing that their benefits do not outweigh the wider costs to society. Alternative strategies have been put forward, such as “focused protection”, whereContinue Reading
2020-11-13
Joe Biden: how betting markets foresaw the result of the 2020 US election
Records of the betting on US presidential elections can be traced back to 1868. Since then, no clear favourite for the White House had lost before 2016, except in 1948, when the 8 to 1 longshot and sitting president, Harry S. Truman, famously defeated his Republican rival, Thomas E. Dewey.Continue Reading
2020-11-13
Republic Of Ireland Midfielder Alan Browne Tested Positive For COVID-19 After England Friendly | Football News
Alan Browne has his shot saved by Jordan Pickford at Wembley Stadium© AFP Republic of Ireland midfielder Alan Browne has tested positive for coronavirus following Thursday’s 3-0 friendly defeat by England, officials announced Friday. Browne, who plays for English second-tier club Preston, took part in the full 90 minutes ofContinue Reading
2020-11-13
Time to add some sunshine (vitamin D) to milk and bread
Krakenimages/Shutterstock Free vitamin D supplements will be sent to over two million clinically vulnerable people in England this winter. Over 80% of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 are vitamin D deficient compared with the general population. In a small study, a high dose of vitamin D appeared to reduce the severityContinue Reading
2020-11-13
COVID-19 vaccine: how the ‘mum test’ can help ensure take-up
The UK's Deputy Chief Medical Officer has urged his own mother to take the Covid-19 vaccine when it's released. Facundo Arrizabalaga One of the many lessons of the pandemic concerns the importance of communication: how the authorities frame a message can be as influential as the content of the messageContinue Reading
2020-11-13
Time to ditch the Dominic Cummings technocratic, mechanical vision of government
If crises bring with them new opportunities to think afresh, then the combined impact of Brexit and COVID has been to focus attention on the capacity and structure of the British state. This rethinking is increasingly framed in terms of “smart government”. Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s now departing chiefContinue Reading
2020-11-13