Seven days in medicine: 17-23 June 2020
BMJ 2020; 369 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2501 (Published 25 June 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;369:m2501
Covid-19
Review preparedness for second wave, leaders urge
A group of medical, public health, and nursing leaders including The BMJ’s editor in chief, Fiona Godlee, wrote an open letter to the UK government calling for a rapid cross party review of what needs to be done to prevent and prepare for a second wave of covid-19. The letter argues that an “immediate assessment of national preparedness” is required to give the public confidence that the virus can be contained. Policy areas needing rapid attention include governance, procurement, coordination of existing structures, the disproportionate burden on ethnic minority individuals and communities, and international collaboration.
UK’s alert level falls from 4 to 3
The UK’s coronavirus alert level was lowered from 4 to 3 after a recommendation from the Joint Biosecurity Centre. Under level 4, transmission is “high or rising exponentially,” whereas under level 3 the virus is in “general circulation.” In a joint statement the chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland warned, “It does not mean the pandemic is over. The virus is still in general circulation, and localised outbreaks are likely to occur.”
Saliva test pilot scheme starts in Southampton
A new coronavirus saliva test will be trialled in Southampton, UK, aiming to be accurate and more acceptable than the current swab test. The pilot scheme will involve …
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