Guardian Newsroom: Covid-19 and the Next Six Months

Our panel of Guardian journalists will be discussing the latest developments in the fight against Covid-19 in this livestreamed event.

The UK has “turned a corner” for the worse and is on course for up to 50,000 new daily cases of Covid-19 by mid-October, which could lead to 200 deaths a day by the following month, the chief medical officer for England has warned. Speaking at a media briefing, Chris Whitty stated that the resurgence of the virus should be viewed as “a six-month problem that we have to deal with collectively”. As we head into autumn, are further significant restrictions and lockdowns inevitable? What form could they take?

Patrick Valance has also said that “good progress” was being made on vaccine development, and that some vaccines could even be available in small amounts by the end of this year. Meanwhile, as our test and trace system struggles to cope, even the Tory press are raising doubts about Boris Johnson’s fitness to lead the country through this crisis. Is the rise in cases inevitable or a consequence of the failures of the government’s testing system? And how close are we to a vaccine?

Our panel, including Guardian health editor Sarah BoseleyDr Melanie Saville, director of vaccine, research and development, CEPI and chair, science editor, Ian Sample will be discussing further restrictions, the future of the test and trace system, vaccine preparedness and the risks of a second wave as we head into winter.

£5.83 – £11.06











When: Mon., Oct. 19, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Our panel of Guardian journalists will be discussing the latest developments in the fight against Covid-19 in this livestreamed event.

The UK has “turned a corner” for the worse and is on course for up to 50,000 new daily cases of Covid-19 by mid-October, which could lead to 200 deaths a day by the following month, the chief medical officer for England has warned. Speaking at a media briefing, Chris Whitty stated that the resurgence of the virus should be viewed as “a six-month problem that we have to deal with collectively”. As we head into autumn, are further significant restrictions and lockdowns inevitable? What form could they take?

Patrick Valance has also said that “good progress” was being made on vaccine development, and that some vaccines could even be available in small amounts by the end of this year. Meanwhile, as our test and trace system struggles to cope, even the Tory press are raising doubts about Boris Johnson’s fitness to lead the country through this crisis. Is the rise in cases inevitable or a consequence of the failures of the government’s testing system? And how close are we to a vaccine?

Our panel, including Guardian health editor Sarah BoseleyDr Melanie Saville, director of vaccine, research and development, CEPI and chair, science editor, Ian Sample will be discussing further restrictions, the future of the test and trace system, vaccine preparedness and the risks of a second wave as we head into winter.

£5.83 – £11.06

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