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Remember those early days in the COVID journey, where everyone talked about “following the science”?
Looking back, it seems almost childishly naïve.

Back then we were only just learning about concepts like “the R rate” or “T cell immunity,” and Zoom quizzes were a novel way to spend an evening rather than something to shudder about.
Now, six months after the first lockdown and facing rising infection levels again, we are cynical COVID-19 veterans.
We now know that our scientists – like our politicians – are fallible. They disagree. We can’t just blithely “follow the science” because there is no such thing as “the science” – just different interpretations of incomplete and untrustworthy evidence.

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I’ve become acutely aware that we need to challenge our scientists in the same way that we challenge our politicians – asking them to explain their reasoning, putting alternative interpretations to them and listening to a range of views.

On Sophy Ridge on Sunday we’ll be trying something that we haven’t done before in the pandemic – asking two scientists to debate with one another.

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Professor Sunetra Gupta is a professor of theoretical epidemiology at the University of Oxford. On Monday she signed an open letter along with 32 other scientists, arguing against local and national lockdowns and urging restrictions for those more vulnerable to the disease.

The R number across the United Kingdom

She believes that because 89% of COVID-19 deaths are in the over-65 group and those with pre-existing medical conditions are also vulnerable, they should be subject to tighter restrictions while those who are less at risk should be allowed to continue life in a less restricted way.
This point of view is extremely inflammatory within the scientific community. Some in rival camps are reluctant to even debate with each other, for fear of legitimising their view point.
A second letter was issued by 22 scientists, headed by Dr Trisha Greenhalgh of Oxford University, arguing that it is simply not possible to isolate those most at risk from the rest of the population. A “herd immunity” strategy – where the vulnerable are shielded and we are relaxed about others who are infected – is too risky when we don’t know how long immunity lasts for.

How much could Rishi Sunak’s plan cost?

Steven Riley, professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College, is concerned about judging the strength of immunity before we have more evidence. He believes that until we have a vaccine or successful treatment, we must be prepared to reduce our social contacts.
What data should we trust? How should we weigh up the costs of COVID-19 against the economic costs? Should we factor in the cost to our mental wellbeing? Can we draw lessons from other countries or are their challenges too different?
The data sets may be the same, but the conclusions drawn will be deeply personal.
If you thought the policy debate between politicians was fiery, it’s nothing compared to the rows raging among scientists. And you can understand the strength of feeling. Lives are on the line. The stakes could not be higher.

:: Watch Sophy Ridge On Sunday live from 8.30am on Sunday, followed by Sophy Ridge: The Take at 9.30am

In the race for a COVID vaccine it pays to keep your options open.
There is no way you can design a jab on paper and guarantee that it will work.

In fact, 90% of experimental vaccines fail to make it to the clinic.
Live updates on coronavirus from UK and around the world

Potential vaccine passes another hurdle as 10,000 UK volunteers to test jab

So it’s welcome news that a second vaccine is to start late-stage clinical trials in the UK, joining the prototype from Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

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The Novavax candidate has produced promising results in early stage trials, triggering antibody levels that are at least as high as those seen in people recovering from the disease.

But a large-scale phase 3 study is a significant test for the vaccine. There are three key questions.

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First, does the vaccine work well in those who need it most? The efficiency of our immune systems tends to fall with age, so testing the vaccine in older people will be a priority.
Second, how long does the immune response last? Antibodies in people who have had COVID-19 fall rapidly after they have recovered. Does that mean regular booster doses will be needed to keep up protection?
And finally, does the vaccine stop people spreading the virus, or just protect them from the disease? If the latter does it just reduce the severity of symptoms?

Vaccine could be available in first half of 2021

The current surge in COVID-19 cases in the UK should mean scientists get those answers more quickly.
They will be looking for differences in the infection rate in those who have had the vaccine and those who get a placebo injection of salty water. Once they have a statistically significant difference they end the trial.
You can expect more vaccines to start late-stage trials in the UK in the coming weeks. It’s a sign of good progress and a reason to remain hopeful of an end to this grim pandemic.

Patients with sufficient levels of vitamin D are less likely to experience complications and die from COVID-19, according to a new study in the US, while another has found it also reduces infection rates.
Vitamin D sufficiency was linked with a significantly decreased level of inflammatory markets, and higher blood levels of immune cells, in new research from Boston University’s school of medicine.

The higher levels of lymphocytes were tied to the reduction in cytokine storms – the release of too many proteins into the blood too quickly – which is one of the ways the coronavirus infections can kill.

Contact tracing apps: The problems and potential

Blood samples to measure vitamin D levels were taken from 235 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, explained the study published in the journal PLOS ONE.
These patients were followed for clinical outcomes including the severity of their infections, whether they lost consciousness, if they had difficulty breathing to the point of becoming hypoxic, or if they died.

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In patients older than 40, those who had sufficient levels of vitamin D were more than 51% less likely to die than patients who were deficient.

Coronavirus new restrictions: What you can and can’t do – and the penalties for breaking the rules

According to Dr Michael Holick, who recently published another study finding that sufficient vitamin D can reduce the risk of catching the coronavirus by 54%, the vitamin can also help against other viruses affecting the upper respiratory tract.

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“There is great concern that the combination of an influenza infection and a coronal viral infection could substantially increase hospitalisations and death due to complications from these viral infections,” Dr Holick said.
“Because vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is so widespread in children and adults in the US and worldwide, especially in the winter months, it is prudent for everyone to take a vitamin D supplement to reduce risk of being infected and having complications from COVID-19,” he added.

Amazon has unveiled a flying camera drone which can be used inside the home to stream video to residents’ phones in case of a break-in.
The device has prompted concerns from privacy organisations and campaigners who warn it could permit unwanted surveillance.

Ring, the Amazon company behind the device, said it was designed with privacy in mind, resting in a dock which physically blocks the camera unless it is launched.

Ever get a Ring Alarm alert and want to immediately see what’s happening? The Ring Always Home Cam is here to help. This compact, lightweight, autonomously flying indoor camera gives even greater visibility when you’re not home. Learn more: https://t.co/A62pZUuYDa [US Only] pic.twitter.com/13cXKtEeSs
— Ring (@ring) September 24, 2020

In an illustrative video – not recorded with one of the actual devices – Ring shows the drone itself being a significant deterrent to an intruder.
“The camera will only start recording when the device leaves the base and starts flying via one of the preset paths,” the company added.

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Officially known as the Always Home Cam, the drone will cost $250 (£192) when it goes on sale – initially only in the US.

It can’t be manually controlled and instead will only fly along a pre-set path, although Amazon said “obstacle avoidance technology allows it to avoid unexpected objects as it moves on the pre-set paths”.

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As a small lightweight drone, with propellers shrouded by a cage, the device is also designed to avoid injuring pets or damaging any delicate furniture or furnishings.
According to Amazon, the “autonomous indoor security camera flies your chosen, personalised paths so that you can easily check in on your home for peace of mind – like whether someone left a window open or forgot to turn the stove off”.
It can also be integrated with Ring’s home security system and perform a recce if an alarm goes off to see what’s happening.
However it isn’t clear what would stop a burglar from simply knocking the device out of the air.