Talk Evidence covid-19 update - strategies to end lockdown, more testing

BMJ talk medicine

This week we're focussing on what kind of information we need to be able to collect and use as the country transitions out of lockdown - and why local lockdowns may be here for some time. We also hear about the new antibody tests which are available in the UK - are they actually a game changer? (2.00) Helen explains what some new evidence says about hydroxychloroquine (spoiler; don’t take it for covid-19) (6.40) *Non covid alert* - Carl tells us about new research on compressions stockings for thromboprophylaxis, and the importance of doing research on non-pharmacological interventions (10.30) David Nabarro, Special Envoy of WHO Director-General on COVID19, (28.00) Helen goes back to Jon Deeks, professor of biostatistics at Birmingham, to find out more about these “accurate” tests for covid, endorsed by the government this week. Reading list: Clinical efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in patients with covid-19 https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1844 Hydroxychloroquine in patients with mainly mild to moderate covid-19 https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1849 David Nabarro’s website, with daily briefings https://www.4sd.info/ News Covid-19: Two antibody tests are “highly specific” but vary in sensitivity, evaluations find https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2066