Taking part in the @WHO @rd_blueprint Global Research & Innovation Forum today. Here's a comment from @DrMikeRyan: "Countries w/ govts that communicate complex science directly to the public, & use science as a basis for control, have had much better success fighting COVID-19"

. @WHO Director General @DrTedros gives his opening comments: "At our 1st @rd_blueprint mtg in Feb. we knew so little about COVID-19. We need to continue working hard on the science behind this disease through these working groups to defeat the pandemic"

. @Dr_Wildlife from @EcoHealthNYC reports on the Animal-Human link in COVID emergence. "The animal trade & consumption pathway needs more attention - not just wildlife trade, but also livestock and fur farming"

.."We have evidence of substantial spillover of bat-origin CoVs to people prior to COVID"

"There's also potential that people could introduce SARS-CoV-2 into new reservoirs around the world, e.g. bats in Europe, Americas"

"We need to remember that bats are important and work with communities to educate people on how to Live Safely w/ Bats!" this is a document that @EcoHealthNYC produced w/ Predict funding from @USAIDGH. You can download it here: https://www.ecohealthalliance.org/living-safely-with-bats

Targeted surveillance of high-risk groups working with wildlife/livestock is critical right now.

Interesting point from @MarionKoopmans "We have to be careful not to over-interpret results when some of the studies are meta-analyses of data from preprint papers that are not all peer-reviewed yet."

Tough Q for @Dr_Wildlife on how SARS-CoV-2 emerged. "There are few places w/out bats. We come into contact w/ them everyday, so we're exposed to these viruses frequently. We can identify communities at risk, but we may never know the 1st person infected..the index case for COVID"

John Conly from @UCalgaryMed re-confirming that "Masks significantly reduce risk of COVID transmission"

..and May Chu explaining the scientific research that gives confidence that home made masks work in protecting against COVID

Nina Gobat discusses social science research to underpin decisions on combating COVID. "Urgent need for evidence-based psychsocial interventions for underserved groups"

...adds in response to a Q. that research on how social media has targeted healthcare workers & researchers during the pandemic is critically needed.

Up now at @rd_blueprint @WHO mtg, @michaeljacobs chairs session on Therapeutic trials w/ new data & analysis.

. @jonathanasterne discusses some of the trials going on using corticosteroid therapeutics

Richard Peto now discussing trial results on the following drugs:

Lopinavir (an HIV/AIDS drug) had no significant effect on COVID-19, neither beneficial nor significantly deleterious. Hydroxychloroquine "of no material value" in treating COVID (Solidarity & Recovery Trials), but no evidence of adverse effects.

Sir Peto comments that progress is "Disappointing because I'd hoped there would be a dozen or more trials ongoing at this point".