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John Bell - Regius Prof at Oxford - asked today at the scientific committee whether the difference in no. of deaths across countries can be attributed to some extent to differences in testing, contact tracing. He says no - he thinks some countries were 'just lucky'. 1/N
This is one of the reasons we're in this mess. Apart from the failures of govt, there has been extremely blinkered thinking across senior academics- a blindness to empirical data coming in from across the globe. 2/N
It's a particular type of scientist- senior white male academics who have repeatedly resisted learning lessons from other countries. It's very clear that govt responses across the globe correlate with epidemic trajectories. 3/N
Those who cannot see this at this stage don't deserve to call themselves scientists, far less to give evidence to parliamentary committees. On being pushed further, he says 'there may be differences in immunity', but he doesn't want to say any more as there's 'no evidence'.
So he's happy to hypothesise about differences in immunity across countries that there is absolutely no evidence for, rather than even consider that these differences could actually be due to differences in public health strategies, something there is ample evidence for.
I really despair, that people like this are in any way advising the govt or parliament. There are amazing scientists out there who aren't blinkered in their thinking. They may not be Regius profs at Oxford, but are rigorous in scientific process & thinking - reach out to them.
Can't believe anyone at this point entertains that differences observed in deaths across the globe are down to 'luck'. 
We really need a rehaul of the academic system of the UK. Please let's have more diversity, because the current system is literally killing us.
We really need a rehaul of the academic system of the UK. Please let's have more diversity, because the current system is literally killing us.
