In science it is vital to consider the reputation and qualifications of the person publishing a finding.
Well yes...maybe ..be careful
One of our own very eminent Epidemologists from Imperial college in London ...no names mentioned predicted that 500,000 would die in the Uk with Covid...that was back in February/ March
He advised the "powers". and total lockdown was implemented
Now this very very eminent professor had for some years advised on such matters
2001 ......Foot and mouth ......150,000 will die in the Uk!
200 died and thousands of animals slaughtered
2002 ....BSE mad cow disease...oh the fun we had at home with that term!!!!
50,000 will die here
177 died and thousands of animals slaughtered
2005.......Bird flu....150 million will die globally!
282 died
2009 .......Swine flu....65,000 will die!
451 died
2020 ........Covid 19....500,000 in the Uk will die
The book is still open on this number
Now let's remember that this man is also a professor of mathematical biology who specialises in the patterns of spread of infectious diseases and has God only knows what letters after his name
And bearing in mind his history of predictions ..........how in heavens name was he ever consulted for such a serious pandemic is my question?
But then again, I'm just a simple Irish Cailin without an "ology" or an "ists " after my name and my language tends not to be too profound when I write or speak!
All I do know is that after working as a district nurse in various areas of London both ..affluent and deprived ....we as a group were aware of "trends" in diseases and conditions pertinent to certain areas ever before the scientists got involved.
We were just too busy and knackered to carry out the analysis ourselves.
Now someone above mentioned peer analysis....and so back to our very eminent professor!
This person influenced the"powers that be" re the Covid situation....
His advice was based on a 13 year old Imperial College undocumented model that was intended to be used for a flu epidemic as opposed to a coronavirus.......and most importantly......other scientists were refused access to these results or predictions that 500,000 would die of Covid in the UK and a long delay before his model was made available ....in May as far as I remember
Now......wait for it.........this very eminent professor was later discredited...not because of his many false predictions...........but that he allegedly broke lockdown
I guess you couldn't make it up!!
So just be aware that there are many "false prophets" with a lot of letters after their names .....and they're not always the ones on u tube either
Just saying!
PS....I got most of the statistics ..well all really from Google and Wikipedia!!!
Best wishes
Annette