This week’s coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic from Research Professional News
UK
A university bailout package announced by the government in the wake of the coronavirus crisis has been welcomed by research policy analysts.
The UK government has been told to “prepare for the worst” as researchers warn that a Covid-19 vaccine may not be available until next year.
Prospective Leicester students have been told there is “no need to rush” into making any decisions on transferring or switching universities during clearing as the city shuts for the UK’s first local lockdown.
There has been a decline in the proportion of students who are satisfied with the quality of online learning they are receiving from their universities in lieu of face-to-face lectures and seminars during the coronavirus outbreak.
Cancer Research UK is urging the Scottish government and health service providers to restart clinical trials put on hold as a result of coronavirus.
Europe
Germany has revealed the priorities for its six-month term as holder of the presidency of the Council of the EU, which began on 1 July, including looking to R&D and education to support the bloc as it recovers from Covid-19.
The European Institute for Innovation and Technology approved the distribution of €60 million among its Knowledge and Innovation Community networks, to support small companies trying to survive or combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
United States
Leading figures in the United States Congress have expressed “strong concerns” over the cancellation of a National Institutes of Health grant for research on bats and coronaviruses in China, raising suspicions of political interference.
Africa
There was never a chance that South Africa’s universities would complete the 2020 academic year by December given the disruptions wrought by the coronavirus lockdown, the head of South Africa’s universities umbrella organisation has said.
South Africa’s emergency budget, presented last week, will chop R764 million (US$44.7m) off money due to be spent via the National Research Foundation this financial year, according to government data.
The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership has announced the winning groups in a rapid Covid-19 funding call. The majority will be led by African institutions.
Australia
University art museums and galleries have been affected by Covid-19 lockdown measures but are not eligible for federal government support packages, an organisation that represents more than 20 collections across Australia has told a Senate inquiry.
World
Nearly $8.5 billion has been committed globally towards R&D for Covid-19 to date, according to an analysis by the non-profit Policy Cures Research. Yet, at the same time, the World Health Organization has highlighted a funding gap of $27.9bn for the global response to Covid-19, including $4.7bn for R&D.
An EU-led effort to make Covid-19 treatments and vaccines widely affordable worldwide has raised another €6.15 billion, of which €5.4bn came from within the EU.
The R360 million (US$21m) hit that South Africa’s contribution to the international Square Kilometre Array project took in an emergency budget will not threaten the project’s operations, its director said.