The latest coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic from Research Professional News
World
The importance of pre-print papers to the research world has been laid bare by a study showing that they account for a quarter of all publications related to Covid-19.
The mobilisation of R&D to fight Covid-19 has outstripped the response to any infectious disease outbreak in history. Research Professional News has published a detailed report, Covid-19 Funding Trends, analysing patterns in research funding.
Africa
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention presented an ambitious vision for the continent to start producing its own vaccines during a two-day virtual conference this week.
South Africa has temporarily suspended its rollout of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine after reports from the United States of blood clot disorders in six of the more than six million Americans who have received it.
Africa will not vaccinate its population against Covid-19 by using “colonial structures”, one of the continent’s leading health researchers has warned.
Australia and New Zealand
Education minister Alan Tudge has urged universities to “rethink” their business model as he released a discussion paper on an international education strategy for Australia.
A “travel bubble” between Australia and New Zealand is set to restart stalled research collaborations between the two countries.
Europe
Many universities are turning to testing to get researchers and students back on campuses as national efforts to vaccinate citizens against Covid-19 run into problems across Europe.
More than half of Greek researchers surveyed reported experiencing mental strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a study that garnered more than 2,000 responses has found.
A potentially major obstacle has been thrown in front of the rollout of the EU’s planned €750 billion Covid-19 recovery fund for activities including R&D, in the form of a legal complaint against the debt plan underpinning the fund filed with Germany’s highest court.
Academic leaders at the annual meeting of the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators have called for greater unity between universities and increased sharing of best practices around the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
UK
An easing of coronavirus restrictions is likely to lead to a rise in case numbers, particularly in deprived areas, a group of scientists has warned.