Without answers scientists theorize that social control like lockdowns is suddenly and simultaneously dramatically reducing cases at last.
For journalists, scientists and politicians, “sorry” isn’t always the hardest word. Sometimes, it’s “we don’t know”.
And that’s the position that most are in right now, analysing the seemingly hopeful Covid-19 trends emerging across the globe.
For six consecutive weeks, the number of new Covid-19 cases globally have fallen. According to the World Health Organization, cases fell by 11 per cent this week, and deaths by 20 per cent. It’s the first time since the pandemic began more than a year ago that there has been such a sustained drop.
But the big question is: why? …
Professor Martin McKee, professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that while no-one is totally sure what is driving the fall in cases, it is clear that lockdowns and other “non-pharmaceutical interventions” or NPIs, like face masks, are making a huge difference.