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John Edmunds

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Gender Male
Born Aberystwyth
United Kingdom
Job Actor
Journalist
Presenter
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Date of Upd.
ID1555049
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John Edmunds Life story


John Edmunds is a British academic who set up the Drama Department at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth where he was Head from 1973 to 1985. Edmunds trained as an actor but is best known as an ABC TV and Associated Rediffusion continuity announcer.

UK human swine flu case: Why now, and what's next?

UK human swine flu case: Why now, and what's next?
Dec 1,2023 7:41 pm

... Prof John Edmunds, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says it is right to be cautious: " Although these events usually result in viruses that struggle to transmit in their new hosts, there is always a danger that they can...

Covid inquiry: Sunak called Dr Death by top scientist

Covid inquiry: Sunak called Dr Death by top scientist
Oct 19,2023 1:51 pm

... Dame Angela, who co-chaired the influential SPI-M modelling group during the pandemic, was one of the attendees, along with her colleague Prof John Edmunds, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)...

Headlines: end of hibernation, as scientists are urging caution

Headlines: end of hibernation, as scientists are urging caution
Jun 24,2020 10:12 am

... quotes Professor John Edmunds, an epidemiologist who advises, Not 10, as I said, the new a-Meter-plus approach runs the risk of, so that the epidemic, to take the back foot ...

Coronavirus: UK records 77 deaths is the lowest since the lockdown began

Coronavirus: UK records 77 deaths is the lowest since the lockdown began
Jun 7,2020 10:49 pm

... Professor John Edmunds said there was a risk of the disease, when great Britain relaxed their guard ...

Coronavirus: Lockdown-delay 'cost a lot of lives, says science adviser

Coronavirus: Lockdown-delay 'cost a lot of lives, says science adviser
Jun 7,2020 4:41 pm

... But the Prof John Edmunds, said data available in the March was really very bad to do it very difficult ...

Headlines: Boris Johnson back, in the midst of 'lockdown dilemma

Headlines: Boris Johnson back, in the midst of 'lockdown dilemma
Apr 26,2020 12:53 am

... One of the scientists, the government, Prof John Edmunds, advise the audit says-and tracing-system would be overwhelmed if the measures have been raised now...

Coronavirus: Should be banned from outdoor exercise and Park closed?

Coronavirus: Should be banned from outdoor exercise and Park closed?
Apr 18,2020 8:37 pm

... Prof John Edmunds of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, explains, there were three ways that the virus can be transmitted: The first two of these ways would be to practically zero out-of-doors, he said...

Coronavirus super-spreaders: Why are they important?

Coronavirus super-spreaders: Why are they important?
Feb 16,2020 10:19 am

... John Edmunds of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says...

Covid inquiry: Sunak called Dr Death by top scientist

Feb 16,2020 10:19 am

By Jim ReedHealth reporter

The government's new chief scientific adviser described Rishi Sunak as " Dr Death, the Chancellor" in private messages sent during a crucial pandemic meeting, the Covid inquiry has heard.

Prof Dame Angela Mclean made The Comment in a WhatsApp exchange in September 2020.

The government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme had been running That Summer .

At The Time , there was fierce debate about the need for social-distancing measures to control The Virus .

On Sunday 20 September 2020, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson called a Zoom meeting of scientists to discuss the government's response to sharply rising Covid infections.

Dame Angela, who co-chaired the influential SPI-M modelling group during the pandemic, was one of the attendees, along with her colleague Prof John Edmunds , from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

'Still angry'

Then Chancellor Rishi Sunak also dialled in, along with senior Downing Street officials including Dominic Cummings , the government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty , and the then chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance .

On Thursday, the Covid inquiry was shown a private WhatsApp exchange between Dame Angela and Prof Edmunds, sent at The Time of The Meeting , which refers to Rishi Sunak as " Dr Death, the Chancellor".

Prof Edmunds told The Inquiry he was unable recall if that had been a specific reference to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which had subsidised food in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues over the summer, while Covid cases had been low.

But in earlier testimony to The Inquiry , He Said he was " still angry" about the policy.

" It was one thing to take your foot off the Brake - But to put your foot on the accelerator, " He Said .

'Epidemiological risk'

Prof Edmunds told The Inquiry 45,000 people had just died - and while the pub and restaurant sector needed support, the government could have just given them money.

" This Was a scheme to encourage people to take an epidemiological risk, " he added.

Asked about Prof Angela Mclean 's description of Mr Sunak as Dr Death and whether she should apologise, the PM's spokeswoman said he was allowing The Inquiry to continue and would not comment on individual points raised by it.

Naomi Fulop, spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, said the Eat Out to Help Out scheme contributed to The Loss of thousands of lives and put unnecessary pressure on the NHS.

" When our current chief scientific advisor has referred to our Prime Minister as 'Dr Death', how can any of us Have Faith in our government if another pandemic strikes? " She Said .

The Downing Street meeting had also involved scientists from what Sir Patrick Vallance described in an email as the " let it rip" brigade.

That included Carl Heneghan , a professor of evidence-based medicine at Oxford University, and his colleague Prof Sunetra Gupta - both of whom were critics of several lockdown-related measures.

In her WhatsApp exchange, Dame Angela uses an expletive to refer to an individual - Thought to be Prof Heneghan - and his evidence, to which Prof Edmunds replies: " Every statistic is wrong. "

'Brain dump' diary

Earlier in The Day The Inquiry chair, Baroness Hallett, ruled that only relevant extracts from informal diaries kept by Sir Patrick Vallance could be shown on screen and on The Inquiry website.

Lawyers for Sir Patrick had called for restrictions on full pages been displayed as this would breach his privacy rights.

Lady Hallett said it was " premature" to decide the issue now But she would monitor and review the issue after a challenge by media organisations including The Bbc .

The Inquiry itself is taking witness evidence in London until Christmas, before moving to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland .

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Source of news: bbc.com

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