1 - The PM hailed the success of a new life-saving treatment for Covid-19
A cheap steroid was described by the Prime Minister as a major breakthrough with the drug raising hopes for the survival of thousands of the most seriously ill.
He said: “There is genuine cause to celebrate a great, British achievement and the benefits it will bring not just in this country but around the world.”
He could be right. Dexamethasone is cheap, available from any pharmacy, and easily obtainable anywhere in the world.
Investigators said the drug was responsible for the survival of one in eight of the sickest patient on ventilators in the “Recovery trial” which was one of the biggest randomised, controlled trial of coronavirus treatments in the world.
2 - Led by the science
Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said it was “the most important trial result for Covid-19 so far”, and “will save lives around the world”.
Professor Peter Horby, one of the chief investigators for the trial, described it as “an extremely welcome result”.
He said: “This is the only drug that has so far shown to reduce mortality, and it reduces it significantly. It is a major breakthrough, I think.”
But Whitty added a note of caution: “This doesn’t stop you catching the disease but reduces the deaths of those who are in hospital who require oxygen, or in ICU and require oxygen, and it’s a very important effect.
“Roughly one in eight who survive as a result of this, a very important effect, but certainly not an effect-size that would say therefore you don’t need to worry about the other measures to try and reduce the spread of this infection.”
3 - Humble pie on free school meals
Johnson revealed he had spoken to Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford to “congratulate him” on his campaign for free school meals over the summer, adding: “I thank him for what he’s done.”
He claimed only to have become aware of the campaign today, although Rashford’s plea had been rejected by Downing Street only yesterday.
Johnson added: “I do think it’s right that we should be looking after families of the most vulnerable and the neediest right now and that’s why we have got the Covid summer food plan, which we’ve announced today, and I hope it will make a big difference to those kids and those families.”
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