Covid-19 Intelligence Series: Data collection, collation and communication

This paper summarises the role and limits of science in terms of determining what the best course of action is with regard to managing Covid-19 and highlights and what is currently known about the risk factors. The controversies around national death rates are considered and the importance of timely, accurate information collection highlighted. The paper also highlights the current suspension of reporting of the majority of NHS statistics (such as cancer, elective and unscheduled care wait times) and calls for these to be resumed with immediate effect.