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During the summer, the government appointed a crown commission to assess the handling of the crown crisis by authorities and politicians.
However, the composition of the eight-member group was criticized by Göran K Hansson, permanent secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, who considered that there was a lack of sufficient medical competence among the members.
It is now clear that the Swedish Academy of Sciences is forming its own group of experts on covid-19.
– We think it is very important to collect the lessons that can be learned from this – about the virus, the immune system, protective measures – so that we can be better equipped next time, says Göran K Hansson.
He is careful to point out that should be considered a complement, not a competitor, of the government commission. Unlike them, the group of experts will not evaluate the handling of the pandemic by the government and authorities.
– We will focus on disease and medicine. We have brought some of the leading researchers and experts in the field to their feet. We are very happy about that, of course.
The group will be led by Staffan Normark, professor of molecular microbiology and infection control and former permanent secretary of the Academy of Sciences. Annika Linde, a former state epidemiologist with the National Institute of Public Health, is also part of the group.
– It is an exceptionally strong group and will be reinforced by a reference group where we don’t have all the names ready yet. Therefore, there will be additional experts to contribute, says Göran K Hansson.
Before the end of 2021, they must submit their final report.
At work they will meet research results from around the world.
– The virus is not national, the disease spreads throughout the world. Then there are certain aspects that are exclusively Swedish, of course. It is interesting to see the infection control measures that have been taken here and compare them with other countries. It is possible that it will.
During the corona pandemic, the public has gotten a glimpse of the sometimes tumultuous scientific process. The expert group from the Swedish Academy of Sciences is also tasked with deciding how researchers can best contribute to future crisis situations.
– You might think that the tone on both sides might have been a little lower at times, but having a different opinion is just healthy. It contributes to the progress of development – different perceptions, different hypotheses and different interpretations of the data are presented. Then you have to produce more facts, more science to finally arrive at a true picture of reality, says Göran K Hansson.
Read more:
Commission to review the crown crisis – led by a lawyer
Corona Commission receives criticism: “Lack of medical experience”
