PublicHealthMatters

Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus particle isolated from a UK case of the disease Covid-19. SARS-CoV-2. One of PHE’s core functions is disease surveillance; making sure we have the right information available to us at the right time to inform decisions and actions across the public health system. Surveillance involves gathering … Read more

( Thursday 23rd April – Saturday 23rd May) Places of worship will remain closed for the current time Staying at home during Ramadan will play an important part in the nation’s effort to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). That’s the message from health experts and Muslim leaders as communities across England prepare to celebrate … Read more

Dear everyone COVID-19 The adult social care system is one of the most important ways that the more than one million people in England who rely on social care every day are supported to stay safe and well, as independent as possible, and connected with families and friends. This is why it matters so much … Read more

Dear everyone COVID-19 I am delighted that PHE’s Professor John Newton has been appointed by the Secretary of State in a new role as the Government’s National Testing Coordinator. John will have a specific remit to advise ministers on how best to drive forward the Government’s strategy which seeks to bring together the capacity of public … Read more

I love my job. For ten years I have worked at Public Health England (PHE) and its predecessor, the Health Protection Agency, responding to major public health emergencies including the ebola outbreak and the Novichok poisoning. There is nothing more fascinating than taking scientific advice, converting it into practical action, and encouraging the public to … Read more

Dear everyone COVID-19 Ensuring that frontline clinicians are safe is crucially important and the PPE guidance, jointly developed with the NHS and the devolved administrations, is kept under constant review and there will be a further communication on this shortly. There are around 1.5 million people who face the highest risk from coronavirus. These are extremely … Read more

Dear everyone COVID-19: Whatever it takes We are in truly unprecedented times and now more than ever the country needs the expertise, skill and professionalism of the public health community. The radical social distancing measures set out by the Prime Minister this week require a herculean effort from all of us. We all need to … Read more

Dear everyone COVID-19 Critical in our response to the COVID-19 outbreak is not only what we do, but when we do it. Taking the right combination of steps at the right time based on scientific evidence is important for many reasons, most notably in ensuring that they have as positive an impact as possible and … Read more

Dear everyone COVID-19 We are saddened to hear about the first death linked to coronavirus in the UK, and our thoughts and sympathies are with their family and friends at this difficult time. The numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in England continue to rise and, as explained in the UK coronavirus action plan published on … Read more

Vaping is not risk free but is far less harmful than smoking. Our advice remains that people who smoke are better to switch completely to vaping but if you have never been a smoker, don’t start to vape. This blog, published to coincide with PHE’s latest independent evidence report, looks at some of the most … Read more