Prof Shabir Madhi-Professor of Vaccinology, and Director of the MRC Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit at University of the WitwatersrandWits.

Prof Madhi has recently co-authored a number of articles about South Africa’s route out of lock down. So we chatted about how this might look. He emphasised the need for people to observe distancing protocols in order to slow the rate of corona virus infection.

We chatted about the changing understanding of how corona virus acts on people. We also discussed the reasons behind the lock down and how some of these reason are no longer valid according to Shabir. Another issue we touched on  is  the spread of corona virus via asymptomatic carriers.

Shabir is also concerned that many decisions taken by government have not been based on science. 

We also discussed the global bun-fight around developing a vaccine. It is clear that we will have to live with corona virus as best we can until a vaccine is available and this process might take years.

Read Shabir's latest article about South Africa's COVID-19 strategy here.