Royal Statistical Society launches pandemic task force

Founded by RSS president-elect, Sylvia Richardson, the task force aims to ensure that the RSS can contribute its expertise to UK national and devolved governments and public bodies, regarding statistical issues during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Richardson is chairing the group alongside RSS past president David Spiegelhalter, supported by a steering group. It will also work with a wider network of RSS members.

The group’s remit is to:

• Support the production of evidence-based analyses
• Emphasise the importance of statistical principles and best practice in relation to the analysis of observational data
• Contribute to the design of future data collection
• Increase public understanding of the statistical issues linked to Covid-19.