Progress or decline of the Covid-19 epidemic is assessed by the R0 value, the average number of people infected by one infected person. Values known so far are: China (Wuhan) 0.1, Germany 0.7, Italy 0.8. A new generation of infected people according to the R0 value will appear roughly every week. The very small value from Wuhan indicates a rapid extinction of the virus to the point at which containment can be reasserted and any sporadic outbreaks suppressed. With its R0 around 0.8 Italy has only managed to halve the number of disease cases in the four weeks after the peak of infections.

The Governing Body of Berkshire West CCG will meet in public at 9.30-12.30 on Tuesday, 10th March 2020 at 57-59, Bath Road, Reading RG30 2BA. You can register online to attend here. Registration closes at 12 noon the day before the meeting. You are invited to submit questions relating to the agenda before a meeting takes place. To allow time to respond, we would ask that questions are submitted, no later than three working days in advance.

Reading's Health and Wellbeing Board meets at 2pm on Friday 13th March 2020 in the Civic Offices at Bridge Street, Reading. Questions should be submitted about 2 weeks in advance to Nicky.Simpson@reading.gov.uk .

This meeting has been cancelled, according to Government advice, due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Berkshire West Primary Care Commissioning Committee meets at 1pm - 4pm on Wedesday 8th April 2020 at 57-59 Bath Road, Reading RG30 2BA. You can register here online to attend, registration closes at 12 noon the day before the meeting. The deadline for submitting questions, relating to the agenda for the Committee to consider, is 5pm three days before the meeting.