Explained By Prime Time

Does it feel like social distancing is a practice without end? If so, watch this. Our doctors and public health officials have a very specific goal in mind, and it's all to do with one particular number. As part of a new series of Explained by Prime Time focusing on COVID-19, Mark Coughlan and public health experts take you through what the 'r-nought' number is, why it matters, and what you can do to change it.

Numbers about COVID-19 are hitting us constantly these days. To know what to make of them, it's worth knowing the context to the testing process, and how the disease develops. Check out this video, which explains how the infections of today become the confirmed cases of the near future.

It's little more than 100 days since the world learned of the existence of an emerging virus. Now, across the world, scientists are working hour-by-hour to get us beyond our new day-to-day existence.

The coronavirus has weaknesses and right now, across the world, teams of scientists are working to exploit them. Hundreds of drugs and vaccines are being designed to beat COVID-19. Watch this to understand those weaknesses, and what the scientists are developing to win the war against the virus.

When it comes to the pandemic, the reasoning from NPHET is nearly always reliant on the now-infamous models. But what exactly will the modellers be looking at as they consider recommending tighter restrictions before we swing into the new year?