Why can’t some scientists just admit they were wrong about Covid? | Devi Sridhar

Our understanding of the virus has changed so much. Yet some experts' doggedly cling to theories they proposed two years ago

• Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh

As Britain slowly emerges from the pandemic, after two bruising years, Covid camps are one of the lasting legacies. What I mean by Covid camps are people or groups with particular pandemic positions taken early on that they then continually reinforce by selectively sourcing information, eventually building a base of followers that organise around that position and defend it viciously.

It's unsurprising: similar camps developed around Brexit and other key issues. However, the emergence of scientists also dividing themselves into camps over Covid is more novel.

Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh

Join Devi Sridhar for a Guardian Live online event on Monday 25 April. She will talk to Nicola Davis about Covid-19 and the lessons we can learn from our handling of the pandemic. Book here