Gentler ventilation techniques helping boost Covid survival, doctors say

A drop in use of mechanical ventilators may have had a positive impact on Covid-19 survival rates (Royal Papworth Hospital/PA)

Doctors’ haste to mechanically ventilate Covid-19 patients at the start of the pandemic could have contributed to the higher rate of death in spring compared to now, a senior medic has said.

At the start of the pandemic, just 66% of people in hospital with coronavirus survived, compared to 84% in August.