In this week's Talk Evidence we're hearing about how the death rate has dropped below average, disappointment about HIV drugs for covid-19 treatment, a trial to reduce polypharmacy, and why academic promotions matter to everyone else.

1.35 - Carl gives us one of his death updates

3.30 - Helen asks if it’s finally time to be able to do the international comparisons we’ve been waiting for?

16.10 - New research suggests that extreme PPE prevents transmission - but PPE came with a whole range of other viral suppression measures, and they all work together.

21.30 - The Recovery trial has said that  lopinavir-ritonavir isn’t effective against covid - enough for them to stop the arm of that trial. We talk about this and more treatment evidence.

24.00 - Can a digital intervention reduce poly pharmacy? A new trial on bmj.com says no, but we talk about the composite endpoint and the way the trial is powered.