30th Nov 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=150 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Funding shortfalls and disruptions to treatment in subSaharan Africa as a result of the COVID19 pandemic risk tens of thousands more lives being lost to malaria the World Health Organization WHO warned in its annual report on the mosquitoborne disease on Monday. The UNs health agency said it was concerned that even moderate disruptions in access to treatment could lead to a considerable loss of life. A 10percent disruption in access to effective antimalarial treatment in subSaharan Africa could lead to 19000 additional deaths the report found. That number rose to 46000 with a 25percent disruption in access and 100000 at 50percent disruption. Progress has stalled said Dr Matshidiso Moeti WHO Regional Director for Africa. COVID19 threatens to further derail our efforts to overcome malaria particularly treating people with the disease. Despite the devastating impact COVID19 has had on African economies international partners and countries need to do more to ensure that the resources are there to expand malaria programmes which are making such a difference in peoples lives. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/30/malaria-gains-at-risk-from-covid-19-pandemic-who 29th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK South Korean authorities announced a ban on yearend parties and some music lessons on Sunday and said public saunas and some cafes must also close after coronavirus infections surged at their fastest pace since the early days of the pandemic. South Korea has been one of the worlds coronavirus mitigation success stories but spikes in infections have reappeared relentlessly triggering alarm in Asias fourthlargest economy. Authorities reported 450 new infections on Sunday after more than 500 cases were recorded for three days in a row the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. What authorities are calling a third wave of infections is spreading at the fastest rate in nearly nine months driven by outbreaks at military facilities a sauna a high school and churches. https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN289027 30th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Britain is at risk of suffering a third wave of coronavirus infections if it does not get the approach to lockdown restrictions right in the coming weeks foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday. Theres a risk of that if we dont get the balance right Raab told the BBC when asked about a possible third wave resurgence of cases in January and February. He said the government was doing everything it could to avoid another national lockdown. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-raab/raab-there-is-a-risk-of-third-coronavirus-wave-idUKKBN2890B6 30th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian A casual contact of a Covid19 case is among two people newly diagnosed with coronavirus in South Australia while New South Wales has announced eight new cases all in hotel quarantine. Meanwhile the ACT has recorded one new case in a returned traveller and Victoria has surpassed the benchmark for eliminating coronavirus recording a 29th straight day without a single new infection. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/28/south-australia-and-nsw-record-new-covid-19-cases-as-victoria-passes-elimination-benchmark 28th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

FRANCE 24 France and other parts of Europe reopen nonessential stores on Saturday in time for the holiday season after progress in containing the coronavirus pandemic. Most countries hope to ease their virus rules for Christmas and New Year allowing families a respite before bracing for what the world hopes is one last wave of restrictions until a clutch of promising new vaccines kick in. Stores selling nonessential goods will lift their shutters in France on Saturday though bars and restaurants will remain shut until early next year. https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20201128-more-shops-open-as-france-starts-easing-virus-lockdown-measures 28th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Queues formed outside hairdressers shops and department stores sold gifts and Christmas decorations on Saturday as France partially reopened after a monthlong lockdown. Shops selling nonessential goods such as shoes clothes and toys reopened in the first easing of national restrictions since 30 October. Bars and restaurants remain closed until 20 January. As a condition for reopening the government reduced the number of people allowed in shops. Many small business owners complained it was hard to operate under the new rules https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/28/shops-reopen-in-france-as-national-lockdown-eases 28th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

Byline Times Australia is on the verge of eliminating the Coronavirus now that the epicentre of its second wave Melbourne has recorded its twentyeighth consecutive day of no new cases. It is a milestone epidemiologists say signals the elimination of COVID19 in the community leaving the city of five million residents now without a single active case. The land of Down Under has become the worlds benchmark for managing the pandemic following the science placing faith in bona fide public health experts and rejecting the kind of unthinking knownothing rightwing populism pushed by Rupert Murdochemployed pundits in the media and members of the countrys rightwing Government the Liberal Party. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/11/27/how-dictator-dan-defied-a-dangerous-murdoch-media-and-led-australia-to-covid-victory/ 28th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK People eager to get a haircut stood in line outside barber shops and department stores selling gifts and Christmas decorations were busy on Saturday as France partially reopened following a monthlong lockdown. Shops selling nonessential goods such as shoes clothes and toys reopened in the first easing of a nationwide lockdown that started on Oct. 30 and will remain in place until Dec. 15. Bars and restaurants remain closed till Jan. 20 https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-shops/queues-at-barber-shops-as-france-eases-coronavirus-lockdown-idUKKBN2880GJ 28th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times The latest data firmly establishes Indias position among the worstperforming major economies despite government spending meant to blunt the pandemics impact. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/business/economy/india-economy-covid-19.html 27th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

Financial Times Indias economy contracted 7.5 per cent yearonyear in the quarter ending September taking it into a technical recession as strict lockdown measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic continued to weigh on output. The performance was better than many analysts had forecast but still reflected the heavy blow the pandemic has delivered to what was recently the worlds fastestgrowing large economy. Indias output contracted by a record 24 per cent yearonyear in the April to June quarter when much of the economy was shuttered by a strict lockdown but activity has since picked up somewhat after businesses and industry were allowed to reopen. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. https://www.ft.com/content/33659ed3-cf15-4e93-9128-727d24759225 27th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters The Italian government will ease antiCOVID restrictions in five regions from Sunday including in the countrys richest and most populous region Lombardy the Health Ministry said. Lombardy Piedmont and Calabria will be downgraded from red to orange zones while Sicily and Liguria will drop from the orange to the yellow zone which has least restrictions. Fridays decision follows a gradual decline in hospitalisations from coronavirus in much of Italy over the past week with the number of new cases also retreating from highs seen earlier this month. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-regions-idUKKBN2872C6 28th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

bnnbloomberg Italys government will ease restrictions for financial capital Milan and for industrial hub Turin starting on November 29 following a steady reduction in the number of coronavirus cases. Health minister Roberto Speranza signed a new order Friday which will allow more movement and economic activities in five Italian regions according to a statement. Italy has to date avoided imposing a second full nationwide lockdown arguing its fragile economy must be shielded from another body blow following a strict threemonth shutdown last spring. Instead the government of Giuseppe Conte has opted for a threetier system that sets varying limitations by region. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/italy-eases-restrictions-for-milan-turin-with-outbreak-slowing-1.1528652 28th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Austria should expect further heavy restrictions when its current lockdown measures expire in just over a week Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told Austrian paper Kleine Zeitung. Austrias nationwide lockdown is due to be lifted on Dec. 7 but it is not yet clear what that will mean for the ski industry cornerstone of a tourism sector which accounts for some 15 of economic output or overall life in Austria. Speaking to Kleine Zeitung Kurz said Austrians would need to contend with further restrictions for weeks and months adding new measures to be announced on Wednesday depended on COVID19 case developments. https://uk.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idUKKBN2890C6 29th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail A leading travel industry association is developing a digital passport for international plane passengers who have been vaccinated for COVID19. The International Air Transport Association IATA said Saturday that it is in the final phase of developing the infrastructure for the passport which could become an essential component in rebuilding the shattered tourism industry. Testing is the first key to enable international travel without quarantine measures. The second key is the global information infrastructure needed to securely manage share and verify test data matched with traveler identities in compliance with border control requirements Alexandre de Juniac IATA CEO said https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8996725/Vaccination-passport-tourists-COVID-19-shot-development.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline 28th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Nadhim Zahawi a minister for business and industry has been placed in charge of overseeing the deployment of the Covid19 vaccine Downing Street has announced. No 10 said the StratfordonAvon MP would take on the role until at least next summer. Zahari will temporarily relinquish responsibility for most areas of his brief at the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy. Under the interim arrangement he will serve as a joint minister between BEIS and the Department for Health and Social Care. Hospitals in England have been told to prepare for the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine in as little as nine days time with NHS workers expected to be the first to receive the jab. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/28/nadhim-zahawi-appointed-minister-in-charge-of-covid-19-vaccine-rollout 28th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian It will have to be Emmanuel Macron said this week a Christmas not like others. Across Europe governments are grappling with the same question how to allow a little muchneeded seasonal celebration without further fuelling the pandemic Some countries have yet to announce their plans but several have already said tight restrictions can be eased for a short time over the festive period providing people are responsible and prepared to put up with tight measures before and after. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/27/christmas-not-like-others-europe-wrestles-festive-covid-rules 28th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

The Independent In England the government is reportedly considering plans to allow towns and villages to be decoupled from nearby coronavirus hotspots. Rural areas with low levels of Covid19 infections could be removed from the tier 2 and 3 restrictions they were placed under because of their proximity to cities with high numbers of cases The Daily Telegraph reports. The tier system of restrictions is expected to remain in place for several months in an attempt to drive down the rate at which the virus is spreading throughout England. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-tier-system-towns-villages-decoupled-b1763084.html 28th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters Ireland will allow shops restaurants gyms and pubs serving food to reopen next week and permit travel between counties from Dec. 18 to facilitate a different but special Christmas Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on Friday. Ireland became one of first European countries to reimpose tough COVID19 constraints six weeks ago when the government shut nonessential retail and limited pubs and restaurants to takeaway service under its highest level of restrictions. From Tuesday however the economy will begin to be one of the most open across Europe after a sharp cut in the 14day incidence rate per 100000 people to below 100 behind only Finland and Iceland across the continent. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-ireland/ireland-to-lift-covid-19-curbs-ahead-of-many-european-countries-idUSKBN2872E0 28th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters U.S. health authorities will hold an emergency meeting next week to recommend that a coronavirus vaccine awaiting approval be given first to healthcare professionals and people in longterm care facilities. The meeting announced on Friday by a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC committee on immunizations suggests that the Food and Drug Administration FDA may be close to authorizing distribution of the longawaited medication at least to those considered most vulnerable. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-usa/us-vaccine-plans-take-shape-but-no-let-up-on-restrictions-idUSKBN28728Z 28th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

The Times Concerns have been raised about the risk of disruption to supplies of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine and added costs after the drugs company shut a cold storage facility in the south of England ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period next month. Britain has ordered 40 million doses of the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech its German partner which unveiled breakthrough interim results from a latestage trial this month. Operations at a Pfizer vaccine packaging and distribution plant in Havant have been winding down before a transfer to a manufacturing site at Puurs in Belgium in October https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mps-raise-concerns-over-vaccine-supply-after-pfizer-shuts-cold-storage-site-7pv57ztrr 28th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Boris Johnson has agreed to publish the health economic and social data behind Englands new tier system later as he seeks to avert a Commons rebellion. MPs will vote on the measures on Tuesday and numerous Conservative MPs have demanded to see the data the government is basing its new system on. Writing to members of the Covid Research Group of MPs who are sceptical of the new rules Mr Johnson asked them to show unity and resolve. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55125712 30th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters Police in London said on Saturday that they had made 155 arrests as they tried to break up antilockdown and antivaccine protests. The police said the arrests had been made for different offences including assaulting a police officer possession of drugs and breaching coronavirus restrictions. Englands current lockdown ends on Dec. 2. Earlier police lined up in a number of streets in central Londons West End shopping district and confronted crowds of protesters in St Jamess Park near Westminster. The antilockdown protesters were joined by groups who oppose a COVID19 vaccine. One police officer estimated the protesters who held up signs saying Defend Freedom Defend Humanity No more lies no more masks no more lockdowns numbered between 300 and 400. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-protests/uk-police-arrest-over-60-in-anti-lockdown-protests-idUSKBN2880KY 29th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Central London descended into anarchy today as riot police arrested 155 angry antilockdown demonstrators as thousands took to the streets and booed officers while chanting shame on you. Dozens of violent antilockdown activists clashed with police while thousands more gathered in the capital amid growing discontent with the governments new tier system to be introduced on December 2. Up to 100 Tory backbenchers are threatening to rebel against Boris Johnsons draconian new tier regime next week. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8995941/amp/Coronavirus-UK-Anti-lockdown-protestor-bursts-tears-police-arrest-him.html 28th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian More than 150 people have been arrested as antilockdown protesters clashed with police in central London after officers sought to break up the demonstration. The Metropolitan police said 155 arrests were made for offences including breaching coronavirus regulations assaulting a police officer and possession of drugs. In often chaotic scenes hundreds of demonstrators including a man dressed as Santa Claus descended on the city centre on Saturday afternoon chanting freedom and causing traffic disruption. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/28/met-police-anti-lockdown-protest-london 28th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

MSN.com As Liverpool was placed in Tier three and then the second UKwide lockdown came into force on November 5 demonstrators opposed to restrictions marched through the city in defiance of the lockdown. Preprepared banners and live streaming on social media platforms like YouTube revealed well coordinated operations planned in advance that targeted specific gathering points in the city. But the protests were not just confined to Liverpool as similar organised demonstrations in London Manchester Bournemouth and Bristol have taken place. The UKwide protests are being organised in advance and coordinated through a secure messaging service called Telegram. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsliverpool/how-anti-lockdown-protests-are-being-organised-using-encrypted-secret-messaging-service/ar-BB1br4Ey 28th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent Piers Corbyn is to stand trial on charges that he violated the rules of the first coronavirus lockdown by attending two antishutdown protests in London in May. The former Labour Party leaders brother will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday. Mr Corbyn has denied the charges and says his defence is his right to freedom of expression and protest. He also faces fresh criminal charges that are listed for a case management hearing on Friday afternoon alongside his impending trial. These charges relate to an antilockdown protest held in Leicester Square on 5 November the first day of Englands second national shutdown and the date of the annual Million Mask March. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-piers-corbyn-lockdown-trial-latest-b1762571.html 28th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian When the factcheckers tried to find the source of a viral photo that was spreading across Facebook they were confused. The picture which had been uploaded by users in the UK US Australia and elsewhere in the world showed a headline that made the false claim that a US government agency had declared Covid19 did not exist. It appeared to be from a real print newspaper but no credible outlet would publish such a claim. It turned out the headline was from a new selfpublished conspiracy theorist truthpaper called the Light edited by a man from Manchester who runs a business selling antivaccine Tshirts and 911 conspiracy merchandise. The outlet which has published three issues since it first appeared in September draws heavily on the gloop of longrunning online conspiracies about a new world order which have attached themselves to the current pandemic. Among other things it encourages people to stop wearing masks and disobey lockdown on the basis that the coronavirus is a hoax. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/27/truthpaper-the-anti-lockdown-newspaper-bypassing-online-fact-checkers 28th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

Wired UK The UKs hospitality industry is not happy with the new Covid19 plan to be adopted from December 2 in England. On the opposite end of the debate academics and doctors have expressed reservations about pubs being allowed to reopen at all. Neil Ferguson an Imperial College epidemiologist and former government adviser suggested that the decision might lead to a rise in infection levels. The decision to reopen pubs on July 4 was taken after a datacrunching tool built by British artificial intelligence firm Faculty flagged up that large numbers of pubs risked going out of business due to the lockdown restrictions according to Facultys chief operating officer Richard Sargeant. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/pubs-open-tier-2-lockdown?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter&amputm_campaign=SocialFlow 27th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC Coronavirus infections in England have fallen by about a third over lockdown according to a major study. Some of the worsthit areas saw the biggest improvements but despite this progress cases remained high across England. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the data showed the country could not take our foot off the pedal just yet. The findings by Imperial College London were based on swabbing more than 100000 people between 1324 November. The React1 study is highly respected and gives us the most uptodate picture of Covid19 in the country. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55124286 30th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Frances State Council the countrys highest court on Sunday ordered the government to review a law limiting the number of people in churches during religious services to 30. The Council said in a statement that the measure was not proportionate to coronavirus infection risks. Last week the government announced that a nationwide lockdown in place since Oct. 30 would be unwound in phases. https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-religion/france-must-review-covid-19-crowd-limits-on-church-attendance-idUSKBN2890C9 29th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC Covid tiers large parts of England in tier 3 restrictions after lockdownThe GuardianUK Lockdown to end on Dec. 2 says PM Boris JohnsonAnadolu AgencyCovid19 tiers Almost all of England facing tough virus rulesBritain to detail postlockdown restrictions in EnglandReutersView Full coverage on Google News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55103165 28th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC Hospitals in England could become overwhelmed with Covid cases if MPs do not back new restrictions Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has said. Many Tory MPs oppose the tougher tier system which begins on 2 December. But writing in the Times Mr Gove said MPs who will vote on the measures next week need to take responsibility for difficult decisions. Labour is yet to decide whether it will support the new restrictions. It has warned however that areas in tier three will be stretched to breaking point without further financial support from the Treasury. It comes as a further 479 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported in the UK bringing the total to 58030. There were also a further 15871 positive cases registered in the past 24 hours. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55112078 28th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

New York Daily News on MSN.com More than 1 million people across Germany have been infected with coronavirus officials revealed on Friday. The Robert Koch Institute the countrys disease control center said 22806 cases were reported the previous day across the nations 16 states bringing the total number of reported infections to 1006394. The grim milestone was announced the same day officials revealed Germany had recorded its second consecutive record daily death toll overnight. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/germany-hits-1-million-covid-cases-as-lockdown-rules-are-extended/ar-BB1bqdFw 28th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

DW (English) Uwe Janssens president of the German Interdisciplinary Association of Critical Care and Emergency Medicine told DW on Friday that easing lockdown restrictions would put a huge strain on the health care system. We currently have infection rates above 20000 per day Janssens explained. And although we have a lot of intensive care beds in Germany there is a great strain on the intensive care units at the moment. This week Germany announced an extension of lockdown measures until December 20. But restrictions are expected to loosen over Christmas allowing more family members to meet. We understand that people will meet together but we really think it is not a good idea to allow 10 people to come together Janssens said citing the number that Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned in her announcement of the way forward on Wednesday. https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-germany-should-not-ease-lockdown-over-christmas-says-top-doctor/a-55751600 28th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Japan Times No country has been spared the coronavirus epidemic nor the scourge of domestic violence which has surged during lockdowns. From a spike in rapes in Nigeria and South Africa increased numbers of women missing in Peru higher rates of women being killed in Brazil and Mexico and overwhelmed associations in Europe the pandemic has aggravated the plague of sexual violence. According to UN data released in late September lockdowns have led to increases in complaints or calls to report domestic abuse of 25 in Argentina 30 in Cyprus and France and 33 in Singapore. In essentially all countries measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus have resulted in woman and children being confined at home. The house is the most dangerous place for women Moroccan associations noted in April as they pressed authorities for an emergency response. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/11/28/world/social-issues-world/pandemic-violence-against-women/ 28th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Lithuania on Wednesday extended its coronavirus lockdown until Dec. 17 when the new government is expected to take over. The outgoing government said the lockdown had stabilised new infections at about 11000 per week twice as high as during the week of Nov. 4 when the threeweek lockdown was announced. The spread has slowed somewhat but the situation remains really serious Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga said during a televised cabinet session. https://in.reuters.com/article/healthcare-coronavirus-lithuania-idINKBN2851P4 28th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Germanys partial lockdown measures could be extended until early Spring if infections are not brought under control Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said in a newspaper interview published on Saturday. Altmaier told Die Welt it was not possible to give the allclear while there were incidences of more than 50 infections per 100000 inhabitants in large parts of Germany. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany/german-minister-says-partial-lockdown-could-last-until-spring-2021-idUKKBN2880A1 28th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Times of India The Maharashtra government on Friday extended the lockdown on account of coronavirus in the state till the midnight of December 31 2020 an official release said. In the last couple months the government has eased several lockdown restrictions https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-existing-lockdown-restrictions-extended-till-dec-31/articleshow/79449802.cms 27th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera A Singaporean woman who was pregnant when she was infected with coronavirus in March has reportedly given birth to a baby with antibodies against the disease offering a new clue as to whether the infection can be transferred from mother to child. The baby who was was born this month does not have COVID19 but has the virus antibodies the Straits Times newspaper reported on Sunday citing the mother. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/29/singaporean-mother-gives-birth-to-baby-with-covid-19-antibodies 30th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK In the current environment careful communication is critical. As many as 40 of Americans are unwilling to take a Covid19 vaccine according to an October Gallup poll. Although drug giants have vowed not to profit from coronavirus jabs during the pandemic the speed of the vaccine rollouts itself breeds wariness. Things will get even more awkward if AstraZenecas new review finds its vaccine is less useful than assumed. Investors will be watching too. AstraZenecas shares have fallen nearly 5 since it revealed its results on Monday. Big Pharma valuations are based on the ability to deliver new blockbuster drugs and developing a track record for delivering on your pledges is an integral part of the mix. AstraZeneca should bear that in mind when it gets the results of its latest review back. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-breaki/breakingviews-astrazenecas-messaging-warrants-a-review-too-idUKKBN28714L 30th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK Britain has secured two million doses of Moderna Incs COVID19 vaccine candidate to be available in Europe as early as the spring the government said on Sunday in addition to the 5 million doses it secured from the U.S. company two weeks ago. The new deal came a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson named Nadhim Zahawi a junior business minister to be minister responsible for the deployment of COVID19 vaccines. Britain now has access to enough doses of Modernas vaccine candidate for around 3.5 million people. Overall it has access to 357 million doses of vaccines from seven developers according to government statement. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-vaccine/uk-secures-two-million-more-doses-of-modernas-covid-19-vaccine-idUKKBN28903M 29th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Independent A panel of U.S. advisers will meet Tuesday to vote on how scarce initial supplies of a COVID19 vaccine will be given out once one has been approved. Experts have proposed giving the vaccine to health workers first. High priority also may be given to workers in essential industries people with certain medical conditions and people age 65 and older. Tuesdays meeting is for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices a group established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The panel of experts recommends who to vaccinate and when advice that the government almost always follows. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have asked the Food and Drug Administration to allow emergency use of its COVID19 vaccine candidate. Moderna Inc. is expected to also seek emergency use of its vaccine soon. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/cdc-panel-meets-tuesday-to-vote-on-covid19-vaccine-priority-panel-panel-atlanta-ap-cdc-b1763098.html 28th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Financial Times The UK is poised to become the first western country to approve a Covid19 vaccine with the independent regulator set to grant approval within days. Deliveries of the vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer would begin within hours of the authorisation according to government officials. The first injections could take place from December 7. The UK has ordered 40m doses of the twoshot product which preliminary data found to be more than 95 per cent effective in preventing disease. Vaccines would normally be authorised by the European Medicines Agency until the end of the Brexit transition on December 31. However the UKs Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has the power to temporarily authorise products in cases of urgent public need. https://www.ft.com/content/ebd9ca50-c2d7-4b0e-afd5-e90e93c0c495 28th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Pulse After the toughest year ever for general practice Nicola Merrifield reflects on how GPs have stood up to be counted. This years battle with Covid19 has meant GPs have had to be more dedicated and adaptable than ever. They have taken on new ways of remote working and run outdoor or socially distanced clinics often with smaller teams due to staff selfisolating. There has also been a monumental effort to maintain normal services as far as possible at a time when GP numbers continue to fall down by 1.2 on last year with 334 fewer fulltimeequivalent GPs in England according to the latest official NHS data from September. https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/analysis/coronavirus/gps-step-up-in-2020-to-tackle-covid-19/ 28th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail SPIMO group warned of massive surges in infections as a result of Christmas This would be because people will mix with those they would not normally see Britons will be able to meet with others from up to three different households https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8993883/SAGEs-gloomy-Xmas-warning-doubling-infections-five-days.html 28th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN In the days since Oxford University and AstraZeneca unveiled the results of the partnerships Phase 3 Covid19 vaccine trials a growing number of questions have emerged. The stated 70 average efficacy was significantly lower than the 94.5 to 95 reported by the other two leading candidates Moderna and Pfizer. Yet this vaccine could still prove to be more valuable for the world than the other two in the coming months. If the questions over its results are answered and it receives approval it may lead the way in providing vaccine coverage in poorer countries where it is urgently needed. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/28/health/oxford-astrazeneca-vaccines-developing-countries-intl/index.html 28th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC Rapid Covid tests will be introduced in an area previously dropped from the mass testing programme. Redcar Council has received 10000 lateral flow tests which are able to produce results in under half an hour. A pilot to offer tests to Redcars 36000 residents did not go ahead and now the authority is in talks over the cost of reintroducing it. Councillor Steve Kay said the 10000 rapid tests would help protect the most vulnerable. All councils in the Tees Valley have been offered the opportunity for residents to take part in mass testing. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-55114623 28th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC Mass testing plans in England threaten to be a distraction from other priorities such as the rollout of a vaccine health leaders have warned. The PM has said mass community testing as seen in Liverpool will be offered to all areas in tier three after lockdown ends. But experts have questioned whether this is possible due to the enormous resources it requires. The government said it will work with local authorities to support plans. In a joint statement the Faculty of Public Health and the Association of Directors of Public Health said improving NHS Test and Trace must remain the top focus for testing. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55108612 28th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail A participant in Pfizers coronavirus vaccine trials told Business Insider that the firm did not monitor the participants behavior if they didnt feel sick. Moderna also did not specify how to behave or track data on the participants actions during its trial It was left up to individuals to wear masks or socially distance behaviors that are estimated to reduce the risk of spreading or catching COVID19. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8990763/Covid-vaccine-trials-did-not-monitor-participants-wore-masks-socially-distanced.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline 27th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Europe was hit hard by a coronavirus second wave that saw cases rise faster than on any other continent. Scientists have identified a new viral strain they believe is to blame for much of the wave which first emerged among fruit pickers in northern Spain before being passed to tourists as borders reopened. Tourists took the new strain home where it spread like wildfire among local communites as rules were relaxed. Strain now accounts for up to 70 per cent of cases in Switzerland Ireland and the UK and is prevalent in Norway Latvia the Netherlands and France https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8991043/Europe-coronavirus-Second-wave-began-Spain-spreading-tourists-study-suggests.html 27th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK Suspected North Korean hackers have tried to break into the systems of British drugmaker AstraZeneca in recent weeks two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters as the company races to deploy its vaccine for the COVID19 virus. The hackers posed as recruiters on networking site LinkedIn and WhatsApp to approach AstraZeneca staff with fake job offers the sources said. They then sent documents purporting to be job descriptions that were laced with malicious code designed to gain access to a victims computer. The hacking attempts targeted a broad set of people including staff working on COVID19 research said one of the sources but are not thought to have been successful. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-healthcare-coronavirus-astrazeneca-no-idUKKBN2871A2?taid=5fc0f27d98701900016e3d58&amputm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 27th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Researchers studied the role of cholesterol in coronavirus infection. Found the presence of high cholesterol is linked to increased infection of cells. Believed the coronavirus binds to cholesterol and hijacks a lift to the cell surface Once here it can then easily attach to ACE2 the receptor which allows the virus into human cells https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8990115/Why-Covid-19-patients-diabetes-heart-disease-likely-die-coronavirus.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline 27th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian More than 1300 people were wrongly told they had coronavirus due to a lab error with the governments Test and Trace service. The Department of Health and Social Care DHSC said 1311 people who took a test from 1923 November across the UK were incorrectly told they received a positive result. It said there was an issue with a batch of testing chemicals which meant their results were void. A DHSC spokesman said Swift action is being taken to notify those affected and they are being asked to take another test and to continue to selfisolate if they have symptoms. This laboratory error was an isolated incident and is being fully investigated to ensure this does not happen again. The DHSC did not comment on whether the error affected regionalinfection rate figures. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/27/more-than-1300-wrongly-told-they-have-covid-after-test-and-trace-lab-error?utm_term=Autofeed&ampCMP=twt_gu&amputm_medium&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1606513057 27th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Chris Whitty refused to back the injection when asked about controversial data Vaccine scrutinised after it was found to be 70 per cent effective on average But it is but 90 effective with lowdose jab followed by standard booster jab This higher result based on a subgroup of 2700 people was met with concern It came when it emerged that no one in the group was reportedly aged over 55 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8989783/Chris-Whitty-refuses-outright-Oxfords-Covid-19-vaccine.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailUK 26th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID19 the illness caused by the virus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-science-idUSKBN2872LH 27th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Even if countries see a fall in coronavirus cases they need to stay vigilant Maria Van Kerkhove the World Health Organizations technical lead for COVID19 said on Friday. What we dont want to see is situations where you are moving from lockdown to bringing the virus under control to another lockdown she told a virtual briefing in Geneva. Nearly 61 million people have been reported to be infected by the coronavirus globally and 1.4 million have died according to a Reuters tally. It is in our power to keep transmission low she said. We have seen dozens of countries show us that it can be brought under control and kept under control. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-who-vigilance/who-warns-countries-with-falling-covid-cases-to-stay-alert-idUSZ8N2G5020 27th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

WIRED Vaccines can prevent symptoms but some can also keep people from spreading infection. Thats critical and no one knows if the new vaccines do it. https://www.wired.com/story/does-the-astrazeneca-vaccine-also-stop-covid-transmission/ 25th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Greece reported 121 coronavirusrelated deaths on Saturday a daily record with hospitals in the north of the country under pressure as intensive care beds fill up with COVID19 patients. Health authorities reported 1747 COVID19 cases on Saturday bringing the total since the first case was detected in February to 103034. The death toll stands at 2223. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-greece-casualties/coronavirus-deaths-hit-new-daily-record-in-greece-idUKKBN2880PE 29th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera Top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci a member of President Donald Trumps coronavirus task force has warned that residents should brace for a surge upon a surge of infections following the Thanksgiving holiday. Fauci speaking shortly after the US holiday which saw the highest rate of travel in the US since the first major outbreak said on Sunday There almost certainly is going to be an uptick because of what has happened with the travel. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/29/fauci-warns-surge-upon-surge-of-covid-19-in-coming-weeks 29th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

South China Morning Post Hong Kong authorities are warning of an even more severe fourth wave of coronavirus infections after identifying a new group of cases at three restaurants that may be linked to the everexpanding superspreader dance venue cluster. More than 10 servers cleaners and patrons at the three restaurants Stellar House in Wan Chai 8 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Central and Chuen Cheung Kui in Sheung Wan have been confirmed sick with authorities adding the venues to the mandatory testing list. The city recorded 115 new Covid19 cases on Sunday the highest daily increase since August 1 when it saw 125 new infections. Of those 62 were linked to the dance venue cluster bringing the citys largest coronavirus outbreak so far to 479 cases. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3111847/coronavirus-hong-kongs-fourth-wave-will-be-more 29th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi toured three of the nations leading vaccine development and manufacturing sites on Saturday as coronavirus cases continue to soar. India has recorded 9.35 million COVID19 infections second only to the United States. It reported 41322 new cases and 485 deaths on Saturday. The western state of Maharashtra home to Indias financial hub Mumbai has been particularly hard hit by the virus. Its tally of 1.68 million cases is higher than countries such as Spain Italy and the United Kingdom. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-idUSKBN2880FY 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Financial Times Swedens centreleft government has long seemed happy to allow Anders Tegnell the state epidemiologist to be the public face of the countrys distinctive approach to handling the Covid19 pandemic. But as the second wave has hit Sweden which resisted a formal lockdown much harder than its Nordic neighbours contrary to predictions made by Mr Tegnell in the spring and summer so the government in Stockholm has stirred into action. Stefan Lofven the Swedish prime minister announced two weeks ago what he called the most intrusive measures in modern times in banning public gatherings of more than eight people. That night Mr Tegnell told Swedish radio that it was not his public health agency putting our foot down and that the ban was less wideranging than the prime minister had suggested. https://www.ft.com/content/ef9b05a1-dd8e-49cd-b1b1-47151c93aa41 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The BMJ The covid19 pandemic has presented multiple challenges to healthcare systems around the world. We want to highlight the difficulties in Kerala India of providing palliative care for patients with preexisting advanced disease who are infected with coronavirus. There are difficult ethical issues related to triage and care rationing when resources are limited and demand is high alongside the logistical challenge of making such decisions. The pandemic has now laid bare issues about futile and inappropriate medical interventions in certain contexts. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/11/27/pressure-on-critical-care-facilities-in-covid-19-patients-in-india/ 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News The UKs R number has fallen to between 0.9 and 1 according to new figures. Scientists have estimated the reproduction number known as the R number is now edging below one. It comes as the daily infection rate dropped slightly with the UK recording a further 16022 coronavirus cases and 521 related deaths. On Thursday 17555 cases were recorded along with 498 deaths. The Government Office for Science said the impact of Englands lockdown which started on 5 November is only beginning to be observed in the R number this week. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-uks-r-number-falls-to-between-0-9-and-1-12143893 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN As Thanksgiving week draws to an end more experts are warning the Covid19 pandemic will likely get much worse in the coming weeks before a possible vaccine begins to offer some relief. More than 205000 new cases were reported Friday which likely consists of both Thursday and Friday reports in some cases as at least 20 states did not report Covid19 numbers on Thanksgiving. As of Saturday evening more than 138000 new cases and 1100 deaths had been reported according to Johns Hopkins University. And while there is more good news on the vaccine front for now Americans need to hunker down and prepare for a difficult winter ahead according to Dr. Leana Wen an emergency medicine physician and a visiting professor at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/28/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Houston Chronicle Faulting inaction in Washington governors and state lawmakers are racing to get pandemic relief to smallbusiness owners the unemployed renters and others whose livelihoods have been upended by the widening coronavirus outbreak. In some cases elected officials are spending the last of a federal relief package passed in the spring as an endofyear deadline approaches and the fall COVID19 surge threatens their economies anew. Underscoring the need for urgency the number of new COVID19 cases reported in the United States reached 205557 on Friday according to data from Johns Hopkins University the first time its daily figure topped the 200000 mark. Its previous daily high was 196000 on Nov. 20. https://www.chron.com/news/article/With-no-action-by-Washington-states-race-to-15759731.php 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard The UK has recorded 15871 new coronavirus cases and a further 479 deaths overnight. Todays rise in infections follows a steady decrease in case rates across the country. The total number of infections recorded over the past week is 35955 fewer than over the previous seven days a fall of 24.1 per cent. It takes Britains total Covid19 infection count since the start of the pandemic to 1605172. However the positive trend in cases comes amid an ongoing rise in weekly deaths. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-latest-cases-b91783.html 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail on MSN.com German logged 22268 new cases of coronavirus on Friday bringing its overall total from 983588 to 1006394 as 426 deaths were also recorded the highest oneday toll of the whole pandemic. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/germanys-coronavirus-case-toll-tops-1million/ar-BB1bp21s 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Irish Mirror Seven local areas in Ireland still have Covid19 incidence rates of over 240 per 100000 people in the last two weeks despite lockdown. Four electorate areas in Donegal as well as one in Limerick Louth and Offaly are the worst in the country according to the latest data up until midnight November 23. Milford in Donegal has the worst rate in the country at 355.8 which according to the ECDC is not far off the rate of Spains which stands at 361.4 today. Letterkenny is the only other electorate area in Ireland that currently has a rate of over 300. Heres a look at the seven spots with rates of over 200 per 100000 people. https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/seven-local-irish-areas-alarming-23083658 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Associated Press South Korea reported more than 500 new coronavirus cases for the third straight day on Saturday the fastest spread of infections the country has seen since the early days of the pandemic. The 504 cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention brought the total number of infections since the pandemic began to 33375 including 522 deaths. Around 330 of the new cases came from the Seoul metropolitan area home to about half of the countrys 51 million people where health workers are struggling to stem transmissions linked to hospitals schools saunas gyms and army units. https://apnews.com/article/seoul-south-korea-coronavirus-pandemic-asia-economy-4f5f3c52f355163ed9d861ff3b3d26a8 28th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Canada England needs tough restrictions after its current lockdown ends if hospitals are not to become overwhelmed a senior minister said as Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote to lawmakers to say the measures would end in February to try to quell opposition. Britain upped preparations for a vaccine rollout on Saturday as Johnson named Nadhim Zahawi as a new health minister to oversee its deployment and the Financial Times reported that the UK is set to approve the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine next week. But despite progress on the vaccine the government still needs to convince lawmakers to back its new tougher tiered measures which will put 99 of English people into the highest two levels of restrictions when the current national lockdown ends on Dec. 2. https://ca.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-idCAKBN28809I 28th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

USA Today North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered at least two people executed banned fishing at sea and locked down the capital Pyongyang as part of frantic efforts to guard against the coronavirus and its economic damage South Koreas spy agency told lawmakers Friday. Kims government also ordered diplomats overseas to refrain from any acts that could provoke the United States because it is worried about Presidentelect Joe Bidens expected new approach toward North Korea lawmakers told reporters after attending a private briefing by the National Intelligence Service. One of the lawmakers Ha Taekeung quoted the NIS as saying Kim is displaying excessive anger and taking irrational measures over the pandemic and its economic impact. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/11/27/south-korea-says-north-korea-kim-jong-un-executions-covid/6435409002/ 28th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Japan Today Nearly all social gatherings of individuals from more than a single household will be banned in Los Angeles County for at least three weeks starting Monday under new restrictions local health officials unveiled on Friday citing a continued surge in COVID19 infections. The public health order specifically exempts religious services and protests under constitutionally protected rights in an apparent nod to Wednesdays U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a New York state order that had restricted the size of religious gatherings. The Los Angeles County measures affecting some 20 million people living in and around the nations secondlargest city go beyond a curfew imposed last week by California Governor Gavin Newsom barring social gatherings and other nonessential activities across most of the state between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. https://japantoday.com/category/world/update-1-los-angeles-county-to-impose-new-covid-19-restrictions-on-social-gatherings 28th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Daily Mail Los Angeles County confirmed 24 new deaths and 4544 new cases on Friday Officials banned most gatherings but stopped short of full shutdown on stores Restrictions were brought on by average of 4751 cases a day for last five days Residents of nations most populous county are being urged to stay home People are also not allowed to gather with those from outside their household Exceptions are being made for church services and protests officials said Nonessential retail businesses could stay open but at 20 per cent capacity https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8995205/Los-Angeles-issues-stay-home-order-coronavirus-surges.html 27th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Daily Mail Kim Jong Un is taking irrational measures against Covid19 South Korea says North Korea executed a highprofile money changer in Pyongyang last month Key official was executed in August for bringing in goods from abroad NIS says https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8992493/S-Korea-agency-says-N-Korea-executed-people-shut-Pyongyang.html 27th Nov 2020