11th Dec 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=159 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

POLITICO.eu The news of groundbreaking vaccines that could spell the end of the global coronavirus pandemic was met with a collective sigh of relief in the West. But in the Global South the overwhelming feeling was one of dread and anger at the new social chasm on the horizon between the vaccine haves and havenots. We know that vaccinating populations that are most atrisk will be key to meeting the challenges of the long year ahead and getting the pandemic under control. But under current vaccine distribution mechanisms such as the World Health Organizations COVAX initiative which are commendable there simply will not be enough vaccine doses to go around by the end of 2021. This is not only a moral issue. Failure to provide equitable access to the vaccine will have dire and longlasting consequences for human health and make it more difficult to end the pandemic. The virus may even have a chance to mutate and become vaccine resistant raising the possibility of new waves of infection. https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-coronavirus-vaccine-race-g20-global-south-covax/ 10th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Liverpool Echo GPs across England will be starting to book coronavirus vaccination appointments over the coming days. As a million more doses are set to arrive in Britain next week the elderly and care home workers will begin to receive letters organising their appointments. The jabs will come just days after vaccinations began in hospitals this week. According to Mirror Online details of the next stage of the staggered rollout emerged as Prof Chris Whitty said social distancing restrictions could start being lifted once 20 million vulnerable Brits have been vaccinated. The Chief Medical Officer also offered hope of a return to normality before Spring https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/gps-across-country-start-booking-19430713 10th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

NPR In the U.S. the Department of Defense aims to administer just under 44000 doses of Pfizers coronavirus vaccine within 24 to 48 hours of authorization for emergency use. U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have said they will make a decision soon after they hear from an advisory committee which meets Thursday. The vaccine will be distributed through 16 DOD installations 13 in the U.S and three overseas. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Thomas McCaffery said some senior leaders will also receive the vaccine as one way of helping to message the safety and efficacy and underscore that we are encouraging all those eligible personnel to take the vaccine. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/12/09/944840423/dod-unveils-its-coronavirus-vaccine-distribution-plan 10th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

CIDRAP A study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found low COVID19 case rates and outbreaks in schools and childcare centers that reopened after lockdown. Researchers used data from HPZonea national online database for events that require public health managementto estimate the rates of SARSCoV2 infection and outbreaks among staff and students in a total of 57600 schools attended by a median of 928000 students per day. The researchers identified 113 single cases of COVID19 infection nine coprimary casestwo confirmed cases within 48 hours of one another typically within the same householdand 55 outbreaks defined as two linked cases leading to secondary diagnosed cases within 14 days in the same educational setting. Outbreaks were strongly correlated with local infection rates showing a 72 increase in the risk of an outbreak for every five cases per 100000 population increase in community incidence https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/few-cases-outbreaks-uk-schools-reopened-after-lockdown 10th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

The New Indian Express In India the hunger situation remains grave among the marginalised and vulnerable communities even five months after the lockdown has ended with a large number of families going to bed without food showed a Hunger Watch survey conducted across 11 states. About 56 per cent of the respondents never had to skip meals before lockdown. In September and October 27 per cent respondents went to bed without eating. About one in 20 households often went to bed without eating. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/dec/10/alarming-levels-of-hunger-in-india-even-post-lockdown-says-survey-2234211.html 10th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Sydney Morning Herald COVID19 has exposed many weaknesses in Australias federation but nowhere is this more glaring than the debate over the failure to get Australians home by Christmas. On September 18 Scott Morrison said he wanted to get as many people home if not all of them by Christmas a line that has stuck in peoples mind. In truth Morrison has not broken a promise. Since then more than 32000 Australian citizens and permanent residents have returned home 8000 more than were registered at the time. But in that time the worsening international situation has increased the size of the problem. Three months ago there were about 24000 Australians wanting to return home. Today that number has blown out to about 39000. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-australians-are-still-waiting-to-come-home-20201210-p56mbg.html 10th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK More British people went out shopping and got in their cars over the past week following the end of a partial lockdown in England official figures showed on Thursday. The proportion of British adults who went shopping for goods other than basic necessities rose by 5 percentage points to 18 in the week to Dec. 6 while traffic on Dec. 7 rose 7 percentage points from a week earlier the Office for National Statistics said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-activity/uk-economic-activity-picks-up-after-november-lockdown-ons-idUKS8N2HE020 10th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

CNN As coronavirus vaccines begin rolling out a crucial step in ending the pandemic that has killed more than 1.5 million people and caused economic pain around the globe Melinda Gates is urging leaders of wealthy countries not to forget about the rest of the world. Everybody needs this vaccine Gates cochair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told CNNs Poppy Harlow in a broadcast interview Thursday. If we only get it to the highincome countries this disease is going to bounce around. Were going to see twice as many deaths. And our recovery of our economies is going to be much slower than if we get the vaccine out to everybody. The Gates Foundation on Thursday said it plans to commit an additional 250 million to support the research development and equitable delivery of tools to fight Covid19 including tests treatments and vaccines. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/10/business/melinda-gates-covid-vaccines/index.html 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

CNBC As the vaccine race heats up China has promised countries in Southeast Asia and Africa that they will be first in line when Beijings homegrown vaccines are ready to be distributed a move thats raised questions about Chinas intent. From Malaysia and the Philippines to a number of African countries China has granted some developing nations priority access to the coronavirus vaccines its currently developing. Chinese companies have also signed agreements with some of these developing nations to test and manufacture the vaccines. Experts say the moves could put pressure on some of these countries to support Beijings commercial and political interests. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/10/covid-china-may-be-using-its-vaccines-to-expand-its-soft-power.html 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

STV News More than 5000 people in Scotland have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine the First Minister confirmed. The rollout of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine began on Tuesday and those who will be administering the jabs were first in line to receive it. Andrew Mencnarowski a clinical lead at NHS Lothian was among the first to get the jab at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Nicola Sturgeon said 5330 have now begun the process of vaccination as she spoke in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday. https://news.stv.tv/scotland/more-than-5000-people-receive-first-dose-of-covid-vaccine 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Wired.co.uk After a year of wondering when or if it would ever happen the first people to be vaccinated against Covid19 in the UK have now received their initial doses. But not everyone in the UK will be lining up to get their shot. According to a survey of people in England conducted by the London School of Hygiene Tropical Medicine and Public Health England people from BAME backgrounds are almost three times more likely to reject a Covid19 vaccine than those from white backgrounds. The same communities that disproportionately felt the worst impacts from Covid19 are at risk of being left behind again. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/coronavirus-vaccine-system-racism-uk 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC An update to England and Waless NHS Covid19 contacttracing app is adding a way to apply for a 500 grant if it gives a selfisolation order. Until now those on low incomes were only offered the payment if they had been told to stay at home by human Test and Trace operators. The move comes at a time when the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus is on the rise again. Experts have suggested following the apps guidance could help reverse that. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55259272 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The New Indian Express As local administrations in India prepare for a second wave infections two new studies that evaluated interventions such as lockdowns and travel restrictions in containing Covid19 found that proper testing and exit strategies are crucial. Imposing a lockdown during the first wave was a good decision but the health care system wasnt prepared to handle the exit then. We found that exit strategies played a major role in the increase in the number of cases. The study showed that aggressive measures like lockdowns may be inherently enough to suppress an outbreak however other measures need to be scaled up as lockdowns are relaxed. Premature withdrawal of lockdowns without adequately planned interventions for the postlockdown phase may lead to the second wave Giridara Gopal coauthor of the study told TNIE. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/dec/10/studies-find-covid-testing-exit-strategies-key-to-efficacy-2234183.html 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg Thirtyone countries around the globe have reserved more Covid19 vaccine per capita than the U.S. according to a Bloomberg analysis of country vaccine agreements. The U.S. Operation Warp Speed program is credited with shaving years off the typical development timeline for vaccines that are now on the brink of being deployed. But after leading that effort the U.S. has yet to exercise some options to lock down additional supplies that could offer extra insurance against manufacturing problems or scientific delays. The U.S. ranks 32nd in percapita vaccine reservations. It is behind the 27 European Union countries that banded together to preorder vaccines in larger quantities and sandwiched between Chile and Japan in 31st and 33rd respectively according to Bloombergs analysis. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/u-s-ranks-behind-eu-australia-u-k-in-vaccine-buys-but-says-it-will-meet-goal-1.1534150 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Stormont ministers have appealed to people in NI not to get caught up in the Christmas spirit with Covid19 lockdown restrictions set to be eased. A twoweek lockdown ends at 2359 GMT meaning hairdressers shops and some hospitality businesses can reopen. First Minister Arlene Foster urged people to be sensible about limiting their social contacts. She said the executive was disappointed that transmission of the virus had not reduced significantly. Another 14 coronavirusrelated deaths were recorded by Northern Irelands Department of Health on Thursday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55245757 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Hill The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed another 250 million toward the development and distribution of COVID19 tests treatments and vaccines. The commitment is the foundations largest single contribution to the medical response to the pandemic it announced Wednesday. Melinda Gates told Yahoo Finance that some of the money will go toward procuring 200 million doses of vaccines and 120 million rapid response tests for nonfirstworld nations. https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/529637-gates-foundation-commits-another-250-million-to-fight-covid-19 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

CNN The European Central Bank is expanding its huge moneyprinting program by hundreds of billions of euros an attempt to prop up the economy as another wave of coronavirus rips through the region and threatens to derail its fragile recovery. The central bank said in a statement on Thursday that it would increase its asset purchases by 500 billion 605 billion bringing the total stimulus program to 1.85 trillion 2.24 trillion. It also plans to extend purchases to at least the end of March 2022 and grant more subsidized loans to banks to stimulate lending. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/10/economy/ecb-december-meeting-stimulus/index.html?utm_term=link&amputm_source=twCNNi&amputm_content=2020-12-10T16%3A44%3A02&amputm_medium=social 10th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

ABCNews It has become a mantra of sorts for the Biden transition team Vaccines dont save lives vaccinations do. The idea is a powerful acknowledgement of the daunting task in front of the nation and incoming administration next year. Once approved and manufactured getting these shots into peoples arms will be a logistical undertaking so big it is hard to fathom. More reassuring and persuading people to get in line for the new vaccine after a transition in the White House and with rampant mistrust and misinformation in our politics could be another challenge next year for Presidentelect Joe Biden and public health officials. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/challenge-selling-covid-19-vaccine-amid-divisive-politics/story?id=74632612&ampcid=social_twitter_abcnp 10th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Washington Post Early in the pandemic Joo Park noticed a worrisome shift at the market he manages near downtown Washington At least once a day hed spot someone slipping a package of meat a bag of rice or other food into a shirt or under a jacket. Diapers shampoo and laundry detergent began disappearing in bigger numbers too. Since then he said thefts have more than doubled at Capitol Supermarket even though he now stations more employees at the entrance asks shoppers to leave backpacks up front and displays hightheft items like hand sanitizer and baking yeast in more conspicuous areas. Park doesnt usually call the police choosing instead to bar offenders from coming back. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/10/pandemic-shoplifting-hunger/ 10th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Slugger O'Toole You may have seen a story doing the rounds on social media about the new Covid19 vaccine being made from the cells of aborted babies. Like most rumours on social media it is just not true. A simple way to check if a story is true is to look it up on Snopes the factchecking site https://sluggerotoole.com/2020/12/10/no-the-covid-19-vaccine-is-not-made-from-aborted-babies/ 10th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Patricia is suffering from an unexplained skin condition but a misunderstanding about what might have caused it set off a chain of events that turned her foot into fodder for antivaccine activists. The picture showed purple and red sores swollen and oozing with pus. Supposedly this is a vaccine trial participant read the message alongside it. Ready to roll up your sleeve Within a day those same feet had been mentioned thousands of times on Instagram and Facebook. The picture went viral on Twitter as well. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-55179300 10th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Dr Anthony Fauci admitted that the allergic reactions to PFizers shot reported in the UK were obviously of some concern during a Harvard forum Wednesday He wasnt entirely surprised though and said these types of responses are likely rare. Both people who suffered anaphylactic reactions in the UK had a history of general allergic reactions and carried rescue shots. Dr Fauci says it will likely only be other people with these types of allergies that are at possible risk. But he added the US may want to reconsider holding off on giving the shots to people in VAs orhaving rescue shots on hand for vaccinations https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9036721/Fauci-concerned-possible-allergies-Pfizers-covid-shot.html 10th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Belfast Live A DUP councillor has said he will not take the coronavirus vaccine claiming it contains stem cells and tissue from aborted babies. John Carsons comments have been strongly condemned as dangerous misinformation and rejected by Stormonts Department of Health. The Mid and East Antrim councillor was asked on Facebook whether he would take the coronavirus vaccine to which he replied Definitely no When a Facebook user then asked him why some people do not want the jab he responded It contains stem cells and tissue from aborted babies. https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/dup-councillor-says-wont-take-19430014 10th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Liverpool Echo Scammers are trying to use the Covid19 vaccine rollout to take elderly peoples money in one part of Wirral. Older residents in the New Ferry area are being targeted by con artists who ring them with an automated voice telling them they have been selected to receive the coronavirus vaccine and to press a number to arrange a booking. On its Facebook page Wirral Council said elderly people with 0151 645 numbers were being targeted and scammers were calling them from the number 075374 00307. The authoritys post added This is a scam. Pressing the number will allow them to charge your phone company and take a sum of money from your account. Please warn elderly vulnerable residents to be on their guard to avoid being scammed. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/scammers-targeting-elderly-promise-coronavirus-19427190 10th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

DW (English) Germanys domestic intelligence agency the BfV said large turnouts of the Querdenker lateral thinker movement seen at recent antiCoronalockdown protests harbored intensified escalation potential. The Colognebased office tasked with upholding Germanys postwar constitution told newspapers of the Funke Media Group on Thursday that this had been the case at large protests where farright groups had urged attendance. Small rallies had also taken place and were largely peaceful the BfV said albeit adding that there had been attacks on police units and media representatives at large gatherings. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-notes-violent-potential-among-anti-lockdown-protesters/a-55891587 10th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Australian A Victorian hoteliers bid to overturn the states strict lockdown laws failed because theres no freestanding guarantee to freedom of movement according to the countrys highest court. Mornington Peninsula hotel owner Julian Gerner wanted the High Court to declare Victorias strict lockdown which lifted in October invalid. His lawyer Bret Walker SC argued in November the strict lockdown violated Australians constitutional right to a free and confident society. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/reasons-why-victorias-lockdown-challenge-failed-in-the-high-court/news-story/ae2f8d7811e49eda9ca1f39dd792bfc8 10th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Associated Press Pope Francis will celebrate Midnight Mass earlier than usual to comply with Italys anticoronavirus curfew and will deliver his Christmas and New Years blessings in ways that aim to prevent crowds from forming. The Vatican on Thursday released the popes COVID19 Christmas liturgical schedule. It said the popes Dec. 24 Mass which for years hasnt been celebrated at midnight at all but at 930 p.m. to spare pontiffs from the late hour would begin at 730 p.m. this year. Italy has imposed a 10 p.m. nationwide curfew as well as restaurant closures and other restrictions to try to prevent crowds from forming following a surge of COVID19 infections and deaths this fall. https://apnews.com/article/religion-pope-francis-italy-coronavirus-pandemic-f5172333372df1dcd72601e6081799a0 10th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Wall Street Journal If U.S. states lockdowns are too onerous for you be thankful youre not in Italy. In November Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte promised that if we respect the rules well have a serene Christmas. Italians largely complied but didnt get their reward. Now Mr. Conte says itll be a different Christmas but not less authentic. Covid19 hit Italy early and hard. With more than 60000 deaths and a casefatality rate of 3.5 compared with 1.95 in the U.S. 2.57 in Sweden and 2.4 in France it is clearly a country where things went wrong. In the spring when the epidemic was concentrated in the North the country implemented the strictest lockdown in the Western world. It seemed to succeed and Italians had an uneasy summer with enclaves of normalcy. Some went to the beach some hiked mountains some even went clubbing. In October infections began to rise again. https://www.wsj.com/articles/italians-will-be-frozen-in-place-this-christmas-11607534352 10th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Wall Street Journal Global stock markets cratered when the first wave of Covid19 infections shut down economies around the world. The current wave by some measures is worse but markets have barely shrugged. Partly thats because with effective vaccines headed for approval the end of the pandemic is in sight. But it also is because governments have tried to apply the lessons of the spring by imposing shorter and less stringent restrictions or none at all. The economic hit has thus been smaller and more manageable. Weve learned a whole lot in terms of how to deal with this pandemic Gita Gopinath chief economist at the International Monetary Fund said in an interview Tuesday at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council annual summit. https://www.wsj.com/articles/lockdown-lite-spares-economies-but-doesnt-end-pandemic-11607531785 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Boston Globe on MSN.com It likely took just one of the 175 people gathered in February at a Biogen conference at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel to ignite a COVID19 wildfire. Within a week attendees began falling ill. More than 99 would ultimately test positive. By then many of them had hopped aboard planes to head home or even attend other conferences. And the spread only exploded from there. Researchers now believe roughly 330000 COVID19 cases across the nation and around the world can be traced back to the twoday Boston conference according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Science. The study estimates some 96360 of the cases with a genetic link to the Biogen conference were discovered in Florida several hundred miles from the waterfront lobby and banquet rooms in Boston that served as the perfect incubator for an eager virus to multiply. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/biogen-conference-in-boston-likely-linked-to-330000-covid-19-cases-worldwide-researchers-say/ar-BB1bPuCT 11th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Evening Standard Results showing the effectiveness of the University of Oxfords coronavirus vaccine are expected to be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime phase two trial data released on Thursday suggested the jab produces a strong immune response in older adults. And according to the researchers volunteers in the trial demonstrated similar immune responses across all three age groups 1855 5669 and 70 and over. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/how-does-vaccine-coronavirus-oxford-work-b73816.html 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

PharmaLive Moderna Inc said on Thursday it had dosed the first participants in a midtolate stage study testing its COVID19 vaccine candidate in adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 and aims for data ahead of the 2021 school year. The trial will enroll 3000 healthy participants in the United States and will assess the safety and effectiveness of two doses of the companys vaccine candidate mRNA1273 given 28 days apart. Moderna has submitted applications seeking emergency use authorization EUA in the United States and EU after full results from a latestage study showed the vaccine was 94.1 effective in adults with no serious safety concerns. Rival PfizerBioNTech have also sought EUA after their coronavirus vaccines twodose regimen proved 95 effective against COVID19 and had no major safety issues. https://www.pharmalive.com/moderna-begins-study-of-covid-19-vaccine-in-adolescents/ 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The News Letter The new PfizerBioNTech COVID19 vaccine has not yet been assessed in pregnancy according to Public Health England. https://www.newsletter.co.uk/health/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-not-advised-women-who-are-pregnant-breastfeeding-3063695 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Brazils health regulator Anvisa decided on Thursday to allow temporary emergency use authorizations for COVID19 vaccines and set rules for companies to apply for the option that did not exist in the country now facing the worlds third worst coronavirus outbreak. The decision will potentially allow emergency use of vaccines that are being tested in Brazil by AstraZeneca Pfizer Inc Johnson Johnsons pharmaceutical subsidiary Janssen and Chinas Sinovac Biotech. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-brazil-regulator/brazil-health-regulator-sets-rules-for-covid-19-vaccine-emergency-use-idUKL1N2IQ1VC 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

heraldscotland.com Patients who take blood thinning drugs for heart problems have been reassured that the Covid19 vaccine should not cause adverse effects if their condition is stable. Anticoagulant treatments including Warfarin are prescribed to patients at increased risk of strokes or those who have a metal heart valve or those with conditions including Atrial Fibrillation. Like most vaccines the coronavirus vaccine is injected into the muscle of the upper arm and may bleedmore than injections that are given under the skin but less than those that are administered into a vein. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18935567.coronavirus-vaccine-expert-addresses-warfarin-concerns/ 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Pfizer Inc said on Thursday it planned to file for full U.S. approval of its experimental coronavirus vaccine by April next year even as the vaccine awaits emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The remarks were made by Pfizer executive William Gruber at a meeting of independent U.S. FDA advisers that are weighing emergency authorization of the vaccine made by Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/update-1-u-s-fda-advisory-panel-meets-on-pfizers-coronavirus-vaccine-idUKL1N2IQ16T 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Health authorities in Saudi Arabia have registered the PfizerBioNTech COVID19 vaccine for import and use in the country state news agency SPA said on Thursday. Saudi Arabias Food and Drug Agency registered the vaccine. Procedures necessary for its import and use will begin the statement said. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-saudi-vaccine-int-idUSKBN28K1ES 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Nigeria expects to license by April one of the vaccines under development globally for Covid19 the West African nations drugs regulator said. We are looking at the end of the first quarter of next year or the beginning of the second quarter to approve a shot for use in Nigeria National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control DirectorGeneral Mojisola Adeyeye said in an interview on Wednesday. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-10/nigeria-plans-to-approve-covid-19-vaccine-early-next-year 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The New York Times Dr. Walenskys study found that the most important factor in a given vaccines success is not necessarily how well that vaccine works. Its everything else how quickly and strategically the vaccine is distributed across the country how well received it is and whether people continue to abide by other edicts like mask wearing and physical distancing. We find that factors related to implementation will contribute more to the success of vaccination programs than a vaccines efficacy as determined in clinical trials Dr. Walensky and her coauthors wrote. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/opinion/coronavirus-vaccine-distribution.html 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

POLITICO.eu The head of the European Medicines Agency is standing by the EUs decision to wait for a conditional marketing authorization CMA before using coronavirus vaccines on the public. While speed is of the essence safety is our No. 1 priority Emer Cooke the agencys new executive director told the European Parliaments health committee today. These vaccines will be given to millions of people in the EU and we are keenly aware of the huge responsibility we have to get these recommendations right to protect the European population. She noted the agency is aware of the decisions by the U.K. and Canada to approve the BioNTechPfizer vaccine with the faster process of an emergency authorization. The U.S. could follow suit later today. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-regulator-rejects-need-for-emergency-authorization-of-coronavirus-vaccine/ 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times The United Arab Emirates the first foreign country to approve a Covid19 vaccine developed by Chinese stateowned pharmaceutical group Sinopharm said it had 86 per cent efficacy according to interim results of a phase 3 trial. The announcement is a boost for Beijings ambitions to establish its pharmaceutical companies as global leaders in developing and distributing vaccines and comes after the release of final stage results from western frontrunners PfizerBioNTech Moderna and AstraZenecaOxford. Chinese developers were forced to carry out phase 3 trials overseas because the virus is now almost fully under control in China. https://www.ft.com/content/1ef92350-3519-4522-9f80-94eec14fa588 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Oxford Mail People in Oxfordshire are among volunteers recruited for another promising Covid vaccine. US biotech company Novavax is running trials in Oxford as part of more than 15203 participants recruited across the UK. It is the largest double blind placebocontrolled Covid19 vaccine trial to be undertaken in the country so far. It comes as the first Pfizer vaccinations against coronavirus were carried out in the city this week and new analysis of the Oxford University candidate showed it was safe and effective. https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18932769.another-covid-vaccine-trial-recruits-oxfordshire-volunteers/ 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Birmingham Post Three types of people who have been urged not to have the coronavirus vaccine have been revealed as hospital innoculations continue. The news of three groups unable to be vaccinated come as Englands Chief Medical Officer attempts to dispel antivax myths. Professor Chris Whitty has said he will take any Covid19 vaccine offered to him adding it is a society and political decision as to when restrictions are lifted. Englands chief medical officer told MPs he would be keen to have a jab to protect himself as the NHS vaccination programme continues across the UK. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/three-groups-people-urged-avoid-19430793 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail on MSN.com Moderate cases of Covid19 which do not require treatment in intensive care can still lead to strokes and seizures according to a new study. Researchers looked at the cases of 921 people who were admitted to a hospital in Boston Massachusetts between April and July. Seventyfour had both Covid19 and also underwent a neurologic examination. The study reveals symptoms such as stroke and seizures as well as inflammation may be more common than previously believed irrespective of Covid19 severity. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/people-with-moderate-cases-of-covid-19-can-suffer-strokes/ar-BB1bOP8W 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC A major factor in the decision was keeping the university South Dakota State open for teaching and therefore retaining the large student population during the autumn adds Mr McMacken. The requirements for mask use were brought in by the city of Brookings but they dont apply across the entire county of the same name. Our data is for the county not the city so it has its limitations. Brookings County now has the lowest infection rate out of the five most populous South Dakota counties. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/55216518 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

New Scientist ENGLAND didnt need a second lockdown because daily covid19 cases were already peaking under previously imposed regional restrictions according to a researcher leading a popular symptomtracking app. It was unnecessary if you looked at the latest data on the curves says Tim Spector at Kings College London who oversees the Covid Symptom Study. Other researchers disagree however.... https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833125-100-could-england-have-avoided-second-lockdown-by-sticking-to-tiers/ 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Air pollution in many towns and cities across the UK now exceeds prepandemic levels exacerbating the risk of Covid19 and putting the health of millions of people at risk. A study published on Thursday says that although air quality improved dramatically in the first half of the year as the country went into lockdown pollution now meets or exceeds preCovid levels in 80 of the 49 cities and large towns that were analysed. There is growing evidence that exposure to toxic air increases the risks from Covid19 and the authors of the study say their findings underscore the need for local councils to do more to reduce car use and improve air quality by prioritising walking and cycling. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/10/air-pollution-roars-back-in-parts-of-uk-raising-covid-fears 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Metro.co.uk Researchers say an Italian boy tested positive for coronavirus in November 2019 a revelation which has dramatic implications for the timeline of when the virus was spreading. The Covid19 outbreak was first reported in Wuhan China in December last year although Chinese authorities now admit there were cases dating back to November amid global scepticism about whether the country has been open about what it knew and when. The study in Italy adds to evidence that the virus may have been spreading far earlier than initially thought and even around Europe in autumn 2019 months before the first official Italian case in February 2020. https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/10/new-study-shows-boy-4-had-covid-in-italy-in-november-2019-13729642/ 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Park Young Joon was worried that South Korea could lose control. As director for epidemiological investigations at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency hed been dispatched to Daegu a city of 2.5 million in the south to deal with an urgent situation. A rash of novel coronavirus cases had just emerged among members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus an obscure and secretive religious group whose services involve close physical contact. The first congregant tested positive on Feb. 17 becoming South Koreas 31st Covid19 patient. Soon the number of new daily cases was in double digits then tripleevidence that an exponential outbreak was in progress. I remember seeing the tripledigit cases Park says speaking through a translator and thinking to myself that this must be what people mean when they use the word surge. https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2020-south-korea-covid-strategy/ 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Nature Young children account for only a small percentage of COVID19 infections1 a trend that has puzzled scientists. Now a growing body of evidence suggests why kids immune systems seem better equipped to eliminate SARSCoV2 than are adults. Children are very much adapted to respond and very well equipped to respond to new viruses says Donna Farber an immunologist at Columbia University in New York City. Even when they are infected with SARSCoV2 children are most likely to experience mild or asymptomatic illness2. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03496-7 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters A panel of outside advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to endorse emergency use of Pfizers coronavirus vaccine paving the way for the agency to authorize the shot for a nation that has lost more than 285000 lives to COVID19. The FDA is widely expected to authorize emergency use in days. Distribution and inoculations in the United States are expected to begin almost immediately thereafter. The committee voted 174 that the known benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks of taking the shot for individuals 16 and older with 1 member of the panel abstaining. This is a historic moment Eric Dickson chief executive of UMass Memorial Health Care who was not on the advisory panel said after the vote. He called the vaccine from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech the best solution to get us out of our current situation and help us save lives. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/u-s-fda-advisers-overwhelmingly-back-authorizing-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-idUKKBN28K2PN?il=0 10th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Scotsman First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has acknowledged mistakes will have been made in Scotlands response to the Covid19 pandemic as a new report shows the country was close to eliminating the virus during the first lockdown but national and international travel reseeded it. https://www.scotsman.com/health/we-should-have-been-much-tougher-sturgeon-admits-mistakes-scotlands-pandemic-response-studies-show-travel-caused-second-wave-3062745 9th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Los Angeles Times The study adding to a growing body of evidence on airborne transmission of the virus highlighted how South Koreas meticulous and often invasive contact tracing regime has enabled researchers to closely track how the virus moves through populations. In this outbreak the distances between infector and infected persons were ... farther than the generally accepted 2 meter 6.6foot droplet transmission range the studys authors wrote. The guidelines on quarantine and epidemiological investigation must be updated to reflect these factors for control and prevention of COVID19. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-12-09/five-minutes-from-20-feet-away-south-korean-study-shows-perils-of-indoor-dining-for-covid-19 9th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Aberdeen Evening Express The First Minister has come in for fierce criticism for keeping the city under Level 3 restrictions the second toughest level available in Scotlands fivetier system. She argued if the Scottish Government does not apply real caution when considering these issues there is a risk Covid19 infections could rapidly spiral. Both Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie challenged the First Minister on the failure to move Edinburgh to Level 2 something many had expected to happen this week. Ms Sturgeon warned going down a level and easing restrictions gives the virus more opportunity to spread. https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/scotland/covid-19-could-run-out-of-control-over-winter-without-caution-sturgeon-warns/ 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Science Magazine Theres hardly a Mexican who doesnt know Hugo LpezGatell Ramrez by now. Mexicos undersecretary of prevention and health promotion has sat across from reporters at 7 p.m. sharp almost every single night since late February to update them and the country on the toll of the coronavirus pandemic. His firm demeanor careful speech and courteous personality have made his televised coronavirus press briefings even more popular than those of the countrys president. But as COVID19 deaths in Mexico continue to soarsurpassed only by the United States Brazil and Indiamany have questioned LpezGatell Ramrezs leadership. Critics accuse him of undercounting the true numbers and mishandling the nations response. In early August the governors of nine Mexican states demanded his resignation. His defenders though say hes making sound decisions based on science and doing the best he can with the resources at his disposal. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/mexico-s-coronavirus-czar-faces-criticism-covid-19-surges 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC London should be placed in tier three now to avoid a spike in deaths over Christmas experts have warned. The city saw a spike in Covid19 cases at the end of Englandwide lockdown on 2 December new figures have revealed. Government officials are due to meet on 16 December to review what tier each area should be allocated. Prof John Ashton author of Blinded by Corona said if London doesnt want hospitals to be full over Christmas the government need to get a grip today. Deaths will start going up during the Christmas period and new year unless something is done said Prof Ashton a former regional director of public health for northwest England. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55245417 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP Global incidence of new COVID19 cases remained high but stable for the second week in a row while global coronavirus deaths increased according to the latest weekly epidemiologic update from the World Health Organization WHO. Meanwhile with the United Kingdoms vaccination campaign in its second day UK health officials said today that people with a significant history of allergic reactions to food medicine or vaccines should not receive the COVID19 vaccine from PfizerBioNTech following allergic reactions in two health workers. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/global-cases-stabilizing-covid-deaths-continue-climb 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian In the spring Germany was praised as a pandemic role model for its Covid19 crisis management its low fatality and high testing rates and efficient hammering of the curve were the envy of much of the rest of the world. But this winter the virus is exposing the weaknesses as well as strengths of Germanys consensusbased federal system as its compromise lockdown struggles to subdue the second wave. While the German infection rate remains below the EU average the numbers have taken a worrying turn for the worse as Lothar Wieler the head of the countrys disease control agency warned on Thursday. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/compromise-lockdown-struggles-to-subdue-germany-covid-second-wave 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

RFI English With just two weeks to go until Christmas French people were on Thursday nervously awaiting news by the Prime Minister on whether lockdown restrictions will be relaxed as planned. Failure to adequately stem the number of coronavirus cases has fuelled fears that Jean Castex will scupper endofyear festivities at a press conference set for 6pm. Under plans laid out in November cinemas and theatres are due to reopen on 15 December with a nighttime curfew replacing a nationwide lockdown allowing people to travel to see loved ones over the holidays. https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20201210-french-to-find-out-if-virus-surge-will-ruin-christmas-holidays-jean-castex-lockdown-deconfinement 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

News24 Many countries are experiencing a second Covid wave and scientists are worried that SA is heading in the same direction. However implementing another hard lockdown is impractical as the first one pretty much proved unsuccessful in containing the spread of the virus. https://www.news24.com/health24/medical/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/covid-19-second-wave-wouldnt-be-unexpected-but-hard-lockdown-a-blunt-tool-says-top-expert-20201209 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Mainichi The air has shifted and many in the medical community are concerned by the changes in attitudes toward the coronavirus theyre seeing in society at large. Compared to the first wave of infections in which the whole country got in the mood to limit its activities now people are more relaxed with some shops even refusing to comply with requests to reduce their business hours. Disparities in the way ordinary people and medical professionals perceive the threat are widening. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201210/p2a/00m/0dm/018000c 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Wall Street Journal Some Asian countries that have been among the worlds most successful at containing Covid19 are now struggling to beat back a winter resurgence a sign of how elusive sustained progress can be until a vaccine gets rolled out widely. On Wednesday South Korean President Moon Jaein convened an emergency meeting after the country saw a ninemonth peak of 686 cases that has forced officials to use shipping containers to address a hospitalbed shortage. Japan on Wednesday recorded 2810 new cases the government said its highest daily total yet. Vietnam reported community infections for the first time in around three months prompting authorities to suspend all inbound commercial flights. Hong Kong which had taken daily infections down to single digits has seen cases surge past 100 requiring the reintroduction of limits on dinein restaurant service and gym closures. Several regions of Malaysia went into lockdown after cases doubled within a month. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-surge-hits-parts-of-asia-seen-as-pandemic-success-stories-11607523625 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times Just one week after the United States broke a daily record for coronavirus deaths it did so again on Wednesday when officials across the country reported at least 3011 new fatalities. Last weeks record 2885 deaths reported in a single day was a milestone because not since the pandemics first peak in spring had so many deaths been reported. The high point then was 2752 deaths on April 15. As a brutal surge gathers speed across the country the country went on last week to record its most coronavirusrelated deaths over a sevenday period. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/09/world/covid-19-coronavirus 10th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK The head of Stockholms health service appealed to national authorities on Wednesday to send specialist nurses and other hospital staff as it struggles to cope with a second wave of COVID infections that has filled intensive care wards in Swedens capital city. Sweden which has not opted for the kind of lockdown adopted by many other European nations has suffered many times more COVID19 deaths per capita than its Nordic neighbours with the total reaching almost 7300 on Wednesday. Stockholm and the surrounding region are among the areas hardest hit with 2836 deaths. Infection rates are picking up again after a lull in the summer and autumn and intensive care wards are now full. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-sweden-hospitals/we-need-help-says-stockholm-healthcare-chief-as-covid-fills-intensive-care-wards-idUKKBN28J256?il=0 10th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Bloomberg U.S. unemployment benefit applications exceed expectations last week reflecting the impact of lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bloombergs Michael McKee reports on Bloomberg Surveillance. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-12-10/u-s-jobless-claims-surge-to-853-000-amid-covid-lockdowns-video 10th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

U.S. News & World Report Californias coronavirus surge has caused so many hospitalizations and deaths that the numbers brought usually stoic public health officers in major metropolitan areas to pleas and even near to tears as they urged people to heed safety rules. Los Angeles County the nations largest with 10 million residents had a devastating increase in deaths from about a dozen a day in midNovember to an average of 43 a day this week the countys health director Barbara Ferrer said Wednesday. Over 8000 people who were beloved members of their families are not coming back Ferrer said in a choked voice. She called the deaths an incalculable loss to their friends and their family and the community. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2020-12-10/more-california-counties-on-lockdown-as-covid-19-explodes 10th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Berlin wants to close shops and extend the school Christmas holidays to try to get the coronavirus pandemic under control the mayor of the German capital said on Thursday as the country reported a new record number of cases of COVID19. Berlins mayor Michael Mueller said he would seek the approval of the citys parliament next Tuesday to close stores apart from supermarkets until Jan. 10 and also to extend the school break until that date or put lessons online for a week. Germanys coronavirus cases rose by 23679 on Thursday to 1242203 setting a new record daily rise while the death toll increased by 440 to 20372 according to data from the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases RKI. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-germany-rki/berlin-seeks-tighter-lockdown-to-rein-in-pandemic-idUKKBN28K0WR 10th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Denmark said on Thursday it will expand lockdown measures announced earlier this week to more cities placing almost 80 of the population under the tight restrictions after registering its highest number of new daily infections yet. There is widespread infection throughout society and incipient pressure on the hospital system Health Minister Magnus Heunicke told reporters adding a further rise in infections in the coming days is expected. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-denmark/update-2-denmark-widens-coronavirus-lockdown-after-record-infections-idUSL1N2IQ101 10th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Ukraine will introduce tight lockdown restrictions in January hoping to stop the rapid spread of coronavirus infection Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said on Wednesday. The measures which include the closure of schools cafes restaurants gyms and entertainment centres and a ban on mass gatherings will be in force from Jan. 8 to 24 Shiygal told the televised government meeting. The government last month introduced a lockdown at weekends closing or restricting most businesses except essential services such as grocery shops pharmacies hospitals and transport. It lifted the restrictions on Dec. 2 https://www.reuters.com/article/healthcoronavirus-ukraine-lockdown/ukraine-will-introduce-tight-lockdown-restrictions-in-january-idUSS8N2EG08A 10th Dec 2020