12th Apr 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=271 lockdown_exit

Covid-19: a disaster five years in the making

The BMJ The covid19 pandemic is not a oneoff extraordinary event but the culmination of a five year unravelling of progress in global health writes Peter Hotez. We live in extraordinary times in global health. Through two decades of the United Nations millennium and sustainable development goals the number of childhood deaths from measles and some other vaccine preventable infections has fallen by as much as 87.1 The launch and support of global vaccination programmes through Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and mass treatment programmes for HIVAIDS malaria tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases have produced enormous global health gains.1 We are also moving towards the elimination of neglected tropical diseases including onchocerciasis lymphatic filariasis scabies yaws and trachoma with major falls in the incidence of AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. The benefits of these successes go beyond public health to reduced poverty through improvements in productivity child development and maternalfetal outcomes. Global security has also been strengthened. Over the past 56 years however we have seen abrupt reversals in these developments leading to the emergence or reemergence of both vaccine preventable diseases and neglected infections in multiple areas of the world. And thats before the onset of covid19. Humanity is able to make tremendous gains against global disease like never beforebut we have allowed those gains to unravel. The novel coronavirus has shown us the consequences of this. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n657 9th Apr 2021

The Novel Coronavirus Variants and India’s Uncertain Future

The Wire Science A new variant B.1.617 accounts for a sudden increase of cases in Maharashtra India. It spreads faster and contains an L452R mutation capable of immune escape dodging antibodies and T cells generated by a prior infection or a dose of vaccine https://science.thewire.in/health/sars-cov-2-variants-b117-b1617-india-second-wave-uncertain-future/ 11th Apr 2021

Brazil finds new virus variant combining 18 mutations

Anadolu Agency | English Scientists in Brazil have discovered a new variant of coronavirus that combines 18 mutations rubbing salt in the wound of the South American epicenter. The new strain from Belo Horizonte city has characteristics in common with the variants that were already circulating in Brazil but it also has new characteristics Virologist Renato Santana from the Federal University of Minas Gerais told local daily G1 on Wednesday. It is as if these variants were evolving Santana said adding the new variant includes the same genes modified by Brazils Manaus known as P1 British and South African variant. Noting that it is early to assess whether the new strain more transmissible or deadly he said that it has mutations in common with variants that are already associated with a higher risk of death. The new super variant made headlines at a critical time when Brazil registered recordhigh singleday COVID19 deaths with more than 4000. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/brazil-finds-new-virus-variant-combining-18-mutations/2201998 8th Apr 2021

China considers mixing its Covid-19 vaccines to make them more effective

The Independent China is considering mixing its COVID19 vaccines as a way of boosting their efficacy the countrys top disease control official has said. Available data shows Chinese vaccines lag behind others including Pfizer and Moderna in terms of efficacy but have less onerous storage requirements. Hungary Serbia Turkey and Brazil are among the countries using vaccines from China including jabs made by Sinovac a private company and stateowned Sinopharm. Sinovac efficacy was found to be as low as 50.4 by researchers in Brazil near the 50 threshold at which health experts say a vaccine is useful. By comparison the PfizerBioNTech vaccine has been found to be 97 effective. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/china-vaccines-mix-sinopharm-b1829891.html 12th Apr 2021

‘You Can’t Trust Anyone’: Russia’s Hidden Covid Toll Is an Open Secret

The New York Times The countrys official coronavirus death toll is 102649. But at least 300000 more people died last year during the pandemic than were reported in Russias most widely cited official statistics. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/10/world/europe/covid-russia-death.html 10th Apr 2021

U.S. has administered 183.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, CDC says

Reuters The United States had administered 183467709 doses of COVID19 vaccines and distributed 237791735 doses as of Saturday morning the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Those figures are up from the 178837781 doses the CDC said had been administered by April 9 out of 233591955 doses delivered. The agency said 117142879 people had received at least one dose while 70692645 people had been fully vaccinated as of Saturday. The CDC tally includes the twodose Moderna and PfizerBioNTech vaccines as well as Johnson Johnsons oneshot vaccine as of 6 a.m. EDT on Saturday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-cdc/us-has-administered-1835-million-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines-cdc-says-idUSKBN2BY026 11th Apr 2021

COVID-19: Record number of people fully vaccinated against coronavirus in UK in latest 24-hour period

Sky News A record number of people in the UK had their second dose of a COVID19 vaccine on Thursday government figures show. Some 449269 received their second jab meaning 6541174 have now been fully vaccinated against coronavirus. The previous high was 1 April when 445416 were given their second shot. The figures also show 96242 people had their first dose yesterday one of the lowest tallies since data started being released in early January. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-record-number-of-people-fully-vaccinated-in-uk-in-latest-24-hour-period-12270637 10th Apr 2021

Indian states report vaccine shortages amid record COVID surge

AlJazeera English As India continues to reel under a second and more vicious wave of coronavirus with an average of more than 90000 cases being reported since April 1 a shortage of vaccines has added to the crisis. From under 15000 cases a day at the beginning of March India on Friday reported its alltime high of 131968 new COVID19 cases a record increase for a third straight day pushing the countrys total infection tally to more than 13 million. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/9/india-suffers-vaccine-shortages-amid-record-surge-in-covid-cases 9th Apr 2021

Global groups grapple with stretched COVID vaccine supply

CIDRAP A complex picture of increased vaccine demand in the face of increased activity from SARSCoV2 variants is prompting global health groups to search for ways to keep production flowing and add more doses. Meanwhile regulatory groups are looking into rare reports of bleeding problems in people who receive the AstraZenecaOxford vaccine and whether blood clots might also be linked to the Johnson Johnson vaccine. And surges rose to new record levels in a number of hotspot countries including Argentina Brazil India and Turkey. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/04/global-groups-grapple-stretched-covid-vaccine-supply 9th Apr 2021

Global groups grapple with stretched COVID vaccine supply

Reuters Doses of vaccines rejected as countries finetune their inoculation campaigns will go to poor countries where possible to counter a shocking imbalance in distribution international health officials said on Friday. Authorities in Australia and Greece became the latest to recommend alternatives to the AstraZeneca vaccine for younger people over fears of possible very rare blood clots while Hong Kong delayed deliveries. The city said it had enough alternatives and did not want to waste these shots while global supplies were short. Australias decision effectively put paid to plans to have its population vaccinated by the end of October highlighting the delicate public health balancing act the issue has created. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca/unwanted-vaccines-needed-to-help-poor-countries-catch-up-international-health-officials-say-idUSKBN2BW1MI 9th Apr 2021

Global groups grapple with stretched COVID vaccine supply

Al Jazeera English Financing transparency in vaccine development political will and global solidarity will all be essential in ensuring the worlds poorest countries gain access to coronavirus vaccines officials from several major international organisations stressed at a World Bank forum on Friday. Where there are gaps we must move quickly to fill them David Malpass the president of the World Bank Group said during the virtual panel discussion. Its critical to get economies growing faster and to keep more families from falling into poverty. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/4/9/fair-shot-world-bank-who-chiefs-urge-unity-in-vaccine-effort 9th Apr 2021

Global groups grapple with stretched COVID vaccine supply

The Independent As many as 60 countries including some of the worlds poorest might be stalled at the first shots of their coronavirus vaccinations because nearly all deliveries through the global program intended to help them are blocked until as late as June. COVAX the global initiative to provide vaccines to countries lacking the clout to negotiate for scarce supplies on their own has in the past week shipped more than 25000 doses to lowincome countries only twice on any given day. Deliveries have all but halted since Monday. During the past two weeks according to data compiled daily by UNICEF fewer than 2 million COVAX doses in total were cleared for shipment to 92 countries in the developing world the same amount injected in Britain alone. On Friday the head of the World Health Organization slammed the shocking imbalance in global COVID19 vaccination. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus said that while one in four people in rich countries had received a vaccine only one in 500 people in poorer countries had gotten a dose. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/stalled-at-first-jab-vaccine-shortages-hit-poor-countries-world-health-organization-who-london-india-britain-b1829449.html 10th Apr 2021

Global groups grapple with stretched COVID vaccine supply

La Reppublica Dan Staner number two of American biotech and responsible for Europe. The United States started production earlier and has a lead of about three months. But we are increasing the doses manufactured in Europe. Variant tests are already underway. And for the future work is being done on an AIDS vaccine https://rep.repubblica.it/pwa/intervista/2021/04/09/news/il_vicepresidente_di_moderna_oltre_quattro_milioni_di_dosi_di_vaccino_per_l_italia_entro_giugno_-295748451/ 9th Apr 2021

'Covid-19 jab messaging damaging confidence in Africa'

BBC News The mixed messaging over the AstraZenca coronavirus jab is affecting vaccine confidence in low and middle income countries the cochair of the African Unions Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance for Covid19 has said. Dr Ayoade Alakija told BBC World News that the vaccine is being rolled out to over two billion people and is often the only option available. But countries with large populations of under 30s will question why they are being asked to take it when other countries like the UK are offering alternatives for that age group Dr Alakija said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-56678379 10th Apr 2021

Airlines warn the cost of Covid tests will stop people going abroad

The Guardian Airlines have called for the competition watchdog to investigate the price of Covid tests for travel with the travel industry warning that the PCR tests required by government will in effect block most international holidays this year. Global airline body Iata called on the UK Competition and Markets Authority to launch an inquiry as separate research showed that travelers had to pay twice as much for PCR tests in the UK as they do in much of Europe. The report from the governments global travel taskforce published on Friday said travel could be opened up from 17 May but that individuals would require three PCR tests to holiday even in the safest greenlight states leading to immediate warnings that the cost would prohibit most people from going abroad. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/apr/09/airlines-warn-that-the-cost-of-covid-tests-will-stop-people-going-abroad 9th Apr 2021

COVID-19 Pandemic Unwelcome KnockOn Effects

USA TODAY on MSN.com Reports of COVID19 vaccine side effects support what many have anecdotally observed women shoulder the bigger burden. Among nearly 7000 reports processed through the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System VAERS from Dec. 14 to Jan. 13 more than 79 of them came from women. The most frequently reported side effects were headache fatigue and dizziness. Women also are more likely than men to experience some of the vaccines more unusual side effects such as an itchy red rash that appears at the injection site commonly known as COVID arm or Moderna arm as about 95 of the reactions occur with the Moderna vaccine. Overall women account for 77 of the Moderna vaccines reported side effects. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/women-report-more-side-effects-from-the-covid-19-vaccine-than-men-health-experts-explain-why/ar-BB1fvmwD 10th Apr 2021

COVID-19 Pandemic Unwelcome KnockOn Effects

Associated Press Hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic have forced former sex workers in Mexico back into the trade years after they left made it more dangerous and reduced some to having sex in cars or on sidewalks for lack of available hotels. Claudia who like most of the sex workers interviewed asked to be identified only by her first name had stopped working the streets a decade ago after she married one of her former clients. But when her husband lost his job early in the pandemic the couple fell four months behind on rent for their apartment. The only solution Claudia saw was to go back to working the streets. https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-global-trade-mexico-coronavirus-pandemic-caribbean-69ed9611a08b8973e59841c7120cc9e8 10th Apr 2021

COVID-19 Pandemic Unwelcome KnockOn Effects

Reuters The United States is considering a conditional cash transfer program to help address economic woes that lead migrants from certain Central American countries to trek north as well as sending COVID19 vaccines to those countries a senior White House official told Reuters on Friday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-border-exclusive-idUSKBN2BW2L1 9th Apr 2021

COVID-19 Pandemic Unwelcome KnockOn Effects

CIDRAP During the pandemic Native Americans have had 2.2 times greater COVID19 case incidence and almost quadruple the death rate of White people in Montana according to a study today in Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report MMWR. A separate MMWR report looked at COVID19 cases and response on a 10000member tribal reservation in Montana while a third detailed control efforts taken on a North Dakota reservation. All three research teams suggest that Native American populations are disproportionately vulnerable during the pandemic and benefit from COVID19 mitigations. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/04/reports-detail-high-covid-19-burden-native-americans 9th Apr 2021

COVID-19 Pandemic Unwelcome KnockOn Effects

Medical News Today A study suggests that in the United States in 2020 around a third of COVID19 survivors were diagnosed with a neurological or mental health condition within 6 months of their COVID19 diagnoses. Anxiety and mood disorders were the most common diagnoses. Neurological conditions such as stroke and dementia occurred less often but were more common among people with severe COVID19. The overall effect of these disorders many of which are chronic may be substantial for health and social care systems due to the scale of the pandemic. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-1-in-3-diagnosed-with-brain-or-mental-health-condition 9th Apr 2021

Ongoing Vaccine Hesitancy

The Hill Forty percent of Marines are declining the coronavirus vaccine according to data obtained by CNN. There has been a 38.9 percent decline rate but the Marines are providing information to individuals to encourage them to get the vaccine. The Navy and Marine Corps are providing substantial educational information broadly and working with commands to ensure Marines Sailors and beneficiaries have accurate information regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccines to encourage individuals to get immunized Capt. Andrew Wood a Marines spokesman told The Hill in a statement. https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/547534-40-percent-of-marines-have-declined-the-coronavirus-vaccine 10th Apr 2021

Vaccine Outbreak Clusters

The Guardian For ski resorts spring normally marks a final chance for visitors to carve sundrenched runs before the season ends. But at Canadas most famous ski resort the gondolas have stopped and the slopes are eerily quiet. The Whistler Blackcomb ski resort was shut down by provincial authorities at the end of March after they realised that P1 the highly infectious coronavirus variant traced back to Brazil was spreading rapidly throughout the community. As provinces across Canada break records for new cases of the virus experts have grown increasingly troubled by the rapid and covert spread of variants. With 877 confirmed cases of P1 the province of British Columbia is now the centre of the worlds largest sequenced outbreak of the variant outside Brazil and nearly a quarter of those cases have been linked to Whistler. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/11/canada-ski-resort-p1-covid-variant-whistler 11th Apr 2021

New Outbreaks of Concern

Mirror Online Brazils Covid19 outbreak has turned into a raging inferno as this week saw daily records of 4000 deaths the World Health Organization has said. The number of deaths caused by Covid19 has now reached over 345000 second only to the United States where 561000 deaths were recorded. President Jair Bolsonaros handling of the Covid19 which he previously branded a little flu is now due to be probed amid concerns he failed to introduce adequate measures to stop the outbreak in the South American country. What you are dealing with here is a raging inferno of an outbreak said Bruce Aylward senior adviser to the director general of the World Health Organization in a public briefing https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/brazil-coronavirus-outbreak-now-raging-23892001 10th Apr 2021

New Outbreaks of Concern

Hindustan Times The Covid19 cases in Delhi fell below the 8000mark on Saturday as testing dipped which means fewer people were tested as opposed to those a day before. Delhi on Saturday recorded 7897 cases of the coronavirus disease Covid19 pushing the Capitals cumulative tally to 714423 according to a health bulletin. The fatalities also rose sharply in the last 24 hours after 39 new deaths were recorded the bulletin added. A total of 11235 people have succumbed to the deadly viral infection since the pandemic began last year. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-records-7-897-fresh-covid-19-cases-positivity-rate-shoots-up-101618061476378.html 10th Apr 2021

New Outbreaks of Concern

The Associated Press Thai authorities struggled to contain a growing coronavirus outbreak just days before the countrys traditional Songkran New Years holiday when millions of people travel. Health officials reported 559 new infections on Friday following increases over the previous two days. The government response has so far centered on closures of nightlife venues in 41 provinces for two weeks. Governors of some provinces are placing restrictions on travelers arriving from elsewhere. Such daily increases are rare for Thailand which has weathered the pandemic far better than many nations through measures including strict border controls that have decimated the countrys lucrative tourism industry. Thailand has also experimented at times with curfews alcohol bans and closures of schools shopping malls and restaurants. https://apnews.com/article/travel-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-holidays-bangkok-062e0fbaff162cfc3a9e65cbc668b584 9th Apr 2021

New Outbreaks of Concern

The Associated Press Washington will rush federal resources to support vaccinations testing and treatments but not vaccines to Michigan in an effort to control the states worstinthenation COVID19 outbreak the White House said Friday. The announcement came as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer strongly recommended but did not order a twoweek pause on facetoface high school instruction indoor restaurant dining and youth sports. She cited more contagious coronavirus variants and pandemic fatigue as factors in the surge which has led some hospitals to postpone nonemergency procedures. https://apnews.com/040480cd6860324a9fa0890ec373a0d6 9th Apr 2021

New Outbreaks of Concern

Reuters Lockdown measures will be eased from Monday in six Italian regions the health ministry ruled on Friday even as the nationwide daily death toll remains well above 400. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-italy-curbs/italy-eases-covid-19-curbs-as-infections-decline-but-deaths-still-high-idUSL8N2M23S0 10th Apr 2021

New Outbreaks of Concern

Reuters Iran imposed a 10day lockdown across most of the country on Saturday to curb the spread of a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic state media reported. The lockdown affects 23 of the countrys 31 provinces health ministry spokesman Alireza Raisi said. Businesses schools theatres and sports facilities have been forced to shut and gatherings are banned during the holy fasting month of Ramadan that begins on Wednesday. Irans coronavirus cases have surpassed 2 million with a new daily average of over 20000 infections over the past week according to the health ministry. It has reported more than 64000 fatalities. Unfortunately today we have entered a fourth wave President Hassan Rouhani said in televised remarks. He blamed the surge foremost on the variant that first emerged in the UK which spread to Iran earlier this year from neighbouring Iraq. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-iran-int-idUSKBN2BX090 10th Apr 2021

New Outbreaks of Concern

Reuters A lockdown lasting two to four weeks is necessary in order to break a third wave of the coronavirus Germanys top public health official said on Friday. Lothar Wieler president of the Robert Koch Institute said projections showed that mobility needed to be massively reduced in order to stop infections rising. Every day in which we dont act we lose lives he told a weekly news conference. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-lockdown-idUSKBN2BW14F 9th Apr 2021