21st Jun 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=369 lockdown_exit

Delta Covid variant becoming globally dominant – WHO official

Independent.ie The Delta variant of Covid19 first identified in India is becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease the World Health Organisations chief scientist said yesterday. Britain has reported a steep rise in infections with the Delta variant while Germanys top public health official predicted it would rapidly become the dominant variant there despite rising vaccination rates. The Kremlin blamed a surge in Covid19 cases on reluctance to have vaccinations and nihilism after record new infections in Moscow mostly with the new Delta variant fanned fears of a third wave https://www.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/delta-covid-variant-becoming-globally-dominant-who-official-40556335.html 19th Jun 2021

‘It’s such a relief’: how Europe’s Covid vaccine rollout is catching up with UK

The Guardian On Friday morning Leyla elik woke up with butterflies in her stomach. For weeks the 22yearold student at Berlins Freie Universitt had tried in vain to get an appointment for her first Covid19 vaccine shot so she could volunteer as a polling station administrator at federal elections in September. Id basically given up hope. But last week her university had suddenly got in touch via email offering her a chance to get a first dose of Moderna vaccine on campus and within a few days. By 9am on Friday the anxiety has turned into euphoria Its such a relief said the native Berliner nursing her achey shoulder at Freies biology institute converted into a vaccine delivery point as of this week. At last I can catch a train or a bus without feeling anxious. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/19/its-such-a-relief-how-europes-covid-vaccine-rollout-is-catching-up-with-uk 19th Jun 2021

Philippines seals biggest COVID-19 vaccine order yet, for 40 mln Pfizer doses

Reuters The Philippine government has signed a supply agreement for 40 million doses of the COVID19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE in its biggest coronavirus vaccine deal to date. Deliveries of the vaccine will begin in late September Carlito Galvez head of the governments COVID19 vaccine procurement said on Sunday. It will significantly boost our national immunisation programme and will enable us to realise our goal of achieving herd immunity by yearend he said. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-signs-deal-40-mln-pfizerbiontech-vaccine-doses-report-2021-06-20/ 21st Jun 2021

UN: Nearly 3 million fled homes in 2020 despite COVID-19 pandemic

The Hill Nearly 3 million people fled their homes in 2020 despite the global pandemic that closed many borders over the past year the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR said. The Global Trends report Friday showed the total number of refugees has increased to 82.4 million people making 1 percent of the world displaced. People were forced to flee their homes throughout the year despite an urgent appeal from the U.N. SecretaryGeneral on 23 March 2020 calling for a global ceasefire to enable a concerted response to the pandemic the report reads. UNHCR data shows that arrivals of new refugees and asylumseekers were sharply down in most regions about 1.5 million fewer people than would have been expected in nonCOVID circumstances and reflecting how many of those seeking international protection in 2020 became stranded. https://thehill.com/policy/international/559135-un-nearly-3-million-fled-homes-in-2020-despite-covid-19-pandemic 19th Jun 2021

'Protected them to death': Elder-care COVID rules under fire

The Associated Press Barbara and Christine Colucci long to remove their masks and kiss their 102yearold mother who has dementia and is in a nursing home in Rochester New York. They would love to have more than two people in her room at a time so that relatives can be there too. We dont know how much longer shes going to be alive Christine Colucci said so its like please give us this last chance with her in her final months on this earth to have that interaction. Pandemic restrictions are falling away almost everywhere except inside many of Americas nursing homes. Rules designed to protect the nations most vulnerable from COVID19 are still being enforced even though 75 of nursing home residents are now vaccinated and infections and deaths have plummeted. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-nursing-homes-restrictions-elderly-2c6b98804219c731a5e8a9b843594381 19th Jun 2021

Afghanistan running out of oxygen as COVID surge worsens

Associated Press Afghanistans is racing to ramp up supplies of oxygen as a deadly third surge of COVID19 worsens a senior health official told The Associated Press in an interview Saturday. The government is installing oxygen supply plants in 10 provinces where up to 65 of those tested in some areas are COVID positive health ministry spokesman Ghulam Dastigir Nazari said. By WHO recommendations anything higher than 5 shows officials arent testing widely enough allowing the virus to spread unchecked. Afghanistan carries out barely 4000 tests a day and often much less. Afghanistans 24hour infection count has also continued its upward climb from 1500 at the end of May when the health ministry was already calling the surge a crisis to more than 2300 this week. Since the pandemic outbreak Afghanistan is reporting 101906 positive cases and 4122 deaths. But those figures are likely a massive undercount registering only deaths in hospitals not the far greater numbers who die at home. https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-coronavirus-pandemic-health-oxygen-shortage-a5f1b9cf47479cf38cae6b765d7c9250 19th Jun 2021

Africa Appeals for Vaccines to Combat Third Wave of COVID-19

Voice of America African health officials are urgently appealing for vaccines to combat a third wave of COVID19 surging across the continent. The World Health Organization reports the number of African COVID19 cases has exceeded 5 million and the disease has killed 136000 people. WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says cases have been increasing over the past four weeks. She says new cases in the past week have risen by nearly 30 across the continent and deaths have increased by 15. She says five countriesSouth Africa Tunisia Zambia Uganda and Namibiaaccount for 76 of new coronavirus infections in Africa. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/africa-appeals-vaccines-combat-third-wave-covid-19 19th Jun 2021

In COVID hit Asia, mixed messages on refugee vaccinations

Al Jazeera English The refugees were vaccinated in conjunction with the local government Nasruddin the humanitarian coordinator of Geutanyoe Foundation an NGO which provides education and psychosocial support to refugees in Indonesia and Malaysia told Al Jazeera. When we found them they were in a crisis situation on the island with no food water or electricity so local residents brought them food and we also brought them 50 tanks of water he added. The feeling on the ground was that we needed to share our vaccines with the refugees in order to protect them as well. No one complained that the vaccines were being given to refugees. Aceh Province has been widely praised by humanitarian groups NGOs and the general public for vaccinating Rohingya refugees but elsewhere in Southeast Asia asylum seekers refugees and migrant workers have not been so lucky. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/18/indonesia-begins-refugee-covid-jabs-amid-malaysia-confusion 19th Jun 2021

US sending Taiwan 2.5 million vaccine doses, tripling pledge

The Associated Press The U.S. is sending 2.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID19 vaccine to Taiwan tripling an earlier pledge in a donation with both public health and geopolitical meaning. The shipment was due to arrive by plane later Sunday the de facto U.S. embassy said. The donation reflects our commitment to Taiwan as a trusted friend and a member of the international family of democracies the American Institute in Taiwan wrote on its Facebook page. Taiwan which had been relatively unscathed by the virus has been caught offguard by a surge in new cases since May and is now scrambling to get COVID19 vaccines. It has ordered 5.05 million doses directly from Moderna but so far received only 390000 including a second shipment that arrived Friday. https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-health-coronavirus-pandemic-66b8ae66a2bb43c6e02d094edd0e5cec 20th Jun 2021

Covid-19: Should all children get a vaccine?

BBC News Vaccinating children is routine and widely accepted measles mumps polio diphtheria rotavirus multiple strains of meningitis whooping cough the list goes on. All this starts from just a few weeks old. So what about Covid19 Some countries are cracking on. The US is immunising children between 12 and 15. It expects to have enough safety data to go even younger next year. But in the UK the BBC has been told a decision to vaccinate all 12 to 17yearolds is unlikely to be recommended by UK experts any time soon. There is a scientific question will vaccinating children save lives which is complex as the answer may vary from country to country. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-57203521 18th Jun 2021

COVID-19 might be over, but viral infections in Israel are surging

The Jerusalem Post The corona crisis might be over but all over Israel adults and children are getting sick with viral infections in a phenomenon that is unprecedented for this time of the year according to several medical professionals. We have never seen anything like this said Dr. Tal Brosh head of Infectious Disease Unit at the Samson Assuta Ashdod Hospital. Weve been monitoring viral infections in the hospital which of course is just the tip of the iceberg of what is going on in the community as for each hospitalized patient there are many more out there. Since the spring we have been seeing an increasing number of respiratory diseases and since May there has been a surge in RSV cases. https://www.jpost.com/health-science/covid-19-might-be-over-but-viral-infections-in-israel-are-surging-671354 17th Jun 2021

Mexico to donate 154100 doses of AstraZeneza vaccine to Honduras

Reuters The Mexican government announced on Friday it is donating to Honduras 154100 doses of the AstraZeneca AZN.L COVID19 vaccine. The donation is the first from the Mexican government to the small Central American nation which has confirmed 251149 cases of coronavirus and 6719 deaths. About 400000 Hondurans have received at least one vaccine shot out of a population of 9.5 million. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-donate-154100-doses-astrazeneza-vaccine-honduras-2021-06-19/ 18th Jun 2021

Fans who had AstraZeneca vaccine won’t be allowed into Bruce Springsteen’s New York concerts

Evening Standard Anyone who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine will be barred from attending Bruce Springsteens comeback shows in New York next week. The intimate fivenight run at the St James theatre will be the first Broadway show to reopen since last March and will require attendees to show proof of vaccination reports The Telegraph. However the list will be limited only to jabs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration Moderna PfizerBioNTech and Johnson Johnson. Any potential concertgoers who received their OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine overseas will be left with the prospect of being turned away at the door should they book tickets. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/astrazeneca-vaccine-bruce-springsteen-on-broadway-concert-new-york-b941311.html 18th Jun 2021

Nudge, nudge: the secret behind our Covid vaccine success

The Times The Polish government organised a million zloty 189000 lottery New Jersey in the US is offering a shot and a beer and vaccinated people in Moscow can win a car. No such eyecatching incentives are needed here Britain boasts one of the highest vaccine takeup rates in the world. More than 64 per cent of the population have had one dose meaning the UK should overtake Israel for first doses per person next week. More than 96 per cent of all adults aged 50 and over have been vaccinated. There is no sign of that slowing. When bookings opened to adults aged 1820 on Friday more than 721000 people signed up in a single day in what officials described as a Glastonburystyle rush. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nudge-nudge-the-secret-behind-our-covid-vaccine-success-bwm2b00zg 20th Jun 2021

COVID-19: Ministers consider dropping quarantine rules for those with two jabs

Sky News The government is considering dropping forced selfisolation for those who have had two coronavirus jabs Sky News understands. Skys political correspondent Rob Powell said it was early days but the idea is being discussed in Westminster and people would instead have to take daily tests. It is unclear whether the proposal would only come in after all adults in the country have been offered two doses Powell added. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-ministers-consider-dropping-quarantine-rules-for-those-with-two-jabs-12336298 19th Jun 2021

Indian COVID-19 official says the country wants to resume coronavirus vaccine exports but can't until its needs are met.

ABC News Indian COVID19 official says the country wants to resume coronavirus vaccine exports but cant until its needs are met. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/indian-covid-19-official-country-resume-coronavirus-vaccine-78360123 18th Jun 2021

Tokyo cancels public viewing sites for summer Olympics

Al Jazeera English Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has cancelled all public viewing sites for the summer Olympics diverting some venues to be COVID19 vaccinations centres instead. Foreign spectators are banned from attending the Games delayed by a year due to the pandemic but the government and Tokyo 2020 organisers have for months held off on deciding whether to allow Japanese spectators into the stadiums. https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/6/19/olympics-tokyo-cancels-public-viewing-sites 19th Jun 2021

California gives residents digital access to their COVID-19 vaccine record

Yahoo The state of California has launched a tool designed to give residents easy access to a digital copy of their COVID19 vaccine information. Unlike New Yorks Excelsior Pass its not an app people have to install on their phones. Its a simple website where residents will have to enter their name date of birth and the phone number or email they used when they got their vaccine. They also have to create a 4digital PIN which theyll have to remember to be able to open the digital copy of their vaccine record. https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-digital-covid-19-vaccine-record-035735439.html 19th Jun 2021

Palestinian Authority calls off vaccine exchange with Israel

Al Jazeera English The Palestinian Authority announced it has cancelled an agreement with Israeli regarding the exchange of Pfizer vaccines saying the doses are set to expire soon. Palestinian officials had come under heavy criticism on social media after the agreement was announced with many accusing them of accepting subpar vaccines and suggesting they might not be effective. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/18/palestinians-to-get-1-million-covid-vaccine-doses-in-israel-swap 19th Jun 2021

South Africa deploys army medics to COVID-hit Gauteng province

Al Jazeera English South Africa is deploying army medical personnel to its commercial hub and most populous province to help health workers battle a surge in coronavirus the government said on Friday. South Africa the worsthit country in the continent has entered a third COVID wave with new daily cases doubling over the past two weeks. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/18/south-africa-sends-army-medics-to-covid-hit-gauteng-province 19th Jun 2021

Kremlin blames vaccine hesitancy as Delta variant drives Moscow surge

Reuters The Kremlin on Friday blamed a surge in COVID19 cases on reluctance to have vaccinations and nihilism after a record 9056 new infections in Moscow mostly with the new Delta variant fanned fears of a third wave. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin extended restrictions he had imposed this month which include a ban on events with more than 1000 people an 11 p.m. closing time for restaurants and the closure of fan zones set up for the European soccer championship https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/covid-19-cases-hit-an-all-time-daily-high-moscow-2021-06-18/ 19th Jun 2021

Nearly half of unvaccinated Americans say they will not get the Covid-19 vaccine, poll finds

The Independent on MSN.com Conducted between 10 and 14 June the Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that of those who have not received the Covid19 jab 46 per cent said they definitely do not plan to get vaccinated. Meanwhile 29 per cent of unvaccinated participants said they would probably not be getting the Covid19 jab while seven percent said they definitely will and 15 per cent say they probably will. The poll which saw a total of 1125 adults surveyed highlights the difficulties the Biden administration faces in propelling its vaccination programme forward. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/nearly-half-of-unvaccinated-americans-say-they-will-not-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-poll-finds/ar-AALbWMu 19th Jun 2021

English councils refuse six in 10 requests for Covid self-isolation pay

The Guardian Almost twothirds of workers in England seeking grants to help them selfisolate are being refused help sparking warnings from trade unions that a key policy to limit Covid19 is failing in the face of rising infections. Councils are continuing to refuse more than six out of 10 applications despite the government increasing funding for the vital antiCovid system in March to 20m a month freedom of information requests by the Trades Union Congress found. One council Hackney in east London said it had rejected 91 of requests for the 500 payments. saying that the governments criteria were extremely tight. It had to reject some requests because they did not produce the right paperwork even though it acknowledged it can be difficult if families are ill or selfisolating. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/18/english-councils-refuse-six-in-10-requests-for-covid-self-isolation-pay 19th Jun 2021

Why one in eight under-30s is concerned about getting the Covid vaccine, according to experts

iNews All over18s in England can book their coronavirus vaccine today as the rollout opens to all remaining young adults. Last week thousands of over25s queued online to bag an appointment when they became eligible with a million doses booked in one day. But not all young people feel positively towards the vaccine with rates of hesitancy in those under 30 higher than any other age group. i asked the experts why young people are more likely to refuse the jab than their parents or grandparents. https://inews.co.uk/news/health/why-one-in-eight-under-30s-concerned-covid-vaccine-according-to-experts-1046409 19th Jun 2021

Brazil still debating dubious virus drug amid 500,000 deaths

ABC News As Brazil hurtles toward an official COVID19 death toll of 500000 secondhighest in the world science is on trial inside the country and the truth is up for grabs. With the milestone likely to be reached this weekend Brazils Senate is publicly investigating how the toll got so high focusing on why President Jair Bolsonaros farright government ignored opportunities to buy vaccines for months while it relentlessly pushed hydroxychloroquine the malaria drug that rigorous studies have shown to be ineffective in treating COVID19. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/brazil-debating-dubious-virus-drug-amid-500000-deaths-78357809 18th Jun 2021

AstraZeneca committed 'serious breach' in failing to supply vaccines to EU

Belfast Telegraph A Belgian court has ruled that coronavirus vaccinemaker AstraZeneca had committed a serious breach of its contract with the European Union amid a major legal battle over delivery obligations that has tarnished the companys image. The court ordered AstraZeneca to deliver a total of 80.2 million doses to the EU from the time the contract was agreed up until Sept 27. The ruling said the company did not appear to have made a best reasonable effort to meet the delivery schedule because it had not used its UK production sites. But the AngloSwedish company claimed victory saying that this was far fewer than the 120 million doses that the EUs executive branch the European Commission was seeking in total by the end of June. It also welcomed the courts acknowledgement that it was under unprecedented pressure. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/astrazeneca-committed-serious-breach-in-failing-to-supply-vaccines-to-eu-40555558.html 18th Jun 2021

The animal origins pathway of Covid-19 outbreak is logical, but there’s no ‘gotcha’ evidence

The Guardian The global Covid19 pandemic may yet become the worst in modern history. Already there are more than 175 million cases and 3.8 million deaths. As quickly as the pandemic was upon us so too has been the response the rapid implementation of new technologies to drive public health novel approaches to vaccines and the continuous courage and commitment of our healthcare workers. But with the universal collaboration of those working to fight the virus comes others who have been unedifying and downright mistaken in their approach the rejection or lack of scientific advice prioritisation of economic considerations over public health social media manipulation and the movement towards an ideological left versus right battle. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/18/the-animal-origins-pathway-of-covid-19-outbreak-is-logical-but-theres-no-gotcha-evidence 18th Jun 2021

Two critical reasons UK is facing a difficult COVID winter, according to Chris Whitty

Yahoo News UK Chris Whitty has said the UK needs to brace for another difficult winter. Englands chief medical officer warned on Thursday of another coronavirus surge as well as a flu surge. While he said it wont be as bad as last winters COVID19 crisis in which tens of thousands of people were hospitalised and died Prof Whitty warned there are further problems to come later this year. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chris-whitty-reasons-uk-difficult-winter-141727330.html 19th Jun 2021

Moderna plots 155 new hires in 2021 amid major mRNA vaccine manufacturing expansion

FiercePharma With a major COVID19 vaccine manufacturing boost underway Moderna is plotting new hires to fill its expanded production and lab space. The mRNA specialist has promised to hire at least 155 new employees for manufacturing positions at its Norwood Massachusetts site in 2021 and to retain the additional headcount through 2025 the company said Friday. The new commitment came with a 2.33 million tax incentive from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. Its also the result of a newly launched expansion project that aims to more than double the Moderna facilitys space. Moderna didnt immediately reply to an inquiry for clarification as to how many of the 155 jobs have already been filled. https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/moderna-plots-155-new-hires-2021-amid-major-mrna-vaccine-manufacturing-expansion 18th Jun 2021

Argentine lab makes first half million doses of Russian COVID-19 vaccine

Reuters Argentine laboratory Richmond said on Friday that it had produced almost half a million doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus the first made in the country. The vaccines await approval from the National Administration of Medicines Food and Medical Technology ANMAT and Russias Gamaleya Institute for their release Richmond said in a tweet. We appreciate the hard work it took our staff to achieve this first objective and continue with our commitment to have local vaccine production it said. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentine-lab-makes-first-half-million-doses-russian-covid-19-vaccine-2021-06-19/ 19th Jun 2021

You can catch covid-19 twice, but the second bout is likely to be mild

New Scientist Back in August 2020 a worrying report came in from Reno Nevada. A 25yearold man who had recovered from covid19 in April had fallen ill with it again and this time his symptoms were worse. He had tested negative for the virus in between bouts so had been infected twice. Other reports of reinfection were also circulating at the time raising fears that infections dont lead to longlasting immunity. Nine months on however those fears have receded... https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25033395-200-you-can-catch-covid-19-twice-but-the-second-bout-is-likely-to-be-mild/ 21st Jun 2021

Cuba encouraged by early efficacy results of homegrown COVID-19 vaccine

Reuters Cubas Soberana 2 vaccine candidate has shown 62 efficacy with just two of its three doses staterun biopharmaceutical corporation BioCubaFarma said on Saturday citing preliminary data from late phase trials. Cuba whose biotech sector has exported vaccines for decades has five vaccine candidates in clinical trials of which two Soberana 2 and Abdala are in late phase trials. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-encouraged-by-early-trials-homegrown-covid-19-vaccine-2021-06-20/ 20th Jun 2021

A Pill to Treat Covid-19? The U.S. Is Betting on It.

The New York Times The U.S. government spent more than 18 billion last year funding drugmakers to make a Covid vaccine an effort that led to at least five highly effective shots in record time. Now its pouring more than 3 billion on a neglected area of research developing pills to fight the virus early in the course of infection potentially saving many lives in the years to come. The new program announced on Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services will speed up the clinical trials of a few promising drug candidates. If all goes well some of those first pills could be ready by the end of the year. The Antiviral Program for Pandemics will also support research on entirely new drugs not just for the coronavirus but for viruses that could cause future pandemics. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/17/health/covid-pill-antiviral.html 18th Jun 2021

Masks, social distancing may have weakened children's immune system: Report

India Today According to experts children for the last 15 months or so have not had great encounters with viral pathogens. As a result they have not been able to build an immune system to fight the bugs in the postpandemic days. https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/masks-social-distancing-may-have-weakened-children-immunity-system-report-1816848-2021-06-19 19th Jun 2021

Expect 'difficult winter' with both flu and Covid wave, warns CMO

Pulse Today GPs should expect a resurgence of flu cases alongside another winter wave of Covid the chief medical officer has warned. He said that a difficult winter lies ahead although it may not reach the pressures felt this year. It comes as studies are underway to assess whether flu and Covid vaccinations can be coadministered later this year. Speaking yesterday at the final afternoon of NHS Confeds annual conference Professor Chris Whitty said that after the current wave he is expecting a further surge of Covid in late autumnwinter when respiratory viruses are favoured. The size of this will depend on any new variants and how the current wave passes through the UK but revaccination should be expected for the next two to three years he added. He told delegates If I look five years out I would expect us to have polyvalent vaccines which will hold the line to a very large degree against even new variants as they come in and an ability to respond with vaccination to new variants. https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/respiratory/expect-difficult-winter-with-both-flu-and-covid-wave-warns-cmo/ 18th Jun 2021

G7 summit was ‘super spreading’ event for Cornwall as cases rocket 2,450% after Johnson and Biden visit

iNews Britains recent G7 summit of world leaders was a superspreader event that has led to a sharp increase in Covid19 infections in the surrounding communities according to the latest data. Cornwall business leaders politicians and residents are calling for the Government to save the summer following a huge rise in Covid19 infections following the visit from world leaders their entourages the worlds media and thousands of police last weekend. Areas of Cornwall where G7 events were focused saw infections rise more than 2000 per cent in the seven days leading up to the end of the meeting between global leaders . https://inews.co.uk/news/g7-summit-was-super-spreading-event-for-cornwall-as-cases-rocket-2450-after-johnson-and-biden-visit-1060710 18th Jun 2021

Delta variant of coronavirus seen dominant in Germany by autumn

Reuters The more infectious Delta coronavirus variant will become dominant in Germany by the autumn at the latest the countrys top public health official said on Friday urging the public both to continue wearing masks indoors and to get vaccinated. The Delta variant makes up about 6 of infections but its share is growing Lothar Wieler head of the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said referring to the variant first identified in India. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/delta-variant-become-dominant-germany-latest-autumn-2021-06-18/ 18th Jun 2021

Delta variant behind COVID-19 resurge in Lisbon area

Reuters Over half the new COVID19 cases being reported in the Lisbon region are of the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant preliminary data showed on Sunday as Portuguese authorities scramble to curb a worrying spike in infections. Ricardo Jorge the national health institute said the Delta variant first identified in India represented over 60 of cases in the Lisbon area though still less than 15 in the northern half of Portugal. The Alpha variant which was previously dominant in Britain is more prevalent across Portugals north representing 80 of infections there and only 30 in and around Lisbon according to the institute. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-portugal/delta-variant-behind-covid-19-resurge-in-lisbon-area-idUSL5N2O206T 20th Jun 2021

Brazil passes half a million COVID-19 deaths, experts warn of worse ahead

Reuters Brazils death toll from COVID19 surpassed 500000 on Saturday as experts warn that the worlds seconddeadliest outbreak may worsen due to delayed vaccinations and the governments refusal to back social distancing measures. Only 11 of Brazilians have been fully vaccinated and epidemiologists warn that with winter arriving in the southern hemisphere and new variants of the coronavirus circulating deaths will continue to mount even if immunizations gain steam. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-set-pass-half-million-covid-19-deaths-2021-06-19/ 20th Jun 2021

COVID-19: Pregnant women and their unborn babies dying in Brazil as deaths set to pass 500k mark

Sky News Researchers in Sao Paulo one of the worsthit cities in the country say the P1 variant has started infecting and killing pregnant women and their unborn children in startling numbers. Currently 42 pregnant women die every week from COVID19 many more women are being intubated and their premature children delivered by caesarean section without consultation with obstetricians according to medical researchers at the Brazilian Obstetric Observatory. Dr Rossana Pulcineli Vieira Francisco from the observatory said The virus transmissibility is higher with this variant and I think the big problem is that the health system for maternal care in Brazil is very bad. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-pregnant-women-and-their-unborn-babies-dying-in-brazil-as-covid-deaths-set-to-pass-500k-12336058 18th Jun 2021

In 2nd school outbreak, 44 kids catch COVID — apparently the Delta variant

The Times of Israel At least 44 kids at a middle school in northern Israel have tested positive for coronavirus local authorities announced Saturday in the second such outbreak at an Israeli school this week. The town of BinyaminaGivat Adas said the vast majority of those infected were in seventh and eighth grade.According to Kan news initial tests indicate the outbreaks there and in Modiin earlier in the week were all of the Delta variant first identified in India which is more contagious than other variants and may be better able to bypass vaccines. The report said several adults who were infected in the school outbreaks were vaccinated. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-2nd-israeli-school-outbreak-in-a-week-44-kids-diagnosed-with-coronavirus/ 19th Jun 2021

Biden celebrates 300m vaccine goal but warns unvaccinated areas will ‘hurt’ with delta variant

The Independent President Joe Biden celebrated the United States administering more than 300 million Covid19 vaccines within his first 150 days in office on Friday but he warned the delta variant could hurt communities with low vaccination rates. What we are seeing is truly an American accomplishment Mr Biden said at the White House. To date more than 176 million people or 53.1 per cent of the US population have received at least one dose of a Covid19 vaccine according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 65.1 per cent of American adults have received at least one dose of a Covid19 vaccine. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-covid-vaccine-us-latest-b1868792.html 18th Jun 2021

Uganda imposes new anti-coronavirus measures to stem raging pandemic

Reuters Ugandas president Yowreri Museveni on Friday introduced sweeping new anticoronavirus measures including a ban on all vehicular movement except for essential workers to help curb a second wave of the COVID19 pandemic gripping the nation. The east African country like most other African peers had been left relatively unscathed by the first wave. It suddenly started experiencing a steep surge in COVID19 infections last month after authorities confirmed they had detected presence of the Indian coronavirus variant https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/uganda-imposes-new-anti-coronavirus-measures-stem-raging-pandemic-2021-06-18/ 18th Jun 2021

Covid UK: 'Race is on’ between coronavirus vaccine and third wave

Reuters Ugandas president Yowreri Museveni on Friday introduced sweeping new anticoronavirus measures including a ban on all vehicular movement except for essential workers to help curb a second wave of the COVID19 pandemic gripping the nation. The east African country like most other African peers had been left relatively unscathed by the first wave. It suddenly started experiencing a steep surge in COVID19 infections last month after authorities confirmed they had detected presence of the Indian coronavirus variant https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/uganda-imposes-new-anti-coronavirus-measures-stem-raging-pandemic-2021-06-18/ 18th Jun 2021

Covid UK: 'Race is on’ between coronavirus vaccine and third wave

HeraldScotland.com The race is on between the Covid19 vaccine and a third wave of the virus but there are grounds for cautious optimism advisers to the UK Government have said. The experts comments come after Public health England said there has been a 79 rise in one week in cases of the Delta variant first identified in India. The increase across the UK is being driven by younger age groups many of whom have now been invited for a vaccination as the jab rollout extends to anyone aged 18 and over. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/19384972.covid-uk-race-on-coronavirus-vaccine-third-wave/?ref=rss 19th Jun 2021

Oman to reimpose nightly curfew following spike in COVID-19 cases

Reuters Oman will reimpose a curfew and suspend all commercial activities from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. following a spike in COVID19 cases the countrys Supreme Committee for Combating Coronavirus said on Saturday. The curfew which will start on Sunday will restrict the movement of people and vehicles with an exception for home delivery services the committee statement said. Cases in Oman have trended upwards since January with a pronounced surge since a dip in early May. The Gulf state has had the regions slowest vaccine rollout due to procurement difficulties. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/oman-reimpose-nightly-curfew-following-spike-covid-19-cases-2021-06-19/ 19th Jun 2021