30th Jun 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=383 lockdown_exit

Indonesia's COVID-19 situation nears 'catastrophe' - Red Cross

Reuters Oxygen prices in Indonesias capital had more than doubled and some suppliers reported shortages on Tuesday after a surge in COVID19 cases that prompted the Red Cross to warn of a coronavirus catastrophe in Southeast Asias biggest country. Indonesia has announced record daily COVID19 infections of more than 20000 in recent days in a new wave fueled by the emergence of highly transmissible virus variants and increased mobility after the Muslim fasting month. With hospitals filling up in the capital Jakarta and patients being turned away some people sought to secure oxygen for infected family members at home. The price for a tank of oxygen had jumped to 140 from the usual 50 suppliers said. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-indonesia/update-1-indonesias-covid-19-situation-nears-catastrophe-red-cross-idUSL2N2OB0O0 29th Jun 2021

Israel may have to throw away nearly 1 million COVID vaccines

The Times of Israel In Israel the Health Ministry will destroy at least 800000 expiring coronavirus vaccine doses if no buyers are found for them in the next two weeks according to a report Monday. The doses of the PfizerBioNtech vaccines set to expire at the end of July are worth hundreds of millions of dollars according to the Kan public broadcaster. Israels search for a taker for the shots come as many countries are expanding their vaccination drives to combat the fastspreading Delta variant of the coronavirus which has sent case numbers in some places soaring. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-may-have-to-throw-away-nearly-1-million-covid-vaccines/ 29th Jun 2021

COVID Delta variant takeover in U.K. offers a warning, and some hope

CBS News on MSN.com Britain where the strain already accounts for 99 of new cases can offer some useful insight into battling the highlytransmissible variant first detected in India. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/uk-offers-a-warning-and-hope-as-covid-delta-variant-takes-over/ar-AALAj4F 29th Jun 2021

Opinion | Vaccine Mandates Are Needed in the U.S.

The New York Times The mRNA vaccines made by Moderna and PfizerBioNTech will likely get full approval for use from the Food and Drug Administration soon which may be necessary for broader vaccine mandates. Although the vaccines are already known to be safe and effective after being given to hundreds of millions of people with full approval more groups will begin mandating that their employees get vaccinated. Its unlikely the United States can overcome the pandemic without such actions. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/28/opinion/covid-vaccine-mandate.html 29th Jun 2021

Fearing COVID, struggling Malawian women forgo prenatal care

Associated Press Prenatal services at the health clinic were free but the motorcycle taxi fare cost more than Monica Maxwell could afford. Just four weeks before delivering her baby she cobbled together 1400 kwacha 1.75 for the 50kilometer 31mile round trip. It was only her third visit fewer than her first two pregnancies. The money she made selling tomatoes at the local market dried up due to the pandemic. Her husbands income selling goat meat also dwindled. It was the most difficult period of our lives. We had no money for our daily survival Maxwell 31 said as she waited outside with other women to be seen by a medical midwife. Mostly we stayed home. In a country where hospitals are so bare that women are expected to bring their own razor blades for cutting their babies umbilical cords the deepening poverty brought on by the pandemic is further imperiling womens lives. https://apnews.com/article/only-on-ap-united-nations-malawi-africa-coronavirus-pandemic-8c95d373af2f1939095df1b5edd356c6 29th Jun 2021

South Africa’s third COVID wave could be the worst yet

Al Jazeera English From his 10bed private clinic in western Johannesburg Bayanda Gumende is more used to treating renal diseases than COVID19. But with the citys hospitals full patients lingering in casualty wards for days and ambulances stuck waiting in car parks that is beginning to change. The 27yearold chief nephrology technologist says he has been swamped with calls from patients desperate for oxygen and who cannot find it elsewhere. But with supply being limited he is forced to prioritise. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/29/south-africas-third-wave-set-to-be-the-worst-yet 29th Jun 2021

Cuba begins coronavirus vaccine trials on children

Reuters Cuba has begun testing its Soberana 2 coronavirus candidate vaccine on children ages three to 18 years the government said this week. Staterun television broadcast video of children receiving their first of three doses on Monday after adolescents were vaccinated last week. Soberana 2 is awaiting final stage trial results after its producer the Finlay Institute reported a 62 efficacy rate after two of three shots the final one a booster called Soberana Plus. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-begins-coronavirus-vaccine-trials-children-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

US to send 2.5m doses of Moderna coronavirus vaccine to Pakistan

Geo News The Biden administration is shipping 2 million doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine to Peru and 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Pakistan White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday. Thanks to the Presidents commitment to playing a leading role in ending the pandemic everywhere 2 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine will begin to ship to Peru from the United States and 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine will ship to Pakistan Psaki said. The White House earlier this month laid out a plan for the United States to donate 80 million surplus COVID19 vaccine doses to the world by the end of June. https://www.geo.tv/latest/357525-us-to-send-25m-doses-of-moderna-coronavirus-vaccine-to-pakistan 29th Jun 2021

Shanghai urged to clarify rules after some vaccinated arrivals hospitalised

South China Morning Post The Spanish consulate in Shanghai is calling on the citys health authorities to clarify quarantine rules for inbound travellers after a number of people vaccinated for the coronavirus were subjected to several days of hospital tests on arrival. In the past few weeks without any official message from the Chinese authorities foreign citizens ... that have been vaccinated either with a Chinese or foreign vaccine ... are being put in hospital against their will for three or four days upon arrival in China the consulate said in a statement on Thursday. Neither the people admitted to hospital nor the consulates general in Shanghai were informed of this surprising and unethical practice. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3139081/coronavirus-spain-urges-shanghai-clarify-rules-vaccinated 29th Jun 2021

Russia says people can decline its vaccine. But for many, they'll get fired if they do

CNN If you ask the Kremlin whether Covid19 vaccination in Russia is voluntary its officials will tell you it is. Yet authorities in Moscow have put together a policy that essentially gives people in publicfacing roles little choice but to get their shots. Faced with stubbornly low vaccination rates Moscow authorities announced just over a week ago that at least 60 of staff in service industries spanning everything from catering to housing and transport must get vaccinated with at least one shot by July 15. Vaccination remains voluntary Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. But while Peskov says someone can refuse a vaccine they just might lose their livelihood for doing so. https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/29/europe/russia-vaccine-voluntary-compulsory-cmd-intl/index.html 29th Jun 2021

Poland considers obligatory COVID-19 jabs for health workers

Reuters Poland could make vaccinations obligatory for some people at high risk from COVID19 to help fend off a potential new surge of infections from August the health minister said on Tuesday. The country of around 38 million has fully vaccinated 12.8 million people but authorities have warned of problems with convincing those not yet vaccinated to get a jab. Unfortunately we have the impression that we have reached a certain ceiling it is hard to convince those who are unconvinced because all the arguments and other types of actions have already been taken Adam Niedzielski told Catholic radio station Radio Plus. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-considers-obligatory-covid-19-jabs-health-workers-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Japan to donate 1 mln AstraZeneca vaccines to the Philippines

Reuters The Philippines will receive one million doses of AstraZeneca COVID19 vaccines next month provided by Japan its ambassador to the Southeast Asian nation said on Tuesday. We are working double time so this donation reaches Philippine shores without delay the ambassador posted on his official Twitter account posted. The vaccines will be delivered on July 8. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-donate-1-mln-astrazeneca-vaccines-philippines-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Royal Caribbean cruises out of Florida to require unvaccinated passengers buy travel insurance

The Hill Royal Caribbean cruises departing from Florida are requiring unvaccinated passengers above the age of 12 to buy travel insurance for medical and travel costs that could occur if they get COVID19. The company announced on Tuesday unvaccinated passengers must get 25000 in medical expense insurance and 50000 insurance for quarantine and medical evacuation costs. The insurance is required for cruises that leave from Florida from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31. The policy will not apply to people who booked their cruises between March 19 and Monday. https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/560783-royal-caribbean-cruises-out-of-florida-to-require-unvaccinated 29th Jun 2021

Delta variant: LA recommends indoor masks regardless of vaccination status

The Guardian Mondays recommendation by the LA county health department comes as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC noted that Delta variants are now responsible for about one in every five new infections across the US. LA county health officials noted that fully vaccinated people appear to be well protected from infections with Delta variants. But the department suggests that people wear masks when inside grocery or retail stores as well as theaters and family entertainment centers and workplaces when peoples vaccination statuses are not known. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/29/delta-variant-los-angeles-indoor-masks-vaccine-status 29th Jun 2021

S.Korea to secure more mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 booster shot

Reuters South Korea plans to secure more mRNA vaccines against COVID19 to use them as a booster shot next year for its entire population Prime Minister Kim Bookyum said on Tuesday. South Korea has already agreed to buy 106 million doses of mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna to cover full vaccination of its population of 52 million this year. The government is also hoping to achieve herd immunity earlier than its November target by inoculating at least 70 of its population with a minimum of one vaccine dose. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-secure-more-mrna-vaccines-covid-19-booster-shot-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

S.Korean companies offer employees COVID-19 vaccines at work

Reuters South Koreas large manufacturing employers have received permission from the countrys health authorities to administer COVID19 vaccines at inhouse clinics hoping to speed up inoculation of their employees. The inoculation plans come amid the South Korean governments push to ramp up vaccinations after a slow start. South Korea has inoculated 15.3 million people or about 30 of its population with at least one dose since it began administering vaccines in February. Affiliates of the countrys biggest conglomerate Samsung Group including Samsung Electronics Co Ltd 005930.KS Samsung Display and Samsung SDI Co Ltd 005930.KS plan to offer vaccine doses to employees at work next month https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorean-companies-offer-employees-covid-19-vaccines-work-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Brazil's Bolsonaro under fire after vaccine deal allegations

Associated Press Accusations that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro turned a blind eye to possible corruption in a deal to purchase coronavirus vaccines have heightened threats to his presidency including a move to recommend slapping him with a criminal charge. The claims have added impetus to the oppositions impeachment drive and left the Brazilian leaders allies in Congress evaluating the costs of their support. https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-brazil-coronavirus-pandemic-health-4262c98628a2a3f9250e60335df27230 29th Jun 2021

Brazil to suspend Indian vaccine deal as graft allegations probed

Reuters Brazil will suspend a 324 million Indian COVID19 vaccine contract that has mired President Jair Bolsonaro in accusations of irregularities the health minister said on Tuesday following the guidance of the federal comptroller the CGU. The deal to buy 20 million doses of Bharat Biotechs Covaxin shot has become a headache for Bolsonaro after whistleblowers went public with alleged irregularities. One Health Ministry official said he alerted the president about his concerns. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/brazil-suspend-indian-vaccine-deal-graft-allegations-probed-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Google is giving Brits incorrect Covid-19 advice

Daily Mail Google shows incorrect answers to queries on self isolation investigation says Users have been told they dont have to selfisolate when the NHS says they do Google is reportedly fixing the problem after a request from the UK government https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9736459/Google-giving-Brits-incorrect-Covid-19-advice.html 29th Jun 2021

Malaysia PM announces $36 bn aid package amid extended lockdown

Taiwan News Malaysia Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday announced a 150 billion ringgit 36.22 billion aid package including cash aid and wage subsidies a day after extending a nationwide lockdown indefinitely to tackle a stubborn COVID19 outbreak. Lockdown measures originally set to end on Monday would not be eased until daily reported cases fell below 4000 the state news agency reported on Sunday citing Muhyiddin. On Monday Malaysia reported 5218 new infections bringing total cases to 739266 including 5001 deaths. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4235121 29th Jun 2021

Third Dose Of Oxford Vaccine Boosts Immunity To Coronavirus

Forbes Scientists say a third dose of AstraZenecas Covid19 vaccine boosts the immune systems response to Coronavirus. Developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca the drug known as ChAdOx1 nCoV19 or AZ1222 is typically given in two doses 412 weeks apart which provides up to 81 protection against moderate to severe disease. A person whos had both doses is currently considered fully vaccinated. But immunity to the SARSCoV2 coronavirus is expected to wane over time partly driven by the presence of new variants that can escape the immune system. As a consequence a third booster shot could become necessary to help prevent people from developing Covid. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2021/06/28/oxford-coronavirus-vaccine-dose/ 29th Jun 2021

COVID-19: 'Mix and match' jabs study finds combination of Oxford and Pfizer vaccines creates robust immune response

Sky News People who have been doubledosed with the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine could have a stronger immune response if they were given a different jab as a booster a leading scientist has said. Professor Matthew Snape from the Oxford Vaccine Group said the mix and match approach may result in additional protection against coronavirus. He made the comments following the results of a clinical trial comparing the current UK strategy of giving two doses of either the AstraZeneca or PfizerBioNTech vaccines against a combination of the two jabs. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-mix-and-match-jabs-study-finds-combination-of-oxford-and-pfizer-vaccines-creates-robust-immune-response-12344108 29th Jun 2021

India's Cipla gets regulator nod to import Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine

Reuters Indian drugmaker Cipla has received regulatory approval to distribute partner Modernas COVID19 vaccine in the country a senior government official said on Tuesday clearing the way for the shot to be imported. Modernas vaccine will be the fourth shot authorized for use in India after AstraZeneca and partner Serum Institute of Indias Covishield Bharat Biotechs Covaxin and Sputnik V developed by Russias Gamaleya Institute. Our vaccine basket is now richer by this addition government official Vinod Kumar Paul said at a news briefing on Tuesday adding the government remained in talks with Pfizer over the drugmakers vaccine. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/indias-cipla-gets-regulator-nod-import-modernas-covid-19-vaccine-cnbc-tv18-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Sanofi to invest 400 million euros in a mRNA vaccines facility

Reuters Sanofi will invest about 400 million euros 476 million annually in research and development of nextgeneration vaccines using mRNA technologies which proved their efficiency in the Pfizer and Moderna COVID19 jabs. Sanofi added on Tuesday that its mRNA Center of Excellence will bring together around 400 employees based at existing sites close to Lyon in southern France and in Cambridge Massachusetts. It is expected to produce a minimum of six clinical candidates by 2025. During the COVID19 pandemic mRNA technologies demonstrated potential to deliver new vaccines faster than ever before said JeanFrancois Toussaint global head of RD at Sanofi Pasteur the companys vaccines division. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/sanofi-invest-400-million-euros-mrna-vaccines-facility-2021-06-29/?taid=60daf3d2b9a1150001df2611&amputm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 29th Jun 2021

J&J scraps India COVID-19 vaccine trial, aims to accelerate availability - ET

Reuters Johnson Johnson said on Tuesday it was in talks with the Indian government to explore ways to speed up delivery of its singleshot COVID19 vaccine in the country. The Economic Times newspaper reported earlier on Tuesday that the company would no longer undertake local trials for its vaccine after Indias decision to scrap bridging clinical trials for vaccines approved by regulators in other nations. JJ did not specify in its comment whether it has scrapped the trial. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/jj-decides-not-conduct-trials-india-its-covid-19-vaccine-et-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Pandemic tied to spike in diabetes in children; type of immune response lasts months after Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

Reuters Hospitalization rates for children with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes rose sharply during the pandemic two hospitals reported at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions held virtually this year. At Our Lady of the Lake Childrens Hospital in Baton Rouge Louisiana children with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes accounted for 0.62 of inpatients from March through December 2020 up from 0.27 the year before. Those numbers are low but just the fact that this rate has more than doubled over the past year is ... significant said Dr. Daniel Hsia of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. Children hospitalized in 2020 had more severe diabetes with higher blood sugar and more dehydration than children admitted in the prior year he said. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/pandemic-tied-spike-diabetes-children-type-immune-response-lasts-months-after-2021-06-28/?taid=60da57fbbcdfda0001430918&amputm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 29th Jun 2021

Covid-19: The countries that have mandatory vaccination for health workers

The BMJ What would you do to keep your job Its a question that healthcare workers in Texas were confronted with in April when local hospital network Houston Methodist required its staff to be vaccinated against SARSCoV2. Nearly 25000 employees dutifully lined up to be protected against covid19 and to protect their patients. More than 150 didnt and have since either been sacked or resigned. A court case brought by one of the employees a former nurse was dismissed by a district court judge but the case raised questions about requiring vaccination using products that have not been fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.2 The employee meanwhile has appealed the ruling. What was once a hypothetical question is now a real one and not just in the US. Businesses around the world are considering making coronavirus vaccinations mandatory for workers Morgan Stanley and the publisher Bloomsbury are two major companies to have already made the move. And those on the frontlines of the pandemic are no different. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1645 29th Jun 2021

Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine safe and effective in children as young as three – Lancet study

CGTN CoronaVac the COVID19 jab developed in China by Sinovac Biotech was found to be safe and effective in children and adolescents according to a study published in leading medical journal The Lancet. Two doses of the vaccine given 28 days apart produce a strong antibody response among those aged between three and 17. Chinese researchers conducted a randomized doubleblind controlled phase 12 clinical trial in Zanhuang County China. The vaccine was given to more than 500 healthy children and adolescents 96 percent of whom developed SarsCoV2 antibodies. https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2021-06-29/Sinovac-COVID-19-vaccine-safe-for-children-as-young-as-three-study-11uLskPCKiI/index.html 29th Jun 2021

Cambridge hospital’s mask upgrade appears to eliminate Covid risk to staff

The Guardian An NHS hospital that upgraded the type of face masks used by staff on Covid19 wards recorded a dramatic fall of up to 100 in hospitalacquired coronavirus infections among those workers research shows. Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge upgraded the masks from fluidresistant surgical masks FRSMs to filtering face piece 3 FFP3 respirators with the change made in late December in response to its own staff testing data. Public Health England PHE had until recently recommended that healthcare workers caring for Covid19 patients should use FRSMs as respiratory protective equipment. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/29/cambridge-hospitals-mask-upgrade-appears-to-eliminate-covid-19-risk-to-staff 29th Jun 2021

Japan's Chugai applies for approval of antibody treatment for COVID-19

Reuters Chugai Pharmaceutical said on Tuesday it applied for regulatory approval in Japan of an antibody treatment for COVID19. The filing is for the antibody cocktail casirivimab and imdevimab and is based on results from a global phase III study and a phase I trial in Japan. Chugai in December inlicensed the drug from Roche which has a controlling stake in the Japanese company. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/japans-chugai-applies-approval-antibody-treatment-covid-19-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

India's richest state gears up to protect children from looming third wave of COVID-19

Reuters Indias western state of Maharashtra is training thousands of health workers in how to care for children afflicted with COVID19 as a first line of defence against surges involving new variants health officials and experts said on Tuesday. The state home to the financial capital of Mumbai was the worst hit by a devastating second wave of infections in April and May that killed hundreds of thousands and is still reporting a quarter of all new cases nationwide. It has reimposed curbs to rein in the fastspreading Delta variant that has touched off new outbreaks globally even as daily national tallies stand at their lowest in nearly two months allowing some states to reopen businesses https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-reports-37566-new-covid-19-infections-907-deaths-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

US counties see an increase in COVID-19 cases as Indian Delta variant takes hold

Daily Mail U.S. counties in the South and the West are seeing an increase in COVID19 cases over the past seven days. Counties in Alabama Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi and Wyoming reported between 100 and 500 cases per 100000 in the last week compared to the national average of 23.9 cases per 100000. All five states have fully vaccinated 35 or fewer residents lower than the national average and only three counties between the five have fully vaccinated more than 50. Former FDA commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb warns that he expects outbreaks of the Indian Delta variant to rise in areas with low vaccination rates Previous studies have shown that two doses of COVID19 vaccines are much more effective against the variant than one shot In the UK the Delta variant has driven an explosion of coronavirus cases causing numbers to spike by about 75 in one week https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9737361/US-counties-increase-COVID-19-cases-Indian-Delta-variant-takes-hold.html 29th Jun 2021

Aussie Rules teams flee COVID outbreaks, rugby league crowds banned

Reuters Four Australian Football League AFL teams are set to base themselves in Melbourne as COVID19 outbreaks and lockdowns across the country play havoc with the competitions schedule. The Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions were booked on a charter plane for Melbourne to beat a snap threeday lockdown starting late on Tuesday in Brisbane and surrounds. Perthbased teams Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles are also heading to Melbourne after authorities in Western Australia state locked down Perth after new cases of COVID19 https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/aussie-rules-teams-flee-covid-outbreaks-rugby-league-crowds-banned-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Surge in Covid-19 cases in Tokyo, less than a month out from Olympics

The Guardian A rise in daily cases of the coronavirus in Tokyo has triggered fears of a possible fifth wave of infections less than a month before the city is due to host the Olympics. Tokyo reported 317 infections on Monday an increase of 81 from the same day last week and the ninth weekonweek sameday rise in a row. The rise in cases coupled with evidence that the more transmissible Delta variant is spreading raises the likelihood that Tokyo will still be subject to emergency measures in some form when the Olympics open on 23 July. Yasutoshi Nishimura the minister overseeing Japans pandemic response this week said the government would not hesitate to call a new state of emergency if necessary. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/29/surge-in-covid-19-cases-in-tokyo-less-than-a-month-out-from-olympics 29th Jun 2021

COVID-19 Delta variant gaining traction in France -minister

Reuters The Delta variant of the COVID19 virus first found in India now represents some 20 of COVID19 cases in France French Health Minister Olivier Veran told France Info radio up from last weeks estimate of it representing 910 of cases. The Delta variant now accounts for about 20 of new cases ... its share keeps on increasing in percentage not in absolute terms as the total number of cases is decreasing Veran said. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-health-minister-covid-19-delta-variant-represents-20-covid-cases-france-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Australia's Brisbane city to start three-day COVID-19 lockdown

Reuters Australians Queensland state capital Brisbane and some neighbouring regions will enter a threeday snap COVID19 lockdown from Tuesday evening state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. About 2 million people in the city the countrys third largest will be required to stay home except for essential work healthcare grocery shopping or exercise. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-brisbane-city-start-three-day-covid-19-lockdown-2021-06-29/ 29th Jun 2021

Australia tightens lockdown amid Delta virus outbreak, vaccine chaos

Swissinfo By Renju Jose SYDNEY Reuters Australia reported a slight rise in COVID19 infections on Tuesday while officials in several states tightened movement curbs and pushed for vaccinations to limit flareups of the highly infectious Delta variant. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/australia-tightens-lockdown-amid-delta-virus-outbreak--vaccine-chaos/46744066 29th Jun 2021

UK must ‘learn to live’ with Covid, says new health secretary

Financial Times Sajid Javid the new UK health secretary said on Monday that the country must learn to live with Covid19 in a bullish statement to MPs that confirmed the governments plan to return England to economic normality on July 19. In a sharp break with the tone of his predecessor Matt Hancock Javid aligned himself with the views of many Conservative ministers who believe it is time to discard caution and reopen the country. No date we choose comes with zerorisk for Covid Javid said in his first House of Commons statement since returning to the cabinet on Saturday. We cannot eliminate it instead we have to learn to live with it he added. https://www.ft.com/content/c7a7ffcc-f3b4-4dbb-bb1c-ed45c2585357 29th Jun 2021

Covid-19: Pandemic will cast “a long shadow” on mental health, warns England's CMO

The BMJ The covid19 pandemic will continue to impact mental health and the provision of psychiatric services for a considerable period Englands chief medical officer has warned. Speaking at the Royal College of Psychiatrists international congress held online on 23 June Chris Whitty stressed that even if the pandemic were to end now it would cast a long shadow on mental health on provision for mental health on our understanding of disease and the research elements that will arise from it. Whitty said the pandemic had led to considerable fear and public anxietyparticularly at the start of the first waveand noted the impact of national lockdowns on peoples social support and financial vulnerability. The mental health elements of the lockdowns and public anxiety were often underplayed he told delegates. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1655 29th Jun 2021