6th Sep 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=481 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times A World Cup qualification game between Brazil and Argentina South Americas most successful soccer teams was halted after only a few minutes on Sunday after Brazilian health authorities walked onto the field during play in an apparent dispute about coronavirus quarantine regulations. In chaotic scenes in So Paulo a group of Brazilian public health officials entered the field minutes into the highly anticipated showdown and ordered Argentinas players off the field as officials from both sides a small crowd allowed inside the stadium and a global television audience struggled to comprehend just what was taking place. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/sports/soccer/brazil-argentina-suspended.html 5th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Former British prime minister Gordon Brown accused rich countries of committing a moral outrage by stockpiling COVID19 doses while poor countries are struggling to get supplies. Brown who is a United Nations special envoy called on U.S. President Joe Biden and other Group of Seven leaders to urgently ship vaccines from warehouses in America and Europe to Africa. Western countries are hoarding nearly 300 million shots while only 70 million people in Africa have so far been vaccinated Brown said in an opinion piece published in the Sunday Mirror newspaper citing research by data firm Airfinity. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/ex-uk-pm-brown-accuses-west-moral-outrage-over-covid-vaccine-stockpiling-2021-09-04/ 4th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Nurse Chris Protts knees jump his heart races his mouth goes dry and his mind floods with dark memories when he talks about working in the Milwaukee VA Medical Centers intensive care unit ICU during pandemic surges. Prott shares a struggle common to many of the military veterans for whom he has cared for years symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/each-covid-19-surge-poses-risk-healthcare-workers-ptsd-2021-09-05/ 5th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Wall Street Journal The recent spread of the highly contagious Delta variant has thrown backtoschool plans into disarray temporarily driving tens of thousands of students back to virtual learning or pausing instruction altogether. Since the school year kicked off in late July at least 1000 schools across 31 states have closed because of Covid19 according to Burbio a Pelham N.Y. data service that is monitoring school closures at 1200 districts nationwide including the 200 largest. The shutdowns are hitting classrooms especially hard in the Deep South where most schools were among the first to open a possible warning of whats to come as the rest of the nations students start school this month. https://www.wsj.com/articles/child-covid-19-cases-rise-in-states-where-schools-opened-earliest-11630834201 5th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Italy will decide by the end of September whether Covid19 vaccines will become mandatory for all people aged 12 and over according to a minister in Mario Draghis coalition. If we will not have reached a vaccination level between 80 and 90 we will pass a law to impose the Covid19 vaccine to all people against it Public Administration Minister Renato Brunetta said Sunday in an interview at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio Italy. We will decide by the end of the month. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-05/italy-to-decide-on-compulsory-vaccine-this-month-minister-says 5th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Anthony Fauci said U.S. booster shots against Covid19 are likely to start only with the vaccine by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE while the Moderna Inc. shot may be delayed. White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain pushed back against criticism that the Biden administration is rushing booster shots ahead of scientific evidence. The Group of 20 are set to pledge to do more to tackle the impact of the pandemic on mental health as ministers meet in Rome this weekend. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-05/fauci-cites-possible-delay-for-moderna-booster-virus-update?srnd=premium-europe 5th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg The Biden administration unveiled a 65.3 billion plan to prepare for future pandemics threats likening the ambitious proposal to the Apollo mission to the moon. The proposal announced Friday by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and National Security Council focuses on protecting the U.S. against potentially catastrophic biological threats including those that are naturally occurring accidental or deliberately set in motion by bad actors. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-03/white-house-proposes-65-billion-plan-to-combat-future-pandemics 4th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

Financial Times The country is an international outlier in restoring inperson learning without mitigations or vaccination of 12 to 15yearolds. Neurologists warned that Covid19 could fuel a pandemic of dementia because of longterm brain damage wrought in some patients. Second a paper in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology noted that long Covid sufferers are at increased risk of kidney damage. Millions may need dialysis for years to come a costly tragedy for patients and creaking healthcare systems. https://www.ft.com/content/b67e2368-fbae-4035-9119-c8de6d6b4915 3rd Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters China had administered a total of around 7.5 million COVID19 vaccines on Friday Sept. 3 bringing the accumulated total to 2.092 billion doses data from the National Health Commission showed on Saturday. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-administered-total-2092-bln-doses-covid-19-vaccines-sept-3-2021-09-04/ 4th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

The BMJ We write as researchers parents and educators concerned about the impact of the pandemic on childrens education. Like you and in agreement with the World Health Organization WHO we recognise the importance of schools staying open over the autumn and in the longer term. However as the WHO also notes schools must be made safe by adopting measures to minimise transmission of the SARSCoV2 virus. We are therefore writing to express our concerns about the lack of mitigations for children and educational staff and the subsequent risk to children from covid19 as schools reopen in England this September. We offer nine evidence based recommendations to reduce new infections in children. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/09/03/englands-schools-must-be-made-safe-an-open-letter-to-the-education-secretary/?utm_source=feedburner&amputm_medium=feed&amputm_campaign=Feed%3A+bmj%2Fblogs+%28Latest+BMJ+blogs%29&ampg=w_blogs_bmj-com 4th Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times Tyson Foods said it would provide 20 hours of paid sick time a year to fully vaccinated employees to enhance benefits for workers willing to receive coronavirus vaccinations. The new benefit announced on Friday followed discussions with the United Food Commercial Workers which represents several thousand Tyson workers over the companys requirement that all its U.S. workers be vaccinated as a condition of employment by Nov. 1. The paid sick leave policy takes effect on Jan. 1 and also applies to all nonunion employees. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/03/business/tyson-vaccination-workers.html 3rd Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Wall Street Journal Companies unwilling to require employees to get vaccinations are increasingly considering healthcarebenefit surcharges and other more aggressive measures to make their workplaces safer from Covid19 employment and benefit experts say. What started as a campaign of encouragement and lobbying by many employers is now turning into a more forceful effort with businesses considering measures that penalize employees who remain unvaccinated. https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-companies-weigh-penalizing-employees-without-covid-19-vaccinations-11629998870?mod=hp_minor_pos12 3rd Sep 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Washington Post Im going to come right out and say it In situations where hospitals are overwhelmed and resources such as intensive care beds or ventilators are scarce vaccinated patients should be given priority over those who have refused vaccination without a legitimate medical or religious reason. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/03/doctors-should-be-allowed-give-priority-vaccinated-patients-when-resources-are-scarce/ 3rd Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail Israel is set to begin preparations to administer fourth doses of the coronavirus vaccines as the country deals with soaring cases despite its trailblazing rollout of jabs. The countrys national coronavirus czar Salman Zarka said the country needs to prepare for a fourth injection which could be modified to better protect against new variants of the virus. Given that that the virus is here and will continue to be here we also need to prepare for a fourth injection he told Kan public radio. This is our life from now on in waves. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9959811/Israel-planning-administer-FOURTH-Covid-vaccine-adjusted-fight-new-variants.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline 5th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI has resisted intense pressure from ministers by refusing to recommend coronavirus vaccines for 12 to 15yearolds. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said parents would find it deeply reassuring if children were given jabs and leaks from Whitehall insiders suggested the JCVI was ready to sign off on vaccines for teenagers as schools return in England. Yet although the vaccination programme has been expanded to cover more children with underlying health conditions the JCVI has not approved vaccination for the entire age cohort https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-ministers-face-difficult-decision-on-whether-to-overrule-jcvis-finding-on-vaccinating-children-12398490 4th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Vietnams coronavirus epicentre Ho Chi Minh City which has kept residents confined at home under lockdown is considering reopening economic activity from Sept. 15 shifting from a zero COVID19 strategy to a policy of living with the virus. The city of 9 million people is targeting a phased reopening and the full vaccination of its citizens by the end of this year according to the draft seen by Reuters which has yet to be endorsed. Ho Chi Minh City last month deployed troops to enforce its lockdown and prohibited residents from leaving their homes to slow a spiralling rate of deaths. Just 3 of Vietnams 98 million population has been fully vaccinated https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnams-biggest-city-proposes-sept-15-economic-restart-after-lockdown-2021-09-03/ 4th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Venezuela this week will receive the first coronavirus vaccines obtained via COVAX President Nicolas Maduro said following months of stalled attempts to obtain inoculations through the global vaccine program. The South American nation has been inoculating its population with doses acquired directly from China and Russia following months of delays in making payments to COVAX that Maduro has attributed to U.S. sanctions. This week the first vaccines from the COVAX mechanism will arrive Maduro said in an interview with state television. We hope the COVAX mechanism accelerates such that in October they deliver the vaccines for an estimated 6 million Venezuelans. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/maduro-says-venezuela-receive-first-covax-vaccines-this-week-2021-09-05/?taid=613505ad6edf5a000104acd2&amputm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 5th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg Florida reported 2345 additional Covid19 deaths in its latest weekly report the most ever in a similar period. The daily average rose 36 to 335 according to calculations based on the report. That would surpass the high for the entire pandemic in Johns Hopkins University data. The data is based on when the death was reported not when it occurred. People 65andover accounted for 63 of the deaths reported in the period. Cumulatively over the entire pandemic Florida seniors have made up 79 of deaths. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-03/florida-s-newly-reported-covid-deaths-jump-to-pandemic-record 4th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Tyson Foods said that labor unions have agreed to support its requirement for U.S. employees to be vaccinated against COVID19 by November and the company will offer new benefits to workers including paid sick leave. Companies have been working to incentivize employees to get vaccinated through bonuses and other benefits as the highly contagious Delta variant drives an increase in U.S. coronavirus infections. In some instances employees who do not get shots face penalties like higher insurance costs https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/tyson-foods-meatpacking-union-strike-deal-over-vaccine-mandate-2021-09-03/ 4th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

MSN.com American Airlines said it would not provide special leave from next month to unvaccinated employees who have to quarantine due to COVID19. Unvaccinated workers will have to use their sick time or medical leave if they miss work due to the disease it said. Given there is an FDAapproved vaccine pandemic leave will only be offered to team members who are fully vaccinated and who provide their vaccination card to us the carrier said in a memo to staff seen by Reuters. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/american-airlines-to-end-pandemic-leave-for-unvaccinated-staff/ar-AAO4Aid 4th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Australia will receive an additional 4 million doses of Pfizers COVID19 vaccine this month after agreeing a swap deal with Britain to help accelerate its vaccination programme amid a record surge in infections. The deal announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison will double the availability of Pfizer vaccines this month with the first shipment of vaccines from Britain expected to arrive over the weekend. Australia on Friday recorded its biggest oneday rise in COVID19 infections with 1657 new cases and 13 deaths reported in the past 24 hours. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/delta-puts-australias-covid-19-reopening-schedule-doubt-2021-09-03/ 4th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters In a scene replayed across the United States angry parents and activists streamed into a meeting of the Floridas Lake County school board on Thursday where it considered whether to mandate maskwearing for students and staff due to COVID. Some opponents of the mask proposal brandished signs that read Let Our Children Breathe. Even with Florida seeing a record number of coronavirus cases one attendee called the pandemic overblown. Another was escorted out by deputies after yelling at board members. The proposal would require staff and students to wear masks for 14 days at schools with COVID positivity rates at or above 5. But Floridas Republican governor Ron DeSantis effectively banned similar mandates in July. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/covid-surges-more-florida-school-districts-revolt-against-governors-mask-ban-2021-09-03/ 4th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

The Guardian GP surgeries are being forced to cancel appointments for the winter flu jab after the NHSs biggest provider warned that it could not deliver supplies for up to two weeks due to unforeseen road freight challenges. Practices in England have begun contacting patients to postpone their immunisation without being able to rebook them at a later date. The problem emerged on Friday when vaccine maker Seqirus wrote to surgeries alerting them to the possibility of having to rearrange booked appointments. We would like to inform you that due to unforeseen road freight challenges there will be a delay to your scheduled delivery by one to two weeks the firm said. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/03/gp-surgeries-in-england-cancel-flu-jabs-amid-shortage-of-vaccine 4th Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

NPR The share of adults saying no to getting the COVID19 vaccine dropped 5 percentage points in a month according to a new NPRPBS NewsHourMarist poll conducted after the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizers vaccine. The survey which was in the field from Aug. 26 through Tuesday found 19 of U.S. adults now say they do not intend to be vaccinated. Thats down from 24 in a Marist poll from the end of July. The number of Americans who say they have gotten or will get a COVID vaccine is up to 79 a 5point improvement in a month. https://www.npr.org/2021/09/03/1033750072/the-share-of-u-s-adults-willing-to-get-vaccinated-ticks-up-a-new-poll-finds 3rd Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

FiercePharma It didnt take long for the Biden administration to answer criticism that the United States wasnt doing enough to ease the worlds COVID19 vaccination shortfall. On Thursday White House COVID response coordinator Jeff Zients revealed that the government has earmarked 2.7 billion to beef up vaccine manufacturing. Zients did not discuss details of the plansuch as which companies would receive the aidbut he did say that the funds will boost production of key supplies to produce the shots. Some of those materials include bioreactor bags tubing lipids vials needles and syringes Bloomberg and The New York Times report citing officials familiar with the plan. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/response-to-recent-criticism-u-s-will-spend-2-7-billion-vaccine-manufacturing 3rd Sep 2021

Exit Strategies

NBC News Pharmacies and state governments in the United States have thrown away at least 15.1 million doses of Covid19 vaccines since March 1 according to government data obtained by NBC News a far larger number than previously known and still probably an undercount. Four national pharmacy chains reported more than 1 million wasted doses each according to data released by the CDC. Walgreens reported the most waste of any pharmacy state or other vaccine provider with nearly 2.6 million wasted doses. CVS reported 2.3 million wasted doses while Walmart reported 1.6 million and Rite Aid reported 1.1 million. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/america-has-wasted-least-15-million-covid-vaccine-doses-march-n1278211?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma 1st Sep 2021

Partisan Exits

ESPN A World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina was halted just minutes after kickoff on Sunday after Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of three Argentine players they say broke quarantine rules. Argentina walked off the pitch at the Corinthians Arena after the officials entered the pitch to stop the game. The players went to the dressing room although the two coaches along with Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Brazilian players gathered at the side of the pitch a few moments later to discuss the stoppage. The game was suspended shortly after. The incident occurred just hours after Brazils health regulator Anvisa said four Argentine players must isolate and could not play in the match https://www.espn.com/soccer/brazil-bra/story/4469100/brazil-argentina-world-cup-qualifier-match-halted-after-health-officials-intervene 5th Sep 2021

Partisan Exits

Sky News Five police officers have been injured after antivaccine protests in London turned violent the Metropolitan Police said. Ten people were arrested amid demonstrations at the headquarters of the UK vaccine regulator in Canary Wharf east London and the Science Museum in South Kensington according to the Met. Crowds quickly became hostile when they reached a building in Canary Wharf the force wrote on Twitter. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-four-police-officers-injured-after-violence-breaks-out-at-anti-vaccine-protest-in-london-12398467 4th Sep 2021

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Police have prevented antivaccine protesters from storming the headquarters of Britains medical regulator during violent clashes in east London. At least four officers were injured and arrests were made during a confrontation as hundreds of people gathered outside the offices of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA in Canary Wharf. Police drew batons and called for reinforcements as protesters attempted to force open the door of the regulators offices with security guards looking on from inside. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/03/anti-vaccine-protesters-try-to-storm-london-offices-of-medical-regulator 4th Sep 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday signed off on a law allowing for vaccine and medication patents to be broken in a public emergency such as the COVID19 pandemic. But the rightwing leader vetoed the provisions that patent holders would need to transfer the knowledge and supply the raw materials needed to duplicate the vaccines and medications. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-bolsonaro-signs-law-that-could-break-covid-19-vaccine-patents-2021-09-02/ 4th Sep 2021

Partisan Exits

iNews Scientists from across the world join forces with teachers parents and unions to claim the Education Secretary is endangering the health of hundreds of thousands of children by not implementing Covid safety measure in schools https://inews.co.uk/news/world-scientists-warn-gavin-williamson-reckless-pupils-health-covid-19-infections-1181705 3rd Sep 2021

Partisan Exits

Sky News The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI has resisted intense pressure from ministers by refusing to recommend coronavirus vaccines for 12 to 15yearolds. Yesterday Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said parents would find it deeply reassuring if children were given jabs and leaks from Whitehall insiders suggested the JCVI was ready to sign off on vaccines for teenagers as schools return in England. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-ministers-face-difficult-decision-on-whether-to-overrule-jcvis-finding-on-vaccinating-children-12398490 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Israel this month will present data from an extensive rollout of COVID19 vaccine booster shots to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration which is weighing White House plans to begin a booster drive in the United States. Sharon AlroyPreis head of public health at Israels Health Ministry said the ministry had been asked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA to brief its advisors at a Sept. 17 meeting. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-present-covid-19-booster-shot-data-fda-experts-2021-09-05/ 5th Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The New York Times If youre vaccinated you should think about a number of variables including your overall health where you live and the risks you take. https://www.nytimes.com/article/breakthrough-infections-covid-19-coronavirus.html 5th Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg U.S. health regulators are seeking additional coronavirus booster shot data from Moderna Inc. as the Biden administration expects to begin a widespread booster campaign this month with only the Pfizer Inc.BioNTech vaccine people familiar with the matter say. Moderna announced Friday that it had completed its submission of data to the Food and Drug Administration for authorization of boosters. The FDA has been seeking more data as Modernas submission rolled in the people added. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-04/fda-pushes-for-moderna-booster-shot-data-in-weighing-dose 4th Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sydney Morning Herald It is too early to say if the new variant of COVID19 spotted in South Africa will become a major player in the pandemic or fizzle out like many variants spotted before. Known as C.1.2 the variant has attracted panicked headlines around Australia and the world due to its collection of mutations some of which it shares with other variants of concern. https://www.smh.com.au/national/far-too-early-for-south-african-c-1-2-virus-variant-to-cause-concern-20210903-p58ogc.html 4th Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Salon On Monday the World Health Organization WHO officially labeled the mu variant as a variant of interest a designation that indicates a need for further study about possible dangers while falling short of the more serious classification variant of concern. Variants of concern are regarded as a top priority because they are more immunityresistant contagious or deadly than other strains. Currently the WHO considers four strains to meet those criteria alpha beta gamma and delta the variant most prevalent in the United States. https://www.salon.com/2021/09/04/everything-we-know-about-the-mu-variant-the-latest-coronavirus-mutation/ 4th Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Settlement brings doses delivered to 300 million as agreed. Agreement will also end pending litigation in Brussels. Capped rebates on vaccine will apply if doses are delayed. Doses will go to EUlaggards in uptake ranking COVAX facility https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/astrazeneca-eu-reach-settlement-delivery-covid-19-vaccine-doses-2021-09-03/ 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Europes medicines regulator said on Friday it was reviewing if COVID19 vaccines caused a risk of a rare inflammatory condition following a report of a case with PfizerBioNTechs shot. The safety panel of the European Medicines Agency is looking into Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome MIS after the condition was reported in a 17yearold male in Denmark the agency said. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-reviewing-cases-rare-body-inflammation-after-covid-19-shots-2021-09-03/ 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Australias medical regulator approves American Moderna jab for all over 12s Medical regulator boss said the jab was 98 effective against severe disease One million doses will arrive in September and 10million by the end of the year In 2022 Australia will receive 15 million of Modernas updated variant boosters The move helps nation reach 70 per cent vaccination rate to end lockdowns https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9956807/Australia-approves-highly-effective-Moderna-Covid-19-jab-children-aged-12-16.html 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters A White House plan to offer COVID19 booster shots will most likely start this month only with the vaccine made by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech a narrower initiative than anticipated a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. President Joe Biden had expected to launch a campaign to administer 100 million booster shots on Sept. 20. But U.S. vaccine makers other than Pfizer have lagged in seeking authorization of an additional dose. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-covid-19-booster-shot-campaign-start-with-only-pfizer-source-2021-09-03/ 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Moderna Inc said on Friday it had asked the EU drugs regulator for conditional approval of a booster shot of its COVID19 vaccine at a 50 microgram dose. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/moderna-submits-application-covid-19-booster-dose-eu-regulator-2021-09-03/ 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters on MSN.com The debate will likely be heated following the Biden Administrations announcement last month before the experts could weigh in that the U.S. plans to start booster doses Sept. 20 if regulators approve them. The White House move usurped the normal process in which the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention make these sort of sciencebased decisions according to interviews with six current and former FDA scientists and CDC advisory panel members. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/analysis-fda-vaccine-advisers-face-thorny-question-are-covid-19-boosters-needed/ar-AAO3Nbl 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Business Insider on MSN.com A new COVID19 variant called Mu might be able to evade the immunity people get from vaccines Insider reported. The Mu variant has been detected in 47 US states and the District of Columbia according to data from Outbreak.info. Only Nebraska Vermont and South Dakota are yet to detect a case the data says. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/a-new-covid-19-variant-called-mu-that-might-be-able-to-evade-immunity-from-vaccines-has-been-detected-in-almost-every-us-state/ar-AAO6bem 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Hill The variant labelled mu has been detected in 39 countries in South America and Europe. We certainly are aware of the mu variant. Were keeping a very close eye on it Anthony Fauci said. We dont consider it an immediate threat right now he added. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/570759-fauci-says-hes-keeping-a-very-close-eye-on-new-covid-variant 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Ten months ago the results of large clinical trials appeared almost too good to be true Two messenger RNA vaccines reduced symptomatic Covid19 cases by more than 90 in almost every group that got them. Now subtle differences between the Pfizer Inc.BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc. vaccines are emerging across patient groups over time. One small U.S. study found waning levels of antibodies with Pfizers vaccine particularly in an older group of people. And a larger study from Belgium found that Modernas shot may generate more antibodies than Pfizers. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-04/one-vaccine-makes-more-antibodies-than-another-does-it-matter 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Philstar.com The Philippines has not yet detected the presence of the new coronavirus variant known as Mu the countrys genome center said on Friday. We went back to our database we have sequenced more than 12000 samplesWe have not yet detected Mu variant in the Philippines Philippine Genome Center Executive Director Cynthia Saloma said in a briefing. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/09/03/2124649/no-mu-variant-detected-philippines-so-far-genome-center 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC News Modernas COVID19 vaccine has been approved by Australian health authorities for children as young as 12. The vaccine was already approved for adults 18 and over and the Therapeutic Goods Administration has now extended that approval down to teenagers. It brings the vaccine into line with the extremely similar Pfizer vaccine. Both are based on MRNA technology. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-04/moderna-vaccine-approved-for-kids-12-years-and-older-in-line-wit/100434402 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Ten months ago the results of large clinical trials appeared almost too good to be true Two messenger RNA vaccines reduced symptomatic Covid19 cases by more than 90 in almost every group that got them. Now subtle differences between the Pfizer Inc.BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc. vaccines are emerging across patient groups over time. One small U.S. study found waning levels of antibodies with Pfizers vaccine particularly in an older group of people. And a larger study from Belgium found that Modernas shot may generate more antibodies than Pfizers. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/09/mrna-covid-vaccines-not-tied-serious-side-effects 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma That didnt take long. Only a few days after Eli Lillys COVID19 antibody combo of bamlanivimab and etesevimab made its return to more than 20 states federal officials are resuming distribution nationwide. In a Thursday alert officials said Lillys drug can be used in all U.S. states territories and jurisdictions based on data about variants circulating nationwide. Since Eli Lillys combo is expected to be effective against the delta variantand because that variant is now dominant in the United Statesofficials are ready to again endorse the drugs. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/lilly-s-covid-19-antibody-combo-cleared-for-nationwide-use-as-feds-say-it-can-tackle-delta 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News The Biden administration on Friday unveiled a sweeping new biosecurity plan outlining a 65 billion proposal to remake the nations pandemic preparedness infrastructure in the wake of Covid19. The new spending would represent one of the largest investments in public health in American history During a press briefing Eric Lander the White House science adviser likened the proposal to the Apollo program of the late 1960s. The immense funding boost would target programs aimed at developing and manufacturing vaccines treatments and tests more quickly. It would also provide new money for laboratory capacity viral detection mechanisms and early warning systems. https://www.statnews.com/2021/09/03/biden-wants-65-billion-for-apollo-style-pandemic-preparedness-program/ 3rd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

NPR If the U.S. had done more to reduce its incarceration rate it could have prevented millions of COVID19 cases. Thats the conclusion of researchers who conducted what they say is the first study to link mass incarceration rates to pandemic vulnerability. Many of those preventable cases they add occurred in communities of color. The U.S. jail and prison system acts as an epidemic engine according to the study from researchers at Northwestern University and the World Bank. That engine is driven by a massive number of people who despite some counties efforts to trim jail populations have been cycling between cramped detention facilities and their home communities. https://www.npr.org/2021/09/02/1033326204/crowded-jails-drove-millions-of-covid-19-cases-a-new-study-says 2nd Sep 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The New York Times Since the beginning of the pandemic doctors have found that people who become very ill with Covid19 often experience kidney problems not just the lung impairments that are the hallmark of the illness. Now a large study suggests that kidney issues can last for months after patients recover from the initial infection and may lead to a serious lifelong reduction of kidney function in some patients. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/health/covid-kidney-damage.html 1st Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Haaretz The medical team in a central Israeli hospital returned to the COVID ward earlier and more dramatically than expected where most of the patients in the fourth wave have one shared characteristic. Most people here are unvaccinated says Dr. Ilya Kagan head of the coronavirus intensive care ward at Beilinson Hospital. Its frustrating most of all for the patients themselves says Dr. Katya Orvin. Its hard to judge. Last week I had a patient who didnt get vaccinated due to an allergy and she died. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-this-covid-ward-reveals-what-is-killing-israelis-1.10180328 5th Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Oregon Live Nearly four in five coronavirus deaths in Oregon during the first four weeks of August were among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals according to new data released by the Oregon Health Authority. And roughly five in six of the 51391 known COVID19 infections during the same period were among people who were unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated according to a state report. The share of socalled breakthrough cases and deaths among fully vaccinated Oregonians remains tiny compared to the 2.4 million Oregonians who were fully vaccinated as of Aug.28 demonstrating the effectiveness of vaccines at preventing severe COVID19. https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2021/09/nearly-80-of-fatalities-in-deadly-august-covid-surge-among-unvaccinated-partially-vaccinated-oregonians.html?utm_medium=social&amputm_campaign=oregonian_sf&amputm_source=twitter 5th Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters New Zealand reported on Saturday the first death from the Delta variant of the new coronavirus and 20 further daily infections all in Auckland the epicentre of the outbreak. The woman who died was in her 90s and had a number of underlying health conditions health officials said in a statement. It is the first coronavirusrelated death in the country since midFebruary. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-reports-first-death-delta-variant-covid-19-2021-09-04/ 4th Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters New Zealand reported 28 new cases of COVID19 on Friday a big drop compared to the last few days as authorities said the country was breaking the chain of transmission of the highly infectious Delta variant of coronavirus. Authorities said 27 new cases were in Auckland and one was in Wellington. Fridays numbers were lower than 49 new cases reported on Thursday and 75 the day before. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-sees-success-curbing-delta-outbreak-new-cases-plunge-2021-09-03/ 4th Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times Pediatric hospitalizations for Covid19 have soared over the summer as the highly contagious Delta variant spread across the country according to two new studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From late June to midAugust hospitalization rates in the United States for children and teenagers increased nearly fivefold although they remain slightly below Januarys peak one new study found. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/03/health/delta-children-hospitalization-rates.html 4th Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Australia struggling to quell its worst wave of COVID19 reported 1756 infections on Saturday another record high and officials warned that worse is yet to come urging people to get vaccinated. Most of the cases were again in New South Wales which has been fighting an outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant since midJune. The state reported 1533 new cases and four further deaths. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-victoria-reports-190-local-covid-19-cases-2021-09-03/ 4th Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Age Victorian hospitals are bracing for a third wave of seriously ill coronavirus patients with staff shortages workforce burnout and overrun emergency departments fuelling a crisis across the public health system. With the state recording 208 new coronavirus cases on Friday and Premier Daniel Andrews warning that cases would continue to rise senior doctors at Victorias hospitals are now reviewing their surge planning and reclaiming wards and other spaces for COVID beds. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/stressed-victorian-hospitals-brace-for-covid-s-third-wave-20210903-p58ols.html 4th Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News The UK has reported 121 more coronavirusrelated deaths and 42076 cases in the latest 24hour period according to government data. It compares with 178 deaths and 38154 infections yesterday while last Friday 100 fatalities and 38046 cases were announced. Todays cases figure is the highest since 21 July when there were 44104 reported. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-uk-records-121-more-coronavirus-related-deaths-and-42-076-new-cases-daily-figures-show-12398472 3rd Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Hill Physician Jason McElyea told KFOR patients who took doses of ivermectin meant for a horse are filling up hospitals in eastern and southeastern Oklahoma. The ERs are so backed up that gunshot victims were having hard times getting to facilities where they can get definitive care and be treated McElyea said. Ivermectin has gained popularity as a COVID19 treatment despite unproven antiviral benefits https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/570730-doctor-says-ers-overwhelmed-with-people-overdosing-on-livestock 3rd Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Middle East Monitor Sources in Egypts Ministry of Health have said that coronavirus in the country has reached a dangerous level due to the governments neglect of precautionary measures. The state has continued to allow parties and festivals and stopped enforcing closing times on shops reports AlAraby AlJadeed. This mirrors what was said by a senior Egyptian official at the end of August that in three weeks the number of infections were set to rise significantly. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210903-egypts-covid-crisis-has-reached-a-dangerous-level-health-ministry-sources-say/ 3rd Sep 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Wall Street Journal When the Covid19 vaccines came out Kelsea Robinson manager of the intensive care unit at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in southern Oregon said she thought the worst was finally behind her. Oregon has the 12th highest vaccination rate in the U.S. with 58 of all residents fully vaccinated according to data compiled by the Mayo Clinicbut the intensive care units in Asantes three hospitals are overflowing with Covid19 patients. They cant transfer elsewhere in the state because most Oregon hospitals are in a similar situation. At one Asante hospital the pipes that carry oxygen recently began to freeze because Covid19 patients were using so much. https://www.wsj.com/articles/oregons-covid-19-wave-is-at-its-worst-despite-high-vaccination-rate-11630674004 3rd Sep 2021

New Lockdown

Reuters Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei announced new national transport curbs and social restrictions on Thursday in an effort to contain a surge of coronavirus infections and relieve pressure on hospitals. Giammattei opted against the toughest lockdown measures but said from Saturday auto transport will be prohibited for most trips from 800 p.m. to 400 a.m. and social gatherings such as weddings and public sports events will be banned for at least four weeks. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/guatemala-orders-new-travel-social-curbs-virus-cases-surge-2021-09-03/ 3rd Sep 2021