19th Jan 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=581 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail WHO chief warned against dismissing the coronavirus Omicron variant as mild. Omicron more contagious than previous variants but causes less serious disease Some have suggested that Covid is passing from pandemic stage to endemic. But Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the sheer numbers of people still being infected will mean many vulnerable people falling ill and dying https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10415297/Covid-pandemic-near-new-variants-likely-emerge-warns.html 19th Jan 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg After losing her son who got infected with Covid19 last year 79yearold Tomasa Valdez was desperate to get vaccinated. But on the remote Philippine island of San Salvador where she lives there were no shots to be had. Getting to the mainland where the vaccinations were available meant a boat ride that was arduous at her age and expensive for her meager income from drying sea grass which she sells for less than 100 pesos 1.95 a sack. Help only arrived in December 2021 10 months after the Philippines began its national program and about a year after Western nations like the U.S. and U.K. started theirs. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-18/swift-end-to-covid-threatened-by-unvaccinated-faraway-locales 18th Jan 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Dozens of Venezuelan lawmakers tested positive for Covid19 Tuesday amid a wave of new infections in the country delaying the start of a meeting of congress. Fortytwo members of the National Assembly tested positive for the disease on Tuesday ahead of a meeting of the legislative body https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-18/covid-infections-ravage-venezuela-s-congress-delaying-session 18th Jan 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The United Nations is preparing for distanced relief operations in Tonga to avoid a COVID19 outbreak in the Pacific island nation that is reeling under the impact of a volcanic eruption and tsunami an official said on Wednesday. All the homes on one of Tongas small outer islands have been destroyed and three people have so far been confirmed dead the government said in its first statement after Saturdays devastating eruption. With communications badly hampered by the severing of an undersea cable information on the scale of the devastation so far has mostly come from reconnaissance aircraft. https://www.reuters.com/world/covid-19-concerns-force-un-prepare-tsunami-hit-tonga-relief-aid-distance-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg France registered a record number of daily Covid19 infections as the omicron variant spreads across the country sending a growing number of patients to hospitals. New cases totaled 464769 Tuesday according to data from the public health office. That far surpassed the previous high of 368149 recorded a week ago. The surge comes as France is poised to require a complete vaccination regimen for many public activities from eating in restaurants to attending the theater or getting on an airplane saying a recent negative test isnt good enough anymore https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-18/french-covid-infections-hit-record-as-patients-fill-up-hospitals 18th Jan 2022

Lockdown Exit

Sky News Nightclubs will reopen and limits on hospitality come to an end as all of Scotlands Omicron coronavirus restrictions are lifted next Monday. The changes first introduced to slow the spread of the Omicron variant will take place from 24 January as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the country is on a downward slope of infections. The requirement for table service in hospitality will come to an end and attendance limits on indoor events will also be lifted as well as restrictions preventing adults from taking part in indoor contact https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-all-omicron-restrictions-in-scotland-to-be-lifted-next-monday-12519177 18th Jan 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Travelers to Sweden will no longer be required to show a negative COVID test before entering the country the government said on Tuesday. Sweden introduced rules for a recent negative COVID test on Dec. 28 last year in a bid to slow the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant. Since then Sweden has repeatedly set new daily case records with Omicron now the totally dominant variant. Travelers are no longer considered to pose a particular risk of affecting the spread of Omicron in Sweden the government said https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/sweden-scraps-demand-negative-covid-test-enter-country-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Denmark registered a record number of coronavirus infections on Monday as cinemas museums and other cultural institutions reopened after a monthlong COVID19 lockdown. The Nordic country registered 28780 new cases in the space of 24 hours and the number of coronavirusrelated hospitalisations rose to 802 the highest in a year. Still health authorities said earlier this month that the nowpredominant Omicron variant was milder than initially thought and that around 29 of those in hospital were there due to reasons other than COVID19 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/denmark-eases-coronavirus-restrictions-cases-hit-new-record-2022-01-17/ 18th Jan 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Governments worldwide are easing quarantine rules reviewing coronavirus curbs and dialling back pandemicera emergency support as they bid to launch their economies back into some version of normality. The moves motivated by the lower severity of the Omicron variant and the need to keep workers in work and the global recovery on track have generated a whiff of optimism that has lifted oil and stock prices. Health experts say the variants rapid spread may yet herald a turning point in the pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/with-omicron-global-economy-spots-chance-push-past-covid-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters British health officials are aiming to be ready to start charging Britons for COVID19 tests that are currently free at the end of June a document seen by Reuters shows in what could be a risky gambit for the government. Britain has been increasingly dependent on rapid testing to try to tackle the moretransmissible Omicron variant which has spread rapidly through the population but is less severe. The government has previously said it will end the universal free provision of easytouse lateral flow devices LFDs at a later stage with individuals and businesses bearing the cost. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/exclusive-britain-preparing-end-june-switch-paid-covid-tests-document-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters The U.S. governments new COVIDTests.gov website set up for American households to order four free COVID19 tests amid the Omicron variant surge is up and running ahead of its official launch on Wednesday the White House said. U.S. households can secure four tests at no cost when ordering from the website with shipping expected within seven to 12 days of ordering the White House said on Friday. President Joe Biden has pledged to procure 1 billion free tests for Americans and more may be ordered in the future. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-website-order-free-covid-19-tests-up-running-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Thailand will lower its COVID19 alert level and is considering easing more restrictions to boost its economy its health minister said on Tuesday in response to a slower infection rate. Among measures being considered are establishing more sandbox areas for tourists who can skip quarantine if they stay in specified areas for seven days and undergo two COVID19 tests. Nightclubs pubs and bars will remained closed for now however Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters adding the COVID19 alert level will be lowered to 3 from 4 on the governments 5level system https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-lower-covid-19-alert-ease-curbs-infections-slow-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal Texas and Arizona have joined two other states in recovering all the jobs they lost at the start of the Covid19 pandemic leading a trend that is expected to include another dozen states by the middle of this year. The states which also include Utah and Idaho have benefited from demographic shifts before and during the pandemicexperiencing outsize payroll growth in retail warehousing technology and transportation industries. Companies have moved operations to the states and workers have moved in as well sometimes leaving more crowded and expensive urban areas. The statesall Republican controlledalso have had relatively relaxed Covid19 restrictions during the pandemic which economists say softened the blow on their economies. https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-arizona-have-recovered-all-the-jobs-lost-when-covid-19-hit-11642501805 18th Jan 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Israel will continue to offer a fourth COVID19 vaccine shot despite preliminary findings that it is not enough to prevent Omicron infections the Health Ministry said on Tuesday predicting contagions stoked by the variant will wane in a week. With his government scaling back Omicron countermeasures to ease the strain on the economy Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sought to cast Israels stillhigh case numbers primarily as a result of an enmasse testing drive rather than infection rates. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-sticks-with-4th-vaccine-shot-sees-omicron-waning-week-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Exit Strategies

Associated Press Facing a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases fueled by the spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant Abu Dhabi is requiring people entering the city to show proof of booster shots. The governments health app said earlier this week that people entering the capital of the United Arab Emirates must show a green pass confirming their vaccination status. The app says that visitors are no longer considered fully vaccinated unless they have received a booster at least six months after their second dose. Those wishing to enter Abu Dhabi also must have have tested negative for the virus within the last two weeks to maintain their green status. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-middle-east-dubai-united-arab-emirates-b9fa075f196f00935e53af20c31a4265 18th Jan 2022

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg Rising Covid19 omicron infections could force Idaho to start rationing hospital care again as health care workers fall ill the states top health official warned Tuesday. If the trend continues it is likely Idaho will enter crisis of standards of care for a second time Dave Jeppesen director of the state Department of Health and Welfare said during an online briefing. The state ended rationing Dec. 20. One in four people tested for Covid19 in Idaho are receiving positive results the highest statewide positivity rate of the pandemic Jeppesen said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-18/idaho-could-return-to-hospital-rationing-due-to-omicron 18th Jan 2022

Exit Strategies

BBC News Supermarket Morrisons has confirmed it has cut sick pay for unvaccinated workers who are forced to isolate after being exposed to Covid. It follows similar moves from big retailers including Ikea Next and Ocado as staff absences rise. Unjabbed Morrisons workers who are told to isolate but test negative now get statutory sick pay of 96.35 a week. Covidpositive staff get full sick pay regardless of vaccination status. The firm pays staff at least 10 per hour. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59902929 18th Jan 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters Hong Kong police said they have arrested and charged two former flight attendants over allegations they broke the citys coronavirus rules. The statement which was published late on Monday did not name the airline but the announcement comes after Cathay Pacific said in January it had fired two aircrew who were suspected of breaching COVID19 protocols. Police said the two had returned to Hong Kong from the United States on Dec. 24 and 25 where they had conducted unnecessary activities during their home isolation period. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-police-arrest-two-ex-flight-attendants-over-covid-19-rule-breach-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK British Prime Minister Boris Johnson denied on Tuesday an accusation by his former adviser that he had lied to parliament about a lockdown party saying nobody had warned him the bring your own booze gathering might contravene COVID19 rules. Johnson faces the gravest crisis of his tenure after revelations about gatherings during lockdowns some when British people could not even bid farewell in person to dying relatives and the Queen was mourning her husband. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/it-is-nonsense-that-uk-pm-johnson-lied-about-lockdown-party-deputy-pm-raab-says-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters World mens tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic will have to comply with Spanish health rules to be able to travel to Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday. Answering a question on whether Djokovic would be allowed to enter Spain to compete after Australia deported him for being unvaccinated against COVID19 Sanchez said Any sportsperson who wishes to compete in our country must comply with the health rules of Spain. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/djokovic-has-comply-with-rules-go-spain-pm-says-2022-01-17/ 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal Pfizer Inc.s new Covid19 pill Paxlovid was effective against the Omicron variant in laboratory tests an encouraging early sign the drug will be an important tool while the strain spreads. Pfizer said Tuesday the drugs main component nirmatrelvir worked in three separate laboratory studies. Patients take two tablets of nirmatrelvir with one tablet of another antiviral called ritonavir twice a day for five days. The company issued the results by news release. The research hasnt been published in a peerreviewed medical journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizers-new-covid-19-pill-works-against-omicron-in-lab-11642528120 19th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress The placebo effect is the wellknown phenomenon of a persons physical or mental health improving after taking a treatment with no pharmacological therapeutic benefita sugar pill or a syringe full of saline for example. While the exact biological psychological and genetic underpinnings of the placebo effect are not well understood some theories point to expectations as the primary cause and others argue that nonconscious factors embedded in the patientphysician relationship automatically turn down the volume of symptoms https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-01-placebo-effect-accounts-two-thirds-covid-.html 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Merck Co Inc and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said on Tuesday they had signed an agreement with the United Nations Childrens Fund UNICEF to supply up to 3 million courses of their COVID19 antiviral pill. Merck would supply the pill molnupiravir to UNICEF through the first half of 2022 for distribution in more than 100 low and middleincome countries upon regulatory authorizations the companies said. The pill received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December and has also been authorized in several other countries including India Mexico and the UK. Many countries have signed supply deals with Merck for the drug. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-signs-supply-deal-with-unicef-3-mln-courses-covid-19-pill-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters COVID19 vaccines made using mRNA technology do not cause pregnancy complications for expectant mothers and their babies the European Unions drug regulator said on Tuesday following a detailed review of several studies. The review based on studies involving around 65000 pregnancies at different stages did not find any sign of higher risk of complications miscarriages preterm births or severe sideeffects on the unborn babies from mRNA shots the European Medicines Agency said. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-regulator-finds-mrna-covid-19-shots-safe-during-pregnancy-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Hong Kong warned people not to kiss pets and ordered a mass cull of hamsters on Tuesday to the outrage of animallovers after 11 of the rodents tested positive for COVID19. A recent coronavirus cluster in humans traced to a pet shop worker prompted checks on hundreds of animals in the Chineseruled territory with 11 hamsters found infected officials said. Echoing the mainlands zerotolerance policy even as much of the world shifts to living with COVID Hong Kong ordered 2000 hamsters humanely put down and imports and sales stopped. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-orders-hamster-cull-after-covid-19-hits-pets-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters A World Health Organization committee urged COVID19 vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday to provide it with the data it requires in order to list their shots for emergency use saying the delays were affecting equitable vaccine access. An emergency use listing with the U.N. agency means shots can be shipped to multiple developing nations that rely on WHO guidance for their regulatory decisions. It also allows them to be used by the COVAX vaccinesharing programme that aims to ramp up vaccinations in poorer countries. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-urges-manufacturers-provide-covid-19-vaccine-data-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Lions and pumas at a zoo in the South African capital of Pretoria got severe Covid19 from asymptomatic zoo handlers raising concerns that new variants could emerge from animal reservoirs of the disease https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-18/covid-19-infected-lions-prompt-variant-warning-in-south-africa 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Al Jazeera English During the past week my inbox has been flooded with messages telling me a new COVID19 variant had been discovered in Cyprus. Dubbed Deltacron it was said to be responsible for a series of hospitalisations in the country. I groaned at the thought of a new variant and one that was said to be a combination of the Delta and Omicron variants sounded ominous. So I decided to do some digging. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/1/17/deltacron-and-flurona-should-we-worry-about-covid-19-variant 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post Hong Kong authorities have asked pet shops and owners to hand over about 2000 hamsters for a mass cull and temporarily suspended imports of small animals after finding evidence of the first possible animaltohuman transmission of Covid19 in the city. Officials on Tuesday also ordered all 34 licensed pet stores that sell hamsters to suspend operations and about 150 customers who had visited the Little Boss shop in Causeway Bay since January 7 to enter quarantine. Pet owners whose hamsters test positive must also be isolated as well. While animal welfare groups expressed shock at the drastic action authorities and health experts stressed the risks to public health made the cull necessary. Two people tied to the Little Boss shop have been confirmed as infected and another is listed as a suspected case while 11 hamsters from the store were categorised as preliminarypositive. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3163775/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-worried-about-community-outbreak 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

CNBC New Covid19 variants are likely to keep on emerging until the globe has been vaccinated against the virus experts warn saying that the sharing of vaccines is not just an altruistic act but a pragmatic one. Until the whole world is vaccinated not just rich Western countries I think we are going to remain in danger of new variants coming along and some of those could be more virulent than omicron Dr. Andrew Freedman an academic in infectious diseases at Cardiff University Medical School told CNBC on Thursday. Viruses tend to become milder as they evolve Freedman noted but he cautioned that this isnt always the case. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/06/new-covid-variants-are-a-danger-until-the-whole-world-is-vaccinated.html 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Covid infection could be turning more and more children into fussy eaters experts have suggested. This may be because they are suffering from parosmia a disorder where people experience strange and often unpleasant smell distortions. For example chocolate may smell like petrol or someone may smell rotting cabbage instead of lemon. Smell experts at the University of East Anglia and Fifth Sense the charity for people affected by smell and taste disorders say children in particular may be finding it hard to eat foods they once loved. Fifth Sense and Carl Philpott from UEAs Norwich Medical School are launching guidance to help parents and healthcare professionals better recognise the disorder. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-18/your-child-s-fussy-eating-may-stem-from-covid-19 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Associated Press Chinese state media say parcels mailed from overseas may have spread the omicron variant of the coronavirus in Beijing and elsewhere despite doubts among overseas health experts that the virus can be transmitted via packaging. The State Post Bureau said it has ordered stronger measures to ventilate and disinfect sites where items mailed from overseas are handled. Postal workers must wear protective equipment receive booster shots and undergo regular testing it said on its website. International packages must be isolated cleaned and held for a waiting period to ensure they are free from the virus it said. Global health experts say the virus mainly spreads through respiratory droplets when infected people breathe speak cough and sneeze. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-business-china-81e8dba1471f55309d112749d9c71aa5 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News At what point do the benefits of local production of medical supplies outweigh the potentially higher cost The sudden and nearoverwhelming demand for Covid19 testing during the Omicron phase of the pandemic means that the U.S. is now at a critical point where we need better and quicker access to testing supplies via a domestic supply chain. Over the last three decades the worlds economy has become increasingly globalized resulting in lower inflationadjusted prices for goods and products and improved standards of living around the world. The Covid19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to once again debate the United States reliance on inexpensive overseas manufacturing and reconsider the value of highquality domestic production. https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/18/covid-19-supply-meet-challenges-future-pandemics/ 18th Jan 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News If the Food and Drug Administration decides to update Covid19 vaccines to take better aim at Omicron or other variants it is unlikely to go it alone. Instead a senior FDA official told STAT the agency expects to take part in an internationally coordinated program aimed at deciding if when and how to update Covid19 vaccines. The approach would ensure decisions are not left solely to individual vaccine manufacturers. We cant have our manufacturers going willynilly saying Oh well the EMA decided they wanted this composition but FDA wanted that composition the official said referring to the European Medicines Agency. So we are very much of the mind that we would like to be part of a more global process in helping to come to what vaccine composition there should be now. https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/18/u-s-would-seek-global-approach-to-updating-covid-19-vaccines-official-says/ 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday he planned to impose a state of quasiemergency meaning stronger COVID19 curbs on dining and gatherings on 13 regions including Tokyo from Jan. 21 to Feb. 13. He said the government had halted a programme where those vaccinated or with negative test results would be exempted from coronavirus restrictions as virus cases jumped. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-pm-plans-stronger-covid-curbs-tokyo-12-other-regions-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Nepal recorded 10258 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday government data showed the highest number reported in a single day as the government projected the tally could double by the end of the month. Total infections topped 972198 and COVID19related deaths stood at 11624. The previous daily record was 9483 cases in May last year. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nepal-says-covid-19-cases-may-double-daily-infections-hit-record-level-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Romania reported 16760 new cases of COVID19 on Tuesday more than double on the day and the biggest singleday rise since October as the Omicron coronavirus variant takes hold. Romania is the European Unions secondleast vaccinated state with just under 41 of the population fully inoculated amid distrust of state institutions and poor vaccine education. The number of new infections was approaching a record high of 18863 daily cases seen in October official data showed but hospitalisations were still relatively low. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/romania-sees-biggest-daily-jump-covid-19-cases-three-months-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Australia suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic on Tuesday as a fastmoving Omicron outbreak continued to push up hospitalisation rates to record levels even as daily infections eased slightly. Australia is dealing with its worst COVID19 outbreak fuelled by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that has put more people in hospitals and intensive care than at any time during the pandemic. A total of 77 deaths was recorded exceeding the previous national high of 57 last Thursday official data showed. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-suffers-deadliest-day-pandemic-omicron-drives-up-hospital-cases-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The Czech Republic reported on Tuesday more than 20000 new cases of COVID19 the biggest singleday rise since Dec. 1 the Health Ministry said. The central European country of 10.7 million is bracing for a new wave of the pandemic as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus begins pushing up cases. The government has shortened quarantine and isolation times as part of new measures while also launching mandatory testing of employees at companies which got underway this week. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/czech-republic-sees-biggest-daily-jump-covid-cases-since-dec-1-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The Chinese city of Tianjin reported fewer COVID19 cases on Tuesday after measures such as conducting mass testing and locking down some areas to curb the highly transmissible Omicron variant steps that have also affected the local operations of foreign firms such as Boeing. Tianjin a key port in northern China reported 18 domestically transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms for Monday National Health Commission NHC data showed on Tuesday. That marks the lowest daily number in a week. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-tianjin-reports-fewer-covid-19-cases-its-outbreak-shows-sign-easing-2022-01-18/ 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Al Jazeera The rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant has prompted dire warnings from healthcare workers across South America as pressure builds at hospitals whose employees are taking sick leave leaving facilities understaffed to cope with COVID19. A major hospital in Bolivias largest city stopped admitting new patients due to a lack of personnel. One of Brazils most populous states cancelled scheduled surgeries for a month. And Argentinas federation of private healthcare providers told the Associated Press news agency that it estimates about 15 percent of its health workers currently have the virus. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/17/south-american-health-networks-struggling-as-omicron-cases-rise 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Al Jazeera Deaths in the Philippines due to the COVID19 pandemic may be double the health departments official numbers according to a new government report as the country battles a recordbreaking wave of the pandemic due to the Omicron variant. In a preliminary report released on Monday the Philippine Statistics Authority PSA put registered deaths due to COVID19 at 75285 from January to October 2021. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/18/philippine-covid-deaths-may-be-double-than-current-number-report 18th Jan 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Poland is experiencing a fifth wave of COVID19 infections the health minister said on Monday warning that the spread of the Omicron variant could send daily case numbers soaring to levels not yet seen in the country. While daily case numbers have fallen since early December the European Unions largest eastern member has had little respite since the fourth wave regularly reporting over 10000 new infections per day amid low vaccine takeup and limited restrictions on public life. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-has-entered-fifth-wave-covid-says-minister-2022-01-17/ 18th Jan 2022