9th Feb 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=595 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Channel NewsAsia The COVID19 pandemic will not end with the Omicron variant and New Zealand will have to prepare for more variants of the virus this year Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday Feb 8 in her first parliamentary speech for 2022. Arderns warning came as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the parliament building in the capital Wellington demanding an end to coronavirus restrictions and vaccine mandates. Mr Speaker advice from experts is that Omicron will not be the last variant we will face this year Ardern told lawmakers in the speech which was livestreamed. Its not over. But that doesnt mean we cannot move forward. And keep making progress. And so we are she said. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/new-zealand-pm-jacinda-ardern-warns-more-covid-19-variants-2022-2485351 8th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Associated Press The governors of four states announced plans Monday to lift statewide mask requirements in schools by the end of February or March citing the rapid easing of COVID19s omicron surge. The decisions in Connecticut Delaware New Jersey and Oregon were announced as state and local governments grapple with which virus restrictions to jettison and which ones to keep in place. The changes also come amid a growing sense that the virus is never going to go away and Americans need to find a way to coexist with it. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called the move a huge step back to normalcy for our kids and said individual school districts will be free to continue requiring masks after the state mandate ends March 7. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-new-jersey-ce67cdfe4373407645fbfb5223051dcd 8th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters A quarter of British employers have cited long COVID as a main cause of longterm sickness absences a survey by a professional body found on Tuesday adding that it raised questions over how workers with the condition were being supported in their jobs. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is leading a strategy for the country to live with COVID lifting restrictions as booster shots and the lower severity of the Omicron variant weaken the link between cases and death. https://www.reuters.com/world/the-great-reboot/quarter-uk-employers-cite-long-covid-driving-absences-survey-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

STAT News Beneath the bonedeep exhaustion burnedout health care workers say they are grappling with another feeling betrayal. Many clinicians have felt that with the waves of Covid have come waves of abandonment by employers unable or unwilling to protect workers by lawmakers undercutting public health measures and by a public resigned to the ongoing crisis. And ultimately health workers can feel betrayed by themselves as circumstances outside their control make it painfully difficult to care for their patients or colleagues. https://www.statnews.com/2022/02/08/health-worker-burnout-nurses-covid19/ 8th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times A crucial Johnson Johnson plant has stopped making its Covid vaccine though the company says it has millions of doses in inventory. Johnson Johnson has quietly stopped making batches of its vaccine at its facility in the Dutch city of Leiden. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/business/johnson-johnson-covid-vaccine.html?referringSource=articleShare 8th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The New York City Council held a hearing on Tuesday to consider a plan to make sidewalk dining first allowed in 2020 as a temporary measure to help blunt economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic part of the new normal. The plan to give permanent status to thousands of streateries outside of restaurants and bars has the support of Mayor Eric Adams and the New York Hospitality Alliance an industry association. Opponents say outside dining has created unsanitary conditions helped draw more rats to sidewalks drawn noise complaints in some neighborhoods and reduced the number of available parking spaces. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-considers-making-outdoor-dining-permanent-fixture-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters A global initiative to get COVID19 tests treatments and vaccines to poorer nations has only received 5 of the donations sought to deliver on its aims this year according to the World Health Organization WHO and other aid groups. The Access to COVID19 Tools ACT Accelerator budgeted 23.4 billion for its efforts from October 2021 to September 2022 of which it hoped 16.8 billion would come in the form of grants from richer countries. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/global-covid-response-program-running-fumes-amid-budget-shortfall-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal Hospitals and lawmakers are pressing the Biden administration to review federal pandemicrelief programs that they say have distorted pay rates for travel nurses. Many nurses are making twice what they did before the pandemic or more on assignments at hospitals paying top dollar to fill big holes in their workforces. Some hospitals are using federal Covid19 relief funds to cover part of the difference between rates for travel nurses and staff salaries. Healthindustry trade groups and some members of Congress say staffing agencies matching workers with hospitals are capitalizing on a tight labor market as many nurses have left during the pandemic often because of burnout and fatigue. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-relief-funds-drive-up-nurse-pay-hospitals-say-11644316203 9th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters With COVID19 cases still high nationwide now is not the moment to drop mask mandates in schools and other public places U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told Reuters on Tuesday. Her comments follow announcements by officials in New Jersey Connecticut Delaware California and Oregon that they plan to lift indoor mask mandates for K12 public schools and other indoor spaces in coming weeks seeking a return to normalcy as infections spurred by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus ebb. I know people are interested in taking masks off. I too am interested. That would be one marker that we have much of the pandemic behind us Walenksy said in an interview. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-cdc-stands-by-k-12-school-masking-guidance-states-relax-rules-walensky-2022-02-08/ 9th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

Vietnam Net The Ministry of National Defence received 300000 doses of VeroCell COVID19 vaccine presented by the Ministry of National Defence of China at a ceremony held at Noi Bai International Airport on February 8. Addressing the event Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo said that the vaccine donation aims to help the army and people of Vietnam overcome COVID19 which demonstrates the sentiments of the Chinese military in particular and Chinese Government in general to the military and people of Vietnam. On behalf of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien thanked the Chinese side for the gift which he said is evidence of the friendly neighbourliness and solidarity between the two countries and two militaries in particular. https://vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/vietnam-receives-vero-cell-covid-19-vaccine-donated-by-china-814214.html 8th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

South China Morning Post A key to controlling the pandemic lies in the development and widespread use of vaccines that are more effective in preventing infection says research paper Chinas continuous pursuit of the zeroCovid policy has come under scrutiny for its high social and economic costs https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3166171/coronavirus-china-travel-restrictions-should-continue-avoid 8th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

Yahoo News UK According to Against Federal Mandates an action committee started by IBM employees who oppose IBMs vaccine mandate on February 1st IBM revoked badge access to all worksites and client sites for all unvaccinated employees and employees who did not submit their vaccine status. IBM also stated that it will allow those who work from home to continue to do so at least temporarily. As IBM continues its COVID19 vaccine mandate US IBM employees opposed to the mandate still have unanswered questions https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ibm-employees-questions-covid-19-130000019.html 8th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

The Associated Press North Korea plans to increase its government spending on pandemic measures by onethird this year to carry out leader Kim Jong Uns calls for a more advanced and peopleoriented virus response state media said Tuesday. The budget plans were passed during a session of Pyongyangs rubberstamp parliament on Sunday and Monday which came weeks after the North tentatively restarted its railroad freight traffic with China following two years of extreme border closures and economic decay. Kim had hinted at broader changes to the countrys pandemic response during a political conference in December when he called for a transition toward advanced antivirus measures based on a scientific foundation. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-seoul-china-e031f33588eb12e3e23625f2f8f046f8 8th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Malaysias coronavirus recovery council on Tuesday said it has recommended a full reopening of borders as early as March 1 without mandatory quarantine for travellers as part of plans to accelerate economic recovery. The Southeast Asian nation has shut its borders since March 2020 and froze the entry of foreign workers to try to contain novel coronavirus outbreaks. The recommendation comes as neighbours waive quarantine requirements to attract vaccinated tourists including Thailand the Philippines and Singapore. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/malaysia-covid-19-panel-recommends-full-border-reopening-march-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Pfizer Inc said on Tuesday it expects 2022 sales of its COVID19 vaccine and antiviral pill to top 54 billion but that fell short of lofty Wall Street estimates and its shares were off about 3. Still Chief Executive Albert Bourla said final sales for its oral COVID19 antiviral Paxlovid could be way bigger than what Pfizer has forecast since its current outlook only included contracts that have been or are close to being signed. Pfizer currently expects 22 billion in 2022 sales of the treatment compared with Wall Street estimates of 22.88 billion. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pfizer-forecasts-54-bln-2022-sales-covid-vaccine-pill-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Medical Xpress When Armani Nightengale waited in the car last March to get vaccinated against COVID19 at Chicagos United Center her husband was more nervous than she was. Over the next couple of weeks he carefully checked her arm to make sure nothing looked wrong. Then the conversation shifted to when he would get the shot. Thats when things got more combative Nightengale said as she began asking why he was reluctant especially given that they had three young children. Her husband on the other hand felt unsure about how signing up for the vaccine would affect his immigration status. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-02-strangers-doors-naysayers-covid-vaccine.html 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

The Guardian The brazen occupation of Ottawa came as a result of unprecedented coordination between various antivaccine and antigovernment organizations and activists and has been seized on by similar groups around the world. It may herald the revenge of the antivaxxers. The socalled freedom convoy which departed for Ottawa on 23 January was the brainchild of James Bauder an admitted conspiracy theorist who has endorsed the QAnon movement and called Covid19 the biggest political scam in history. Bauders group Canada Unity contends that vaccine mandates and passports are illegal under Canadas constitution the Nuremberg Code and a host of other international conventions. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/08/canada-ottawa-trucker-protest-extremist-qanon-neo-nazi 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg The right and left may not agree on what constitutes misinformation but both would like to see less of it on social media. And as the world faces the third year of the Covid19 pandemic the threat medical misinformation poses to public health remains real. Companies like Twitter and Facebook have a stake in cleaning up their platforms without relying on censoring or factchecking. Censoring can engender distrust when social media companies expunge posts or delete accounts without explanation. It can even raise the profile of those whove been canceled. And factchecking isnt a good solution for complex scientific concepts. Thats because science is not a set of immutable facts but a system of inquiry that constructs provisional theories based on imperfect data. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-02-08/social-media-is-wired-to-spread-misinformation-on-covid-19-and-everything-else 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters The busiest land crossing from the United States to Canada remained shut on Tuesday Canadas border agency said after Canadian truckers blocked lanes on Monday to protest their governments pandemic control measures. Drivers demanding an end to federal COVID19 vaccine mandates for crossborder traffic began blocking the streets of Canadas capital Ottawa on Jan. 28. Since Sunday night police have started slowly taking back control seizing thousands of liters of fuel and removing an oil tanker truck. Trucks started blocking traffic at the Ambassador Bridge located between Lake Erie and Lake Huron late on Monday. Canadas Border Services Agency said on Tuesday that the bridge was closed but police later tweeted that U.S.bound lanes were now open. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/angry-canada-truckers-block-busiest-bridge-with-us-trudeau-faces-grilling-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

The Associated Press Canadas public safety minister said Monday that U.S. officials should stay out of his countrys domestic affairs joining other Canadian leaders in pushing back against prominent Republicans who offered support for the protests of COVID19 restrictions that have besieged downtown Ottawa for more than a week. A day after the city declared a state of emergency the mayor pleaded for almost 2000 extra police officers to help quell the raucous nightly demonstrations staged by the socalled Freedom Truck Convoy which has used hundreds of parked trucks to paralyze the Canadian capitals business district. The protests have also infuriated people who live around downtown including neighborhoods near Parliament Hill the seat of the federal government. https://apnews.com/article/covid-mandates-ottawa-truckers-protest-56a43734eb9568992360844f372c38b6 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

The Associated Press Hundreds of people protesting vaccine and mask mandates drove in convoy to New Zealands capital on Tuesday and converged outside Parliament as lawmakers reconvened after a summer break. The mostly unmasked protesters had driven from around the country and their vehicles clogged the central Wellington streets for hours as they got out to meet and speak on Parliaments forecourt. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern elected not to meet with them as she delivered a speech to lawmakers outlining her priorities for the year. Among the protesters grievances is the requirement in New Zealand that certain workers get vaccinated against the coronavirus including teachers doctors nurses police and military personnel. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-new-zealand-wellington-57115d5d12a448c54b9e599a6f7d8381 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters The busiest land crossing from the United States to Canada remained shut on Tuesday Canadas border agency said after Canadian truckers blocked lanes on Monday in protest against their governments pandemic control measures. Drivers demanding an end to federal COVID19 vaccine mandates for crossborder traffic began blocking the streets of Canadas capital Ottawa on Jan. 28. Since Sunday night police have started slowly taking back control seizing thousands of liters of fuel and removing an oil tanker truck. Trucks started blocking traffic at the Ambassador Bridge located between Lake Erie and Lake Huron late on Monday. Canadas Border Services Agency said on Tuesday that the bridge was closed but police later tweeted that U.S.bound lanes were now open. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/angry-canada-truckers-block-busiest-bridge-with-us-trudeau-faces-grilling-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters Hundreds of people protesting vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions blocked streets outside New Zealands parliament on Tuesday with trucks and campervans inspired by similar demonstrations in Canada. The convoy for freedom protesters arrived from all corners of New Zealand and gathered outside the parliament building in the capital Wellington called the Beehive ahead of the first speech for the year by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-pm-warns-more-covid-variants-2022-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended his governments efforts to fight the COVID19 pandemic over the last two years saying on Tuesday they led to high economic growth and middling inflation unlike the situation in some advanced economies. Economic growth is estimated at 9.2 in Indias fiscal year ending in March and at 8 to 8.5 the next after a contraction of 6.6 in fiscal 201920 while retail inflation hovers around 5.5 well within the central banks target of 2 to 6. The government has distributed free foodgrain to 800 million people during the pandemic while taking steps to tame inflation Modi told the upper house of parliament in remarks that triggered an opposition boycott of his speech. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-modi-defends-handling-covid-pandemic-amid-opposition-protests-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

AlJazeera Canada needs to investigate foreign interference and support for an antigovernment protest in the countrys capital said New Democratic Party NDP leader Jagmeet Singh as the convoy of truckers and their supporters continues to wreak havoc in Ottawa. Speaking to reporters on Monday morning Singh said the convoys stated intent is to overthrow the government. It is clear that this is not a protest this is an act to try to overthrow the government and it is getting funded by foreign interference and we need to investigate and stop that stop the flow of that foreign interference particularly coming from the United States said Singh whose party has the fourthmost seats in the House of Commons. We are calling for an emergency debate in parliament to respond to the convoy and to the escalating tensions that were seeing he added. The convoy of Canadian truckers and their supporters began arriving in Ottawa on January 28 to denounce an order requiring truckers to be fully vaccinated against COVID19 in order to cross Canadas land border with the United States. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/7/canada-ndp-leader-trucker-convoy-aims-to-overthrow-govt 7th Feb 2022

Continued Lockdown

Bloomberg A top adviser to Hong Kongs leader says hes very optimistic the city will reopen to the world within the next year and that shortening Covid19 quarantine for inbound travelers is the governments next objective. We all want to end this thing as soon as we can Bernard Chan a financier and convener of Chief Executive Carrie Lams advisory Executive Council said in a Bloomberg Television interview Wednesday. Im very hopeful as more data shows the omicron variants incubation period is actually much shorter that perhaps we can aim for a shorter quarantine time he said. You know thats probably the next objective. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-09/top-hong-kong-adviser-optimistic-city-will-reopen-within-year 8th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Pfizer made nearly 37bn 27bn in sales from its Covid19 vaccine last year making it one of the most lucrative products in history and has forecast another bumper year in 2022 with a big boost coming from its Covid19 pill Paxlovid. The US drugmakers overall revenues in 2021 doubled to 81.3bn and it expects to make record revenues of 98bn to 102bn this year. The bumper sales prompted accusations from campaigners of pandemic profiteering. The group Global Justice Now said the annual revenue of 81bn was more than the GDP of most countries and accused Pfizer of ripping off public health systems. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/08/pfizer-covid-vaccine-pill-profits-sales 8th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Medindia Cancer patients may not experience more complications with COVID19 vaccines. mRNA vaccines for COVID19 are safe for people with cancer as they are for cancerfree individuals. Researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center tracked shortterm side effects from more than 1753 recipients of the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine. They found no other reactions for patients undergoing active cancer treatment or who had completed treatment. The results come from the inperson phone and online surveys given to people who received two doses of the mRNA vaccine three weeks apart between February 16 and May 15 2021. https://www.medindia.net/news/mrna-covid-19-vaccines-are-safe-for-cancer-patients-study-205558-1.htm 8th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN on MSN.com Pfizers sales in the fourth quarter more than doubled thanks to strong demand for its Covid19 vaccine. But that wasnt good enough to satisfy investors. The drugmaker said it posted revenue of 23.8 billion missing Wall Streets expectations of 24.1 billion. More than half of Pfizers total sales 13.9 billion came from its vaccines unit. The company also reported net income of 3.4 billion topping analysts forecasts. Pfizer said it expects 32 billion in sales this year from Comirnaty the Covid vaccine. Still that was below Wall Streets expectations of nearly 34 billion. The companys overall sales and profit guidance for 2022 also missed consensus estimates. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/covid-vaccine-gives-pfizer-sales-and-profits-a-big-boost/ar-AATBJkx 8th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Novavax Inc has delivered just a small fraction of the 2 billion COVID19 shots it plans to send around the world in 2022 and has delayed firstquarter shipments in Europe and lower income countries such as the Philippines public officials involved in their governments vaccine rollouts told Reuters. Novavax said it has completed delivery of around 10 million vaccine doses to Indonesia and that shipments of several million shots arrived in Australia and New Zealand on Monday. The company declined to comment on the exact number of deliveries it has made but said it is moving as quickly as possible to ship its contracted supplies for this quarter. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novavax-underdelivers-covid-vaccine-promises-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Merck Co. said that it had provided about 3.1 million courses of its Covid19 pill to the U.S. government fulfilling the terms of a federal pact that the drugmaker and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP agreed to last year. The companies said in a statement on Tuesday that they have completed manufacturing of 10 million courses of the therapy and are on track to make at least 20 million courses this year. The surge in coronavirus infections in the U.S. spurred by the omicron variant has caused demand for treatments to soar. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-08/merck-and-partner-ridgeback-fill-u-s-order-for-covid-19-pill 8th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg As Covid restrictions come down throughout most of the advanced world even Australia is preparing to welcome international visitors again public health authorities will need to make decisions on future vaccine protocols. One possibility would be a booster shot formulated specifically for the fastspreading omicron variant which is behind the recent growth in infections in the U.S. U.K. and elsewhere. Bloomberg Opinion columnist Therese Raphael and Bloomberg Intelligence pharmaceutical analyst Sam Fazeli discuss a new study that casts doubt on whether such a variantspecific vaccine is worth it. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-02-08/covid-omicron-variant-poses-a-puzzle-for-booster-and-vaccine-makers 8th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News How long does long Covid last And what does it mean to achieve full recovery If you ask Joni White shell tell you she just wants to feel like herself again or something close to it. And shes almost there. Retired from federal law enforcement White now describes herself as a glass artist but shes been out of her studio for more than a year. On New Years Eve 2020 Covid19 hit her so hard she thought she might die. Her infected but asymptomatic sister cared for her for three weeks in a house on the Outer Banks in North Carolina until her crushing headaches chest tightness and brain fog eased. But back home in Hillsborough N.C. Whites headaches and brain fog were still there in April along with frustration and depression at not being able to carry out what had been ordinary tasks much less fusing glass into art. https://www.statnews.com/2022/02/08/long-covid-patients-clinics-symptoms-improve-recovery-elusive/ 8th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP A cohort study of Americans tested for SARSCoV2 infection shows that newonset shortness of breath heart rhythm abnormalities and type 2 diabetes were more common 31 to 150 days after testing positive for COVID19 than among those with negative results. The research was published today in JAMA Network Open. A team led by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC researchers examined new signs and symptoms among 144768 nonhospitalized and 23933 hospitalized people 20 years and older with a positive COVID19 test and 1227510 nonhospitalized people with a negative test. Among the 338024 people younger than 20 years 25327 nonhospitalized and 1338 hospitalized people tested positive and 260660 nonhospitalized and 50699 hospitalized patients had a negative test result. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/02/new-conditions-common-1-5-months-after-positive-covid-test 7th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Independent People aged 80 and over are accounting for more deaths involving Covid19 in England and Wales than at any point since December 2020 new analysis shows. However the number of deaths in the current wave of the virus remains well below levels reached during the second wave last winter. Some 856 of the 1355 of deaths that occurred in the week ending January 21 2022 and which mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate were among over80s the equivalent of 63.2. This is the highest proportion since the week to December 18 2020 when it stood at 64.0 2115 of 3306 deaths. The proportion had dropped to nearly half this level during the summer of 2021 dipping to 37.9 in the week to July 2 2021. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/covid-people-office-for-national-statistics-england-wales-b2010131.html 8th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Pharmaceutical Technology Covid 19 infections have now passed 76 million. Meanwhile the US coronavirus death toll has increased to more than 905000 according to Johns Hopkins University data. Democratic leaders in the US Congress held a moment of silence on Monday to commemorate the 900000 American lives lost to the Covid19 pandemic. New Jersey school districts will be allowed to drop a mask mandate next month Governor Phil Murphy is expected to announce Monday. The move will be effective 7 March with flexibility for districts to decide on their own requirements. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/covid-19-update/ 8th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Italy reported 101864 COVID19 related cases on Tuesday against 41247 the day before the health ministry said while the number of deaths rose to 415 from 326. Italy has registered 149512 deaths linked to COVID19 since its outbreak emerged in February 2020 the secondhighest toll in Europe after Britain and the eighth highest in the world. The country has reported 11.77 million cases to date. Patients in hospital with COVID19 not including those in intensive care stood at 18337 on Tuesday down from 18675 a day earlier. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/italy-reports-101864-coronavirus-cases-tuesday-415-deaths-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Yahoo News UK Germanys coronavirus situation is still not under control and an Omicron infection wave is still expected to peak around midFebruary Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Tuesday. The situation is not really under control yet Lauterbach told journalists during a news conference in Berlin. Germany on Tuesday reported 169571 new daily case and the sevenday infection incidence rose to a record of 1441 cases per 100000. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/germanys-covid-situation-isnt-yet-094645609.html 8th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Turkey has recorded 111096 new COVID19 infections in the space of 24 hours just below the record daily high from the previous week as well as its highest daily death toll in months health ministry data showed on Tuesday. In late December daily cases stood at about 20000 but have since surged due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus. On Friday Turkey reported a record 111157 infections. Data on Thursday also showed 241 people died due to COVID19 in the same 24hour period the highest daily toll since Nov. 3 while Health Minister Fahrettin Koca urged citizens to complete their vaccination and the elderly to exercise more caution. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/turkey-logs-111096-covid-cases-231-deaths-24-hours-ministry-says-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Japan reported 159 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday a daily record Kyodo news agency said. It also recorded 101278 new cases Kyodo added amid a surge in infections driven by the Omicron variant that has prompted the government to reinstate curbs in most parts of the country. A total of 1141 coronavirus patients were in serious condition across Japan as of Tuesday the health ministry said down from the previous day yet hovering around a fourmonth high https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/japan-reports-daily-record-155-covid-deaths-kyodo-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera United States legislators have held a moment of silence at the Capitol to mark 900000 COVID deaths in the country. The officials walked onto the steps of the seat of the US legislature carrying lights and stood silently as US Army Chorus performed Shall We Gather at the River and God Bless America on Monday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stood at the front of the crowd of bipartisan legislators. Tonight I joined Members of Congress for a Moment of Silence to pay tribute to the more than 900000 Americans tragically lost to COVID19 Pelosi later wrote on Twitter. In their memories let us continue our work to bring an end to this pandemic. Shortly before legislators held their observance the Washington National Cathedral tolled its funeral bell 900 times. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/8/us-lawmakers-mark-900000-covid-deaths-in-country 8th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP Late last week Americas pandemic death toll reached 900000with 60000 deaths recorded in January aloneand 100000 deaths logged since Dec 13. Januarys death toll doubled Novembers the month before Omicron became the dominant variant in the country. According to NBC News Tennessee Michigan Indiana Ohio and Pennsylvania have the most deaths when adjusted for population. After nearly two years I know that the emotional physical and psychological weight of this pandemic has been incredibly difficult to bear President Biden said in a statement released late last week. Though the surge of Omicron cases is decreasing across the country hospitalizations and deaths are expected to remain high throughout the month. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/02/us-records-60000-covid-19-deaths-january 7th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP Hong Kong today reported a record 614 cases nearly all of them locally acquired according to the Centre for Health Protection. The surge in cases and shortages of imported food due to transport disruptions have led to panic buying at supermarkets according to Reuters. Meanwhile on Chinas mainland the Guangxi province city of Baise home to 3.6 million people is on lockdown. The citys outbreak started with one case in a returning traveler who tested positive on Feb 5 with mass testing turning up 98 more cases according to the South China Morning Post. The city is in southern China near the border with Vietnam. At the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing 24 more COVID19 cases were reported in athletes and staff raising the total to 387 according to Chinas Olympic committee. The country has a closedloop system to separate Olympic participants from the public. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/02/covid-19-cases-climb-higher-parts-asia 7th Feb 2022

New Lockdown

The Associated Press China has ordered inhabitants of the southern city of Baise to stay home and suspended transportation links amid a surge in COVID19 cases at least partly linked to the omicron variant. Classes have been suspended nonessential businesses closed and mass testing of residents ordered. Restaurants are only permitted to serve takeout. Traffic lights have been switched to red only to remind drivers to stay home. As of Tuesday 135 cases had been reported in the city at least two of them found to be omicron health authorities said. https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-coronavirus-pandemic-sports-health-business-cf7d91b2e27ad904d3a73a33643032c5 8th Feb 2022

New Lockdown

Bloomberg Hong Kong will limit gatherings in private homes for the first time since the Covid19 pandemic began in an attempt to keep residents from socializing as it fights an outbreak that risks dashing its strategy of keeping out the virus long term. The city will limit multihousehold gatherings on private premises to two families starting Thursday but authorities wont go doortodoor to check if the rule is being followed. It will also restrict public gatherings to two people down from four currently and expand the list of venues where entry is limited to those who are vaccinated to shopping malls food markets and hair salons. Now given this severe epidemic I hope the public will accept that we have to go back to the most stringent level Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-08/hong-kong-leader-urges-residents-to-stay-home-as-virus-spreads 8th Feb 2022

New Lockdown

Reuters Hong Kong announced stringent new coronavirus restrictions and record new infections on Tuesday while a shortage of vegetables added to the misery as truck drivers who tested positive for COVID19 were unable to bring them from mainland China. The Asian financial hub reported a record 625 coronavirus cases on Tuesday with cases likely to continue rising rapidly authorities said. There were 2600 infections over the past two weeks compared with just two in December. Responding to the worrying trend Hong Kongs leader Carrie lam said public gatherings would be limited to two people from four currently while churches and hair salons would close from Thursday joining a slew of venues already closed. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-leader-says-city-stick-with-dynamic-zero-covid-strategy-now-2022-02-08/ 8th Feb 2022