17th May 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=662 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The Wall Street Journal The Covid19 mortality countjust over one million and still risingis reflected in death certificates recorded by the CDC. Of these certificates at least 90 list Covid19 as the underlying cause of death the CDC said. The remainder list the disease as a contributing cause. These records show how deaths have swept through the U.S. since the pandemic began hitting states and populations unevenly. Early hot spots included places like New York City and New Jersey. The burden later shifted southward including in states where vaccination rates have lagged behind. Vaccines have shown they reduce the risk of severe illness and death. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-nears-one-million-covid-19-deaths-11650838998 17th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Chinas retail and factory activity fell sharply in April as wide COVID19 lockdowns confined workers and consumers to their homes and severely disrupted supply chains casting a long shadow over the outlook for the worlds secondlargest economy. Full or partial lockdowns were imposed in major centres across the country in March and April including the most populous city Shanghai hitting production and consumption and heightening risks for those parts of the global economy heavily dependent on China. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-economy-cools-sharply-april-lockdowns-bite-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

ITV News Jerseys digital Covid vaccine certificates have been upgraded. They will now show up to five doses rather than three and last for six months instead of one. The display has also been simplified for travel purposes to only include a single QR code showing the most recent vaccine. https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2022-05-13/jerseys-digital-covid-vaccine-certificates-to-show-more-doses-and-last-longer 16th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

Business Standard The disruptions caused by the Covid19 pandemic pushed an estimated 55 million Africans into extreme poverty in 2020 and reversed more than two decades of poverty reduction in Africa said a report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa ECA. The report with the theme Fight against poverty and vulnerability in Africa during the Covid19 pandemic was issued by the ECA during the 54th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance Planning and Economic Development. https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/covid-19-pushed-55-mn-africans-into-extreme-poverty-in-2020-un-report-122051600044_1.html 16th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

BBC News Activity levels among children fell below national guidelines after Covid19 restrictions eased a study finds. A university of Bristol study found by the end of 2021 less than a third were meeting the recommended guidelines of 60 minutes of physical activity daily. The findings showed children in England aged between 10 and 11 were doing eight minutes less activity than before 2021. Researchers said it highlights a greater need to work with families and schools to get children active. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-61463214 16th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian As the virus accelerates its evolution the humans capitulate. For two and a half years the virus has been outrunning our response getting progressively more and more transmissible reaching a level of infectiousness that few pathogens have ever attained. Instead of taking a stance of getting ahead of the virus and outsmarting it people have succumbed. In recent months we experienced a striking jump in transmissibility when the Omicron BA.1 variant became dominant with at least a threefold increase in reproductive number beyond Delta. Despite the hope that this might be reaching the upper limit of the viruss spread ability we quickly transitioned to a BA.2 wave with at least another jump of about 30 transmissibility and now we are heading in the United States to a dominant subvariant known as BA.2.12.1 which is another 25 more transmissible than BA.2 and already accounting for close to 50 of new cases. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/16/covid-19-pandemic-exit-roadmap 16th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg With each new variant that period of protection keeps getting shorter. In the past few weeks studies out of South Africa the US and China have revealed that Omicron subvariants BA.2.12.1 BA.4 and BA.5 are alarmingly good at escaping immunity from a previous Omicron infection. In practical terms this means that for the large swath of the US population that was first infected with Covid over the winter the postinfection honeymoon may be over. Those people might wonder how safe it is to travel attend large gatherings and have dinner with vulnerable friends and relatives. Unfortunately there are no easy answers. People want it to be Am I safe or not says Abraar Karan an epidemiologist at Stanford University. But risk is a continuum. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-05-16/omicron-is-turning-out-to-be-a-weak-vaccine 16th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters General Motors Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis are reinstating a requirement that employees wear masks in southeastern Michigan where there are high levels of COVID19. The Detroit Three automakers said in early March they would allow auto workers to stop wearing masks at workplaces where U.S. health officials said it was safe to do so https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/detroit-three-automakers-reinstate-mask-mandate-some-michigan-facilities-2022-05-15/ 16th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

Associated Press The U.S. death toll from COVID19 hit 1 million on Monday a onceunimaginable figure that only hints at the multitudes of loved ones and friends staggered by grief and frustration. The confirmed number of dead is equivalent to a 911 attack every day for 336 days. It is roughly equal to how many Americans died in the Civil War and World War II combined. Its as if Boston and Pittsburgh were wiped out. Some of those left behind say they cannot return to normal. They replay their loved ones voicemail messages. Or watch old videos to see them dance. When other people say they are done with the virus they bristle with anger or ache in silence. https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-pandemics-public-7cefbd8c3185fd970fd073386e442317 16th May 2022

Lockdown Exit

Associated Press Chinas sluggish economy is reviving as antivirus curbs are eased and businesses in its commercial capital of Shanghai are allowed to reopen a Cabinet official said Monday while data showed April factory and consumer activity was even weaker than expected. About half of the 9000 biggest industrial enterprises in Shanghai are back at work after controls that shut down most of the city starting in late March eased said Fu Linghui director of statistics for the National Bureau of Statistics. The ruling Communist Party is trying to reverse a deepening slowdown without giving up zeroCOVID tactics that also have shut down sections of Beijing and other major cities to isolate every infected person. https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-shanghai-economy-9fcc6caeae92a1f30c7c8f8be575d811 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters U.S. health regulators are expected to authorize a booster shot of PfizerBioNTechs COVID19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 as soon as Tuesday the New York Times reported on Monday citing people familiar with the matter. The companies submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the authorization last month. They have cited data from a mid to latestage study showing a third dose of their shot increased protection against the original coronavirus version and the Omicron variant among children in the age group. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/fda-authorize-pfizers-covid-booster-shot-younger-kids-soon-nyt-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

The Pharma Letter Global equity of access to Covid19 vaccines should be a shared goal according to the researchbased biopharmaceutical industry with production set to reach 16.3 billion doses by the end of June. In a joint statement at the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment IPHA and BPCI the industrys representative organizations said waiving intellectual property rights will not accelerate global Covid19 vaccines access. https://www.thepharmaletter.com/article/global-covid-19-vaccines-equity-of-access-is-a-shared-goal-as-production-surges-says-industry 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Shanghai set out plans on Monday for the end of a painful COVID19 lockdown that has lasted more than six weeks heavily bruising Chinas economy and for the return of more normal life from June 1. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-targets-june-1-return-normal-covid-lockdowns-cool-economy-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Shanghai will gradually begin reopening businesses such as shopping malls and hair salons in Chinas financial and manufacturing hub from Monday after weeks in strict COVID19 lockdown while Beijing battles a small but stubborn outbreak. All but shut down for more than six weeks Shanghai is tightening curbs in some areas that it hopes marks a final push in its campaign against the virus which has infuriated and exhausted residents of Chinas largest and most cosmopolitan city. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-start-gradually-reopening-malls-other-firms-covid-lockdown-transition-2022-05-15/ 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Shanghai authorities on Monday provided their clearest timetable yet on lifting the citys lockdown that has been in place for over six weeks saying they plan to fully restore normal life from June 1. Draconian measures to stop the spread of COVID19 in Chinas largest city have generated widespread frustration and anger among its 25 million residents and contributed to a slowdown in the countrys economic activity. Most people have been forbidden to leave their homes unless for emergency medical treatment or to buy daily necessities. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/shanghai-provides-roadmap-out-lockdown-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters With swathes of China spending April under lockdown 46 cities according to one estimate it was inevitable that dining out shopping factory output and energy usage would all take big hits. The dire data overshadowed announcements that some COVID curbs would be loosened. A Q2 economic contraction looks inevitable. Whats more the 6.7 urban unemployment rate the highest since 2018 wont escape the notice of authorities wary of any kind of unrest. https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/covid-lockdowns-may-end-china-is-still-sneezing-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Chinese iron ore futures rose on Monday supported by supply concerns and shrinking portside inventories of the steelmaking ingredient while the easing of some COVID19 curbs in the worlds top steel producer also lifted trader sentiment. The mosttraded September iron ore contract on Chinas Dalian Commodity Exchange ended daytime trade 3.9 higher at 834.50 yuan 122.80 a tonne after posting its biggest weekly loss in nearly three months on Friday. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/supply-woes-easing-chinas-covid-curbs-lift-dalian-iron-ore-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal New York City officials are recommending residents wear masks in indoor public spaces amid climbing Covid19 cases in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan issued the advisory Monday requesting New Yorkers over the age of two years old wear masks in indoor public spaces such as grocery stores and offices. https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-officials-say-people-should-wear-masks-inside-again-11652732146 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

Associated Press Most of Shanghai has stopped the spread of the coronavirus in the community and fewer than 1 million people remain under strict lockdown authorities said Monday as the city moves toward reopening and economic data showed the gloomy impact of Chinas zeroCOVID policy. Vice Mayor Zong Ming said 15 out of Shanghais 16 districts had eliminated virus transmission among those not already in quarantine. The epidemic in our city is under effective control. Prevention measures have achieved incremental success Zong said at a news briefing. https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-economy-beijing-81cc24e17c09ca13139ba50e986c2d92 16th May 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Standing tall in bright red hazmat suits five North Korean health workers stride towards an ambulance to do battle with a COVID19 outbreak that in the presumed absence of vaccines the country is using antibiotics and home remedies to treat. The isolated state is one of only two countries yet to begin a vaccination campaign and until last week had insisted it was COVIDfree. Now it is mobilizing forces including the army and a public information campaign to combat what authorities have acknowledged is an explosive outbreak https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/lacking-vaccines-nkorea-battles-covid-with-antibiotics-home-remedies-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters Japans Kill Bill restaurant operator prevailed in a court case on Monday that declared Tokyos now defunct COVID19 infection curbs were illegal. The orders enacted in the capital during various states of emergency included shortened operating hours and a ban on alcohol sales though there was a compensating government subsidy. Businesses that didnt comply were subject to fines. GlobalDining Inc which runs more than 40 restaurants defied the restrictions taking the city government to court over the matter. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tokyo-covid-curbs-declared-illegal-kill-bill-restaurant-case-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Tesla Inc has delayed a plan to restore production at its Shanghai plant to levels before the citys COVID19 lockdown by at least a week according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The U.S. electric car maker originally aimed to increase output at its Shanghai plant to 2600 cars a day from May 16 Reuters reported earlier this month citing another memo. But the latest memo said that it plans to stick to one shift for its Shanghai plant for the current week with a daily output of around 1200 units. It also said that it would now aim to increase output to 2600 units per day from May 23. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-delays-plan-restore-shanghai-plant-output-pre-lockdown-levels-memo-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Continued Lockdown

Reuters European businesses in China are awaiting the next wave of disruption from COVID19 outbreaks and see little chance of improvement until the country increases vaccination rates the European Chamber of Commerce in China said on Monday. Shanghai has set out plans to end its COVID lockdown that has lasted more than six weeks hitting Chinas economy where industrial output and retail sales fell in April at the fastest in more than two years missing expectations https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/european-businesses-fear-more-covid-disruption-china-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg One potential silver lining is that vaccinated people catching breakthrough infections via the omicron variant may have a form of superimmunity more powerful than a booster shot according to a couple of recent studies. Of course given the risk of long Covid and how little we know about the diseases longterm effects nobodys recommending you throw a Covid party. And unvaccinated people shouldnt hope catching omicron will protect them from future infections warns Lisa Jarvis. Even vaccinated people might find their superimmunity from an omicron infection wont last more than a few months. Catch you at the next surge. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-05-16/omicron-no-vaccine-substitute-but-breakthroughs-may-beat-boosters 17th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review. SARSCoV2 could be at root of mysterious hepatitis in kids. A chain of events possibly triggered by unrecognized infection with the SARSCoV2 coronavirus could be causing the mysterious cases of severe hepatitis reported in hundreds of young children around the world researchers suggest. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/coronavirus-may-be-linked-cases-severe-hepatitis-children-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided not to authorize the antidepressant fluvoxamine to treat COVID19 saying that the data has not shown the drug to be an effective therapeutic for fighting the virus. Based on the review of available scientific evidence the FDA has determined that the data are insufficient to conclude that fluvoxamine may be effective in the treatment of nonhospitalized patients with COVID19 to prevent progression to severe disease andor hospitalization the agency said in a document published on Monday. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/fda-declines-authorize-common-antidepressant-covid-treatment-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

NHK WORLD Osakabased pharmaceutical company Shionogi says it has started a clinical trial for Japanese adolescents aged 12 to 19 of a coronavirus vaccine it is developing for all age groups. The product is a recombinant proteinbased vaccine. For adult usage the company is set to apply for approval with Japanese authorities as early as next month. The company said on Monday the clinical trial involves 350 adolescents. They will receive two doses to see whether their neutralizing antibody levels will equal those found in adults who have received the shots or rise even higher. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220516_24/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post People who are vaccinated and then get infected with Omicron may be primed to overcome a broad range of coronavirus variants early research suggests. A pair of studies showed that infection produced even better immune responses than a booster shot in vaccinated patients. Teams from Covid19 vaccine maker BioNTech SE and the University of Washington posted the results on preprint server bioRxiv in recent weeks. The findings offer a reassuring sign that the millions of vaccinated people whove caught Omicron probably wont become seriously ill from another variant soon even though the research needs to be confirmed especially by realworld evidence. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3177958/coronavirus-how-omicron-infection-turbocharges 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

iNews Companies are failing staff suffering from long Covid leaving them open to legal action as the condition could amount to a disability under the Equality Act an employment specialist has said. Aleksandra Traczyk employment solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood said the latest advice seems to suggest that long Covid should be treated as a disability by employers in order to avoid falling foul of discrimination legislation. She said her practice has seen cases of people with long Covid being treated poorly by bosses who failed to make adjustments allowing them to carry on working. Although some campaign groups and bodies including the TUC have called for long Covid to be recognised as a disability under the Equality Act this has not yet happened. The Equality and Human Rights Commission EHRC has acknowledged that the short amount of time that long Covid has been in existence as a condition and the fluctuating nature of symptoms may be a barrier to the Government doing so Ms Traczyk said. https://inews.co.uk/news/health/long-covid-coronavirus-symptoms-more-help-carry-on-working-equality-act-1632086 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Pharmaceutical Technology The European Commission EC has informed Valneva of its plan to terminate the advance purchase agreement APA for the latters inactivated wholevirus Covid19 vaccine candidate VLA2001. The details were communicated by the EC through a notice to the company. An adjuvanted vaccine candidate VLA2001 is for active immunisation of atrisk people to avert carriage and symptomatic Covid19 infection. It comprises inactivated whole virus particles of the SARSCoV2 virus with increased Sprotein density and two adjuvants alum and Dynavax Technologies CpG 1018. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/ec-vaccine-deal-valneva/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Pharmaceutical Technology Pfizer and BioNTech have amended the supply agreement with the European Commission EC to rephase the delivery schedules of their Covid19 vaccine. The PfizerBioNTech COVID19 Vaccine is based on the messenger ribonucleic acid mRNA technology of BioNTech. Under the deal the initial contractual supply schedules for the vaccine will be updated to rephase the supplies to support the vaccination programmes of EC and its member states. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-ec/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

New Scientist Six weeks into the vaccine rollout for this age group fewer than one in 10 children aged 5 to 11 have received their first dose. The 7 per cent figure compares with the 24 per cent of 12 to 15yearolds in England who received a first dose in the six weeks after they became eligible for the vaccine in September 2021. Children rarely become seriously ill with SARSCoV2 virus however testing positive can disrupt their schooling or put them at risk of long covid. Speaking of 5 to 11 year olds Russell Viner at University College London told The Guardian Its a vaccination that probably isnt particularly beneficial for this age group. However it has a very very good safety profile. And given that we remain in a pandemic theres an argument that for individual parents the balance of risks would appear to be towards vaccination. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-just-7-per-cent-of-5-to-11-year-olds-in-england-jabbed/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Standing tall in bright red hazmat suits five North Korean health workers stride towards an ambulance to do battle with a COVID19 outbreak that in the presumed absence of vaccines the country is using antibiotics and home remedies to treat. The isolated state is one of only two countries yet to begin a vaccination campaign and until last week had insisted it was COVIDfree. Now it is mobilizing forces including the army and a public information campaign to combat what authorities have acknowledged is an explosive outbreak. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/lacking-vaccines-nkorea-battles-covid-with-antibiotics-home-remedies-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Shares of Valneva plunged 20 on Monday after the French drugmaker said its COVID19 vaccine agreement with the European Commission was being scrapped and it may have to rethink its financial guidance. Valneva said the European Commission had informed the company of its intent to terminate an advance purchase agreement APA for its COVID vaccine which is currently under regulatory review by the European health regulator. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/valneva-says-european-commission-terminate-purchase-agreement-its-vla2001-covid-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal The Food and Drug Administration authorized the first nonprescription test that can detect Covid19 influenza and respiratory syncytial virus or RSV. The test developed by Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings can be sold directly to consumers online or at retail. A person can collect a nasalswab sample themselves before sending the sample to Labcorp for analysis. The test called the Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RTPCR DTC Test searches for and amplifies the genetic materials of multiple viruses to figure out which one a person might be harboring. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-authorizes-nonprescription-test-for-covid-19-flu-and-rsv-11652743114 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal New studies offer clues about who may be more susceptible to long Covid a term for lingering Covid19 symptoms. WSJ breaks down the science of long Covid and the state of treatment https://www.wsj.com/articles/long-covid-often-means-crushing-fatigue-heres-what-can-help-11652662810 16th May 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Valneva said on Monday it had received a notice of intent from the European Commission EC to terminate the advance purchase agreement for its VLA2001 COVID19 candidate vaccine. The EC decision is regrettable especially as we continue to receive messages from Europeans who are looking for a more traditional vaccine solution CEO Thomas Lingelbach said. Valnevas vaccine relies on technology that has been used for decades including in some shots against polio influenza and hepatitis. Valneva signed a deal with the EC last November to supply up to 60 million doses of vaccine over two years including 24.3 million doses in 2022. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/valneva-says-european-commission-terminate-purchase-agreement-its-vla2001-covid-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg New York City is preparing to hit a high Covidtransmission level in the coming days that would have it reconsidering mask requirements in public places. If NYCs Alert Level is raised to High the City will consider requiring face masks in all public indoor settings according to guidance on the city health departments website. Alert levels take into account cases hospital admissions and the percentage of inpatient beds that are occupied by Covid19 patients. Early in May the city moved to a medium alert from low after surpassing 200 new cases per 100000 people over a sevenday period. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-16/nyc-may-reach-high-covid-alert-level-consider-requiring-masks 17th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters North Korea has mobilised its military to distribute COVID medications and deployed more than 10000 health workers to help trace potential patients as it fights a sweeping coronavirus wave state media KCNA said on Tuesday. The isolated country is grappling with its first acknowledged COVID19 outbreak which it confirmed last week fuelling concerns over a major crisis due to a lack of vaccines and adequate medical infrastructure. The state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters reported 269510 more people with fever symptoms bringing the total to 1483060 while the death toll grew to 56 as of Monday evening KCNA said. It did not say how many people have tested positive for COVID19. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkorea-reports-6-new-deaths-270000-more-with-fever-amid-covid-outbreak-kcna-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

New York Times Coronavirus cases are spreading at an alarming rate across the United States particularly in the Northeast and the Midwest as the countrys death toll nears the one million mark. An average of more than 90 https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/16/world/covid-19-mandates-vaccine-cases/coronavirus-cases-proliferate-especially-in-the-midwest-as-the-us-death-toll-nears-one-million 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Focus Taiwan News Channel Taiwans Navy said Monday it had ordered one of its warships to return to base and everyone on board to get tested for COVID19 as several crew members had obtained positive rapid antigen test results. The Navy however did not say how many people were on the Knoxclass frigate nor did it specify the number that had tested positive for COVID19 saying only that everyone on board the Fong Yang had been asked to do rapid tests. Those who tested positive have been asked to take PCR tests the Navy Command said in press release. https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202205160021 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

New Zealand Herald There are 7061 new community cases of Covid in the community today. The Ministry of Health reported a further five Covidrelated deaths. Of the five deaths reported today three people were from the Southern region one person was from Auckland and one person was from Bay of Plenty. One person was in their 50s one person was in their 70s and three were aged over 90 the ministry said in todays update. There are 415 people in hospital with the virus including 11 in intensive care. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-7061-covid-cases-five-virus-related-deaths-415-people-in-hospital/47GWAAXBMFB24JXI4VOBUACDWA/ 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

ABC News Two people with COVID19 have died in South Australia as the state government launches an initiative to increase the vaccination rate among children. SA Health has reported 3392 new COVID19 cases today the lowest figure since last Monday following a spike in numbers over the past week. The two deaths were a man and a woman both in their 70s. Yesterday 3796 new cases were reported following 3816 on Saturday. There are now 248 people with COVID19 in hospital including seven people in intensive care. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-16/two-covid19-deaths-in-sa-primary-school-vaccination-hubs-launch/101064750 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Kim Jongun has criticised North Koreas pandemic response and ordered the army to help distribute medicine state media said Monday as the country said 50 people had died since first reporting an outbreak of Covid19. More than one million people have been sickened by what Pyongyang is referring to as fever state media said despite Kim ordering nationwide lockdowns in a bid to slow the spread of disease through the unvaccinated population. After two years denying North Korea had any cases of Covid19 last week officials confirmed that there had been a Covid outbreak in the country. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/16/kim-jong-un-calls-in-the-army-to-respond-to-north-koreas-covid-19-crisis 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The World Health Organization warned on Monday that COVID19 may spread rapidly in North Korea where it said vaccination programmes had yet to begin. With the country yet to initiate COVID19 vaccination there is risk that the virus may spread rapidly among the masses unless curtailed with immediate and appropriate measures said Poonam Khetrapal Singh WHOs regional director for SouthEast Asia in a statement sent to journalists. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/covid-19-may-spread-rapidly-north-korea-who-warns-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Mainland China reported 1227 new coronavirus cases for May 15 of which 151 were symptomatic and 1076 were asymptomatic the National Health Commission said on Monday. That compares with 1789 new cases a day earlier consisting of 239 symptomatic and 1550 asymptomatic infections which China counts separately. There were four new deaths bringing the death toll to 5213. As of May 15 mainland China had confirmed 221955 coronavirus cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-1227-new-covid-cases-may-15-vs-1789-day-earlier-2022-05-16/ 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Leader Kim Jong Un has ordered North Koreas military to stabilise distribution of COVID19 medicine in the capital Pyongyang in the battle against the countrys first confirmed outbreak of the disease state media said. Last week brought the Norths first acknowledgment of an explosive outbreak with experts warning it could devastate a country with limited medical supplies and no vaccine programme. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkoreas-kim-orders-military-stabilize-drug-supply-amid-covid-19-outbreak-2022-05-15/ 16th May 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Wall Street Journal North Korea reported its biggest daily surge in fever cases during a nationwide outbreak of Covid19 but didnt respond to a South Korean offer of vaccines even as the Norths leader Kim Jong Un berated officials for failing to contain the disease. At the interKorean border people could be seen walking around villages on the northern side Monday without face masks and working in groups in fields during the rice planting season showing how unvaccinated North Korea is far from a strict lockdown that some nations have used to stop the spread of Covid. https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-covid-surge-accelerates-as-unvaccinated-population-keeps-working-11652710861 16th May 2022