2nd Aug 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=713 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Covid19 revealed how federal offices and agencies as well as state and local public health offices lack coordination or central control. Elevating ASPR is meant to better align some of those functions. But former health officials from the office and other agencies say that the changes dont provide clarity on which parts of the federal government will be responsible for certain emergencyresponse activities. They also caution that the office needs additional resources. Nicole Lurie the assistant secretary for preparedness and response under President Barack Obama describes ASPRs role as the place where all of emergency response sort of comes together reporting directly to the secretary of Health and Human Service https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-29/us-pandemic-revamp-raises-worry-of-more-cooks-in-the-kitchen 2nd Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Washington Post D.C. students who are 12 and older must be vaccinated against the coronavirus to attend school this upcoming academic year. The youth vaccine mandate in D.C. is among the strictest in the nation according to health experts and is being enacted in a city with wide disparities in vaccination rates between its White and Black children. Overall about 85 percent of students between the ages of 12 and 15 have been vaccinated against the virus but the rate drops to 60 percent among Black children in this age range. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/07/31/dc-schools-covid-vaccine-mandate/ 1st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Independent Education Today Coronavirus was a transformative global event. The Covid19 pandemic affected the whole world and with it came many significant changes. It disrupted and influenced the education sector drastically and affected all students and educators not just in regard to academics but also in their broader health and wellbeing. Overall education has become increasingly more flexible and accessible for those across the world. We know now that every curriculum can be taught online whilst still allowing students to learn alongside their peers meaning that they dont feel isolated. After the historic period of disruption due to the Covid19 pandemic most schools across the globe are back to operating again. But the education industry is still massively in recovery and assessing the damage and lessons learned during the global pandemic. The Covid19 pandemic affected more than 1.5 billion students worldwide with the most vulnerable learners having the greatest impact. https://ie-today.co.uk/people-policy-politics/comment-by-nadim-nsouli/ 1st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The reopening comes as the casinos report their lowest July revenue on record. Macau has reported about 1800 infections since midJune. Strict COVID19 restrictions will remain in place https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-01/macau-casino-profits-drop-to-record-as-lockdown-ends/101290126 1st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Macau will reopen public services and entertainment facilities and allow diningin at restaurants from Tuesday authorities said as the worlds biggest gambling hub seeks a return to normalcy after finding no COVID19 cases for nine straight days. Beauty salons fitness centres and bars too will be allowed to resume operations the government said in a statement on Monday. The announcement came as authorities also reported on Monday that July monthly casino revenues dropped 95 year on year to 0.4 billion patacas 49.5 million the lowest on record. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/macau-reopen-city-no-covid-infections-detected-9-days-2022-08-01/ 1st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

ABC News New Zealand will welcome all international travellers from July 31. Jacinda Arden says the final stages included welcoming back those on student visas and letting cruise ships and foreign yachts dock in the country. The country imposed some of the worlds strictest border controls when COVID19 first hit https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-01/new-zealand-border-fully-open/101287626 1st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Straits Times Lately most conversation starters revolve around a single question Have you had Covid yet Then come the tales of whenhowwhere the extent of symptoms and the solemn raise of hands for the chosen few who have not. https://www.straitstimes.com/life/confessions-of-a-covid-19-dodger 1st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg The push to leave London sparked by the coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of slowing down even after millions of workers returned to their city center offices. Almost 8 of the British homes purchased outside of the capital were bought by Londoners in the first half of the year the same proportion as a year earlier when the postCovid rush kicked off. Thats up from 6.9 in the first half of 2019 the year before the the pandemic struck according to data compiled by broker Hamptons. Buyers have flocked to the countryside in search of more green space after being cooped up in their homes during a series of lockdowns in 2020 taking advantage of more flexible working patterns and pent up savings. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-31/londoners-leaving-the-city-in-droves-as-covid-trend-persists 1st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

ABC News The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a global emergency. Israel was credited with having the worlds fastest COVID19 vaccine rollout in early 2021 Its now ordering large stockpiles of monkeypox vaccine to prevent the diseases spread. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-31/after-covid-19-israel-gets-ready-for-monkeypox/101267786 2nd Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

ฺBangkok Post The numbers of daily Covid19 cases including severe cases and fatalities are stable and the numbers of severe cases and fatalities are likely to gradually fall in a few weeks according to the Thai Department of Disease Control. Presenting an overview of Covid19 in the country Dr Opas Karnkawinpong directorgeneral of the department said at the Public Health Ministry on Monday that the number of new Covid19 cases remained high at 201554 over the past week. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2358869/severe-covid-cases-fatalities-will-gradually-drop-govt 2nd Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

The Japan Times Japan is considering altering its COVID19 reporting protocols including a potential change in the collection of infection numbers in a bid to lessen the burden on hospitals as they strain under a resurgence of the coronavirus across the country government sources have said. Medical facilities and public health centers currently cooperate to report the total COVID19 cases to the government but the change may limit the reporting of cases to designated establishments the sources said Saturday. With the prevalent omicron variant having less risk of causing severe illness compared with previous strains some government officials have questioned the need to report every case. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/07/31/national/science-health/covid-protocols-reporting/ 1st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

Business Standard A nationwide vaccination campaign against Covid19 for children aged between six months to five years was launched in Israel. The vaccination will provide children with an important protection layer against serious illness and postCovid symptoms said a statement issued by the Israeli Health Ministry on Sunday evening. The vaccine is especially recommended for children at risk of severe Covid19 illness due to underlying health conditions that impair the immune system the Ministry added. https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/israel-begins-vaccinating-children-under-5-years-against-covid-19-122080100066_1.html 1st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters The Hong Kong governments COVID19 advisory panel recommended on Monday to lower the minimum age for vaccines to six months from three years public broadcaster RTHK reported. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kongs-covid-19-advisory-panel-recommends-vaccine-kids-above-six-months-old-2022-08-01/ 1st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

The Independent Families are still facing a postcode lottery of Covid restrictions in care homes with some being forced to wear masks and see their loved ones through perspex screens despite the official rules having been relaxed. Visits should be unrestricted unless there is a Covid outbreak in a home when residents are allowed to have one visitor at a time according to guidance from the Care Quality Commission CQC. However some homes are still imposing extra restrictions leaving families at the mercy of individual providers. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/covid-lockdown-care-homes-uk-isolation-rules-b2131518.html 1st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

The New York Times The Biden administration now expects to begin a Covid19 booster campaign with retooled vaccines in September because Pfizer and Moderna have promised that they can deliver doses by then according to people familiar with the deliberations. With updated formulations apparently close at hand federal officials have decided against expanding eligibility for second boosters of the existing vaccines this summer. The new versions are expected to perform better against the nowdominant Omicron subvariant BA.5 although the data available so far is still preliminary. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/us/politics/covid-booster-shots.html 1st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

Sky News There appear to be three different types of long COVID each with their own symptoms researchers have discovered. One group experiences neurological symptoms including fatigue brain fog and headache which most often affect those who contracted the virus when the Alpha and Delta variants were most prevalent according to experts at Kings College London. A second group suffers from respiratory issues including chest pain and severe shortness of breath which could point to lung damage. These symptoms were common among those infected during the first wave of the pandemic. https://news.sky.com/story/three-types-of-long-covid-each-with-different-symptoms-researchers-say-12663531 1st Aug 2022

Partisan Exits

Nature.com In the time of the COVID19 pandemic antivaccine activism in the USA accelerated amplified and formed an alliance with political groups and even extremists. An organized wellfunded and empowered antiscience movement now threatens to spill over and threaten all childhood immunizations in the USA and globally. Many countries now face declining immunization rates as a result of antivaccine activism. In the case of the USA an antivaccine movement that began with false assertions linking vaccines to autism accelerated roughly a decade ago in Texas where I live and work around a libertarian framework known as health freedom2. At present many conservative elected leaders in the US House of Representatives actively promote this health freedom antivaccine agenda as do several US senators sitting governors and federal judges. Farright extremist groups such as the Proud Boys march at antivaccine rallies. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-022-00770-9 1st Aug 2022

Partisan Exits

The New York Times They waved signs that read Defeat the mandates and No vaccines. They chanted Protect our kids and Our kids our choice. Almost everyone in the crowd of more than three dozen was a parent. And as they protested on a recent Friday in the Bay Area suburb of Orinda Calif. they had the same refrain They were there for their children. Most had never been to a political rally before. But after seeing their children isolated and despondent early in the coronavirus pandemic they despaired they said. On Facebook they found other worried parents who sympathized with them. They shared notes and online articles many of them misleading about the reopening of schools and the efficacy of vaccines and masks. Soon those issues crowded out other concerns. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/technology/anti-vax-parents-political-party.html 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The polio virus was present in wastewater in a New York City suburb a month before health officials there announced a confirmed case of the disease last month state health officials said on Monday urging residents to be sure they have been vaccinated. The discovery of the disease from wastewater samples collected in June means the virus was present in the community before the Rockland County adults diagnosis was made public July 21. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/polio-found-new-york-wastewater-state-assesses-virus-spread-2022-08-01/ 2nd Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Pharmaceutical Technology Moderna has entered a new supply contract with the US Government to deliver 66 million doses of its Covid19 vaccine booster candidate mRNA1273.222. The contract comprises a 1.74bn award to produce and supply these vaccine doses and options to further procure up to 234 million additional doses of the companys booster candidates. A bivalent booster candidate the mRNA1273.222 vaccine comprises Spikevax along with the Omicron BA.45 strain messenger RNA mRNA. Spikevax is the companys Covid19 vaccine intended for active immunisation for disease prevention in people aged 18 years and above. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/moderna-contract-vaccines-us/ 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

PMLiVE Moderna has announced it has secured a deal with the US government to supply 66 million doses of its COVID19 vaccine booster updated for the Omicron subvariant for use in an autumn and winter campaign. The company will receive up to 1.74bn for the manufacture and delivery of the doses of mRNA1273.222 a bivalent booster candidate containing Modernas COVID19 vaccine Spikevax plus the Omicron BA.45 string mRNA. The US government will also have the option to purchase up to an additional 234 million doses. Commenting on the deal Stphane Bancel chief executive officer of Moderna said We are pleased to extend our successful collaboration with the US government. Modernas mRNA platform is enabling us to rapidly create mRNA1273.222 a bivalent vaccine that specifically targets Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 the most prevalent variants of concern in the US today https://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/moderna_secures_1.74bn_deal_to_supply_us_government_with_updated_covid-19_vaccine_1452883 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Korea Herald SK Bioscience has submitted the application for conditional approval of the COVID19 vaccine SKY Covione with the European Medicines Agency in efforts to expand its presence in the global market the South Korean vaccine developer said Monday. Beginning with the European region SK Bioscience said it will look to showcase the South Korean COVID19 vaccine on the global stage as the size of the coronavirus vaccine market grows rapidly. South Koreas Ministry of Food and Drug Ministry gave the green light to SKYCovione at the end of June as the country became the third nation in the world with a homegrown COVID19 treatment and a domesticallydeveloped vaccine behind the UK and US. https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220801000601 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

BioPharma-Reporter.com The two companies hPfizer and BioNTech ave begun a Phase II study on an enhanced version of their mRNA vaccine against COVID19 a socalled nextgen Covid vaccine https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2022/08/01/pfizer-and-biontech-start-trial-of-next-gen-covid-vaccine 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Pharmacy Times A September 2021 poll revealed that 1 in 5 health care workers HCWs quit their job since March 2020. Preexisting disparities and issues in the health care workforce and within the current childcare system were exacerbated because of the COVID19 pandemic according to the poll. Researchers found that childcare stress CCS was associated with anxiety depression burnout occupational stress intent to reduce ITR and intent to leave ITL for HCWs which were experienced at disproportionate levels across different subgroups. The source of the study called Coping with COVID is a 14item survey looking at several demographic items such as race ethnicity gender years in practice outpatient vs inpatient practice environment and work role between AprilDecember 2020. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/covid-19-pandemic-dramatically-increased-childcare-stress-among-health-care-workers 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters As the third winter of the coronavirus pandemic looms in the northern hemisphere scientists are warning weary governments and populations alike to brace for more waves of COVID19. In the United States alone there could be up to a million infections a day this winter Chris Murray head of the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation IHME an independent modeling group at the University of Washington that has been tracking the pandemic told Reuters. That would be around double the current daily tally. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/living-with-covid-where-pandemic-could-go-next-2022-08-01/ 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Alzheimer's Research UK Researchers present findings at worlds largest dementia research conference Persistent loss of smell after COVID19 linked to memory and thinking changes associated with diseases like Alzheimers. Links between life changes during pandemic and memory investigated. Intensive care admissions not necessarily COVID19 associated with dementia risk https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/studies-investigate-impact-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-memory-and-thinking-changes/ 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Independent An immunologist has warned the new strain of Covid19 could be causing different symptoms including one that emerges during the night. Omicron BA.5 is a highlycontagious subvariant prompting concern as it contributes to a fresh wave of infections across the globe including the UK. Scientists have been finding differences with previous strains including the ability to reinfect people within weeks of having Covid. A leading immunologist has now suggested it could be causing a new symptom among patients. One extra symptom from BA.5 I saw this morning is night sweats Professor Luke ONeill from Trinity College Dublin told an Irish radio station in midJuly. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-insomnia-night-omicron-ba5-b2135356.html 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC News As the mask mandate debate rages on in Australia epidemiologists and medical specialists suggest looking to countries where citizens are perfectly happy to wear them to see how powerful the simple infectioncontrol measure can be. Nearly two and a half years into the COVID19 pandemic countries where maskwearing is a cultural norm are seeing some signs of success as the persistent Omicron subvariants spread throughout their communities. University of Otago public health professor and epidemiologist Michael Baker said underlying the widespread acceptance of masks in some countries was a sense of personal responsibility to protect others from COVID19. Im looking at the countries that appear on paper to be keeping their mortality very low despite having lots of circulating virus and its basically the Asian countries particularly Japan South Korea Singapore he said. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-01/japan-singapore-south-korea-omicron-wave-and-mask-wearing-impact/101266844 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC News While Saturdays COVID case count appears to show a massive spike of more than 18000 Queensland Health says this is due to an administrative error and many are historic. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-31/an-administrative-bungle-caused-queenslands-covid/13996938 1st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC News Were heading for another peak in infections and the daily death toll has never been so high while worldwide we appear to be faring worse than just about anywhere else. But why And how many more waves will Australia need to endure Today epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely on why Australias early success at keeping the virus at bay now seems to be working against us. Featured Professor Tony Blakely epidemiologist School of Population and Global Health University of Melbourne https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/abc-news-daily/covids-deadly-payback-period/13996916 31st Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The BMJ At least 14 hospitals in Canadas most populous province are operating without key services this weekend as exhausted and depleted nursing staff struggle to cope with a surge in patients with covid19. The closures include the intensive care unit at Bowmanvilles hospital and emergency departments at Wingham and Listowel. Hospitals in Alexandria Brampton Clinton and Perth have also shut their emergency departments at times in recent weeks. This decision was not made lightly a spokeswoman for the Bowmanville hospital told CTV News explaining that intensive care patients would be transferred to Ajax Pickering and Oshawa hospitals. We recognise the impact of this temporary relocation on patients and their families. Torontos University Health Network revealed this week that the emergency department of Toronto Western Hospital was so understaffed last weekend that nursing students were called in. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1917 1st Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The BMJ NHS staff absences in England reached the highest peak in July since midApril amid continuing high numbers of SARSCoV2 infections and unrelenting demand for hospital beds. In a joint editorial published last week the editors of The BMJ and Health Service Journal Kamran Abbasi and Alastair McLellan sounded the alarm at the current situation and lamented the governments inaction in tackling the coviddriven collapse in services. They argued The constant pressure created by repeated covid waves is already the main reason that the NHS is nowhere near reaching the activity levels needed to begin to recover performance. The nations attempt to live with covid is the straw that is breaking the NHSs back. The government must stop gaslighting the public and be honest about the threat the pandemic still poses to them and the NHS. Given the current trends the editors also questioned the governments assertion that the link between infections and hospital admissions had been broken. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1909 1st Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters China reported 393 new coronavirus cases for July 31 of which 84 were symptomatic and 309 were asymptomatic the National Health Commission said on Monday. That compared with 541 new cases a day earlier 116 symptomatic and 425 asymptomatic infections which China counts separately. There were no new deaths leaving the nations fatalities at 5226. As of July 31 mainland China had confirmed 229594 cases with symptoms. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-393-new-covid-cases-july-31-vs-541-day-earlier-2022-08-01/ 1st Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters U.S. President Joe Biden is feeling well and continuing his isolation measures after again testing positive for COVID19 his physician said in a memo released by the White House on Sunday. Biden tested positive for COVID again on Saturday in what the White House doctor described as a rebound case seen in a small percentage of patients who take the antiviral drug Paxlovid.Given his rebound positivity which we reported yesterday we continued daily monitoring. This morning unsurprisingly his SARSCoV2 antigen testing remained positive the physician Dr. Kevin OConnor said in the memo on Sunday. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-feeling-well-continuing-isolation-after-testing-positive-covid-2022-07-31/ 1st Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters As the third winter of the coronavirus pandemic looms in the northern hemisphere scientists are warning weary governments and populations alike to brace for more waves of COVID19. In the United States alone there could be up to a million infections a day this winter Chris Murray head of the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation IHME an independent modeling group at the University of Washington that has been tracking the pandemic told Reuters. That would be around double the current daily tally. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/living-with-covid-where-pandemic-could-go-next-2022-08-01/ 1st Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

News24 Chinas factory activity unexpectedly contracted in July reversing earlier economic momentum as sporadic Covid19 outbreaks weigh on the recovery. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index fell to 49 from 50.2 in June the National Bureau of Statistics said Sunday. Economists had expected a reading of 50.3 according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists. A reading above 50 indicates expansion from the previous month while anything below indicates contraction. The nonmanufacturing gauge which measures activity in the construction and services sectors decreased to 53.8 from 54.7 the previous month. That was below the consensus forecast of 53.9. https://www.news24.com/fin24/economy/china-factory-activity-sees-shock-contraction-on-covid-19-outbreaks-20220731 1st Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

PerthNow WA has reported a dip in COVID hospitalisations and continued its downward trend in active cases providing hope the worst of the winter Omicron wave may have passed. Speaking form Karratha Premier Mark McGowan announced the number of West Australians in hospital with COVID fell to 418 on Thursday down from 442 the previous day. There was also a slight fall in ICU patients from 17 to 16. Mr McGowan said both figures were good news while 4961 new infections were reported down from 5422 on Wednesday. Five more West Australians died with COVID in the latest reporting period although the Premier did not detail their ages. https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/coronavirus/covid-in-wa-virus-pressure-eased-on-hospitals-as-virus-admissions-fall-but-ama-warns-worst-still-to-come-c-7671039 1st Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Straits Times Australias surging Covid19 outbreak has prompted debate about whether workplaces should again be encouraging staff to work from home. As hospitalisations reached record levels last Tuesday July 26 the health authorities and experts have urged employers to allow staff to work from home if feasible. The nations chief medical officer Paul Kelly warned on July 19 that Australia was at the start of this wave not the end and that staff should talk to their employers to see if they can work from home. If its possible for you to work from home during the next couple of weeks that will make a big difference he told Channel Seven. Some of Australias biggest firms have heeded this advice. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australias-covid-19-wave-at-record-levels-prompting-push-to-work-from-home-again 1st Aug 2022