12th Oct 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=114 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

VOA Asia In a further blow to the travel industry Australia is warning its international borders are likely to stay closed because of COVID19 restrictions until late next year. Foreign nationals were banned in March to help curb the spread of the coronavirus and Australian citizens must get official permission to leave the country. Last year about 9 million overseas travelers arrived in Australia. The largest groups came from China New Zealand and the United States. The pandemic has seen those numbers collapse. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/australia-warns-covid-19-border-closures-could-last-late-2021 8th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

Staffing Industry Analysts Approximately 42 Australias workforce rate their current mental health wellbeing as positive down from 63 preCovid19 according to a survey from Hays. The survey was based on a polling of 4000 people released in advance of World Mental Health Day on 10 October. According to the survey 87 of professionals in industry resources mining rate their current mental health wellbeing as either positive or neutral down 7 since before the outbreak. At the other end of the scale 55 of sales professionals rate their current mental health wellbeing as positive or neutral down from 90 prepandemic. The fall of workers mental health wellbeing fell despite 72 of employers increasing their organisations focus on this area during the pandemic. https://www2.staffingindustry.com/row/Editorial/Daily-News/Australia-Workplace-mental-health-and-wellbeing-in-decline-amid-Covid-19-Hays-finds-55394 8th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Conversation CA The decision by the Ministry of Basic Education to shut down schools in response to the pandemic forced teachers to adapt and innovate to ensure that learning continued despite the challenges faced. South African schools are clustered into quintiles ranging from one to five. This was done to ensure an equal and fair distribution of resources across schools. Schools in the lower quintiles are often based in underserved communities where resources are limited while quintile five schools are well resourced. This approach was introduced to address past inequities which affected schools. Regional variances therefore exist in terms of access to computer labs and related computing resources. Although many rural and periurban schools have some form of computing or information technology resources some have none at all. https://theconversation.com/what-south-africas-teachers-brought-to-the-virtual-classroom-during-covid-19-147306 5th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Washington Post The old man knew he was dying. The disease hed been warning of for weeks had taken hold and it wouldnt be long now. He looked to his son who would soon be the leader of what remained of their people. The old man was fluent in five languages but the one he chose to speak now was one that virtually no one else in the world could understand. Awiri nuh Aritana Yawalapiti 71 said in the language of the Yawalapiti an Indigenous tribe in the Amazon rainforest. Take care of the people. Take care of the land. Take care of the forest. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/coronavirus-brazil-indigenous-endangered-language/2020/10/06/59fa1aa8-f42b-11ea-999c-67ff7bf6a9d2_story.html 9th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

Financial Times For a short time the Brazilian city of Manaus in the heart of the Amazon rainforest offered a glimmer of hope in the search for herd immunity from Covid19. After a devastating wave in May killed about 3400 people and infected many more the prevalence of the virus subsided rapidly leading some scientists to theorise that the city of 2m had reached a form of collective immunity. That hypothesis is now in doubt as a resurgence in cases in Manaus poses fresh challenges to the authorities and difficult questions for the scientists and policymakers worldwide who have been edging towards herd immunity policies as an alternative to harsh lockdowns. https://www.ft.com/content/5b96ee2d-9ced-46ae-868f-43c9d8df1ecb 9th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

ABC News Experts say one in five workers aged between 15 and 24 lost their jobs during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Young people will also carry the burden of the pandemic into the future. But amid job losses and cancelled plans many young people are still optimistic about their futures https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-09/covid-tasmania-young-people-post-coronavirus-outbreak/12742672 9th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Independent People travelling from the UK to Italy may soon be required to take a mandatory coronavirus test in order to enter the country. At the moment Italy only requires mandatory testing for travellers from countries it considers high risk including Spain Greece and certain regions of France. But the existing guidelines are expiring on 15 October and the government is currently debating a new decree to replace it. The list of high risk countries is expected to be reviewed as part of this new decree local media reported. Drafts show that following a recent spike in cases the UK will be added to Italys list of high risk countries alongside the Netherlands and Belgium il Fatto Quotidiano reported. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/italy-coronavirus-test-uk-british-mandatory-covid-quarantine-b882864.html 9th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

iNews The coronavirus pandemic has reached a second wave as infection rates continue to ramp up all over Europe. In England Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is one of the leading figures to criticise the Governments approach to local lockdowns informed by its traffic light system placing the majority of the north and midlands under a raft of fresh lockdown restrictions. While the system has been met with contempt by some local leaders it is not just the UK who have employed a traffic lightstyle guide to provide the public with clear messaging on the social distancing measures in place in different areas. Similar systems have been employed in France the Canadian province of Quebec New Zealand and Spain to name a few countries although with varied effect. https://inews.co.uk/news/world/traffic-light-systems-covid-outbreak-france-spain-new-zealand-703205 9th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Many nurses caring for COVID19 patients are suffering burnout or psychological distress and many have faced abuse or discrimination outside of work the International Council of Nurses ICN said. Supplies of personal protective equipment for nurses and other health workers in some care homes remain insufficient it said marking World Mental Health Day on Saturday. We are extremely concerned about the mental health impact on nurses Howard Catton a British nurse who is the ICNs chief executive told Reuters Television at the associations headquarters in Geneva. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-mentalhealth/nurses-suffer-burn-out-psychological-distress-in-covid-fight-association-idUKKBN26V0BP 10th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

ABC News As his home town of Newcastle grappled with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic Taryn Dorrough was having a personal battle with his mental health. I struggled to get out of bed and would then struggle to have a shower and get ready. I found myself tired a lot of the time and just lacking motivation to get anything done he said. The recent university graduate said his job prospects and social life evaporated. His existing disordered eating worsened and he found it difficult as a trans man to access critical health services. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-10/suicide-and-depression-among-lgbt-community-during-covid19/12743538 10th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Lancet Today according to the Brazils Indigenous People Articulation more than 27000 Indigenous people have been infected with COVID19 of which 806 have died from the disease situation as of Sept 15 2020 giving a mortality rate of 3. This pandemic already affects 146 different Indigenous groups across the country.3 On Aug 5 2020 the Supreme Federal Court recognised the failure of the government of President Bolsonaro to deal with the effects of the epidemic on Indigenous communities.3 The latter was ordered to put in place an emergency plan for the benefit of the Indigenous populations as well as to adopt the necessary measures to remove invaders from their territories illegal miners and loggers are not only vectors of diseases but also cause environmental destruction in particular through mercury pollution.4 Faced with inaction from the Brazilian Government some nations such as the Paiter Suru and Parque Indigena do Xingu peoples have placed themselves in voluntary isolation since March 2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32068-7/fulltext 10th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

ReliefWeb Critical funding gaps are halting and disrupting crucial mental health services in Africa as demand for these services rise amid the COVID19 pandemic a new World Health Organization WHO survey shows. The survey of 28 African countries was undertaken as part of the first global examination of the devastating impact of COVID19 on access to mental health services. It underscores the urgent need for increased funding. Of the countries responding in the African region 37 reported that their COVID19 mental health response plans are partially funded and a further 37 reported having no funds at all. This comes as the COVID19 pandemic increases demand for mental health services. Isolation loss of income the deaths of loved ones and a barrage of information on the dangers of this new virus can stir up stress levels and trigger mental health conditions or exacerbate existing ones said Dr Matshidiso Moeti WHO Regional Director for Africa. The COVID19 pandemic has shown more than ever how mental health is integral to health and wellbeing and must be an essential part of health services during outbreaks and emergencies. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/covid-19-halting-crucial-mental-health-services-africa-who-survey 10th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Experts say number of new cases falling but rate it still slow compared with countries in Europe and Asia suggesting it may still be in its first wave. Brazils has surpassed 150000 deaths from coronavirus according to the countrys health ministry but there were signs that the rate of infections continued to slow in the South American country. The toll came as Latin America and the Caribbean marked 10 million cases on Saturday and more than 360000 deaths. The region is the worst hit in terms of fatalities according to official figures. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/11/brazils-virus-death-toll-passes-150000-people-official 11th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera The Midtown Hilton has been closed since March. Same for The Edition a brand new Times Square boutique. You can get a room at the Pierre just dont expect the fullsuite of whiteglove services that have made the hotel a Manhattan landmark since 1930. Autumn in New York a season so inviting that it inspired a jazz standard is grim this year with the citys tourism market among the worst in the U.S. The pandemic has canceled live events like Fashion Week and the New York City Marathon repelled business travelers and international visitors and blown gaping holes in a tourism market that generates 70 billion in economic activity in a typical year. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/10/9/hospitality-prices-at-ny-hotels-down-200-with-more-pain-to-come 11th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Australia Australia is in talks with Japan South Korea Singapore and South Pacific nations on reopening travel as coronavirus infections ease Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday. Australia shut its borders in March to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and is looking to revive tourism to help pull the country out of its first recession in nearly three decades. While Australia has managed to contain the outbreak better than others it is facing a second wave in the state of Victoria where Melbourne remains under a tight lockdown. But infections there have been falling since early August. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia/australia-in-travel-talks-with-japan-korea-as-coronavirus-cases-ease-idUSKBN26W054 11th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Zululand Observer While South Africas continued downward trajectory in active Covid19 cases is cause for optimism appropriate protocol including social distancing the wearing of masks and hand sanitising remains in place https://zululandobserver.co.za/234478/covid-19-south-africa-drops-to-10th-in-the-world-for-total-infections/ 10th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters You cant miss the green 1969 Volkswagen Beetle parked at the corner orchids and ferns crowding its open bonnet sunflowers sticking out of windows potted plants on the roof. Turning her car into a flower shop was Valcineia Machados survival plan after her business collapsed in the COVID19 pandemic and she is has become a hit in Rios Copacabana beach district. At 51 she has reinvented herself moving from real estate to selling roses and other flower on a busy corner. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-flowers-idUSKBN26U1QY 10th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Hindustan Times The total number Covid19 infection has now reached to 36785758 as per the figures published by the John Hopkins University. While more than a million others have succumbed to the disease. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/top-five-countries-with-highest-number-of-covid-19-infections/story-ULo2YkhXUolXbwxlEY9s9L.html 10th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

The Quint Statistically speaking Pune has the highest number of COVID19 cases in India as on 7 October. Bengaluru has the thirdhighest number of cases. However at present Bengaluru is the city worst affected by COVID19 in India and perhaps in the world. The key to understanding the severity of Bengalurus COVID situation is in the number of cases reported in a 15day period between 23 September and 7 October to be precise. https://www.thequint.com/news/india/coronavirus-india-how-bengaluru-emerged-as-indias-worst-covid-affected-city 10th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

The Indian Express India reported 73272 coronavirus cases and 926 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 8 am on Saturday. With this the total number of infections rose to 6979424 including 107416 deaths 883185 active cases and 5988823 recoveries according to the Union Health Ministry. The recovery rate has risen to 85.81 per cent and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.54 per cent. Kerala the first state to get the novel coronavirus took fourandahalf months to record its first 10000 infections. This Wednesday it reported more than 10000 infections in a single day. There was a time Kerala was feted globally for effectively containing the spread of the virus. Over the past few weeks it has seen more cases every day than any other state barring Maharashtra and Karnataka. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-india-news-live-updates-cases-deaths-unlock-5-vaccine-tracker-6716819/ 10th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

CGTN China and Indonesia have vowed to strengthen cooperation on COVID19 vaccine during talks between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan Indonesian Presidents special envoy and the countrys Coordinator for Cooperation with China. The pair met Friday in southwest Chinas Yunnan Province. Saying that vaccine cooperation is the current focus of bilateral antiepidemic cooperation Wang said China is willing to work with Indonesia to comprehensively promote the research and development production and use of the vaccine and jointly contribute to the availability and affordability of vaccines in the region and the world. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-10-10/China-Indonesia-to-enhance-COVID-19-vaccine-cooperation--Ut0xAmXLSE/index.html 10th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail Economist Andrew Charlton fears it will take 30 years to pay off Australias debt He was an economic adviser to Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd during the GFC His former boss ended a string of ten consecutive surpluses in its first term https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8821905/How-Australia-30-years-pay-coronavirus-recession.html 9th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

AlJazeera Many people in Brazil are struggling to cope with less pandemic aid from the government and jumping food prices with millions expected to slip back into poverty. Brazils government starting this month halved the amount of its monthly emergency cash transfers to help Brazils poor withstand the hardship of the economic meltdown down to 300 reais 54. As the government winds down the programme through yearend with unemployment still high many of those people who benefitted will become newly impoverished according to Marcelo Neri director of the social policy centre at the Getulio Vargas Foundation a university and thinktank. Half of them are expected to fall into poverty in October alone he said. The programme which started in April has been the main driver behind lifting 15 million people from poverty including two million from July to August according to a report the university published on Friday. Poverty which the FGV defined as income equal to half a minimum monthly salary or 523 reais 95 has reached its lowest level since at least the 1970s according to Neri the reports author. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/10/9/millions-of-brazilians-at-risk-of-slipping-back-into-poverty 9th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

USA TODAY No one wants to find a dirty rag in their sink when checking into a hotel room. But during the coronavirus pandemic when guests expect their rooms to be spotless and free of germs finding a room that hasnt been fully sanitized is even more concerning. No way was this room sanitized much less cleaned properly Danielle Bocage wrote in a Facebook post criticizing her recent stay at a Hilton hotel in Georgia. I am completely disappointed at the lack of attention my room had. The guest brought concerns about her room to the propertys attention on the second day of her stay and we understand received a personal apology an offer to move rooms and an offer to service the room Hilton spokesperson Nigel Glennie told USA TODAY. The guest declined these offers but did accept a refund for one her three nights. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2020/10/09/hilton-wyndham-marriott-hotels-not-all-meeting-cleanliness-guidelines/5866880002/ 9th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Genetic Literacy Project South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa looked appropriately dour and sounded appropriately cautious as he appeared on national television recently to warn of the dangers of a second wave of infections and to urge the public against relaxing their guard against the virus. And yet the presidents key message was a simple optimistic and impressive truth. We have succeeded in overcoming the worst phase of this epidemic he declared. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2020/10/09/south-africa-is-the-continents-covid-epicenter-here-is-how-it-is-transitioning-into-recovery-mode/ 9th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Voice of America Germany has donated just over 1 million in medical equipment to Peru to help people in remote sections of the Amazon cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Thursdays humanitarian gift of oxygen concentrators digital thermometers oximeters and more than 32000 coronavirus tests for health professionals aims to help some 90000 people from underserved communities in the Indigenous and rural areas of Perus Amazon. Pilar Mazzetti of Perus Health Ministry thanked Germany for donation saying it opens the possibility to tend better to the indigenous communities which have always been left behind and which are difficult to tend to due to the distance. The donation part of binational agreements signed in August aims to provide primary health care to majority of the Indigenous communities which have no health center. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/germany-donates-1-million-medical-equipment-peru-amid-coronavirus-outbreak 9th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

The Independent Australia considered a rollout of a coronavirus vaccine no sooner than mid2021 a bestcase scenario in its pandemic planning that would save the economy tens of billions of dollars the treasurer said on Wednesday. The Treasury and Health Departments developed economic modelling based on an assumption that a vaccine would be widely available in Australia toward the end of next year Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said. These are very uncertain times and as a government we have taken every step possible to give Australia the best possible chance of getting a vaccine Frydenberg told the National Press Club. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/australia-expects-covid19-vaccination-still-year-away-australia-vaccination-coronavirus-vaccine-treasurer-planning-b855519.html 8th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

The Lancet According to a July survey by the Pew Research Center twothirds of Americans believe that China has done a bad job dealing with the COVID19 pandemic. It is clearly not an opinion shared by WHO. In a press conference in September Mike Ryan executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme offered deepest congratulations...to the frontline health workers in China and the population who worked together tirelessly to bring the disease to this very low level. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30800-8/fulltext 8th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg Tax Catalina Jack a 37yearold Argentine economist with two masters degrees unceremoniously pulled up stakes in Buenos Aires three months ago and boarded a fast ferry to Uruguay. She got a job with a software firm and now looks out on the world from a home she rents near the beach resort of Punta del Este. Her brother and his family had settled nearby a few weeks before. Two dozen friends have made the move or are doing so. https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/recession-and-covid-drive-skilled-and-rich-argentines-to-uruguay 7th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Red Cross Half of all respondents 51 percent in a sevencountry survey said that the COVID19 pandemic has negatively affected their mental health an International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC survey found. In a new report The greatest need was to be listened to The importance of mental health and psychosocial support during COVID19 the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement demonstrates how the pandemic is adding an extraordinary level of stress and suffering on communities around the world. The outbreak is worsening existing mental health conditions triggering new ones and making access to mental health services even more scarce. It calls for urgent and increased funding for mental health and psychosocial support within humanitarian responses. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/world-mental-health-day-red-cross-covid-19-mental-health-survey?utm_source=twitter&amputm_medium=social&amplinkId=100000016123495 7th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

AlJazeera New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday burnished her leadership credentials on the back of her successful response to the coronavirus pandemic at a campaign rally six days before the countrys election on October 17. Polls show Arderns Labour Party is expected to win the election with a wide lead over the conservative National Party and could form government in a coalition with the Greens and New Zealand First. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/11/nzs-pm-ardern-touts-success-in-tackling-pandemic-in-poll-push 11th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Washington Post News of President Trumps coronavirus diagnosis is fueling renewed attacks against Asian Americans and hostility toward China across social media according to researchers with civil rights group the AntiDefamation League. In an analysis of 2.7 million tweets in the three days after Trump announced his and first lady Melania Trumps diagnosis on Twitter the ADL found elevated language associated with hostility against Asians compared with the previous day. In the 12 hours after Trumps announcement ADL saw an 85 percent spike in such language. The announcement sparked thousands of online conversations blaming China for trying to purposefully infect the president the researchers found. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/10/09/twitter-asian-americans-discrimination/ 10th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

AlJazeera The United States top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has said an event held in the White House on September 26 was a superspreader event that is suspected to have infected numerous people including President Donald Trump with the novel coronavirus. I think the data speak for themselves. We had a superspreader event in the White House Fauci said during an interview with CBS News Radio. And it was in a situation where people were crowded together and were not wearing masks so the data speak for themselves. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/10/fauci-calls-white-house-rose-garden-event-a-super-spreader 10th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The New York Times France has placed cities on maximum alert and ordered many to close all bars gyms and sports centers on Saturday. Italy and Poland have made masks compulsory in public. The Czech Republic has declared a state of emergency and German officials fear new outbreaks could soon grow beyond the control of their vaunted testing and tracing. Across Europe and beyond Covid19 has come roaring back and as happened last spring officials are invoking restrictions to try and suppress it. But this time is different. Still reeling from the economic emotional and physical toll of nationwide lockdowns that brought the Continent to a virtual standstill government officials are finding that the public might not be so compliant the second time around. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/world/europe/coronavirus-europe-fatigue.html 9th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

USA TODAY Anthony Fauci director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said Friday that the White House held a superspreader event apparently referring to the Rose Garden ceremony where President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court and where multiple attendees later tested positive for the coronavirus. Fauci made the remark after being asked in a CBS News Radio interview what the recent coronavirus outbreak at the White House said about the importance of wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID19. I think the data speak for themselves Fauci said. We had a superspreader event in the White House and it was in a situation where people were crowded together were not wearing masks. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/09/anthony-fauci-white-house-held-covid-superspreader-event/5940483002/ 9th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

Sky News People caught breaking COVID19 rules in Indonesia are being made to dig graves and get into coffins. The punishments being handed out in East Java and Jakarta follow a surge in infections. The country is the fourth most populous in the world and has the highest COVID19 death rate in Southeast Asia. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-indonesia-people-caught-without-facemasks-forced-to-dig-graves-and-get-into-coffins-12099172 9th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

NPR China has joined a global effort aimed at fair and equitable distribution of a COVID19 vaccine once one becomes available an effort the Trump administration has shunned. The COVID19 Vaccine Global Access Facility known as COVAX is jointly led by the World Health Organization and Gavi an alliance promoting access to vaccines. This is an important step China has taken to uphold the concept of a shared community of health for all and to honor its commitment to turn COVID19 vaccines into a global public good Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news conference Friday. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/09/922150504/china-joins-who-led-global-coronavirus-vaccine-effort-as-u-s-sits-it-out 9th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

AlJazeera The recovery in Chinas service sector activity extended into a fifth straight month in September an industry survey showed on Friday with hiring increasing for the second month in a row. The CaixinMarkit services Purchasing Managers Index PMI rose to 54.8 from Augusts 54.0 the highest reading since June and staying well above the 50mark that separates monthly growth from contraction. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/10/9/heres-more-evidence-of-chinas-strong-recovery-from-coronavirus 9th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg Quint Latin America responded ambitiously if not always efficiently to the coronavirus pandemic with many countries spreading cash credit and tax deferrals to vulnerable companies and households. The emergency stimulus has injected bountiful resources into listing economies 12 of gross domestic product for Peru 18 in Brazil 5 in Argentina and helped those who were already struggling as well https://www.bloombergquint.com/gadfly/bolsonaro-s-covid-cash-addiction-could-make-brazil-go-bust 8th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Washington Post In Michigan two coronavirus infections in the same workplace constitutes an outbreak. In New York City public school buildings must close when two people in two different classrooms catch the virus. But Iowa will not announce coronavirus outbreaks at many businesses unless 10 percent of employees are actively infected and even 10 percent of students becoming ill may not be enough to close a school. The nations patchwork pandemic response has led to wide disparities in data reporting and even in definitions for basic medical concepts. In the absence of federal standards states have adopted divergent and sometimes scientifically questionable approaches to disease control which experts say have allowed the virus to spread. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/07/us-states-not-science-decide-what-counts-coronavirus-outbreak/ 7th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

FiercePharma Eli Lilly is seeking FDA emergency use authorization of its COVID19 antibody cocktail upon an interim analysis of the phase 2 Blaze1 trial which showed the combo reduced viral load symptoms and the rate of hospitalization and ER visits. The therapy combines LYCoV555 from a collaboration with AbCellera and LYCoV016 which Lilly licenses from Chinas Junshi Biosciences. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma-asia/fiercepharmaasia-covid-data-from-china-made-antibody-vaccine-takeda-arrowhead-1b-rnai 9th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

CBS News When Indias government imposed a strict lockdown in March to try to curb coronavirus infections Sagheer Shah a tailor in the small town of Faizabad had to close his shop. For three months he didnt earn a penny burning through his savings to put food on table for his family. He was able to reopen when restrictions started easing in July but only saw a fraction of his previous trade resume. To make ends meet he decided to send his 14yearold son Asif whose school was closed anyway hundreds of miles away to Delhi to work in a car painting shop. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-in-india-fuels-child-labor-as-desperate-families-send-kids-off-to-work/ 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK Britain is at a tipping point in the coronavirus crisis and the country must act now to stop history repeating itself the deputy chief medical officer for England said on Sunday urging people to follow the rules. With the number of cases rapidly rising particularly in the north of England ministers are readying a new set of rules to try to tackle the crisis that will include handing more power to local leaders to track the virus spread. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-vantam/britain-is-at-a-coronavirus-tipping-point-says-deputy-chief-medical-officer-idUKKBN26W0IV?il=0 11th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The widely used BCG tuberculosis vaccine will be tested on frontline care workers in Britain for its effectiveness against COVID19 researchers running the UK arm of a global trial said. Bacillus CalmetteGurin BCG vaccine used to protect against tuberculosis induces a broad innate immunesystem response and has been shown to protect against infection or severe illness with other respiratory pathogens. BCG has been shown to boost immunity in a generalised way which may offer some protection against COVID19 Professor John Campbell of the University of Exeter Medical School said. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-bcg/uk-study-tests-if-bcg-vaccine-protects-against-covid-idUSL8N2H10H5 11th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail CSIRO Australias science agency found that Covid can survive up to 28 days. Research found that the virus survived better in colder temperatures. Results could improve risk mitigation procedures to prevent the disease spread https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8828459/Coronavirus-survive-MONTH-surfaces-including-banknotes-mobile-phone-screens.html 11th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Scientists in Chile are investigating a possible mutation of the coronavirus in southern Patagonia a farflung region near the tip of South America that has seen an unusually contagious second wave of infections in recent weeks. Questions have arisen as the remote region of Magallanes which accounts for only one percent of the countrys population reported nearly 20 percent of Chiles total cases so far suggesting a potential mutation of the novel virus. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/11/scientists-investigate-possible-coronavirus-mutation-in-chile 11th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Times of India The World Health Organizations top emergencies expert said on Friday that authorities should try to avoid punishing lockdowns as many countries see a sharp rise in the number of Covid19 infections Read more at httptimesofindia.indiatimes.comarticleshow78579160.cmsutmsourcecontentofinterestutmmediumtextutmcampaigncppst https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/who-says-want-to-avoid-punishing-coronavirus-lockdowns/articleshow/78579160.cms 10th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Indian Express When will an antidote against Covid19 finally become widely available The answer to this question may eventually be found this month as a handful of coronavirus vaccine candidates near the end of late stage clinical trials. At least two vaccine frontrunners Pfizer and Moderna Inc are set to release latestage and Phase 2 results this month. While experts have said vaccines were likely to reach the general public in the MarchApril 2021 drugmakers have been more ambitious with their calculations with some firms like Moderna Inc eyeing the emergencyuse authorisation route to launch their shots by year end. In fact Pfizer may also file for US FDA approval of its vaccine this month itself Bloomberg reported. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/coronavirus-vaccine-news-pfizer-moderna-oxford-astrazeneca-johnson-and-johnson-russia-china-6716982/ 10th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian For Mirabai NicholsonMcKellar Covid19 brought an onslaught of symptoms from chest pains to an 11day migraine three positive test results and a period in hospital. Seven months later the rollercoaster is far from over the 36yearold from Byron Bay Australia is still experiencing symptoms including difficulties with thinking that are often described as brain fog. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/09/brain-fog-the-people-struggling-to-think-clearly-months-after-covid 10th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

chosun.com China said on Friday that it had joined a global COVID19 vaccine distribution plan backed by the World Health Organization becoming the biggest economy to date to pledge support to distribute the shots fairly. Meanwhile the country is holding separate talks with the WHO to have its COVID19 vaccines assessed a step toward making them available for international use. Public health experts welcome the Chinese move yet caution potential safety concerns. They are calling on China to publish all its clinical trial data to ensure transparency and gain public trust saying rushing out a vaccine without adequate efficacy and safety testing is a recipe for disaster. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/10/10/2020101000278.html 10th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Global Times A total of 9000 volunteers in Brazil have participated in trials of Chinadeveloped COVID19 vaccines as the country reports more than 5 million COVID19 cases as of October 7 following the US and India. The trials involve a vaccine developed by Chinese company Sinovac Biotech LTD which started in July in Brazil and are scheduled to be completed by October 15. According to Brazil media reports in early October a primary report on the trials has been submitted to the Brazil national health authority. Joo Doria governor of the Sao Paulo state where part of the trials have taken place had previously said that vaccinations on volunteers would involve 9000 people and be completed on October 15 and the vaccine if approved would hopefully be available to the public on December 15. https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1202960.shtml 10th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN The global push to develop a coronavirus vaccine is gathering pace but much to the likely frustration of US President Donald Trump caution exercised by American drug makers and regulators has put China out in front ... for now. Moderna a leading coronavirus vaccine maker said this month it will not be ready to apply for emergency use authorization until at least November 25. Meanwhile the USbased trial sites of another frontrunner AstraZeneca have placed testing on hold after a participant in Britain developed a serious illness last month further undermining Trumps hopes that a vaccine would be ready in time for Election Day on November 3. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/asia/china-covid-vaccine-global-race-intl-hnk/index.html 10th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Voice of America China said Friday it is joining a World Health Organization international initiative to distribute COVID19 vaccines to the developing world. China Russia and the U.S. had said they were not joining the alliance to help twothirds of worlds population receive the vaccines by 2022. Chinas reversal makes it the largest country to participate in what is known as the COVAX deal. We are taking this concrete step to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines especially to developing countries and hope more capable countries will also join and support Covax Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/china-joins-who-initiative-distribute-covid-vaccine-developing-countries 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post Beijing signing up for the Covax distribution scheme stands in sharp contrast to Washingtons refusal to join. Scheme is intended to ensure poorer countries do not miss out. Foreign ministry says Beijing is committed to the equitable distribution of vaccines https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3104924/coronavirus-what-chinas-decision-join-whos-vaccine-scheme 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post Antibodydependent enhancement ADE is a sideeffect of inoculation that can make a virus more harmful. Team from Institute of Medical Biology say they cannot conclude their product will not cause ADE but likelihood as a result of inoculation with this vaccine is small https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3104710/coronavirus-risk-ade-low-new-chinese-vaccine-candidate 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK China has joined a global scheme for the distribution of COVID19 vaccine backed by the World Health Organization WHO it said on Friday giving a major boost to an initiative shunned by U.S. President Donald Trump. Beijings latest bid to join the global fight against the coronavirus follows criticism over its handling of the pandemic which has contributed to a growing unfavourable view of China in advanced nations a recent survey showed. We are taking this concrete step to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines especially to developing countries and hope more capable countries will also join and support COVAX foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-covax/china-joins-who-backed-vaccine-programme-covax-rejected-by-trump-idUKKBN26U027 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post Lower levels of harmful PM2.5 particles could have resulted in an estimated 5000 fewer hospital admissions from late January to February study finds. Researchers also estimate there were 60000 fewer respiratory illnesses like asthma attacks in the period https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3104741/covid-19-air-pollution-improved-during-chinas-lockdowns-and-it 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters India China will purchase COVID19 vaccines for 1 of its population or 15 million people via a global scheme backed by the World Health Organization the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. Beijings move to join the COVAX programme means China will be procuring vaccines through the facility for a proportion of their own population just as with other countries a spokesman for GAVI which coleads the scheme said earlier. The first batch of vaccine available under the plan will be in short supply so there would be less for other countries if China had secured doses for a large number of its 1.4 billion people ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news briefing https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-covax-minist/china-to-purchase-covax-vaccines-for-1-of-population-says-foreign-ministry-idINKBN26U0PR 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! Health Canada will start a realtime review of Germanys BioNTech SE and Pfizer Incs experimental COVID19 vaccine the companies said on Friday. The companies said they would submit safety and efficacy data from the trial of their COVID19 vaccine to Canadas health ministry under a rolling submission as and when it becomes available. A rolling review allows researchers to submit findings in real time without waiting for studies to conclude. Canadian health minister Patty Hajdu last month signed an order allowing companies developing COVID19 vaccines to submit information as it becomes available. https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/health-canada-start-real-time-033433561.html 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The U.S. government has awarded 486 million 372.7 million to AstraZeneca Plc AZN.L to develop and secure supplies of up to 100000 doses of COVID19 antibody treatment a similar class of drug that was used in treating President Donald Trump. The agreement under the Trump administrations Operation Warp Speed is for developing a monoclonal antibody cocktail that can prevent COVID19 especially in highrisk population like those over 80 years old the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said. The treatment has come under the spotlight after Trump was treated with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals REGN.O antibody drug last week. The president has also released a video on Twitter touting its benefits. https://uk.reuters.com/article/healthcoronavirus-usa-astrazeneca/update-2-u-s-astrazeneca-strike-deal-for-covid-19-antibody-treatment-touted-by-trump-idUKL4N2H03AR 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Financial Express Pharmaceutical firms Dr Reddys Laboratories DRL Bharat Biotech and Biological E Bio E have been directed by an expert committee set up under Indias top drug regulatory to revise proposals pertaining to conduct human trials of their Covid19 candidates. The DRL sought approval to hold latestage clinical trials of the Russian candidate Sputnik V. Bharat Biotech was seeking a nod for latestage human trials for its inactivated Coronavirus vaccine candidate Covaxin. Bio E tendered an application for earlystage trials for its vaccine candidate being developed with Houstons Baylor College of Medicine https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/coronavirus-vaccine-in-india-covaxin-sputnik-v-makers-asked-to-submit-revised-protocol-for-human-trials/2101826/ 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters on MSN.com Eli Lilly and Co said on Thursday fewer deaths were reported among COVID19 patients taking a combination of its rheumatoid arthritis drug and Gilead Sciences Incs remdesivir in a clinical trial compared to only remdesivir. Lilly said the effect was most pronounced in patients on oxygen therapy according to data from a U.S. governmentbacked trial which however was not designed to measure the effectiveness of baricitinib in preventing death. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/lilly-s-rheumatoid-arthritis-drug-cuts-covid-19-deaths-in-trial-data-shows/ar-BB19PykB 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC Many African countries have been praised for waging an effective campaign to combat the spread of coronavirus despite their reputation for having fragile state heath systems. The continent which has a population of more than one billion has had about 1.5 million cases according to data compiled by the John Hopkins University. These figures are far lower than those in Europe Asia or the Americas with reported cases continuing to decline. Africa has recorded about 37000 deaths compared with roughly 580000 in the Americas 230000 in Europe and 205000 in Asia. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54418613?fbclid=IwAR1kGEgrjbu_1a7w3xUF9c5NY1aLkabTKSt5zxIuvBDuzVB4xqmIljjQmwA 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Rio Times The Ministry of Health announced on Thursday October 8th the purchase of 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine and another 40 million doses from the COVAX Facility of the W.H.O. https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/miscellaneous/covid-19/vaccine-brazil-guarantees-140-million-doses-in-first-semester/ 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! An accurate and low cost paperbased strip test for Covid19 has been approved for commercial launch by the Drugs Controller General of India. Indian scientists have come up with a new testing method called Feluda a test which is similar to taking samples through a PCR swab test but is more reliable and simpler to use. It will cost 500 Indian rupees about 6 euros. Kits are expected to reach the market shortly. The test was named after a famous fictional Bengali detective though its full name is Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats CRISPR Feluda test. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/cheaper-faster-india-feluda-covid-101800580.html 9th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Sydney Morning Herald The Morrison government has given the suppliers of two COVID19 vaccines indemnity against liability for rare side effects that experts say are inevitable when a vaccine is rolled out. But the government will not set up a statutory compensation scheme which the president of the Australian Medical Association Omar Khorshid said meant Australians who suffered extremely rare side effects from the vaccines would face a tough battle to seek compensation. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-government-grants-indemnity-for-covid-19-vaccine-side-effects-20201008-p5636o.html 8th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Anadolu Agency In a race to produce medicine to treat deadly COVID19 one more vaccine being developed by Chinese scientists has shown safe results in the first phase of trials. The project funded by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences has done indepth investigation of the safety and immunogenicity of an inactivated SARSCoV2 coronavirus vaccine. A paper published Tuesday by the Chinese scientists on medRxiv a wellregarded server that quickly publishes preprints of medical research while they are undergoing peer review said the phase I trails were conducted on 191 healthy participants aged between 18 and 59. The safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine were evaluated within 28 days the paper said adding that the participants were administered three doses each. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/another-potential-chinese-covid-19-vaccine-appears-safe/1998727 7th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters A Chinese experimental coronavirus vaccine being developed by the Institute of Medical Biology under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was shown to be safe in an early stage clinical trial researchers said. In a Phase 1 trial of 191 healthy participants aged between 18 and 59 vaccination with the groups experimental shot showed no severe adverse reactions its researchers said on Tuesday in a paper posted on medRxiv preprint server ahead of peer review. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-china-vaccine/chinas-experimental-covid-19-vaccine-appears-safe-study-idUSL4N2GY0U5 7th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Indias coronavirus caseload topped 7 million on Sunday when the health ministry reported 74383 new infections in the previous 24 hours with a rise in infections in southern states offsetting a drop in western regions. Deaths from COVID19 rose by 918 in the last 24 hours to 108334 the ministry said. India added a million cases in just 13 days according to a Reuters tally of government data and it has the secondhighest number of infections behind the United States which is approaching the 8 million mark. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-india-cases/indias-coronavirus-infections-cross-7-million-ahead-of-festivals-idUKKBN26W05C 11th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The number of new coronavirus infections in France jumped over 26000 in one day for the first time since the start of the epidemic health ministry data showed on Saturday. The ministry reported 26896 new infections taking the cumulative total to 718873 since the start of the year. The number of deaths from the virus increased by 54 to 32684. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france/french-daily-covid-cases-set-new-record-at-almost-27000-idUSKBN26V0VV 11th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera For months demonstrators have been staging protests against prime minister for alleged corruption and his governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Tens of thousands of Israelis have once again demonstrated to demand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus resignation saying he is unfit to rule while on trial for corruption charges and accusing him of mismanaging the response to the coronavirus pandemic. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/10/tens-of-thousands-rally-in-israel-calling-on-netanyahu-to-resign 11th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera Russias coronavirus cases rose by 12846 on Saturday a new daily record since the start of the outbreak early this year. The latest figures pushed the overall total number of infections in the country to 1285084. The previous record of 12126 new cases was registered on Friday. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/10/russia-coronavirus-cases 11th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera Authorities in Germany have rolled out new restrictions to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the capital Berlin and Frankfurt as the number of cases surges in the country and other parts of Europe. Bars and restaurants are to close at 1100pm local time 2100 GMT in Berlin until October 31 in a partial curfew a measure already imposed but starting an hour earlier in Frankfurt. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/10/germany-tightens-covid-19-restrictions-as-numbers-surge-in-europe 11th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Financial Times Angela Merkel has raised the prospect of farreaching restrictions on public life in some of Germanys biggest cities as authorities grapple with an alarming rise in coronavirus infections across the country. Ms Merkel said Germany was facing a makeorbreak moment and what happened next would reflect whether we can keep the pandemic under control... or whether that control will slip away from us. The chancellor was speaking after a video conference with 11 German mayors where it was agreed a further round of regulations would be imposed in areas where new infections exceed a threshold of 50 cases per 100000 population in a week. https://www.ft.com/content/ba00ceb6-3c31-4e5e-bb2c-4c0fcc02fb29 10th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Dr Anthony Fauci said that models suggest the US COVID19 death toll could reach 300000 or 400000 during an American University webinar Tuesday. He warned that the US needs to brace for fall and winter with more maskwearing and social distancing to slow the spread of the disease. Coronavirus has already killed more than 210000 Americans since the pandemic began in January. He said that the White House outbreak could have been prevented and is proof that coronavirus is not a hoax https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8813209/Fauci-says-White-House-COVID-19-infections-prevented.html 10th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN As health officials in Florida reported nearly 3000 new cases of coronavirus on Friday the state is bracing to become like a house on fire an infectious disease expert says. Florida is ripe for another large outbreak said Mike Osterholm director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. What theyve done is opened up everything as if nothing had ever happened there and you and I could be talking probably in eight to 10 weeks and I will likely bet that Florida will be a house on fire Osterholm told CNNs Jake Tapper. Health officials in Florida reported 2908 new cases of Covid19 and 118 deaths on Friday according to data from the Florida Department of Health. The agency has reported at least 2200 new cases daily for four consecutive days. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/health/us-coronavirus-friday/index.html 10th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Scientific American It affects virtually nobody President Donald Trump said of the novel coronavirus on September 21a few hours before U.S. deaths from COVID19 exceeded 200000 and less than two weeks before he tested positive. Unlike the president the numbers dont lie. The human toll underlying that milestone figure is a number about as big as the population of Salt Lake City or Birmingham Ala.and greater than the deaths in any U.S. conflict except for the Civil War and World War II. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-19-is-now-the-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-u-s1/ 10th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail A nurse at Sydneys St Vincents Hospital has been confirmed to have COVID19 The nurse worked a single shift on Wednesday October 7 while infectious Shoppers who visited Westfield Sydney have also been placed on high alert Confirmed infected people visited the shopping mall October 6 and October 7 In the 24 hours to 8pm Friday NSW reported three new cases of coronavirus https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8824975/Urgent-health-alert-Sydney-NURSE-diagnosed-COVID-19.html 10th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

VOA News The world has set a record for the number of new daily coronavirus cases confirmed across the globe with more than 350000 according to the World Health Organization. In a press briefing from Geneva on Friday WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan acknowledged that even as COVID19 cases increase worldwide there are no new answers and he stressed that governments must ensure the most vulnerable people are protected. The tally showed that nearly a third of the new daily reported coronavirus cases were from Europe at more than 109000. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/who-world-sets-one-day-record-over-350000-new-coronavirus-cases 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AOL.co.uk Brazil approached the mark of 5 million confirmed Covid19 cases on Wednesday as it approached 150000 deaths in the second most deathly coronavirus outbreak outside the United States. Though the number of cases has come down from a peak in July public health experts warn that Brazil is ignoring social distancing precautions and faces the danger of a second wave by returning to normal everyday life too quickly. The Health Ministry reported on Tuesday 41906 new cases raising the total to 4969141 and 819 death bringing the toll to 147494 dead. The rolling daily average for last week was 658 deaths a day down from 1073 deaths per day in the last week of July. Average new cases were 26140 day almost half the rate of late July. https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2020/10/07/brazil-nears-5-million-covid-19-cases-epidemiologist-fears-seco/ 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Various European countries have used their armies for logistical support in tackling COVID19 but hardhit Spain is now bringing military discipline to a process that health experts say is key in stemming the spread of the pandemic contact tracing. At five army bases in Madrid 150 volunteer soldiers spend their days calling people who have been diagnosed with COVID19 mapping recent social interactions and asking those potentially infected to stay at home. We try to impress upon them the idea that their help is vital to bringing an end to the chaos we are living through this year as soon as possible Lt. Hector Sanchez said at the Goloso military base on the outskirts of Madrid where he is in charge of 30 tracers. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-spain-tracers-idUKKBN26T2OS 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EFE Infection rates in Germany and Portugal are rising to levels not seen since the height of the first wave of the pandemic health officials in both countries said Friday as authorities in Italy consider applying more measures including a curfew and closures of restaurants and cultural venues after making masks mandatory this week. Faced with spiraling infections across the continent the French governments scientific advisory board has warned that the pandemic is likely to continue until next summer https://www.efe.com/efe/english/destacada/covid-19-infections-spike-in-germany-portugal-as-italy-mulls-more-measures/50000261-4364441 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Italy has registered 4458 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours the health ministry said on Thursday the first time the country has exceeded 4000 cases in a single day since midApril. There were also 22 COVIDrelated deaths on Thursday against 31 the day before far fewer than at the height of the pandemic in Italy in March and April. They increased by around 1000 on Wednesday when there were more than 3000 daily cases for the first time since April 24. Italy is still recording significantly fewer daily cases than several other large European countries such as France Spain and Britain. The last time Italy saw more than 4000 cases in a day was on was April 12 with 4092 infections reported around a month before the government allowed restaurants bars and shops to reopen. On that same day some 431 people died. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-italy-idUKKBN26T2SL 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail The virus is spreading as Indonesians are now allowed to move between islands In July Balis active cases sat at 1914 before soaring to 3671 in September The confirmed cases are believed to be only a fraction of actual infections https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8806347/Coronavirus-death-rate-Bali-mean-no-Australian-tourists.html 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AllAfrica - Top Africa News The Number of Covid19 deaths continues to climb after 160 more people succumbed to COVID19 on Thursday. Meanwhile Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has expressed his concern about the noticeable spike in the number of deaths in recent weeks. However according to the Minister the South African Medical Research Council SAMRC confirmed there have been no excess deaths for three weeks in a row. We therefore consulted the provinces to ascertain the reason for the increased numbers. We have received reports that the provinces are implementing the recommendations of the SAMRC to reconcile the data with Home Affairs deaths data the Minister explained. Also provinces are auditing the deaths data either by mining data from the DATCOV surveillance reports and identifying unreported deaths or auditing the facilities on the ground. https://allafrica.com/stories/202010090527.html 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Indias total coronavirus cases rose by 70496 in the last 24 hours to 6.91 million on Friday morning data from the health ministry showed. Deaths from COVID19 infections rose by 964 to 106490 the ministry said. Indias death toll from the novel coronavirus rose past 100000 on Saturday only the third country in the world to reach that bleak milestone after the United States and Brazil and its epidemic shows no sign of abating. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-india-cases-idUKKBN26U0BD 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Financial Times Indias daily coronavirus infections have fallen almost 20 per cent over the past three weeks raising hopes that the pandemic may be peaking in the cities that were among the hardest hit in the world. The sevenday rolling average of new daily cases in India peaked at 93300 in mid September. That average has now dropped to 75000 new cases a day. But epidemiologists are cautious noting that the virus was spreading from big cities into smaller towns and rural areas that have weaker healthcare systems and far less testing capacity. https://www.ft.com/content/3813866b-c075-42cd-8426-28a285574efd 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC The French government has imposed tighter coronavirus restrictions in four more cities with high infection rates as a number of European countries see a surge in cases. The cities of Lyon Lille Grenoble and SaintEtienne will become zones of maximum alert from Saturday. Bars and restaurants will have to close as they did in Paris earlier this week and Marseille last month. The measures were announced as France saw a nearrecord 18129 new cases. The situation has deteriorated in several metropolises in recent days French Health Minister Olivier Veran said at a news conference on Thursday. Every day more and more people are infected. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54465174 9th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK German hospitals warned of staff shortages on Friday saying the sharp rise in new coronavirus infections also meant medics nurses and support staff were getting sick or needing to isolate leading to strains in providing care for patients. Germany which has managed to keep the number of cases and deaths lower than many of its neighbours is now seeing the biggest jumps in new infections since April with more than 4000 on both Thursday and Friday. At the Frankfurt university hospital twice as many employees caught the virus in the past two weeks as in the three months before its medical director Juergen Graf said at a news conference in Berlin. This will be the bottleneck in the care supply he said. https://in.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany/german-hospitals-warn-of-staff-shortages-amid-surging-coronavirus-cases-idUKKBN26U1GB 9th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

AlJazeera Iran has imposed additional restrictions for capital Tehran and set penalties for people flouting the rules as coronavirus cases continue to surge in the country. A partial shutdown implemented in Tehran a week ago was extended on Saturday until October 16 as the authorities classified the city as red in a colourcoded scale denoting the severity of the pandemic. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/10/iran-tightens-covid-19-rules-as-infections-continue-to-surge 11th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

BBC The Spanish government has ordered a 15day state of emergency to bring down Covid19 infection rates in the capital after a court overturned a partial lockdown imposed a week ago. Madrid and nearby cities will see restrictions enforced by 7000 police. The capital has been at the centre of a political row with the centreright city authorities challenging the Socialistled governments demands. Cases are down and a state of emergency is unjustified say city officials. Madrid health minister Enrique Ruiz Escudero insisted that measures already in place were working and that the national government order was a measure no Madrileo will understand. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54478320 9th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Voice of America Spains government declared a state of emergency in Madrid Friday taking control of efforts to fight the spread of COVID19 from local authorities after a regional court struck down restrictions as the region faces one of the most significant outbreaks in Europe. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs government took the step at a special cabinet meeting as he imposed his authority on regional officials who have resisted his calls for restrictions on travel in the region. The move gives Sanchez extraordinary powers to order new constraints on life in the capital where efforts to control a surge in infections have been complicated by the standoff. The step forced Madrid authorities to restore restrictions they had ignored following the court ruling. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/spain-declares-covid-19-state-emergency-madrid 9th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

The Lancet The COVID19 epidemic has impacted the population of Spain far more than most feared or projected. As of Sept 25 2020 more than 700000 individuals had tested positive and more than 31000 deaths with a positive test had been recorded.1 Earlier in this pandemic the Spanish Ministry of Health provided data by age and sex for the whole country in its daily COVID19 situation updates in Adobe PDF format as well as daily data on total hospitalisations intensive care unit admissions discharges and deaths by region. However since May 19 2020 disaggregated data have not been provided in the daily updates.1 In recent months data improvements have been made by the National Centre of Epidemiology CNE and open data on total counts by region are updated and revised daily.2 However at the time of writing agespecific data from the CNE is given only in weekly publications as Adobe PDF files without geographic detail or retrospective corrections and with cumulative counts tabulated only from midMay onwards. Therefore properly merging agespecific time series after the first wave is difficult or impossible. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30234-6/fulltext 9th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

AlJazeera Jordan entered a nationwide 48hour lockdown starting on Friday for the first time in months as health officials worry a spike in coronavirus infections could threaten its stretched healthcare system officials said. The country has seen what officials say an exponential rise with about 10000 cases confirmed in just more than a week a neardoubling of the total number of infections since the first cases in early March and a reversal of what had been among the lowest infection and death rates in the Middle East. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/9/jordan-entered-nationwide-coronavirus-lockdown-for-two-days 9th Oct 2020