14th Oct 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=116 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times On March 16 back when White House news conferences were still deemed safe to attend President Trump stood before reporters and announced that drastic nationwide restrictions in schools work places our social lives were needed to halt the coronavirus. The guidelines 15 Days to Slow the Spread were accompanied by a grim chart. Based on a prominent model by Londons Imperial College the chart illustrated with a sinuous blue line how many Americans might die if nothing were done to protect the publics health. The line rose sharply as the estimated deaths went up then drifted slowly down until finally at the far right end of the graph the number of new cases reached zero. Our national nightmare would end by October 2020 that is right about now. Along the way if no action was taken about 2.2 million Americans would die. Dr. Deborah Birx one of Mr. Trumps science advisers referred to the graph as the blue mountain of deaths. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/health/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-optimism.html 12th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail New data released on Tuesday shows apartment rental trends across the US. San Francisco saw the biggest drop with studio rents down 31 from last year. Detroit New York and Seattle were also among the cities dropping fastest. Meanwhile parts of Florida Oklahoma Arizona and Texas saw rents rise. It comes as mass exodus from major cities continues amid the pandemic https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8835743/San-Francisco-apartment-rents-fall-31-biggest-drop-US.html 13th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

CNN South Korea is mandating the wearing of masks at all crowded facilities on public transport and at demonstrations even as the country eases up on coronavirus restrictions as the number of local infections shrinks. Anyone who violates the new facemask policy which kicks in next month faces a fine of 100000 won or around 87 and facilities which fail to follow preventative measures could face closure health authorities said Monday. The East Asian nation is only the latest in the region to introduce a mask mandate a sign of how vital face coverings have been found to be in controlling infections and preventing future outbreaks. In many cases such as in Hong Kong such orders are largely inconsequential as almost everyone has been wearing a mask for months now without being told to by the government something which has been credited for keeping cases low. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/13/asia/south-korea-masks-coronavirus-intl-hnk/index.html 13th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera India has registered 55342 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours its lowest singleday tally since the middle of August. The health ministry on Tuesday raised Indias confirmed total to more than 7.18 million cases but said the country was showing a trend of declining daily cases over the last five weeks. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/13/india-sees-fewest-new-coronavirus-cases-in-nearly-two-months 13th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

South China Morning Post So far in China the mass movement of people for Golden Week does not seem to have resulted in renewed Covid19 outbreaks. How is this possible in the middle of a global pandemic Having eradicated domestic transmission of Covid19 mainland China is now the worlds largest Covid19 safe bubble. Both travellers and the government have behaved responsibly. People wear masks on planes and trains although adherence is less stern at restaurants shops and tourist spots particularly outdoors. Mobile apps are mandated by provinces and cities to check that travellers have not been to highrisk locations including overseas in the last 14 days https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3105176/lessons-chinas-golden-week-lustre-even-amid-covid-19 13th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

EurekAlert! A new study indicates some significant public messaging should be communicated before any COVID19 vaccines are made available in the US. And with vaccines potentially being approved by the end of the year or early next year the clock is ticking. The report published in the journal Vaccines shows that 68 of respondents are supportive of being vaccinated for COVID19 but concerns remain about side effects sufficient vaccine testing and vaccine effectiveness. Messages promoting the COVID19 vaccine need to alleviate the concerns of those who are already vaccinehesitant said senior study author Brian Poole a professor of microbiology and molecular biology at Brigham Young University https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/byu-stw101320.php 13th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Sky News The 2.2 million mainly elderly people on the shielding list in England are to be sent letters telling them they do not need to stay in their homes to keep safe. Instead they will be given advice linked to the COVID alert level for their postcode ranging from meet others outside where possible for Tier 1 areas to ask people in your household support bubble or volunteers to collect food and medicines for those whose homes are in Tier 3. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-stay-home-advice-to-change-for-vulnerable-groups-in-england-12103163 13th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

TheChronicleHerald.ca Australias most populous state said it will ease restrictions despite reporting the biggest oneday jump in new COVID19 cases in six weeks. New South Wales said that from Oct. 16 venues that offer outdoor dining will be allowed to have double the number of patrons outside. NSW previously required such venues to ensure four square metres 13 square feet for each patron. We know particularly in our state during this pandemic some of the hardest hit industries have been arts and recreation and hospitality NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said. Australias federal government hopes easing state restrictions will help revive the countrys ailing economy https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/australias-most-populous-states-eases-covid-19-curbs-despite-cases-hitting-six-week-high-508646/ 13th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Travel to Western Australia is now granted only in limited circumstances and with strict quarantine conditions under the hard border rules designed to keep the state free of Covid19 and it applies even to residents returning to the state. Melissa Davey writes about her experience of a strict lockdown while having a seriously ill father in another state. She writes Ive interviewed so many families who lost loved ones in aged care. I have no problem with undergoing testing and socially distancing. But I have been living alone in Victoria for months in lockdown wearing a mask to even go for a walk. There are less than 15 active cases per million people in the state yet even with active clusters under control there are no signs state borders will reopen especially not WA which wants zero community transmission in the rest of the country. Im increasingly realising this will never happen. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/13/police-permits-and-swabs-the-pains-of-crossing-was-hard-border 13th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Victoria is obviously failing to reach its roadmap targets for lifting restrictions but that has little to do with perceived weaknesses in its contact tracing system epidemiologists and other experts have said. Prof Tony Blakely an epidemiologist with the University of Melbourne said the targets on the roadmaps third and final steps for reopening effectively required elimination of the virus despite Daniel Andrews repeatedly saying suppression not elimination was the states strategy. He said it now made sense to pivot towards a policy of safely opening up and while that would mean clusters would continue to pop up Victorias contact tracing was in a position to emulate the success of NSW in keeping on top of the numbers. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/13/victorias-failure-to-hit-roadmap-targets-shows-foolhardy-strategy-to-eliminate-virus-experts-say 13th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Irish Independent Businesswoman Carol Ann Casey has been working from home during the pandemic and shes delighted Budget 2021 has today provided confidence to workers and small business owners. Ms Casey runs her own company CA Compliance an independent investigations governance and HR compliance service from Dublin city centre. But since March shes been working from home in Rathmines south Dublin. The Budget has really given workers and business owners the certainty they need right now Ms Casey told the Irish Independent. https://www.independent.ie/business/budget/budget-2021-do-i-need-to-be-in-dublin-city-anymore-self-employed-businesswoman-on-working-from-home-39619842.html 13th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail The World Health Organization has urged leaders to stop using lockdowns as a primary control method amid the coronavirus pandemic prompting President Trump to tell a Florida rally that he was right all along. Trump stepped out Monday for his first campaign event since testing positive for coronavirus and defended his stance on keeping the economy open after the WHO noted the devastating impact the COVID19 outbreak has had on the poor. We recognize that at certain points some countries have had no choice but to issue stayathome orders and other measures to buy time WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8833619/WHO-appears-admit-Trump-RIGHT-lockdowns-urge-not-used-primary-method.html 13th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian In England Conservative rebels fired a warning shot at the government as 42 MPs voted against stricter Covid19 curbs amid angry scenes in the Commons where Matt Hancock criticised lockdown sceptics. Tory rebels organised a symbolic vote against one of six restrictions approved by MPs on Tuesday night. Chris Green MP a junior frontbencher resigned from the government on Tuesday night ahead of the vote in protest at the restrictions in his Bolton constituency. I believe that the cure is worse than the disease he wrote in his resignation letter. I believe there are better alternatives to the governments approach. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/hancock-turns-on-tory-lockdown-sceptics-ahead-of-key-covid-votes 13th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Economist Speaking in Parliament on October 12th Boris Johnson Britains prime minister grappled with a problem facing countries across the world how to contain a resurgence of the coronavirus without imposing a national lockdown. From northern England to the Mediterranean local politicians are in revolt. In Manchester the mayor has complained that the lack of discussion and consultation makes the government impossible to deal with in Marseilles the deputy mayor has grumbled that decisions from Paris come like a stone dropped from a bridge a battle between the Spanish government and the local authorities in Madrid ended up in court. All three cities were aghast at new local lockdowns imposed by the central government. https://www.economist.com/international/2020/10/12/across-the-world-central-governments-face-local-covid-19-revolts 13th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

RACGP Dozens of healthcare professionals have signed an open letter calling for the immediate end to Victorias ongoing lockdown measures. The new letter states the response to the virus will cause more deaths and result in far more negative health effects than the virus itself. Signatory and anaesthetist Dr Eamonn Mathieson said the ongoing physical psychological social and economic harm is creating a new health crisis that far outweighs any possible benefits from continuing the lockdown. Overseas more than 11000 have now signed the USbased Great Barrington Declaration which calls for the effective ringfencing of vulnerable people such as those in aged care until herd immunity is achieved while World Health Organization officials this week called lockdowns a last resort. But top Australian epidemiologists Professor James McCaw and Professor Catherine Bennett have cautioned that key measures must be in place before lockdowns can be eased. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/renewed-calls-to-end-lockdown-rejected-by-racgp-an 13th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Age The highpowered constitutional challenge to the validity of the Victorian lockdown has been lodged in the High Court as legal actions continue to pile up against the Andrews governments response to the coronavirus pandemic. The writ of summons was filed late on Monday afternoon amid mounting business anxiety over the expected continuation of strict lockdown restrictions past October 19. The plaintiff prominent hospitality figure Julian Gerner is asking the High Court to review the legality of the lockdown. The High Court writ says that the lockdown orders made under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act are unconstitutional inappropriate and inconsistent with a system of representative and responsible government https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/sorrento-hotelier-files-high-court-challenge-to-melbourne-s-lockdown-20201013-p564p1.html 13th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

AlJazeera Facebook will start banning advertisements that discourage people from getting vaccinated the social media company said as it also announced a new flu vaccine information campaign. The United Statesbased company said in a blog post on Tuesday that ads advocating for or against legislation or government policies around vaccines including a COVID19 vaccine would still be allowed. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/13/facebook-to-ban-ads-that-discourage-vaccines 13th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian A new documentary Totally Under Control recounts the early days of the pandemic in the US revealing in clinical detail a disastrous federal response to a preventable crisis. Its a damning list of mistakes foreseeable crises and political squabbling splayed across a coherent timeline intended to be released just ahead of the presidential election so that people could render a judgment about how the federal response had been filmmaker Alex Gibney says. The twohour film focuses primarily on the early days of the pandemic the missed opportunities from January through April which led to Americas spiraling coronavirus present an unending first wave. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/12/they-refused-to-act-inside-a-chilling-documentary-on-trumps-bungled-covid-19-response 12th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

Newshub While in New Zealand people head to international test rugby matches stroll around town and prepare for the upcoming summer music festival season others around the world continue to face harsh COVID19 restrictions and lockdowns. The University of Oxfords COVID19 Government Response Stringency Index GRSI spotlights how countries are tackling the pandemic and provides a 0100 scale to show their relative strictness. Its based on nine response indicators including school closures workplace closures and travel bans. According to the Index as of Thursday Argentina had the strictest measures in the world with a value of 91.67. Its value peaked in April at 100 and has been in either the late 80s or 90s ever since. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/10/coronavirus-world-s-strictest-lockdowns-as-covid-19-continues-to-ravage-countries.html 13th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Australian More than a million Australians have sought mental health treatment during the COVID19 pandemic while ongoing lockdowns in Victoria have sparked a social crisis with a 30 per cent rise in cases in the past four weeks. The first official data revealing the depth of the mental health disaster in Victoria since the second wave outbreak reveals access to some crisis services has risen by up to 67 per cent in the space of four weeks. Demand for childrens mental health has also skyrocketed in Victoria with access to services jumping more than 30 per cent since September. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/mental-health-crisis-one-million-lost-in-coronavirus-lockdown/news-story/fc8c1da341ca392166fce6aba9ca4f69 13th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian Owen Jones talks about the toll on our mental health taken by covid19 restrictions and lockdowns. Young people in particular have formed a cordon sanitaire around their older and more vulnerable fellow citizens an unprecedented peacetime act of generational sacrifice and at such cost to themselves. According to the Lancet childrens mental health deteriorated in lockdown more than any other age group while eight in 10 young people reported that the pandemic had made their mental health worse with one in four opting for much worse. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/13/lockdowns-mental-health-sacrifice-pandemic 13th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

Metro US Ukraines government voted on Tuesday to extend until the end of the year a lockdown that Prime Minister Denys Shmygal told a televised cabinet meeting was aimed at containing a recent spike in coronavirus cases. The daily tally of new infections in Ukraine has climbed to record levels and 107 deaths were recorded in the 24 hours to Tuesday. https://www.metro.us/ukraine-extends-coronavirus-lockdown/ 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian People with poor numerical literacy are more likely to believe Covid19 misinformation according to a survey conducted in five countries. Researchers at Cambridge University said the findings suggested improving peoples analytical skills could help turn the tide against an epidemic of fake news surrounding the health crisis. Five national surveys reflecting national quotas for age and gender were conducted this year to evaluate susceptibility to coronavirusrelated misinformation and its influence on key healthrelated behaviours. The study found the most consistent predictor of decreased susceptibility to misinformation about Covid19 was numerical literacy the ability to digest and apply quantitative information broadly. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/14/poor-numerical-literacy-linked-to-greater-susceptibility-to-covid-19-fake-news 14th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN Drugmaker Pfizer has plans to start testing its experimental coronavirus vaccine in children as young as 12 and parents have already expressed interest in enrolling their kids the researcher leading the trial told CNN Tuesday. It will be the first coronavirus vaccine trial to include children in the United States. A team at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital will begin vaccinating teenagers aged 16 and 17 this week and will move to enroll 12to 15yearolds later said Dr. Robert Frenck director of the Vaccine Research Center at the hospital. The company confirmed on its website it has approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to enroll children as young as 12 in its trial. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/13/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer-kids-bn/index.html?utm_term=link&amputm_content=2020-10-14T02%3A35%3A37&amputm_medium=social&amputm_source=twCNNi 14th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail People who survive severe cases of the novel coronavirus may have immunity that is longerlasting a new study suggests. Researchers found antibodies levels remained high in patients who were hospitalized with COVID19 for up to four months. Whats more these antibodies were linked to other neutralizing antibodies that kill the virus on contact and stop it from reinfecting. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8834889/Harvard-study-finds-patients-severe-COVID-19-infections-protection-four-months.html 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Independent France launched a flu vaccine campaign Tuesday in an effort to avoid facing another epidemic peak as the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the country. French health authorities have issued official recommendations to prevent potential shortages of flu vaccine which they fear might happen amid increased demand because of the COVID19 pandemic. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-launches-flu-vaccine-campaign-amid-covid19-crisis-french-coronavirus-country-paris-ap-b1014584.html 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Doctors will finally trial whether vitamin D can actually protect people from Covid19 amid mounting evidence the 3paday supplement could be a lifesaver. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London will recruit 5000 volunteers to take the vitamin for six months if they do not already take high doses. Experts will then assess whether participants are at less risk of catching the virus and developing a severe bout of the disease over the winter months. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8834307/Doctors-trial-vitamin-D-protect-people-Covid-19.html 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

pharmaphorum Johnson Johnson has paused further dosing in its COVID19 vaccine clinical trial following an unexplained illness in a study participant. The company said it had voluntarily put the phase 3 ENSEMBLE trial on hold after the incident the details of which are being kept under wraps. JJ is not saying whether the patient was given a placebo or the experimental vaccine which is being developed by the companys Janssen pharma unit. https://pharmaphorum.com/news/jjs-late-stage-covid-19-vaccine-trial-halted-after-unexplained-illness/ 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian What does a disease smell like Humans might not have the answer but if they could talk dogs might be able to tell us. Able to sniff out a range of cancers and even malaria canines extraordinary noses are now being put to the test on Covid19. Nicola Davis hears from Prof Dominique Grandjean about exactly how you train dogs to smell a virus and how this detection technique could be used in managing the spread of Covid19 https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2020/oct/13/covid-19-training-dogs-to-sniff-out-virus 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC Cases of Covid19 are increasing across England and the number of people in hospital is now higher than before the full lockdown. It is at this critical moment that the gulf between the official scientific advice and the political decisions made by government has been laid bare. Documents released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies Sage reveal a call to action three weeks ago. Prof Calum Semple who was at the Sage meeting on 21 September said the threetier system had come too late and he believes that a short national lockdown could be needed within weeks. Sage is also damning of the governments supposedly worldbeating testandtrace system. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54514387 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Boris Johnson clashed with his own governments scientific advisers who wanted tougher action against the resurgent coronavirus outbreak in the U.K. in September. The British prime minister announced Monday that bars and pubs will be closed in the worsthit parts of England to control the pandemic as he tried to restore clarity and credibility to his muchcriticized strategy. He said he hoped to avoid another full national lockdown and that his plan would work if people followed the advice. Prime Minister Holds Virtual Briefing As UK Imposes New Covid19 Rules. But Englands Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned the new measures wont be enough and newly released papers showed the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies SAGE recommended national or regional restrictions to slow the spread of the virus last month. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-13/top-u-k-scientists-clash-with-boris-johnson-over-lockdown-plans 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Scotsman The UK government rejected the urgent warnings of the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies SAGE it has been revealed. According to documents released on 12 October the group called for a raft of measures three weeks ago to prevent a very large epidemic with catastrophic consequences. https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/sage-scientists-recommended-uk-lockdown-3-weeks-ago-and-universities-should-not-return-3001396 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC The governments scientific advisers called for a short lockdown in England to halt the spread of Covid19 last month newly released documents show. The experts said an immediate circuit breaker was the best way to control cases at a meeting on 21 September. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick insisted the government had taken robust action that balanced the impact on the economy. But Labour has described the documents as alarming. It comes as the Liverpool region prepares to enter a very high Covid alert level from Wednesday the highest of a new threetier system for coronavirus restrictions in England. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54518002 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Indian Express Such studies may help speed development of vaccines and give scientists new insights into a disease that has spread to more than 37 million people globally but would expose participants to a threat for which theres no cure. https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/coronavirus-vaccine-united-kingdom-boris-johnson-lockdown-6723133/ 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC17News.com While the AsiaPacific region treads water until a coronavirus vaccine is found the Wests biggest economies are drowning as a second wave firmly establishes itself in Europe. Europe is now reporting more daily infections than the United States Brazil or India the countries that have been driving the global case count for months as public apathy grows towards coronavirus guidelines. Several countries are seeing infection rates spiral again after a summer lull that saw measures to contain the virus and travel restrictions relaxed. In the United Kingdom for example questions are being asked about whether Prime Minister Boris Johnsons decision to lift the countrys lockdown in June was premature. Northern Englands current high rates of Covid19 are down to the fact that infections never dropped as far in the summer as they did in the south Jonathan VanTam Britains deputy chief medical officer told a press conference on Monday. https://abc17news.com/news/national-world/2020/10/12/the-west-is-being-left-behind-as-it-squanders-covid-19-lessons-from-asia-pacific/ 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The BMJ The UK governments own scientific advisers and other leading experts argued against a policy of increased restrictions in local areas to control the covid19 pandemic instead calling for a national short period of lockdown or circuit breaker documents show. The newly released documents reveal that the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies recommended on 21 September that such an immediate circuit breaker was the best way to control cases. Rumours about SAGEs advice had been circulating for some weeks but the minutes were officially released only after the prime minister announced a new three tier system for England with Liverpool facing the most stringent restrictions. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3959 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Phys.org The stringent lockdown imposed by the Chinese government to slow the spread of COVID19 early this year significantly eased the strain on hospitals there. Admissions due to nonCOVID respiratory illnesses decreased by nearly 5000 a new study by an international team of scientists shows. The number of decreased hospitalizations due to air pollution was about the same size or slightly larger than the number of people who went to a hospital for COVID during the same period said Drew Shindell Nicholas Distinguished Professor of Earth Science at Duke University. https://phys.org/news/2020-10-china-covid-lockdown-significantly-air-pollution-related.html 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Stuff.co.nz A leading Covid19 expert is irate after a World Health Organisation WHO official asked world leaders to stop using lockdowns as a primary method of controlling the pandemic. WHOs special envoy on Covid19 Dr David Nabarro told British magazine The Spectator that lockdowns should only be used to buy authorities time to set up systems that allow society to live with the virus. But his comments are inappropriate and dont apply to New Zealand and other Pacific countries where lockdowns have worked according to epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker who advises the New Zealand Government on Covid19. David Nabarro is one of their most senior advisors and is quite fond of pronouncing some things he said. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/123068546/covid19-leading-public-health-expert-irate-over-who-lockdown-advice 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera US drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co said on Tuesday that the governmentsponsored clinical trial of its COVID19 antibody treatment has been paused because of a safety concern. Out of an abundance of caution the ACTIV3 independent data safety monitoring board DSMB has recommended a pause in enrollment Lilly spokeswoman Molly McCully said in an emailed statement. Lilly is supportive of the decision by the independent DSMB to cautiously ensure the safety of the patients participating in this study. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/10/13/eli-lilly-pauses-covid-19-antibody-trial-due-to-safety-concern 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera One of Chinas leading vaccine developers is working on a plan to inoculate students going overseas with Covid19 shots that are yet to get regulatory approval according to people familiar with the matter as the country pushes scientific boundaries in the race for a viable immunization. China National Biotec Group Co. or CNBG a subsidiary of stateowned Sinopharm Group Co. is in talks with the Chinese government about giving students headed abroad to study its experimental vaccines said the people who asked not to be identified as theyre not authorized to speak publicly. Various government agencies are still working on the plan and no final decision has been made the people said. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/10/13/china-considers-giving-students-vaccines-still-under-trial 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN An elderly Dutch woman has become the first known person to die from catching Covid19 twice according to experts raising serious questions about how long immunity and antibodies can last. The woman 89 suffered from a rare type of bone marrow cancer called Waldenstrms macroglobulinemia. Her immune system was compromised due to the celldepleting therapy she received the researchers at Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands wrote in a paper accepted for publication in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. However the researchers said her natural immune response could still have been sufficient to fightoff Covid19 as the type of treatment she received for cancer does not necessarily result in life threatening disease. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/13/europe/covid-19-dutch-woman-reinfection-death-intl/index.html 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Science Magazine The first advice is Dont panic. You will have heard that last night JJ announced that their coronavirus vaccine dosing has been paused while they investigate an adverse event in the trial. And while you never like to hear that considering the size of their effort this sort of thing is likely to happen even if the vaccine turns out to have no real safety issues. Just this morning the companys CEO told analysts on a conference call that they dont even know yet if the affected patient is in the treatment group or the controls thats how early this is. Now there are definitely ways that this could go that would be concerning but were not there yet. https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2020/10/13/another-vaccine-trial-halt 13th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Stat News The study of Johnson Johnsons Covid19 vaccine has been paused due to an unexplained illness in a study participant. A document sent to outside researchers running the 60000patient clinical trial states that a pausing rule has been met that the online system used to enroll patients in the study has been closed and that the data and safety monitoring board an independent committee that watches over the safety of patients in the clinical trial would be convened. The document was obtained by STAT. Contacted by STAT JJ confirmed the study pause saying it was due to an unexplained illness in a study participant. The company declined to provide further details. https://www.statnews.com/2020/10/12/johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine-study-paused-due-to-unexplained-illness-in-participant/ 12th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Covid19 may cause sudden and permanent hearing loss experts have found adding that such problems need early detection and urgent treatment. The coronavirus has been found to affect the body in myriad ways from a loss of taste and smell to organ damage. Now doctors have reported fresh evidence that Covid could also affect hearing. Writing in the journal BMJ Case Reports experts at University College London report the case of a 45yearold man with asthma who was admitted to intensive care with Covid ventilated and given drugs including the antiviral remdesivir and intravenous steroids. A week after leaving intensive care he developed a ringing sound tinnitus and then hearing loss in his left ear. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/covid-may-cause-sudden-permanent-hearing-loss-uk-study 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN As predicted the US is now grappling with a new Covid19 surge one that could overwhelm hospitals kill thousands of Americans a day by January and leave even young survivors with longterm complications. We went down to the lowest point lately in early September around 3000035000 new cases a day. Now were back up to about 50000 new cases a day. And its going to continue to rise Dr. Peter Hotez dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine said Tuesday. This is the fallwinter surge that everyone was worried about. And now its happening. And its happening especially in the northern Midwest and the Northern states are getting hit very hard Wisconsin Montana the Dakotas. But its going to be nationally soon enough. Across the country more than 30 states have reported more Covid19 cases this past week than they reported the previous week according to data from Johns Hopkins University. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/13/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&amputm_medium=social&amputm_term=link&amputm_content=2020-10-14T01%3A34%3A02 14th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC Thousands have joined antigovernment protests in Argentina as confirmed coronavirus infections continue to rise passing 900000 on Monday. Many Argentines are angry at the governments handling of the crisis and the economic effect of lockdowns as well as issues such as corruption. A strict lockdown early in the pandemic meant that the number of cases grew slowly at first. But following an easing of restrictions cases have been rising steeply. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-54522428 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EU News Today the Council adopted a recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restrictions of free movement in response to the COVID19 pandemic. This recommendation aims to avoid fragmentation and disruption and to increase transparency and predictability for citizens and businesses. The COVID19 pandemic has disrupted our daily lives in many ways. Travel restrictions have made it difficult for some of our citizens to get to work to university or to visit their loved ones. It is our common duty to ensure coordination on any measures which affect free movement and to give our citizens all the information they need when deciding on their travel. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/10/13/covid-19-council-adopts-a-recommendation-to-coordinate-measures-affecting-free-movement/ 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EUObserver EU member states on Tuesday 13 October will adopt common standards to coordinate coronavirus travel restrictions including a trafficlight system of affected areas in a bid to prevent a recurrence of individual and unilateral measures as seen during the first Covid19 wave. Under the proposal of the German presidency endorsed by EU ambassadors last Friday the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC will publish a map updated weekly that categories EU regions into green orange and red zones or grey for insufficient data according to Covid19 infection rates. The map will be available in the coming days. https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/149725 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday she was concerned by rising coronavirus cases across Europe. I am watching with great concern the renewed increase in infection numbers in almost every part of Europe. And I must say the situation continues to be serious Merkel said during a debate on the German presidency of the European Union at the blocs Committee of the Regions. We mustnt throw away what we achieved via restrictions over the past months. These restrictions havent been easy for any of us she added. Many have lost their lives. And that makes it all the more important that we make sure that a further lockdown wont be needed. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-eu-merkel/germanys-merkel-concerned-by-rising-coronavirus-cases-across-eu-idUKKBN26Y1Y8?il=0 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

YAHOO! Italy has introduced stricter lockdown measures which will see people required to wear facemasks when other people visit them in their own homes. The country has seen a large spike in cases in recent weeks which led prime minister Giuseppe Conte to reintroduce several of the social distancing rules which were eased over the summer months. The new legislation will affect gatherings restaurants sports and school activities and will take effect within 24 hours remaining valid for 30 days. Parties in restaurants clubs or in the open air are banned and the government has strongly recommended that people do not hold parties in their homes or host more than six guests at any time. https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/italy-coronavirus-social-distancing-measures-mask-122417399.html 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Agenzia ANSA The governments new antiCOVID measures will serve to avert a fresh national lockdown Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Tuesday. This is despite acknowledgement that virus contagion rates are rising across the country he said Infection rates are high that is true Di Maio said on Facebook. But by bringing in all the antiCOVID norms it is possible to stop the virus. More stringent measures have been launched in Italy because if we intervene now we can preserve citizens health the health of the country and avert a new lockdown. Di Maio also said Italy should act like a team to get the EUs Recovery Fund funding as soon as possible. Premier Giuseppe Contes government passed a decree overnight imposing new restrictions aimed at combatting the spread of COVID19. https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2020/10/13/new-measures-serve-to-avert-new-lockdown-di-maio_b7c8c480-a4a2-474b-865b-1d7f908aae99.html 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed a series of new curbs on nightlife social events and amateur sports as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies throughout the country albeit at a slower pace than in other major European nations. Conte signed a decree that focuses especially on bars and restaurants as the government seeks to avert a new national lockdown that the economy ravaged by one of the strictest and longest in the continent earlier this year could ill afford. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-13/italy-targets-bars-restaurants-parties-in-new-virus-curbs?srnd=politics-vp 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC The Czech Republic is imposing a threeweek partial lockdown shutting schools bars and clubs as Europe struggles to contain a sharp rise in Covid19 cases. The country has the regions highest new infection rate per 100000 people. Restaurants will be closed and public consumption of alcohol is banned. In the Netherlands a partial lockdown was announced and masks have become compulsory in public indoor spaces. Meanwhile hospital admissions are rising fast again in many countries. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54522279 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday the main aim of the governments new COVID19 restrictions is to avoid a surge in infections which might lead to a nationwide lockdown. The government decree he signed on Tuesday imposes new curbs on public gatherings restaurants sports and school activities after Italy saw its daily coronavirus cases double last week nearing 6000 infections on Saturday. We must avoid plunging the country into a general lockdown the economy has started to run again Conte told a news conference. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-italy-pm/italy-pm-says-avoiding-new-lockdown-is-main-aim-of-new-covid-curbs-idUSR1N2BQ01I 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

France24 French President Emmanuel Macron met senior cabinet ministers on Tuesday to discuss possible further measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic following a surge in Covid19 cases and hospitalisations. The French president is set to deliver a televised address Wednesday on possible means to stem a second wave in the country. The meeting came a day after coronavirus intensive care treatments exceeded a May 27 peak as France like neighbouring Spain and Britain grapples with how to slow the viruss spread and ease pressure on a onceagain strained healthcare system while keeping its 2.3 trillion euro 2.71 trillion economy open and protecting jobs. https://www.france24.com/en/20201013-french-cabinet-discusses-covid-19-measures-as-cases-hospitalisations-surge 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Russia on Tuesday reported record high daily coronavirus cases and deaths pushing total infections to 1326178 but authorities said they do not plan to impose lockdowns across the vast country. Anna Popova head of the consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on Tuesday Russia saw no need to impose restrictions on economic activity in response to the spike in cases. Despite a growing number of cases today in Russia we are not talking about blocking the economy suspending some business activities some sectors of the economy because we see no reason to do this Popova said in comments carried by Russian news agencies. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-russia-cases/russias-daily-coronavirus-cases-deaths-rise-to-record-highs-idUKKBN26Y0W3 13th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times France is weighing the possibility of local lockdowns as the country battles a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic Prime Minister Jean Castex said Monday. Mr. Castex told Franceinfo that France faces an unprecedented surge in cases that is putting increasing pressure on hospitals saying that many citizens were not taking health warnings seriously. Nearly 27000 new infections were reported by health authorities on Saturday a record and the rate of positive results from testing passed 11 percent. The number of deaths is increasing at a higher rate than over the summer though much more slowly than in the spring and hospitalizations including in intensive care units are rising. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/world/the-french-prime-minister-warns-that-local-lockdowns-may-be-imposed-as-cases-surge.html 12th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Sky News Northern Ireland is set to become the first full region of the UK to impose a circuit breaker lockdown. Tighter restrictions will be in place for four weeks with schools closing for two of them Sky News understands. According to the PA news agency the new measures will mean pubs and restaurants have to close with the exception of takeaways. PA said closures of hospitality outlets would begin on Friday 16 October and other measures from Monday 19 October https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-northern-ireland-set-to-impose-circuit-breaker-lockdown-for-four-weeks-12103640 14th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

The Guardian Keir Starmer called on the government to follow the science and impose a national circuit breaker lockdown of at least two weeks as the death toll from Covid19 soared to a fourmonth high. In a significant escalation the Labour leader said Boris Johnson had lost control of the virus and must take urgent action to impose a neartotal shutdown across England over October halfterm. If we dont we could sleepwalk into a long and bleak winter. That choice is now for the prime minister to make. I urge him to do so he said. The call was backed by metro mayors across northern England as official figures showed 143 UK deaths in a single day the highest since early June. Last month the chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned the country could see 200 daily deaths by midNovember without fresh controls. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/keir-starmer-urges-pm-to-impose-circuit-breaker-lockdown-on-england 13th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

CNBC The U.K. revealed further measures aimed at curbing a rapid spread of coronavirus cases in England with a threetier alert system put in place in addition to local lockdowns and nationwide restrictions. The measures are meant to simplify the rules in different parts of the country. The U.K. is the third worsthit country in Europe in terms of coronavirus cases. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/13/uk-lockdown-a-guide-to-the-alert-system-shutdowns-and-rules.html 13th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

The Guardian Days before UK ministers rejected advice to impose a shortened circuit breaker lockdown in late September Israel made the opposite decision and enforced the unpopular and painful policy to stem the spiralling number of virus infections. The country of 9 million less than 15 of the population of Britain was shut down for a second time with Israeli officials arguing it was essential to halt infections or risk overloading hospitals. As the UK and other countries consider implementing shorter lockdowns Israel presents an example of their benefits and perils. While clearly stalling infections the second lockdown has further pummelled the economy and infuriated much of the public some of whom have defied the rules out of frustration and apathy. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/painful-but-effective-uk-can-look-to-israel-for-example-of-short-lockdown 13th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Bloomberg European governments are adding new restrictions and calling on citizens to make sacrifices in a bid to contain a record increase in coronavirus cases with the Czech Republic closing schools and the Netherlands shutting down virtually all nighttime activity. Saying measures needed to stop the virus will hurt Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced what he called a partial lockdown on Tuesday evening with sales of alcohol to be banned after 8 p.m. and bars restaurants and coffee shops to be closed altogether. Citizens are being urged to avoid public transportation where possible. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-13/german-new-coronavirus-cases-rise-at-fastest-pace-since-april-3 13th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Olive Press ECIJA will enter a new lockdown after recording a coronavirus incidence rate of 925.4 cases per 100000 inhabitants over the past two weeks. The Sevilla town with a population of 39873 has recorded 369 new cases of the virus over the same period. https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/10/13/sevilla-town-in-spains-andalucia-to-enter-new-lockdown-after-25-covid-19-outbreaks-linked-to-family-gatherings/ 13th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Pub owners across Englands COVID19 hotspots were on Tuesday pondering a question that could decide if they survive or sink due to the coronavirus lockdown when is a pub a pub and when does it become a restaurant The question has sparked a bizarre discussion about some of Englands favourite snacks fries chips and pork scratchings roasted pork rind do not count as a meal according to a government minister quizzed on the status of the delicacies. But Cornish pasties a muchloved meat and vegetable pie that dates back to Englands ancient tin mines do count as a meal. https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN26Y0OZ 13th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK A group of English pub and night club owners have paused plans for a legal challenge against new COVID19 shutdowns after the government limited closures to the Merseyside region. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out new measures on Monday but so far Liverpool and the surrounding area is the only one that will have to close pubs clubs gyms leisure centres betting shops adult gaming centres and casinos. Britains pub restaurant night club and event industry has been hammered by the coronavirus crisis and after months of lockdown in the spring a second wave and new measures limiting socialising now threaten hundreds of thousands more jobs. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-hospitalit/britains-hospitality-industry-sets-legal-challenge-to-lockdown-restrictions-idINKBN26X01R 13th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

CNN European countries including Italy and England are mulling strict new measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus as cases on the continent continue to soar. More leaders are preparing to take drastic action which will likely damage their economies to contain a second wave of Covid19 following in the footsteps of nations such as France and Spain which have been forced to tighten restrictions in major cities. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/12/europe/europe-restrictions-covid-intl/index.html 12th Oct 2020