20th May 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=12 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Deccan Herald Some Detroit automakers started cranking out vehicles Monday but it will take longer to fully restart other plants. Workers appeared reassured by the precautions. At a Fiat Chrysler pickup truck assembly plant in Warren outside Detroit workers entered a giant white tent with a sign reading Lets restart and keep each other safe. They had their temperatures checked and answered questions on whether they had COVID19 symptoms. I feel safer than being anywhere at any stores https://www.deccanherald.com/international/automakers-back-to-work-as-us-eases-coronavirus-lockdown-839329.html 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

iNews Boris Johnson recently unveiled plans for lockdown restrictions to ease in England over the coming months as part of phased plans to reopen shops pubs restaurants and get kids back to schools. Exercise is now allowed on an unlimited basis but is a day at the beach allowed Heres what you need to know. https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/beach-can-go-during-lockdown-uk-coronavirus-rules-explained-england-wales-scotland-differences-2854873 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC UK towns and cities must be made cyclefriendly if a change to commuting habits is to succeed campaigners say. Cycling and walking are being backed as alternatives to public transport as people who are not able to work from home are encouraged back to work. The latest government survey data before lockdown however showed three in five people thought cycling on the road was too dangerous 61. Campaign groups said infrastructure improvements would be key. The government has released a 250m emergency active travel fund aimed at helping towns prevent overcrowding as lockdown is lifted and it has issued guidance to councils. Cycling UK said now was a golden opportunity to encourage people. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52708687 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Lancaster Guardian The UK will soon be able to enter into level three of lockdown according to Business Secretary Alok Sharma. Sharmas announcement came at Sundays 17 May daily press briefing where he said such a move was only possible due to the public adhering to the governments social distancing guidelines. He thanked the public saying Throughout the period of lockdown we have been at level four. Thanks to you people across the country we have collectively helped to bring the R level down. We are now in a position to begin moving to level three in careful steps. https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/read-this/heres-everything-you-need-know-about-level-3-uk-lockdown-2857944 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

City A.M. The lag in pedestrian activity suggests employers and staff needed time to ensure safe working conditions and commutes were in place. In the seven days to 18 May pedestrian traffic was up 7.6 per cent to 11.24 points according to Hoxton Analytics. A reading of 100 represents normal pedestrian levels. Last week the government announced the easing of some lockdown restrictions in England. People have been told to return to work if they cannot work from home and individuals that do not live together are able to meet up outdoors at a distance of two metres. Nonessential shops could reopen from 1 June at the earliest while pubs and other hospitality venues will be waiting until at least 4 July before opening their doors to the public. https://www.cityam.com/uk-lockdown-pedestrian-activity-soars-25-per-cent-as-londoners-get-back-to-work/ 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times A bitter irony that in the countrys brief moment of vindication all the old conflicts are reemerging. It makes the early togetherness look shallow a product of our instincts for survival rather than of humanitarian insight. So instead of solidarity we have strife. In place of unity division. It looks like this is Germanys new normal too. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/opinion/germany-coronavirus-reopening.html 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian For some being able to frequent Italys bars and restaurants on Monday after more than two months of lockdown was akin to ending a strict dietary regime. I can taste the fullness of the flavour much more said Sandro Urbani as he drank a glass of white Sangiovanni wine outside Caff Barrique in the Umbrian town of Orvieto. Its as if Ive been on a diet over the past few months and all of a sudden I can eat a slice of salami. Italians have been given another taste of freedom with the reopening of bars restaurants hairdressers and all other retailers on Monday as the country tries to revive its economy after the coronavirus emergency. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/coronavirus-italians-rediscover-eating-out-italy 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Italy has started easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions and some shops restaurants and museums have reopened for the first time in two months. Physical distancing remains but people in Rome were able to enjoy a drink or visit mass. In Venice stores and restaurants reopened though without the usual crowds of tourists around https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/may/19/italian-cities-reopen-after-two-months-of-coronavirus-lockdowns-video 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Economist The official in charge of the Afghan governments response to covid19 in a rural district near the city of Herat recently received a dressingdown by phone. The caller berated him for the lack of masks at a particular clinic. Local bureaucrats needed to get their act together quickly the caller instructed. The man delivering the rebuke was not some big cheese from the ministry of health in Kabul however but a member of the Taliban the rebels who have been trying to overthrow the government since 2001 when they themselves were ousted from power by Americanbacked forces. https://www.economist.com/asia/2020/05/09/the-taliban-are-joining-afghanistans-fight-against-covid-19 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times Italy Reopens Hair Salons as Coronavirus Crisis Eases NYT reports on how Italys hair salons are reemerging from the coronavirus crisis https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/world/europe/italys-great-beautification-hair-salons-are-back.html 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Euro Weekly News French police have been banned from using drones to keep an eye on the public during the coronavirus pandemic. The ban will apply until there is a proper legal basis for their deployment or until they have been adapted so that individuals being filmed cannot be identified the countrys highest court the Conseil dEtat has decided. Frances Human Rights League announced the news on Monday May 18 saying it was a real victory. It took the case to the Conseil after its attempt to have the use banned was rejected by a lower court. Some 20 drones have been used by the police in Paris over recent weeks under the control of the Prefecture of Police whose head the Prefect Didier Lallement is a controversial law and order disciplinarian. He has already had to formally apologise for having said that those in hospital resuscitation wards during the health crisis were people who had disobeyed the rules of the lockdown. https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/05/19/frances-highest-court-has-banned-police-from-using-drones-to-watch-the-public-in-paris-and-rest-of-country-during-ease-of-coronavirus-lockdown-rules/ 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Press and Journal Volunteers are rallying around to prepare the Nevis Range resort for a return after lockdown and the biggest challenge in its 30year history. The snowsports mountain biking and outdoor activities destination near Fort William has organised a bike trail maintenance day and a litterpicking weekend in advance of reopening when restrictions are lifted. Dates for the events will be scheduled when the lockdown eases and it is safe for staff and local volunteers to work alongside each other. Already more than 50 people have signed up to help and others have expressed interest in getting involved. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/2205935/volunteers-helps-nevis-range-prepare-for-life-after-lockdown/ 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times For more than two months the people of Wuhan China lived under lockdown as their city buckled beneath the weight of the coronavirus that emerged there. Then gradually cases ebbed. On April 8 the lockdown was lifted. Now the residents of Wuhan are cautiously feeling their way toward an uncertain future some of the first in the world to do so. There is trauma and grief anger and fear. But there is also hope gratitude and a newfound patience. Here are four of their stories. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/world/asia/wuhan-coronavirus-lockdown.html 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

CBS News Air pollution in China has already bounced back from astounding lows during the countrys coronavirus shutdown to monthly levels exceeding those recorded during the same period last year data show. Chinese government figures confirm a spike in April which the Finlandbased Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air CREA warns could herald the beginning of a dirty economic rebound from the crisis in China. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-china-lockdown-over-air-pollution-already-spiking-industry-dirty-economic-rebound/ 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

East Asia Forum COVID19 emerged in Wuhan in December 2019 a few days before the Chinese Spring Festival. The three billion trips via Chinas mass transit system during the Spring Festival travel rush may have contributed to its spread across the country. But in late March China declared its COVID19 peak over as Wuhan reported zero new cases for seven consecutive days. This was followed by the lifting of Wuhans lockdown on 8 April. However a majority of Chinas new cases are now imported prompting a twopronged strategy to control both imported cases and potential domestic transmission after lifting lockdown. https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/05/19/managing-covid-19-transmissions-in-post-lockdown-china/ 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Independent Cinemas across Japan have begun to reopen after being closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Without any new blockbuster releases however cinemas are resorting to screening old Hollywood classics to draw in crowds. Swordandsandal flick Ben Hur and musical fantasy The Wizard of Oz are among the films returning to cinemas. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/coronavirus-cinemas-open-films-wizard-of-oz-ben-hur-tenet-a9521726.html 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

NME This Thursday May 21 singersongwriter and Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan is set to perform with her band at Sydneys firstever live theatre drivein. The performance is organised by DriveIn Entertainment Australia and will be held at the Robyn Webster Sports Centre from 1200pm to 100pm AEST. In accordance with current social distancing rules patrons will participate in the concert remotely from their vehicles with two options for sound tuning into an FM radio frequency andor rolling down their windows. Extra safety restrictions will be enforced to ensure the event complies with governmentmandated regulations. https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/drive-in-concerts-to-be-tested-in-australia-this-week-2671446 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

1News New Zealands stricter lockdown and containment measures could lead to an earlier economic recovery than Australia HSBC Australias chief economist says. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nzs-economy-likely-bounce-back-faster-than-australias-due-stricter-lockdown-expert 19th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail Hundreds of thousands of New Zealand children returned to lesson on Monday as schools around the world continue to reopen as coronavirus lockdowns ease. Excited youngsters greeted classmates for the first time in eight weeks in cities such as Wellington and Auckland after parents dropped them off at kiss and go zones at the gate as part of strict social distancing measures. Schools in Austria Belgium and Portugal also reopened their doors for the first time in weeks on Monday while more children were allowed to return to lessons in Greece. Lessons have already resumed for pupils in France Germany Switzerland the Netherlands Norway Denmark Australia parts of Canada and China as the global spread of disease slowed. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8329905/Kiss-Back-school-New-Zealand-kids.html 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Local authorities across Mexico have resisted President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obradors call to lift emergency coronavirus measures in municipalities without confirmed Covid19 cases warning that the pandemic is far from over. The decision to resume comes amid questions over the Amlo administrations coronavirus response which has depended heavily on disease modeling and involved little testing and no contact tracing. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/mexico-amlo-coronavirus-covid19-restrictions-reopen 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

HeraldScotland.com A map ranking the Covid risk for each of Scotlands 354 council wards has been created with parts of Inverclyde and Clydebank most in danger. Researchers and analysts at new think tank Scotianomics used multiple dataset sets to draw up its Covid19 Community Risks Index the most detailed possible picture of which Scottish communities are most under threat. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18459906.coronavirus-think-tank-ranks-council-wards-order-covid-risk-calls-lockdown-lifted-low-risk-areas-first/ 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Scotsman Residents celebrated their restored freedom on Saturday 2 May by cycling walking and runing along the streets in Barcelona and Madrid as the country begins its fourphase plan to lift its nationwide lockdown. Prime Minister Pedro Snchez aims to return the country to a new normality by the end of June. https://www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/spain-coronavirus-lockdown-what-restrictions-have-been-eased-and-if-travel-will-be-allowed-summer-2537352 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Independent Spain has lifted a ban on all sea and air travel coming from Italy as it looks to further ease lockdown restrictions officials have confirmed. Travellers from Italy will have to comply however with a twoweek quarantine like other foreign visitors while a state of emergency remains in place. Officials in Madrid announced a nationwide lockdown on 14 March in a bid to help stop the spread of the disease but have begun to loosen measures in recent weeks. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/spain-italy-flight-ban-travel-advice-coronavirus-lockdown-latest-a9521611.html 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Manchester Evening News The countrys transport minister has said that it hopes to restart its travel economy in time for the summer holidays. Currently travel restrictions mean British holidaymakers cannot enter the country as its strict lockdown restrictions continue until May 24 despite slight easing of the coronavirus confinement beginning to take place. The Spanish government extended its travel ban meaning Brits and nonEU travellers will be denied entry from May 15 up until June 15. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/spain-says-uk-tourists-able-18272865 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

YAHOO! France and Germany on Monday laid out plans for a 500billioneuro 544 billion European fund backed by joint EU borrowing to fight the economic fallout from the coronavirus as the continent pushed ahead towards normality with major landmarks reopening after a two monthhiatus. St Peters Basilica and the Acropolis in Athens opened their doors to visitors alongside many European shops restaurants and churches as Italy reported that its daily death toll from the virus had fallen below 100 for the first time since early March. More than 4.7 million people have tested positive and 315270 have been killed by the disease since it emerged in Wuhan late last year according to an AFP tally. Recent days have seen soaring infections in Brazil India and South Africa. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/european-landmarks-reopen-virus-hits-hard-elsewhere-084603344.html 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

FRANCE 24 English Frances highest administrative court ruled Monday that the government must lift a blanket ban on meetings at places of worship imposed as part of measures to combat the coronavirus. After receiving complaints from several individuals and associations the Council of State said that such a ban on freedom of worship caused a damage that is serious and manifestly illegal. It told the government to lift the ban within the next eight days. The latest government decree on measures to combat the coronavirus even after the lockdown in France was eased from May 11 bans all gatherings in places of worship except funerals which are limited to 20 people. https://www.france24.com/en/20200519-french-government-ordered-to-lift-coronavirus-lockdown-ban-on-religious-meetings 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

National Post On Tuesday the Ontario government begins the first stage of a gradual reopening of one of the countrys worsthit provinces after almost two months of emergency lockdown. Mass physical distancing did little to prevent more than a thousand lonely deaths in long term care across the province. It failed to prevent outbreaks among the homeless. It has still not brought the daily count of new COVID19 cases in Ontario below 300. But as a first imperfect layer physical distancing worked. It bought the province time to shore up hospitals to secure protective equipment to expand testing and contact tracing. It gave the province space to prepare for what experts believe will be an 1824month fight against the virus in the community. It gave them time to build that imperfect wall. https://nationalpost.com/news/lockdown-and-release-how-ontarios-imperfect-wall-against-covid-19-is-about-to-be-tested 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Financial Express In a major relief to people affected due to the coronavirusinduced lockdown the Gujarat government on Monday announced several relaxations including opening of markets and shops in noncontainment zones from Tuesday. While there will be no relaxations in containment zones shops and offices in noncontainment zone can remain open between 8 am and 4 pm said Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. However such business and commercial establishments need to follow oddeven formula wherein only 50 per cent establishments can remain open on any given day. Moreover the government has also allowed reopening of barber shops and salons in noncontainment zones besides shops selling paan masala. https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/gujarat-lockdown-4-0-guidelines-shops-offices-allowed-to-open-no-relaxation-in-covid-19-containment-zones/1963159/ 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Conversation AU Reaction to the New Zealand governments handling of the COVID19 pandemic and resultant lockdown has ranged from high praise to criticism that its actions were illegal and its management chaotic. Partly in response to the concerns and to put the continued containment of the disease on a firmer legal footing the COVID19 Public Health Response Act was passed under urgency on May 14. It was quickly met with another wave of discontent. https://theconversation.com/are-new-zealands-new-covid-19-laws-and-powers-really-a-step-towards-a-police-state-138114 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Up to 1500 primary schools in England are expected to remain closed on 1 June after a rebellion by at least 18 councils forced the government to say it had no plans to sanction them. As the backlash escalated over the governments policy of lifting the coronavirus lockdown on schools in a fortnight a number of new local authorities said on Tuesday they would not force primary schools in their area to follow the plan. Councils joining those already in opposition included Birmingham Calderdale council in Yorkshire and Conservativecontrolled Solihull. In total they represent more than 1500 maintained primaries. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/up-to-1500-english-primary-schools-to-defy-1-june-reopening-plan?utm_term=Autofeed&ampCMP=twt_gu&amputm_medium&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1589918431 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Varsity Online A leaked email seen by Varsity outlines plans for all lectures in the 202021 academic year to be conducted virtually. Head of Education Services Alice Benton wrote to Senior Tutors today 1905 to inform them that the General Boards Education Committee has agreed that since it is highly likely that rigid social distancing will be required throughout the next academic year there will be no facetoface lectures next year. Benton writes that the decision has been taken to provide a degree of certainty to facilitate Faculties and Departments when planning for educational delivery next academic year and proposes that the move is in line with thinking across the sector. https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/19258 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Wideranging security flaws have been flagged in the Covid19 contacttracing app being piloted in the Isle of Wight. The security researchers involved have warned the problems pose risks to users privacy and could be abused to prevent contagion alerts being sent. GCHQs National Cyber Security Centre NCSC told the BBC it was already aware of most of the issues raised and is in the process of addressing them. But the researchers suggest a more fundamental rethink is required. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52725810 19th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters Spains King Felipe gave a speech at a conference in Madrid on Monday attended by the economy minister and others in an audience over the size authorised for public events under the capitals strict coronavirus lockdown rules. Pictures on the Spanish Royal Houses Twitter account showed at least 20 people at the event held by innovation foundation Cotec at the headquarters of telecom firm Telefonica. Spain is easing restrictions and regulations vary according to regions but gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited in Madrid Spains health ministry press office said in an email to Reuters. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-spain-lockdown/spains-king-and-economy-minister-at-event-over-lockdown-limit-idUKL8N2D04YD 18th May 2020

Partisan Exits

Independent People cant get enough of this. Great people Mr Trump tweeted on Saturday in support of the protesters many of whom were the presidents supporters. Though the sign calling for the execution of Dr Anthony Fauci did not feature in the social media video it appeared in a TV report by Mr Vesey for News 12 Long Island. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/coronavirus-us-protest-trump-fauci-gates-lockdown-new-york-suffolk-county-a9519761.html 19th May 2020

Partisan Exits

Independent Donald Trump has backed a group of antilockdown protesters in Long Island New York who were filmed harassing and insulting a journalist who had turned up to cover their demonstration. The president retweeted a video by journalist Kevin Vesey talking about what he called alarming levels of anger from the people he spoke to but pledging to cover their story fairly. Mr Trump added the comment People cant get enough of this. Great people https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-lockdown-protest-twitter-video-reporter-journalist-a9518296.html 19th May 2020

Partisan Exits

PoliticsHome.com Children spread Covid19 less than adults but it is unclear how much less. I have complete sympathy with those unions advising their members not to trust this government with decisions about their health. Eton and other private schools attended by the children of Conservative MPs seem certain to stay shut till September. If the return goes ahead then schools need PPE training in its use hand washing stations throughout the school staggered arrivals and departures very reduced class sizes constant cleaning of all surfaces frequent testing of staff for infection transport to the school that is safe not a crowded bus a locally run contact tracing isolation plan in place for outbreaks and parents taking their childrens temperature testing before they get to school. https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/the-uk-was-late-going-into-lockdown-and-is-now-coming-out-too-fast 19th May 2020

Partisan Exits

Deeside.com The Foreign Secretary sidestepped a question about whether relaxing the lock down in England was undermining efforts to control Covid19 infection rates in North Wales. Dominic Raab speaking at 10 Downing Streets daily coronavirus meeting said there had been good collaboration between his Government and the devolved powers. He also said the UK Government recognised nations may go at different speeds but claimed there had been a UKwide approach to tackling the virus. On the specific question of whether he thought relaxed lock down rules in England undermined attempts in Wales to keep Covid19 infection rates down he was less forthcoming. http://www.deeside.com/foreign-secretary-sidesteps-question-on-relaxed-lockdown-rules-in-england-undermining-virus-spread-measures-in-north-wales/ 19th May 2020

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg On the question of whether to prioritize the economy or the wellbeing of older people Brits are much more bothered about the latter. After four years of Brexit divisions the U.K. is conditioned to expecting intergenerational divides older people tended to vote for Brexit while younger ones wanted to stay in the European Union. But that split hasnt been apparent during the pandemic. Lockdown support has spanned all age groups even though retirees are 34 times more likely to die from Covid19 than workingage Britons. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-05-19/coronavirus-why-britain-doesn-t-want-to-come-out-of-lockdown 19th May 2020

Partisan Exits

HuffPost After enduring one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world Spain is beginning to ease its coronavirus restrictions but the efforts have not come without controversy. Since last week millions of people have been allowed to visit friends and family and sit outside at bars and cafes in parts of the country where the epidemic is sufficiently under control. In response after first banging pots and pans each night from their balconies hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets in Madrids wealthy Salamanca neighborhood over the past week. Waving Spanish flags and crying Viva Espaa some protesters have denounced Prime Minister Pedro Snchezs leftist government as communists who are ruining the country. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/spain-madrid-protests-coronavirus_n_5ec3a81fc5b61486e5865b6a 19th May 2020

Partisan Exits

The Hill A leaked Pentagon memo on Tuesday revealed that top Department of Defense DOD officials have been planning for the possibility that the military could be dealing with a globallypersistent coronavirus pandemic well into 2021. The memo obtained by Task Purpose also warned of the real possibility that a vaccine for COVID19 wont be available until at least the summer of 2021. We have a long path ahead with the real possibility of a resurgence of COVID19. Therefore we must now refocus our attention on resuming critical missions increasing levels of activity and making necessary preparations should a significant resurgence of COVID19 occur later this year it read. https://thehill.com/policy/defense/498637-leaked-pentagon-memo-warns-coronavirus-pandemic-could-last-until-summer-2021 19th May 2020

Partisan Exits

Sky News Donald Trump has threatened to permanently pull funding from the World Health Organisation WHO unless it commits to improvements within 30 days. The US president said he would also reconsider the countrys WHO membership previously saying the global health body did a very sad job in handling the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Trump suspended US contributions to the WHO last month accusing it of promoting Chinas disinformation about the virus outbreak. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-donald-trump-threatens-to-permanently-cut-off-world-health-organisation-funding-11990731 19th May 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Efforts to dilute world health assembly resolution on open licensing decried as appalling. In general it is a disappointment appalling really. There was better text that was rejected said Jamie Love the director of the NGO Knowledge Ecology International. The US UK Swiss and some others pushed against the WHO taking the lead in pushing for open licensing of patents and knowhow for drugs and vaccines. In a global crisis like this that has such a massive impact on everyone you would expect the WHO governing body to have the backbone to say no monopolies in this pandemic. Its one thing for a country to use its economic clout to buy preferential access to drugs or vaccines. Its another to prevent others from manufacturing and expanding global supply. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/17/us-and-uk-lead-push-against-global-patent-pool-for-covid-19-drugs 17th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Bloomberg on MSN.com Being thousands of miles from the nearest continent and reachable almost exclusively by air travel puts Hawaii in a unique position to not just contain the virus but potentially eradicate it there said Dr. Eric Toner a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. By every metric that we follow theyve done a terrific job in being able to stop the spread he said. If you can get the community spread under control and you can implement strict screening of passengers you really can stop the epidemic in their state. Ige has signaled he plans to maintain the tough stance on arriving travelers even as several parts of the mainland U.S. begin to reopen their economies. While the state has already begun to reopen recreational draws including some state parks beaches and golf courses with social distancing measures Ige last week said he planned to extend the travel quarantine through the end of June. https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/dont-come-hawaii-enforces-strict-lockdown-measures/ar-BB14i52i 19th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

YAHOO! Britains coronavirus lockdown triggered the steepest drop in working hours in a decade according to official figures. The new figures lay bare the economic cost of the countrys efforts to control the virus with millions of workers jobs and incomes taking a heavy hit. Total hours worked in the final week of March plummeted by 25 compared to the average over the previous three months. Prime minister Boris Johnson ordered Britain to go into lockdown on 23 March leading many firms to temporarily shut up shop. https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-lockdown-working-hours-unemployment-rate-uk-jobs-furlough-how-many-072533335.html 19th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Scotsman UK unemployment claims soared by more than 69 in April after the coronavirus lockdown gripped the labour market official figures revealed. The Office of National Statistics ONS said that jobless claims under Universal Credit surged by 856000 to 2.1 million in April compared with the previous month. Official statisticians also said that early estimates for April 2020 indicate that the number of paid employees fell by 1.6 compared to March as firms began to feel a greater impact from the lockdown. https://www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/uk-unemployment-claims-soar-amid-coronavirus-lockdown-2857517 19th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Bloomberg A 10point increase in lockdown stringency leads to a 4 drop in economic activity on average according to Bloomberg Economics analysis of data from the Oxford Covid19 Government Response Tracker. Yet the headline result masks differences between countries. In Spain France and the U.S. unit increases in the stringency of lockdown appear to have a larger impact on activity while in Canada Australia and Sweden the impact seems to be smaller. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-19/lockdown-stringency-has-largest-impact-in-spain-france-chart 19th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Independent Private school students are twice as likely to attend online classes than those in comprehensives Shadim Hussain says. Suddenly democratising the internet doesnt sound so farfetched https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/voices/schools-home-teaching-lockdown-teachers-union-education-bame-social-divide-a9520331.html 19th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Sky News More than 20000 more deaths have been recorded in care homes in England and Wales this year compared with the average. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-the-number-of-excess-deaths-in-care-homes-and-hospitals-compared-with-normal-times-is-revealed-11991080 19th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

FRANCE 24 English Police and protesters clashed in Santiago on Monday amid a citywide lockdown meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus as local officials warned that food shortages had hit one of the Chilean capitals poorest neighborhoods. A group of protesters threw rocks shouted and burned piles of wood along a street in the destitute neighborhood on Santiagos southern fringe. Images on social media and local television showed police spraying tear gas and water cannons to disperse the growing crowd. The municipality said in a statement that families were going hungry in the poorest sectors of El Bosque a neighborhood where many work informally or not at all. The city district has been under quarantine since midApril city officials said in a statement. https://www.france24.com/en/20200519-wild-protests-break-out-in-chile-over-covid-19-lockdown-food-shortages 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Independent Government plans to further ease the lockdown before the testandtrace scheme to catch infections finally starts risks a fresh pandemic a health chief is warning. Greg Fell the director for Public Health Sheffield hit out after No 10 suggested more restrictions could be lifted on 1 June including schools reopening even if the programme is hit by further delays. I think we need to have the test and trace system working before we start to fundamentally reopen society Mr Fell said. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-test-trace-matt-hancock-public-health-a9521376.html 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Hill COVID19 infection is deadlier than flu we can put that debate to rest said Anirban Basu a health economist at the University of Washington who authored the study. If the infection fatality rate is accurate and if the coronavirus continues spreading at current rates even before most states open their economies and relax social distancing restrictions COVID19 the disease caused by the virus could claim between 350000 and 1.2 million American lives by the end of this year Basu found. This is a staggering number which can only be brought down with sound public health measures Basu said in a press release announcing the study which appears in the journal Health Affairs. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/498533-study-projects-us-covid-19-deaths-to-triple-by-end-of-year 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Courier It is only a month since we were seeing 1000 coronavirus deaths a day in the UK with the numbers doubling every four days. If that had continued we would probably be around the peak of the epidemic by now and have hundreds of thousands of bodies to bury. While 30000 deaths is awful the difference is a huge achievement and this is largely due to changes in our behaviour. https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/1322775/dundee-medical-expert-thinks-uk-lockdown-has-saved-almost-one-million-lives/ 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Press and Journal An Italian doctor working in Aberdeen says she felt calm and prepared as the coronavirus crisis loomed in Scotland having learned about the hardship from quarantined family and friends in her homeland. She said although there are a number of differences between how Italy and the UK has handled the pandemic the situation has been managed admirably by staff at the northeasts flagship hospital. She added I had really hoped we would be prepared and certainly I must say that Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been very prepared. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/2205994/italian-doctor-at-ari-shares-experience-of-watching-uk-enter-lockdown-a-fortnight-after-italy/ 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian In Germany where shops and restaurants have tentatively reopened the reproduction number R has risen to 1.1. In Seoul a recent outbreak of at least 170 infections has been linked to five bars and nightclubs. Even in South Korea one of the most successful countries at controlling the virus theres no room for complacency. As a veterinary epidemiologist I study how viruses spread between animals and animal populations. The principles of viral transmission are much the same in humans indeed many scientists work on both. The concept of a second wave in public health is often linked to factors outside of human control. This might include the birth of infants who are susceptible to a particular disease causing the wavelike patterns we see in childhood illnesses or environmental factors that influence the seasonality of influenza. But for Covid19 the anticipation of a second wave has more to do with actions within our control. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/19/second-coronavirus-wave-r-number-uk-test-and-trace-mass-gatherings-travel 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

ScienceAlert The majority of... Chinese at the moment are still susceptible of the COVID19 infection because of a lack of immunity Zhong Nanshan the public face of governments response to the pandemic told CNN. We are facing a big challenge Zhong added. Its not better than the foreign countries I think at the moment. Zhong who helped expose the scale of the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS also said authorities in groundzero Wuhan had underreported cases during the early days of the pandemic. The local authorities they didnt like to tell the truth at that time said Zhong who was part of a team of experts sent to Wuhan to investigate the outbreak. https://www.sciencealert.com/senior-medical-advisor-warns-china-may-now-face-a-second-wave-of-covid-19 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News An expert says there is really no evidence the virus was engineered in a laboratory But speaking to the House of Lords science and technology committee on Tuesday Professor David Robertson dismissed the conspiracy theory as unlikely. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-parliament-told-there-is-no-evidence-virus-came-from-wuhan-laboratory-11990952 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News COVID19 is so successful that it will never be eradicated a virus expert has claimed as fears of a second spike continue to grow. Professor David Robertson head of viral genomics and bioinformatics at the University of Glasgow believes the highly infectious respiratory infection is almost uncontrollable. It is so transmissible its so successful were so susceptible that actually its a little bit of a red herring to worry about it getting worse because it couldnt be much worse at the moment in terms of the numbers of cases he told the House of Lords Science and Technology committee on Tuesday. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-is-so-successful-it-will-never-be-eradicated-expert-claims-11991024 19th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

PRI.org Its a problem Jane Halton a former WHO board member calls vaccine nationalism. I worry that some countries will see that there is strategic advantage in the use of any developed vaccine if they are successful. I also think that there is in some cases a need to deal with domestic concerns Halton said. And I understand that being able to balance a need for domestic distribution particularly for the vulnerable but at the same time acknowledging that all countries are in this together I think theres a middle line to be struck here. Halton who is chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and former head of Australias health and finance departments tells The Worlds host Marco Werman that vaccine production should be globally distributed and initially target the most vulnerable in all nations. https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-05-18/world-faces-risk-vaccine-nationalism-covid-19-fight-says-cepi-chair 18th May 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Metro Around 70 cases of Covid19 have been linked to schools in France just one week after they reopened. A third of French children have gone back to school in an easing of the coronavirus lockdown. Some schools were opened last week and a further 150000 junior high students went back to the classroom on Monday. The move initially led to relief The end of homeschooling for hundreds of thousands of exhausted French parents many of whom were also working from home. https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/19/france-reports-70-coronavirus-linked-reopening-schools-12725091/ 19th May 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Wall Street Journal Remember those graphs showing that Beijings draconian lockdown of Wuhan and other parts of China had beaten the coronavirus more effectively than any other publichealth measures anywhere Well the virus didnt stay beaten to judge by new cases emerging in Jilin province that have prompted another lockdown. Jilin in the countrys northeast had reported around 120 new Covid19 cases by this weekend. Its not clear how this cluster startedofficials initially suggested the disease reentered China from nearby Russiabut local transmission also has occurred. Cue another general shutdown as the govern https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-lockdown-redux-11589843868 19th May 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

ABC News Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen said seven new cases of the virus had been recorded in the state since Monday including two in separate aged care homes. Dr van Diemen said one of the aged care cases was a resident at Lynden Aged Care in Camberwell in Melbournes east. The resident is being treated in isolation in a metropolitan hospital Dr van Diemen said. Residents and families have been informed by the facility. She said cleaning and contact tracing was already underway. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-19/coronavirus-victorian-government-universities-support-package/12261664 19th May 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Time Coronavirus cases are spiking from India to South Africa and Mexico in a clear indication the pandemic is far from over while Russia and Brazil now sit behind only the United States in the number of reported infections. The surges come as much of Asia Europe and scores of U.S. states have been easing lockdowns to restart their economies as new infections wane. U.S. autoworkers French teachers and Thai mall workers are among hundreds of thousands of employees back at work with new safety precautions. https://time.com/5838835/coronavirus-case-spike-globe/ 19th May 2020

New Lockdown

Daily Mail on MSN.com Fears of a possible new outbreak in a Chinese region of over 100 million residents have been fuelled after two cities from the area went under Wuhanstyle lockdown. Officials from Jilin province of northeastern China appointed two hospitals today as designated coronavirus facilities to deal with the overwhelming spike of suspected COVID19 patients. Chinese officials have imposed strict quarantine measures on two cities in the province of Jilin amid fears of a local infection cluster continuing to spread and threaten neighbouring areas. https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/world/fears-of-new-coronavirus-outbreak-in-chinese-region-of-100million-people-after-two-cities-went-into-wuhan-style-lockdown/ar-BB14isJH 19th May 2020

New Lockdown

The Rio Times The state records nearly 4700 deaths from coronavirus and the health system is close to collapse in the capital. https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/sao-paulo/sao-paulo-tops-chinas-death-toll-doria-could-decree-lockdown/ 19th May 2020

New Lockdown

The Guardian China brings back strict coronavirus lockdown for 5 million people as two cities sealed off after new spikeThe SunMillions of Chinese back in lockdown as fears grow over second coronavirus waveMirror OnlineOver 100 Million in Chinas Northeast Face Renewed LockdownBloombergChina forces millions of people back into lockdown again amid fears of second outbreakExpress.co.ukView Full coverage on Google News https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/china-puts-city-of-shulan-under-wuhan-style-lockdown-after-fresh-covid-19-cases 19th May 2020

New Lockdown

NEWS.com.au Two aged care homes in Victoria have been placed in lockdown following the detection of new positive cases. It comes after the nations death toll reached 100 on Tuesday after a 93yearold woman became the 19th person to die at Newmarch House aged care home in Sydneys west a facility that accounts for almost a fifth of all known coronavirus deaths in Australia. Earlier today Qlds Health Minister Stephen Miles said authorities were preparing for thousands of positive cases every day following a case at a nursing home in Rockhampton. Remarkably none of the hundreds of residents and staff from the centre have returned positive tests since the drama emerged last week but Mr Miles said its too early to feel relieved as testing continues. https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/coronavirus-australia-live-updates/live-coverage/18a3537c3f8165e4d0d409dedc66b79e 19th May 2020

New Lockdown

South China Morning Post Villages and residential compounds sealed off and only one person per household can go out every two days to buy supplies. At least 34 infections in Jilin province and neighbouring Liaoning are linked to a case in the small city https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3084928/coronavirus-shulan-goes-lockdown-fears-grow-over-chinas 18th May 2020