12th Nov 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=138 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera The global economy has been brought to its knees by COVID19 and one generation may never fully bounce back from the beating Generation Z. Born between 1997 and 2012 some Gen Zers teens and college students are entering the labour market for the first time during an unprecedented economic crisis caused by a onceinacentury pandemic. United States unemployment for workers aged 16 to 24 tripled from 2019 to 2020 hitting 24.4 percent this spring according to an October report by the Economic Policy Institute a progressiveleaning thinktank based in Washington DC. Like every aspect of the coronavirus recession it is affecting communities of colour more. Unemployment rates were higher for young workers of colour including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 29.7 percent African Americans 29.6 percent and Latinos 27.5 percent EPI found. And that blow to their livelihoods may not be temporary. Gen Z workers could feel the effects of the pandemicrelated recession for decades to come as the current situation affects everything from their ability to advance in careers buy a house or afford to raise children. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/11/10/will-gen-z-ever-recover-from-the-coronavirus-recession 12th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Financial Express As a measure to contain the virus India declared a lockdown on 24 March 2020 for 1.3 billion people with the prime minister calling for joint action by people notforprofits corporates and governments. The complete lockdown in the country significantly impacted the quality of life and livelihoods of people. Considering that there has been a historical divide between rural and urban India with regard to the essential infrastructure for Health Water Sanitation and Hygiene WASH supply chains and other important services the impact of COVID19 was far more alarming for the rural community. https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/road-to-recovery-for-rural-india-post-pandemic-how-skilled-migrant-workers-can-boost-hinterlands-growth/2126301/ 11th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

South China Morning Post The lockdown cost US71 million a day and resulted in a daily average of 1200 jobs being lost across the state in August and September. Business leaders say it may take years for Melbourne which was last year ranked as the worlds secondmost liveable city to recover. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3109328/melbourne-counts-economic-cost-coronavirus-lockdown-offering 11th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

The West Australian The West Indies cricket squad has been stripped of the right to train while in managed isolation after players were found to have breached rules around their 14day quarantine. New Zealands Ministry of Health said CCTV footage from the teams Christchurch hotel showed players mingling in hallways and sharing food in violation of managed isolation regulations. The ministry said all incidents occurred within the hotel and there was no danger to the public. The West Indies squad which has completed 12 of its scheduled 14 days of isolation under COVID19 regulations will not be able to train again until its full managed isolation period has been completed. The isolation period might be extended if any further concerns arise the ministry said. West Indies Cricket chief executive Johnny Grave told New Zealand media it is hugely disappointing that players that knew the protocol completely broke that. https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/west-indies-cricket-squad-stripped-of-training-rights-due-to-new-zealand-covid-19-protocol-breach-ng-b881718606z 11th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Women bear the brunt of increasing digital abuse threatened with rape and exploited for porn as the coronavirus pandemic drives ever more people online media experts said on Wednesday. Through salacious claims and viral memes Brazilian journalist Patricia Campos Mello said she has repeatedly faced attack online for reporting on the Brazil governments handling of the COVID19 crisis. Thousands of memes have circulated on the internet which my face appears in pornographic montages Mello told the Thomson Reuters Foundations annual event Trust Conference held online this year due to the pandemic. People calling me a prostitute and saying that I offer sex in exchange for stories. I get messages from people saying I deserve to be raped. Womens rights campaigners worldwide have warned of an increase in online abuse such as revenge porn as COVID19 has confined many people inside in front of a screen. Girls as young as eight have also been subject to abuse with one in five young women quitting or reducing their use of social media according to a recent survey by girls rights group Plan International. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/11/11/women-bear-brunt-of-digital-abuse-as-covid-drives-people-online 11th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Vanuatu has officially recorded its first case of COVID19 health officials announced on Wednesday ending the Pacific nations status as one of the few countries in the world to remain virusfree. Len Tarivonda the director of Vanuatu Public Health said the 23yearold man had recently returned from the United States and was confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday after being tested on the fifth day of his quarantine. A case detected in quarantine is considered a border case and not an outbreak the department said in a statement adding that health protocols were in place to contain the virus. It added that the asymptomatic man had been isolated from other passengers during his flight to Vanuatu because he had been in a highrisk location. He had transited in Auckland New Zealand. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/11/vanuatu-records-first-covid-19-case-in-man-who-returned-from-us 11th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Britain is sleepwalking into a personal debt crisis with the number of people in severe problem debt topping a million due to the coronavirus pandemic charity StepChange has warned. A further 3 million people are at risk of joining the 1.2 million people already in severe financial difficulty according to StepChange research published on Thursday with 5.6 million people already in arrears or borrowing to make ends meet. The charity defines severe problem debt as meeting at least three of its indicators including falling behind on essential bills or using credit to make debt repayments. This report paints a picture of a nation sleepwalking into a debt crisis Phil Andrew CEO of debt charity StepChange said warning that protective measures by the government and banks had not kept up with the situation. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-personal-d/uk-sleep-walking-into-personal-debt-crisis-warns-charity-idUKKBN27S009 12th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC An evacuationstyle plan will aim to get students home safely for Christmas. Students in England are to be allocated departure dates during a student travel window between 3 and 9 December to minimise the risk of them spreading Covid19. In Wales they are being asked to travel by 9 December at the latest. Many will be offered rapid result tests while teaching will move online from 3 December in Wales and 9 December in England. The Scottish government wants as many as possible of the 80000 or so students going home for Christmas to be offered voluntary tests before they travel. Northern Ireland is expected to publish plans for students return in the coming days. One union said the plan for a weeklong travel window in England leaves little room for error https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54887526 11th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

iNews It is little over a month until Christmas and people are still unsure of their plans with England in lockdown and coronavirus restrictions in place in the rest of the UK. The fourweek England lockdown which came into effect on Thursday 5 November is due to end on Wednesday 2 December. However there are fears that this could be extended if the R rate does not fall below one and infections are continuing to grow. https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/lockdown-christmas-over-covid-rules-end-england-what-next-754302 11th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail Universities in England told to switch to online classes by early December Then will have staggered departure dates between December 3 and 9 Government said Covid19 tests will be offered to as many students as possible https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8936425/Christmas-travel-window-students-riddled-holes.html 11th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters Spain stands to receive its first vaccines against COVID19 developed by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech in early 2021 the health minister said on Tuesday under a deal being negotiated by the European Union. The EU hopes to sign a contract soon for millions of doses of the vaccine the European Commission announced on Monday hours after the two companies said it had proved more than 90 effective in what could be a major victory in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Spain would initially get 20 million vaccine doses enough to immunize 10 million people Health Minister Salvador Illa said on state broadcaster TVE adding that the vaccination would be free. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-spain-vaccine/spain-hopes-to-receive-first-pfizer-vaccines-in-early-2021-minister-idUKKBN27Q0Y5 11th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

CNBC Former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty said she believes pandemicdriven tech trends will continue after scientists find a Covid19 vaccine. Her comments came on the heels of Pfizers announcement that its coronavirus vaccine is more than 90 effective in preventing infections. Investors are trying to gauge whether trends such as working from home will continue after a vaccine arrives. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/11/covid-vaccine-ex-ibm-ceo-rometty-says-remote-work-is-here-to-stay.html 11th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Conservative MPs have set up a group to fight any future lockdown in England arguing it would be devastating for the economy and cost lives. The Covid Recovery Group which has around 50 MP members wants the country to live with coronavirus after nationwide restrictions end next month. The cure prescribed by the government ran the risk of being worse than the disease MP Mark Harper said. But the PM has stressed the NHS faces a medical disaster without action. A further 20412 coronavirus cases were reported in the UK on Tuesday with another 532 deaths within 28 days of a positive test recorded. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54892107 11th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

EL PAS in English Clutching the tome he claims that all the knowledge he has gathered over the years has helped him come to the following conclusion on the coronavirus pandemic It is a fake pandemic invented by the multinational chemicalpharmaceutical companies. This is because they are not only pharmaceutical companies but large chemical corporations that also manufacture poisons. ... These multinationals are dedicated to inventing diseases to making them chronic and turning public health into a lucrative business. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-11-11/spains-coronavirus-deniers-we-are-normal-people-not-freaks.html 11th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

The Financial Times The Treasurys top civil servant has agreed to consider releasing part of the advice by officials on the economics of Englands second lockdown as the governments preferred measure of deaths across the UK during the coronavirus pandemic rose above 50000. While Tom Scholar the Treasurys permanent secretary and Clare Lombardelli its chief economist denied there was a separate forecast of the impact of the second lockdown as suggested in the minutes of the governments scientific advice they agreed on Wednesday to consult on whether the Treasury could release a selection of ongoing policy advice to ministers. The commitment came amid testy exchanges at the Treasury committee in the House of Commons in which MPs sought with difficulty to get Treasury officials to outline the thinking on the costs and benefits of the second lockdown. https://www.ft.com/content/1acf8fbe-90d6-47a9-a4ff-6a73221c27ae 11th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

London South East UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face sustained pressure from within his own party not to extend the national lockdown next month after senior Tory backbenchers formed a group to resist any such move. Some 32 Conservatives rebelled against the government when the Commons approved the second lockdown for England which lasts until December 2. The prime minister said he expects the nation to return to a tiered local system by then and promised MPs a vote for the replacement to the fourweek lockdown. Former chief whip Mark Harper and exBrexit minister Steve Baker will lead the Covid recovery group to resist any extension of the measure in the Commons vote. https://www.lse.co.uk/news/senior-tories-join-rebel-group-to-oppose-further-national-lockdown-ptr2qrfbyq4fjdl.html 11th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Conservative lawmakers have set up a new group to fight what they call a cycle of lockdowns to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus yet another sign of discontent in British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons governing party. While most Conservatives backed the government last week in supporting a second lockdown in England to try to bring down rising cases of COVID19 more than 30 of the partys lawmakers broke ranks seeing the measures as draconian. The new internal group called the Covid Recovery Group is the latest to be formed by Conservative lawmakers part of wider efforts to apply pressure on a government which many feel is not listening to the partys concerns. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-lawmakers-idUKKBN27R10N 11th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC Some livein maids in Spain have been forbidden from leaving their employers houses during the coronavirus pandemic. The union that represents them has heard from around 100 women who say they have been kept locked inside for months. It says that livein maids were already often being treated like modernday slaves in the country and that lockdown has made things worse. Domestic workers are more at risk of being exploited and abused as they dont have the same legal rights as other workers. At least 22000 have been fired since the start of the pandemic according to the Spanish government. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-54895114 11th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Mint Past calamities show shutting schools for long can reduce childrens earnings throughout their life. Indias preexisting disparities in resources and learning outcomes mean that some will bear the brunt much more than others. The tragic suicides of college students because of their inability to take part in online classes have grabbed headlines across the country. An equally profound but silent tragedy has befallen Indias schoolchildren. Eight months have passed since most Indian children last went to school and their loss isnt just restricted to learning outcomes. Research suggests that for most children learning less will also mean earning less for an entire lifetime. https://www.livemint.com/education/news/lost-school-time-might-lower-lifetime-earnings-for-lockdown-hit-children-11605076717454.html 11th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC The second lockdown in England is making more young people vulnerable to being groomed by extremists a senior counterterror officer has warned. Supt Matthew Davison from Counter Terrorism Policing said extremists were using the pandemic to spread hate and disinformation online. He said young people were being targeted in their bedrooms. At the same time referrals to the antiextremism Prevent programme are falling. The government said it would continue to challenge and disrupt extremists who sow division. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54874300 11th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian The news that the numbers of babies in England that have suffered serious injury or neglect during the pandemic has increased by a fifth compared with the same period last year and eight have died from their injuries has been met with understandable shock and public concern. It is perhaps all the more shocking because so little public attention has been given to child protection during the coronavirus lockdown and particularly to what is happening to babies and children who arent old enough to be at school. The same public invisibility applies to social work the only profession consistently going into homes since the pandemic began to try to safeguard children and help families. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/11/social-workers-efforts-to-protect-children-in-lockdown-have-gone-unnoticed 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK Italy one of the European countries hit hardest by COVID19 surpassed the onemillion infections mark on Wednesday leapfrogging Mexico to become one of the top 10 worstaffected countries globally according to a Reuters tally. The Italian health ministry said the country had registered 32961 new cases over the past 24 hours taking its total tally since the contagion first struck in February to 1.028 million. The Reuters tally showed that top 10 countries accounted for over twothirds of all the global coronavirus cases. The United States leads the list which includes four other European countries besides Italy Russia France Spain and Britain. Italy has reported some 42953 deaths so far the health ministry said the secondhighest number in Europe after Britain. The country also has the highest fatality rate on the continent at over 4.18 the Reuters tally showed. By comparison the United States has a 2.33 fatality rate. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-italy-tally/italy-surpasses-the-one-million-covid-mark-joins-top-10-worst-hit-countries-reuters-tally-idUKKBN27R2CB 12th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail State health officials in the US are concerned the very complex race to prepare for effective vaccine distribution could be thwarted by logistical challenges. While distribution is being handled on a federal level state and local healthcare providers are responsible for storing and administering vaccines once delivered. Officials say theyve had just weeks to prepare largescale efforts after recently learning of specific storage requirements for vaccines. Pfizers vaccine poses the biggest logistical issues so far given doses must be stored at 94F. Other vaccines currently being developed do not need to be stored as such a low temperature The US government plans to start vaccinating Americans next month if Pfizer has its COVID19 vaccine approved by the FDA https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8938675/How-COVID-19-vaccine-distributed-US.html 12th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress A study of nearly 2000 Marine recruits who went through supervised quarantine before starting basic training revealed several instances of asymptomatic transmission of SARSCoV2 the virus that causes COVID19 despite the quarantine measures. The findings have important implications for the effectiveness of public health measures to suppress transmission of COVID19 among young adults whether in military training schools or other aspects of the pandemic. The researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Naval Medical Research Center studied new Marine recruits while they were in a twoweek supervised quarantine. The study results publishing November 11 in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that few infected recruits had symptoms before diagnosis of SARSCoV2 infection that transmission occurred despite implementing many bestpractice public health measures and that diagnoses were made only by scheduled tests not by tests performed in response to symptoms. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-11-marine-reveals-asymptomatic-sars-cov-transmission.html 12th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg When Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SEs Covid19 vaccine rolls off production lines Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. will be waiting to distribute it through a complex and costly system of deepfreeze airport warehouses refrigerated vehicles and inoculation points across China. After they reach vaccination centers the shots must be thawed from 70 degrees celsius and injected within five days if not they go bad. Then the herculean journey from warehouse freezer to rolledup sleeve must be undertaken all over again to deliver the second booster shot a month later. The roadmap sketched out by the company which has licensed the vaccine for Greater China offers a glimpse into the enormous and daunting logistical challenges faced by those looking to deliver Pfizers experimental vaccine after it showed extraordinary early results from final stage trials raising hopes of a potential end to the nearly yearlong pandemic. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-10/deep-freeze-challenge-makes-pfizer-s-shot-a-vaccine-for-the-rich 12th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Russias Sputnik V vaccine is 92 effective at protecting people from COVID19 according to interim trial results the countrys sovereign wealth fund said on Wednesday as Moscow rushes to keep pace with Western drugmakers in the race for a shot. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-russia-vaccine/russia-says-its-sputnik-v-covid-19-vaccine-is-92-effective-idUSKBN27R0ZA 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNBC Pfizer says its coronavirus vaccine developed in partnership with BioNTech was more than 90 effective in preventing Covid19 infection. The news was hailed as a significant milestone in the race to deliver a vaccine that can help bring an end to the coronavirus pandemic. There are still huge challenges ahead for the development of a vaccine but as hopes rise worldwide CNBC takes a look at BioNTechs history. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/11/biontech-the-european-company-behind-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine.html 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Metro Wearing a face mask helps stop the spread of coronavirus and keep others safe unless it has a valve on it. New research has revealed how ineffective these types of masks are. High speed cameras have been used to capture the air flow from an uncovered mouth alongside two different kinds of face mask. As the video above shows the type of mask with a valve on it still allows a jet of viruscontaining air to escape. https://metro.co.uk/2020/11/11/covid-19-face-masks-with-valves-dont-work-13576237/ 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail on MSN.com Scientists have identified eight genes that have a major influence on a persons likelihood of survival if they become infected with the coronavirus. Faulty versions of these genes known as supervariants were discovered scattered across seven chromosomes by researchers at Harvard University. Having just one of these faulty genes can slash the chance of survival by at least 20 per cent. Data from the UK Biobank released in August allowed researchers to scrutinise the genetics of 1778 people who contracted Covid19. Of these 445 people died equating to just over a quarter of the study cohort. A computer scanned through the genomes of the infected people and looked for genetic locations which crop up that may be linked to mortality. But having three or more can see survival likelihood plummet to as low as 60 per cent. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/britons-with-one-of-eight-genes-are-far-more-likely-to-die-of-covid-19/ar-BB1aUwAu 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Hopes were raised around the world this week as news broke about a breakthrough in the race to develop a Covid19 vaccine. Interim results show the Pfizer vaccine is 90 effective. But how much do we actually know about this trial and who will get it first https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2020/nov/12/when-will-australia-have-a-covid-19-vaccine 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Individual presence of supervariants slashes likelihood of survival Having three of them sees survival likelihood plummet to as low as 60 per cent Data comes from more than 1700 cases of Covid19 from the UK Biobank https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8937945/amp/Britons-one-eight-genes-higher-risk-dying-Covid-19.html 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN For the first time since the Covid19 outbreak began Africa may be poised to reshape rapid testing for the virus on the continent. The Pasteur Institute a biomedical research center based in Senegals capital city of Dakar says it is close to producing an affordable handheld Covid19 diagnostic test kit that can give results in a matter of minutes. The institute is running a new venture called DiaTropix which has been working in partnership with five research organizations since March including Mologic in the UK to create the test kit. Amadou Sall director of the Pasteur Institute and DiaTropix told CNN that the biomedical center hopes the kit will cost as little as 1 to purchase. This is a very simple technology like a pregnancy test that you can use everywhere at the community level which is important for Africa he said. According to Mologic this rapid test kit does not require electricity or need laboratory analysis https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/africa/senegal-coronavirus-rapid-testing-spc-intl/index.html 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC Almac the Northern Ireland pharmaceutical firm is playing a role in the clinical trials of the first effective Covid19 vaccine. On Monday Pfizer and BioNTech said preliminary results showed it can prevent more than 90 of people from getting the virus. Almacs clinical services division provides clinical trials support to BioNTech. It involves things like distribution labelling and temperature management. The vaccine has been tested on 43500 people in six countries. It has to be kept in ultracold storage at below minus 80C Almacs hardware and software is used to maintain this temperature requirement. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54902978 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Uzbekistan will carry out a phase III trial of a coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by Chinas Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co. the Central Asian nations ministry of innovative development told Reuters on Wednesday. The deal makes the Zhifei Longcom vaccine the fifth COVID19 candidate in China to enter latestage large scale human tests overseas. The third phase of the pilot process will be conducted in Uzbekistan for 5000 volunteers and the process will continue for a year the ministry said adding that volunteers were aged between 18 and 59 and would undergo eight medical examinations within a year. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-uzbekistan-china/uzbekistan-to-carry-out-late-stage-trial-of-chinese-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-idUSL8N2HX3BC 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Now its Moderna Inc.s time to be in the spotlight. The same U.S. explosion of Covid19 cases that helped Pfizer Inc. get results for its vaccine trial earlier this week is helping speed along Modernas trial. Moderna said Wednesday its study has accumulated more than 53 infections allowing a preliminary analysis of the shots effectiveness to begin. The shares jumped. Moderna didnt predict how long it could take an independent monitoring committee to analyze the data but said the company could get the data to the committee within days. The company said it is still blinded to the data. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-11/spotlight-to-shift-to-moderna-s-covid-vaccine-trial-in-days?utm_content=business&amputm_medium=social&amputm_source=twitter&ampcmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amputm_campaign=socialflow-organic 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK Moderna Inc said on Wednesday it has enough data for a first interim analysis of the latestage trial of its experimental COVID19 vaccine which should help determine the vaccines efficacy. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-moderna/moderna-on-track-to-report-covid-19-vaccine-data-later-this-month-idUKKBN27R1SO 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The European Union has struck a deal to initially pay less for Pfizers PFE.N COVID19 vaccine candidate than the United States an EU official told Reuters as the bloc announced on Wednesday it had secured an agreement for up to 300 million doses. The experimental drug developed in conjunction with Germanys BioNTech 22UAy.DE is the frontrunner in a global race to produce a vaccine with interim data released on Monday showing it was more than 90 effective at protecting people from COVID19 in a largescale clinical trial.. Under the EU deal 27 European countries could buy 200 million doses and have an option to purchase another 100 million. The bloc will pay less than 19.50 per shot a senior EU official involved in talks with vaccine makers told Reuters adding that partly reflected the financial support given by the EU and Germany for the drugs development. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eu-pfizer-exclusiv/exclusive-europe-to-pay-less-than-u-s-for-pfizer-vaccine-under-initial-deal-source-idUKKBN27R1F5 11th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Its said that success has many authors and the encouraging data from Pfizer Inc.s experimental Covid19 vaccine had plenty of people in Washington lining up to take credit. Vice President Mike Pence was among Trump administration officials saying support from the governments Operation Warp Speed program helped accelerate the development of the vaccine which was found to be more than 90 effective in preventing symptomatic Covid19 infections in an interim analysis. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-09/pfizer-vaccine-s-funding-came-from-berlin-not-washington 9th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK COVID19 cases are still surging in the Americas averaging 150000 a day in last week the World Health Organizations regional office said on Wednesday. The United States continues to report recordbreaking numbers while parts of Canada and some states in Mexico including the capital are experiencing spikes the PanAmerican Health Organization PAHO said. The United States became the first country to surpass 10 million COVID19 infections according to a Reuters tally as the third wave of the virus surges across the nation. Other countries in the Americas are doing better. Argentina Costa Rica and Jamaica have curbed the outbreak with effective contact tracing and most Caribbean nations have avoided spikes by acting fast PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-americas/covid-19-cases-still-surging-in-the-americas-the-who-warns-idUKKBN27R2K6 12th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The United Kingdom passed 50000 deaths linked to COVID19 on Wednesday with a recent rise in infections leading to a new grim milestone for the European country hit hardest by the pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-cases-idUSKBN27R2DR 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Wall Street Journal Hospitals across the nation face an even bigger capacity problem from the resurgent spread of Covid19 than they did during the viruss earlier surges this year pandemic preparedness experts said as the number of U.S. hospitalizations hit a new high Wednesday. The number of hospitalized Covid19 patients reached 65368 according to the Covid Tracking Project passing the record set Tuesday for the highest number of hospitalizations since April. A spring surge in the Northeast pushed hospitalizations near 60000. Hospitalizations hit a nearly identical peak again in late July as the pandemics grip spread across the South and West. Epidemiologists said the record is likely to be swiftly replaced by another as Covid19 cases soar nationally. We already know this is going to go far north said Michael Osterholm director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-surge-strains-hospitals-once-again-11605100312 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC More than 23000 people have been tested for Covid19 in Liverpools mass trial with 154 testing positive. City mayor Joe Anderson said 23170 people have been tested since midday on Friday with 0.7 testing positive. Those testing positive had no symptoms testers said. All residents and workers in Liverpool have been offered tests. There are 18 test centres including Liverpools Anfield stadium and Mr Anderson said there had been a great response from people. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had urged all the citys 500000 residents to take part saying do it for your friends for your relatives for your community in a bid to drive the disease down. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-54885261 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

York Press The Prime Minister has urged City of York Council to take up the Governments offer of mass coronavirus testing in the city. Boris Johnson was speaking in the Commons after being quizzed by York Outer MP Julian Sturdy about testing and also about whether York can go straight back into Tier 1 once the lockdown ends next month. The exchange during Prime Ministers Questions came after Yorks director of public health Sharon Stoltz said on Tuesday that York would not as yet be joining more than 60 other local authorities in taking up a Government offer of mass testing. She said that at this point further information and consideration was needed. The PM said I urge York Council and councils across the land to take up this offer of mass lateral flow testing. I think its a very very exciting possibility.its one of the boxing gloves we seek to wield to pummel this disease into submission. https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18863972.pm-urges-york-take-mass-testing-covid-19/ 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN With the number of coronavirus cases in the United States skyrocketing many health experts warned the total number of people hospitalized in a given day would rise too. On Tuesday the number of people with Covid19 at US hospitals for the first time topped 60000. The COVID Tracking Project a volunteer organization that compiles data on coronavirus cases said the number as of Tuesday was 61694. Thats 2024 more people than were hospitalized on April 15 the previous record. The United States currently averages about 1661 new hospitalizations per day the organizations data shows. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Newsweek Presidentelect Joe Biden has said he will do everything possible to get COVID19 under control in what he describes as the worst wave yet in this pandemic following his first coronavirus briefing this week. Biden expressed similar sentiments in August saying he would do whatever it takes to save lives including a national lockdown if COVID19 infections surged in January exacerbated by the flu season. I would shut it the country down I would listen to the scientists Biden told ABC News anchor David Muir. https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-us-national-lockdown-joe-biden-covid-19-plan-strategy-1546581 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC The UK has become the first country in Europe to pass 50000 coronavirus deaths according to the latest government figures. A total of 50365 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid test up 595 in the past 24 hours. The UK is the fifth country to pass 50000 deaths coming after the US Brazil India and Mexico. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the figures showed despite hopes for a vaccine we are not out of the woods. He said Every death is a tragedy but added I do think we have got now to a different phase in the way that we treat it. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54905018 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News The number of people who have died with coronavirus in the UK has passed 50000 according to government figures which highlight the devastating impact of the virus on the country. A further 595 deaths were announced on Wednesday the highest number since 12 May bringing the countrys total to 50365. It marks a significant moment in the pandemic for the UK which has been one of the countries hardest hit by COVID19 with Europes highest recorded number of deaths. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-number-of-uk-coronavirus-deaths-passes-50000-government-figures-show-12129783 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Chancellor Angela Merkel warned against reading too much into a moderate drop in new coronavirus infections almost two weeks into an emergency lockdown in Germany which reported the biggest rise in COVID deaths on Wednesday since April. Europes biggest economy in a partial lockdown since Nov. 2 designed to tame a second wave of the coronavirus recorded 18487 new infections and 261 deaths in a day the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said. As it was the case with the Spanish flu we now also have to expect that the second wave will be more severe Merkel said during a video conference with the governments council of economic advisers. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-germany-idUSL1N2HX10U 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English The number of new coronavirus cases reported on Tuesday by Spains Health Ministry was at 17395 one of the lowest in recent weeks. Not since October 21 has a better figure been seen. That said the number of Covid19 fatalities reported set a new record. The ministry added 411 victims to the overall death toll in yesterdays report the highest so far in this second wave of the pandemic apart from that of Monday 512 but this cannot be used for comparison given that it includes data from the entire weekend. The last time that 400 coronavirus victims were reported in a single day was back in April when residents of Spain were still in a total lockdown. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-11-11/coronavirus-deaths-in-spain-rise-to-levels-not-seen-since-the-full-lockdown-in-spring.html 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

New York Times Two months ago India looked like a coronavirus disaster zone. Reported infections neared 100000 a day deaths were shooting up and India seemed ready to surpass the United States in total recorded cases. Today Indias situation looks much different. Reported infections deaths and the share of people testing positive have all fallen significantly. By contrast infections in Europe and the United States are surging. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/world/asia/india-covid-19-infections.html 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Japan Times As flu season approaches and new cases of the novel coronavirus remain consistently high or surge again in several cities fears of a twofold crisis have led many to call for laws to be revised to distribute power concentrated in the central government and appease municipal leaders demanding teeth in the fight against COVID19. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga maintains that legal revision is an arduous political process that should be shelved until after the coronavirus is contained. But experts say doing so is an immediate necessity one that could be achieved within months if not for complacency and bipartisan politics. Its better to have a tool and not use it than to not have it and suffer the consequences said Shuya Nomura a professor at the Chuo University Graduate School of Law. Its true that the country has avoided heavy casualties without imposing citywide lockdowns or strict measures but we dont know why we got lucky or if those methods will continue to work. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/11/11/national/social-issues/japan-coronavirus-law-revision/ 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Newsweek on MSN.com Presidentelect Joe Biden has said he will do everything possible to get COVID19 under control in what he describes as the worst wave yet in this pandemic following his first coronavirus briefing this week. Biden expressed similar sentiments in August saying he would do whatever it takes to save lives including a national lockdown if COVID19 infections surged in January exacerbated by the flu season. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/what-joe-biden-has-said-about-a-nationwide-lockdown-if-us-covid-cases-continue-to-spiral/ar-BB1aUoWZ 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters India Hungarian lawmakers on Tuesday granted Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government a special 90day mandate to rule by decree in an effort to curb a spiking coronavirus pandemic and they approved new restrictions amounting to a partial lockdown. Hungarys government reported 103 new COVID19 deaths on Tuesday making it the third hardest hit country in Europe in terms of deaths per 100000 people over the past 14 days behind the Czech Republic and Belgium European Union data showed. Orban signalling a shift away from his policy of avoiding tough restrictions in order to protect the economy announced a limited lockdown from 1201 a.m. 2301 GMT on Wednesday to avoid hospitals being overwhelmed. https://lta.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-hungary-casualties/hungarys-covid-19-deaths-near-record-on-eve-of-partial-lockdown-idINKBN27Q1DI 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Chancellor Angela Merkel warned against reading too much into a moderate drop in new coronavirus infections almost two weeks into an emergency lockdown in Germany which reported the biggest rise in COVID deaths on Wednesday since April. Europes biggest economy in a partial lockdown since Nov. 2 designed to tame a second wave of the coronavirus recorded 18487 new infections and 261 deaths in a day the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said. As it was the case with the Spanish flu we now also have to expect that the second wave will be more severe Merkel said during a video conference with the governments council of economic advisers. The government says the emergency monthlong lockdown that includes the closure of restaurants gyms and theatres was necessary to reverse a spike in coronavirus cases that risks overwhelming hospitals. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany/merkel-warns-of-winter-long-haul-as-german-covid-deaths-soar-idUKKBN27R16L 11th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Mayor Bill de Blasio said during his daily coronavirus press briefing earlier today that the city will have to do something quickly to prevent a second wave. He said the citys latest figures are very worrisome and a warning sign if Ive ever seen one during his daily coronavirus press briefing on Tuesday. On Monday NYCs daily positive test rate for the coronavirus was 2.88 percent the highest singleday figure since at least early August. De Blasio added that the citys sevenday rolling average of new cases has now hit 2.34 percent with NYC recording an average of 795 new cases of perday https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8935379/Bill-Blasio-says-lockdown-restrictions-table-NYC-infection-rate-jumps-2-34.html 10th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

AlJazeera Several US states on Tuesday imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus as people admitted to hospitals soared straining the facilities and medical resources across much of the country. The number of patients hospitalised with COVID19 in California has risen by 32 percent over the past two weeks and intensivecare admissions have spiked by 30 percent Dr Mark Ghaly the states health and human services secretary told reporters. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/11/covid-us-states-resume-lockdowns-as-hospitalisations-skyrocket 11th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Bloomberg Italy may need to spend as much as 10 billion euros 11.8 billion a month to aid businesses and workers hit by coronavirus restrictions according to people familiar with the matter. Authorities are working on plans that would help the country navigate through a surge in infections thats derailed the rebound from one of Europes worst recessions. Lockdown measures similar to the ones imposed earlier this year are estimated to cost the government between 40 billion to 50 billion euros or about 3 of Italys output if they last until March said the people who declined to be identified because the discussions are confidential. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-10/italy-may-have-to-spend-10-billion-euros-a-month-on-lockdown-aid 11th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

AlJazeera Italy needs to spend up to 10 billion euros 11.8 billion a month on extra aid for businesses and workers during restrictions to contain the coronavirus according to people familiar with the situation. Government officials estimate that during lockdowns the country requires support of at least 6 billion euros a month. Virus measures may have to become tougher through the winter the people said which would push the bill to the higher figure. That means a tougher lockdown running into March could cost 4050 billion euros the people said. Thats about 3 of Italian GDP https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/11/10/mama-mia-italy-needs-to-spend-11-8bn-a-month-on-lockdown-aid 11th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Bloomberg Italy led the way in fighting the early wave of Europes pandemic back in March imposing a strict threemonth lockdown that halted the contagion but almost crippled its economy. Now with cases topping 1 million a second round of shutdowns has made Italians anxious about the economic impact and weary of the return to restrictions on daily life. The governments wavering response hasnt helped. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-11/italy-virus-cases-pass-1-million-amid-angst-over-new-lockdown 11th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Financial Times The wave of new coronavirus lockdowns that has swept across Europe in recent weeks has hit consumer services activity hard but the wider economy is less affected than when the pandemic first hit in the spring according to highfrequency data indicators. Alternative economic data such as truck mileage trips to entertainment venues and offices and restaurant bookings have become widely watched since the pandemic began as they offer a more timely gauge of the economy although they are less comprehensive and reliable than official data. The indicators show the damage that the new restrictions are doing to Europes services industry but they also suggest that more people are continuing to travel to work than they did in the spring and manufacturing is still operating. https://www.ft.com/content/7579eaf1-4f12-41bc-a0aa-1f89ac086cc7 11th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

YAHOO!News Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys cabinet voted on Wednesday to impose a national lockdown at weekends to strengthen steps to curb the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said the weekend lockdown would be in force from Nov. 1430. The decision will mean closing or restricting the activity of most businesses at weekends with the exception of grocery stores pharmacies hospitals and transport. The cabinet also stepped up restrictions on operations of restaurants cinemas gyms and public events. https://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-approves-lockdown-restrictions-weekends-133652486.html 11th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Lebanon ordered a full lockdown for around two weeks to stem a rise in COVID19 infections and allow a badly strained health sector to bolster capacity as the country buckled under a financial meltdown. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-lebanon/lebanon-orders-full-lockdown-to-combat-covid-19-boost-hospital-beds-idUSKBN27Q1Q5 11th Nov 2020