25th May 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=15 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The Scotsman The First Minister has unveiled plans to ease Scotland out of lockdown restrictions. She said that several strict measures will be relaxed from 28 May in a fourphase route map. However retail services including hairdressers are not expected to be allowed to open for bookings again until phase three of the plan. In England Boris Johnson said that his blueprint for a gradual easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England could see primary schools nurseries and shops partially reopening from 1 June. https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/when-will-hairdressers-reopen-scotland-date-salons-could-open-after-scottish-government-reveals-new-lockdown-route-map-2548990 25th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Japans state of emergency is set to end with new cases of the coronavirus dwindling to mere dozens. It got there despite largely ignoring the default playbook. No restrictions were placed on residents movements and businesses from restaurants to hairdressers stayed open. No hightech apps that tracked peoples movements were deployed. The country doesnt have a center for disease control. And even as nations were exhorted to test test test Japan has tested just 0.2 of its population one of the lowest rates among developed countries. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-22/did-japan-just-beat-the-virus-without-lockdowns-or-mass-testing 25th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Times of India A total lockdown on Sunday turned Karnataka into a ghost state with an eerie silence and uneasy clam prevailing across its cities and towns. As decided by the state government to contain the coronavirus spread the Sunday lockdown comes after a partial relaxation of restrictions on weekdays since May 19 to revive economic activity and restore nearnormalcy https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/total-lockdown-turns-karnataka-into-ghost-state/articleshow/75938138.cms 24th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Business Matters 70 of businesses in Dubai may not survive Covid19 lockdown with advisers telling business owners to get out before it is too late. If strict lockdown measures continue in Dubai according to a new survey conducted by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce the city will be emptied of up to 70 of its businesses. Roughly half the companies surveyed said they would have to close if there is just one more month of lockdown. https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/news/majority-of-businesses-in-dubai-may-not-survive-covid-19-lockdown/ 24th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Local France French churches were preparing to hold their first Sunday masses in more than two months after the government bowed to a ruling that they should be reopened provided proper precautions were taken. Nearly two weeks into the relaxation of its shutdown the government finally allowed churches mosques and synagogues to reopen. Last Monday the Frances Council of State which instructs the government on legal issues ordered it to lift its sweeping ban on all religious services in place since the lockdown. The ruling said that such a ban on freedom of worship caused damage that is serious and manifestly illegal ordering the government to lift the ban within eight days. But priests pastors rabbis and imams will still have to ensure that the correct safety measures are in force. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200524/coronavirus-churches-mosques-and-synagogues-reopen-across-france 24th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Japan Times Spain said on Saturday it would let in foreign tourists and restart top league soccer in the coming weeks accelerating Europes exit from strict coronavirus lockdowns even as the disease continued its deadly surge in parts of South America. Brazil saw its death toll passing 22000 on Saturday from more than 347000 infections the second biggest caseload of any country in the pandemic. And as much of the United States tiptoed out of lockdown at the start of Memorial Day weekend which unofficially marks the beginning of summer President Donald Trump sent a clear signal he was personally embracing normalization he went golfing his first such outing since March 8. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/24/world/spain-reopen-tourists-south-america-coronavirus-hot-spot/ 24th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times Nobody wants to spend money right now Ms. Grasso said. Especially because we are expensive relative to rivals in countries like India. We will fight of course but it is going to be a struggle for businesses like ours to survive. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/business/italy-luxury-fashion-coronavirus.html 24th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

swissinfo.ch The message was a perfect example of the clear measured and earnest tone that the countrys authorities have tried to strike publicly from the start of the coronavirus outbreak. It was received positively all over the country said Regula Hnggli Fricker a professor of mass media and communication external link at the University of Fribourg. Clarity consistency and transparency are all key ingredients of crisis communication she added especially when trust is as important as it is in this pandemic. Indications so far are that the government has gained effective control of communication during the pandemic. Public trust in government reached over 60 according to a recent poll and the decline in the number of new cases has allowed the country to pursue a gradual easing of confinement measures. Yet at the start of the pandemic it appeared as if the odds were stacked against the country and any response its leaders might muster. Switzerland densely populated and sharing a border with Italy one of the epicentres of the pandemic in Europe quickly became one of the places most affected by the Covid19 outbreak. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/government-response-_how-the-swiss-have-navigated-crisis--mis-communication-during-covid-19--/45773636 24th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Washington Post Truck drivers line up Wednesday in Namanga a town that straddles the KenyaTanzania border. The porous border inefficient testing and limited contact tracing have made Namanga an ideal place for the novel coronavirus to spread. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/05/22/kenya-tanzania-coronavirus-borders/ 23rd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC More than 40 churchgoers who attended a service after lockdown was eased in Germany earlier this month have contracted coronavirus officials say. The service was held on 10 May at a Baptist church in Frankfurt. Church officials say they followed social distancing rules and disinfected the building ahead of the service. Each of Germanys 16 states determines its own lockdown exit plans. Hesse where Frankfurt located relaxed restrictions on worship on 1 May. Those attending services have to be kept 1.5m 5ft apart and provided with hand sanitiser. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52786242 23rd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

New York Times Since the initial outbreak of the coronavirus in China the world has tracked a pandemic that rapidly spread west proliferating across Asia and Europe seeding hot spots across Africa and exploding in North America. Gaza reports its first coronavirus death. New York is allowing gatherings of up to 10. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/world/coronavirus-news-update.html 23rd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times Leading New Zealand from isolation Ms. Ardern coaxed her team of five million into accepting extreme restrictions. But the lessons of her success go beyond personality or charm. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/world/asia/jacinda-ardern-coronavirus-new-zealand.html 23rd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Moneylife Moodys Investors Service said on Friday that economic damage as a result of Indias coronavirus lockdown will likely be extensive and reflect the countrys inherent economic vulnerability and fiscal constraints. https://www.moneylife.in/article/economic-damage-for-india-from-lockdown-to-be-significant-moodys/60422.html 22nd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Countries around the world are increasingly adopting sweeping measures including full lockdowns shutting down airports imposing travel restrictions and completely sealing their borders to contain the new coronavirus. Below is a list of countries that have taken such measures in recent days. Travellers should visit government websites for updated information and more details. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/coronavirus-travel-restrictions-border-shutdowns-country-200318091505922.html 22nd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Jakarta Post On the eve of Memorial Day weekend the unofficial start to the American summer beaches are slowly welcoming sun worshippers. We were just tired of waiting to get a normal life again to get our freedom back. So we rented this big house by the beach said Anne Miller an Ohio resident visiting South Carolina. The same was true in Europe where Cyprus bounded into its second stage of opening up lifting curfews and allowing outdoor restaurants barber shops and beaches to open. But the Mediterranean islands airports and hotels remain closed. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/05/22/trump-urges-quicker-us-reopening-from-virus-lockdown.html 22nd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

CNN After weeks under stayathome orders Americans should feel free to go outside and enjoy Memorial Day weekend as long as they practice social distancing and follow other guidelines the nations leading infectious disease expert said. Well be having people who want to get out there and get fresh air Dr. Anthony Fauci said at a CNN coronavirus town hall. You can do that. Were not telling people to just lock in unless youre in a situation where you have a major outbreak going on we dont have too much of that right now in the country. But that does not mean throw caution to the wind. Go out wear a mask stay six feet away from anyone so you have the physical distancing he said Thursday night. Go for a run. Go for a walk. Go fishing. As long as youre not in a crowd and youre not in a situation where you can physically transmit the virus. https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/health/us-coronavirus-friday/index.html 22nd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian India has reported more than 6000 new Covid19 cases its biggest oneday increase while China has abandoned setting a GDP growth target because of the great uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The sharp increase in new infections in India came after the government began easing lockdown restrictions and as airlines prepared to reopen selected domestic routes. This surge has happened after movement of people was partially allowed said Giridhar Babu an epidemiologist at Indias public health foundation. But if you see overall this is a much lower trajectory as compared to the rest of the world. Babu said India seems to have the capacity to contain the coronavirus after authorities reported a total of more than 118000 cases up 5 from Thursdays figure including 3583 deaths. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/22/global-report-india-and-indonesia-announce-record-daily-infection-figures 22nd May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Financial Times The French PMI for services rose to 29.4 in May from 10.2 in April. The manufacturing PMI rose to 40.3 in May from 31.5 in April. Mays flash PMI points to a faster recovery for Germany reflecting a quicker lockdown exit and a lower reliance on hardhit industries such as tourism than in other European large economies. This effectively is evidence that the German economy is doing better than its peers said Claus Vistesen chief eurozone economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. https://www.ft.com/content/8ffb5d91-074b-4fd2-8b74-bfbbb60750e7 21st May 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters Lufthansa which is in talks with the German government over a 9 billion euro 9.8 billion bailout will resume flights to 20 destinations from midJune including some holiday hotspots a spokeswoman said on Sunday. The destinations include Mallorca Crete Rhodes Faro Venice Ibiza and Malaga the spokeswoman said adding flights would depart from the airlines main hub in Frankfurt. Further destinations will be unveiled at the end of next week she said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-lufthansa/lufthansa-to-resume-flights-to-20-destinations-from-mid-june-idUSKBN2300CA 24th May 2020

Exit Strategies

CNN New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that the state will take steps toward reopening this week even as the battle against the coronavirus continues. Though daily deaths in the state went above 100 again on Saturday the overall numbers in the coronavirus battle are trending in the right direction he said during a daily briefing held at Jones Beach. Were decidedly in the reopening phase he said. https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/24/us/cuomo-new-york-reopening/index.html 24th May 2020

Exit Strategies

RTE Online New South Wales in Australia said it recorded just three new cases of the coronavirus yesterday and urged younger people to get tested as it prepares to further loosen restrictions on pubs and restaurants. NSW which includes the city of Sydney is home to nearly half Australias roughly 7100 coronavirus cases and plans to let pubs and restaurants host up to 50 seated patrons from 1 June 40 more than currently allowed. That has prompted health officials to remind people to maintain social distancing measures and increase testing to prevent a second wave of infections. As we move forward and as we try to relax the restrictions that we have lived under for the past two months it is ... absolutely crucial that people come forward for testing if they have the slightest hint of any respiratory issues NSW health minister Brad Hazzard said in a televised news conference. https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0523/1140151-coronavirus-world/ 24th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Independent We need leadership that openly and transparently consults with ethicists to determine the best most ethical way for our country to navigate the pandemic. Ethics is the cartographer that can show us the right road to take. It can help us determine not what we can do but what we should do. For example we can collect personal data through track and trace technology but what should we do with that data How do we use it in such a way that it protects the public while also preserving privacy avoiding use of that data to discriminate or profit from those affected by the virus We need to follow the ethics just as much as the government claims to be following the science in order to answer those questions. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/coronavirus-lockdown-exit-end-science-ethics-a9529651.html 24th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Independent on MSN.com The partial reopening of primary schools will go ahead as planned on 1 June as part of phase 2 of the lockdown exit strategy Boris Johnson has announced. The announcement was made in the face of widespread opposition from unions and councils https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-announces-schools-will-reopen-on-1-june-as-uk-enters-phase-2-of-lockdown-exit/ar-BB14wRgf 24th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Manila Bulletin Spain said on Saturday it would let in foreign tourists and restart top league football in the coming weeks accelerating Europes exit from strict coronavirus lockdowns even as the disease continued its deadly surge in parts of South America. Brazil saw its death toll passing 22000 on Saturday from more than 347000 infections the second biggest caseload of any country in a pandemic. And as much of the United States tiptoed out of lockdown at the start of the Memorial Day weekend which unofficially marks the beginning of summer President Donald Trump sent a clear signal he was personally embracing normalization he went golfing his first such outing since March 8. https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/24/spain-to-reopen-to-tourists-as-south-america-named-virus-hotspot/ 24th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Independent A major teaching union has warned that Boris Johnsons decision to press ahead with a partial reopening of primary schools in England on 1 June is seriously at odds with scientific evidence about the risk of coronavirus infection to pupils teachers and parents sparking a second wave of Covid19. And a second union said it would not be right for schools which have been open only to vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers during lockdown to open more widely at the start of next month. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-exit-strategy-stage-2-boris-johnson-a9530651.html 24th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Capital FM Kenya Kenya and Tanzanian governments have moved to resolve their border standoff that has paralysed transport for several days over a tedious COVID19 testing procedure that locked out many drivers. The standoff escalated this week when President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the closure of the Namanga border and all other routes to and from the country following increased cases of COVID19 by drivers from the neighbouring country. By the time he announced the closure more than 20 Tanzanian truck drivers had been turned away at the border after testing positive for the virus. https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2020/05/uhuru-and-magufuli-agree-to-resolve-border-stand-off-caused-by-covid-19/ 23rd May 2020

Exit Strategies

International Business Times Spain said on Saturday it would let in foreign tourists and restart top league football in the coming weeks accelerating Europes exit from strict virus lockdown as South America was labelled a new epicentre by the World Health Organization. Brazil led the surge across South America its death toll passing 21000 on Friday from 330000 infections the third biggest caseload of any country in a pandemic that has infected 5.25 million globally and killed more than 338000. https://www.ibtimes.com/spain-relaxes-lockdown-south-america-named-new-epicentre-2980892 23rd May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Washington Post The coronavirus may still be spreading at epidemic rates in 24 states particularly in the South and Midwest according to new research that highlights the risk of a second wave of infections in places that reopen too quickly or without sufficient precautions. Researchers at Imperial College London created a model that incorporates cellphone data showing that people sharply reduced their movements after stayathome orders were broadly imposed in March. With restrictions now easing and mobility increasing with the approach of Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer the researchers developed an estimate of viral spread as of May 17. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/study-estimates-24-states-still-have-uncontrolled-coronavirus-spread/2020/05/22/d3032470-9c43-11ea-ac72-3841fcc9b35f_story.html 23rd May 2020

Exit Strategies

Metro.co.uk Spain will open its borders to international tourists from July the prime minister has announced. In a televised speech setting out further details of his countrys lockdown exit plan Pedro Sanchez said From now foreign tourists can plan their holidays in our country. He added Spain needs tourism and tourism needs safety in both origin and destination. We will guarantee that tourists will not run any risks and they will not bring us any risks. There will be no opposing forces between health and business. Spanish tourism will now have two hallmarks environmental sustainability and health safety. https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/23/spain-will-reopen-tourists-july-12749101/ 23rd May 2020

Exit Strategies

Peace FM Online More than 40 churchgoers who attended a service after lockdown was eased in Germany earlier this month have contracted coronavirus officials say. The service was held on 10 May at a Baptist church in Frankfurt. Church officials say they followed social distancing rules and disinfected the building ahead of the service. Each of Germanys 16 states determines its own lockdown exit plans. Hesse where Frankfurt located relaxed restrictions on worship on 1 May. https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/religion/202005/410024.php 23rd May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Washington Post The coronaviruss U.S. death toll surpassed 90000 on Tuesday as states moved forward to reopen as Memorial Day weekend approaches. By Wednesday all 50 states will have begun lifting restrictions put in place to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Many public health officials and politicians however continued to raise concerns that increased activity would put Americans at greater risk of a new surge of infections. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/19/coronavirus-update-us/ 22nd May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Dallas Morning News The target date for reopening is June 1 although some officials say work may begin as early as Monday. The massive multibilliondollar international supply chain which connects cities across Mexico and the U.S. including Dallas stretches across El Paso and Juarez one of the border regions hardest hit by COVID19. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2020/05/22/covid-19-cases-rise-in-juarez-and-el-paso-as-mexico-readies-for-reopening-of-factories/ 22nd May 2020

Exit Strategies

Outlook India Leaders of 22 opposition parties on Friday accused the Centre of unabashedly usurping powers of states and demanded restoration of Parliament functioning and oversight with immediate effect. The opposition parties also demanded immediate reversal of all unilateral policy decisions especially on the changes in labour laws. The leaders who attended a meeting of opposition parties convened by the Congress through video conferencing discussed the current situation arising out of the COVID19 pandemic and the lockdown induced by it. They put forth an 11point charter of demands for the Centre at the virtual meeting. https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-communicate-in-clear-terms-lockdown-exit-strategy-opposition-lists-11-demands-for-centre-on-covid-19/353334 22nd May 2020

Exit Strategies

Business Day Theres a middle ground between a hard lockdown and a hard exit. Amid rising frustration and anxiety levels policymakers are working on finding it https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2020-05-21-hitting-the-lockdown-exit-sweet-spot/ 21st May 2020

Partisan Exits

YAHOO! Trump with an eye on his reelection prospects in November made it clear he hoped more state governors would move toward a loosening of antivirus restrictions. We did the right thing but we now want to get going... youll break the country if you dont he told AfricanAmerican leaders in Michigan a key election battleground state. The Republican incumbent specifically talked about reopening places of worship something he had initially hoped would be done by Easter Sunday as important to the nations healing. People want to be in their churches Trump said. Theyre so important in terms of the psyche of our country. Trump has adopted the theme of Transitioning Back to Greatness as states reopen at different speeds. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/reports-record-virus-cases-trump-mulls-person-g7-040420588.html 24th May 2020

Partisan Exits

Financial Times The publication of a longawaited report from Imperial College London that models the impact of coming out of lockdown has been delayed for several weeks following criticism of the teams methods as the debate around the UKs coronavirus restrictions has become increasingly politicised. Imperials MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis told the Financial Times at the end of April that a new report which modelled the effects that easing various lockdown restrictions would have on future deaths from Covid19 was due to be published some time the following week. However the report has yet to be released although its findings have been shared with government according to two people associated with the Imperial team. The delay comes as the rightwing press and some Conservative politicians question the need for such stringent lockdown measures in the UK https://www.ft.com/content/41e98ccb-a39c-4f88-b444-74d50a76c383 23rd May 2020

Partisan Exits

The Washington Post As the death toll nears 100000 the disease caused by the virus has made a fundamental shift in who it touches and where it reaches in America according to a Washington Post analysis of case data and interviews with public health professionals in several states. The pandemic that first struck in major metropolises is now increasingly finding its front line in the countrys rural areas counties with acres of farmland cramped meatpacking plants outoftheway prisons and few hospital beds. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/24/coronavirus-rural-america-outbreaks/ 24th May 2020

Partisan Exits

FRANCE 24 When his business was hit by a coronavirus lockdown Josh Ellis saw a threat to his livelihood and a breach of the US Constitution. So he went on Facebook and called for protests. The appeal went viral instantly said the 40yearold who set up a Facebook page called American Revolution 2.0 in early April. The organization is now a driving force behind demonstrations against stayathome orders and compulsory closures of nonessential businesses and online planning is a central part of the campaign. Ellis who is coordinating with various reopen groups as well as militias and gun and religious rights advocates is in the middle of an issue dividing the United States how can the economy reopen and when can people return to work https://www.france24.com/en/20200524-debate-over-reopening-us-plays-out-online-and-in-the-streets 24th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

CBC.ca Muslims around the world on Sunday began celebrating Eid alFitr a normally festive holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan with millions under strict stayathome orders and many fearing renewed coronavirus outbreaks. The threeday holiday is usually a time of travel family gettogethers and lavish daytime feasts after weeks of dawntodusk fasting. But this year many of the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims will have to pray at home and make due with video calls. Some countries including Turkey Iraq and Jordan have imposed roundtheclock holiday curfews. But even where many restrictions have been lifted celebrations will be subdued because of fears of the pandemic and its economic fallout. Saudi Arabia home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina is under a complete lockdown with residents only permitted to leave their homes to purchase food and medicine. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/eid-al-fitr-covid-19-restrictions-1.5582373 24th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

CNN In Brazils largest and most badly infected city coronavirus has yet to peak yet already the healthcare system is crumbling visibly around us. As doctors struggle valiantly to save lives the countrys President Jair Bolsonaro seems more focused on another sick patient his countrys economy. Brazil this week became the country with the second most infections worldwide after the United States with more than 330000 confirmed cases. But Bolsonaro who once dismissed Covid19 as a little flu has urged businesses to reopen despite many governors stressing social isolation measures to slow the spread. In the huge intensive care unit ICU of Emilio Ribas Infectious Disease Institute in So Paulo anger swirls among doctors when asked about their Presidents comments. Revolting says one. Irrelevant declares another. https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/23/americas/brazil-coronavirus-hospitals-intl/index.html 24th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Folha.uol.br Previously Doctors Without Borders have been accustomed to acting in disasters now the NGO finds itself offering assistance to homeless people fighting Covid19 in Sao Paolo https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/cotidiano/2020/05/medicos-sem-fronteiras-vao-de-guerras-ao-combate-a-covid-19-na-cracolandia.shtml?utm_source=twitter&amputm_medium=social&amputm_campaign=twfolha 24th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Yahoo News Nigeria announced on Monday it would impose precisely targeted lockdown measures in areas that report rapid increases in cases of the coronavirus while the phased reopening of the economy as a whole would go ahead more slowly than planned. The government extended a full lockdown in Kano state the northern economic hub where authorities are investigating a spate of mysterious deaths. Kano has the second highest number of confirmed cases in the country after Lagos. The government said its phased reopening of strict lockdowns in Lagos Abuja and Ogun states would go more slowly than initially planned and the current phase of gradual reopening would last a further two weeks. https://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-impose-precision-lockdown-coronavirus-143716117.html 18th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Boston Herald Scaling up millions of doses of a coronavirus vaccine is a huge step in knocking down the pandemic and a 10year strategic plan between Cambridge biotech company Moderna and Swiss company Lonza aims to accomplish that goal. Modernas mRNA coronavirus vaccine has shown promise in early studies and the company announced in early May it will partner with Lonza to enable manufacturing of up to one billion doses per year of the vaccine. The first batches of the messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine called mRNA1273 are set to be manufactured at Lonzas United States suites in June according to Moderna. Over time more production sites at Lonzas many worldwide facilities will be established to make up to a billion doses a year. https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/05/23/global-partner-to-help-manufacture-one-billion-doses-of-modernas-mrna-coronavirus-vaccine/ 24th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Middletown Press and Journal The Pennsylvania Department of Health has distributed the third shipment of the investigational antiviral medication remdesivir to treat patients in the hospital with COVID19. The medication was sent to the department by the federal government on Thursday and 8928 doses of medication were shipped to 81 hospitals on Friday. The department is working to give our hospitals every opportunity to treat patients with COVID19 Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said. It is important to note that there is limited information on the safety and effectiveness of using remdesivir to treat people in the hospital with COVID19. However it was shown in a clinical trial to shorten the recovery time in some people which is why the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of the medication for treatment. https://www.pressandjournal.com/stories/pa-department-of-health-distributes-third-round-of-remdesivir-which-might-help-less-covid-19,93502 23rd May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN Volunteers who received Modernas Covid19 vaccine had positive early results according to the biotech company which partnered with the National Institutes of Health to develop the vaccine. If future studies go well the companys vaccine could be available to the public as early as January Dr. Tal Zaks Modernas chief medical officer told CNN. This is absolutely good news and news that we think many have been waiting for for quite some time Zaks said. https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/18/health/coronavirus-vaccine-moderna-early-results/index.html 23rd May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN Religious institutions should provide soap and hand sanitizer encourage the use of cloth masks and clean their facilities daily if they want to open while coronavirus is still spreading the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in newly released guidance Friday. Churches synagogues mosques and other institutions should also promote social distancing and consider limiting the sharing of objects such as books and hymnals the CDC said. The new guidance comes at the urging of the White House which has been in a tugofwar with the CDC over pandemic guidance. https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/politics/cdc-guidance-religious-worship/index.html 22nd May 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN A hairstylist with coronavirus worked for eight days this month while symptomatic exposing as many as 91 customers and coworkers in Missouri health officials said. The case highlights the threats of community spread in the United States as businesses reopen after weeks of restrictions to combat the spread of coronavirus. https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/23/us/missouri-hairstylist-coronavirus-trnd/index.html 23rd May 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Beast A second Missouri hairstylist who showed up for work at a salon earlier this month while exhibiting coronavirus symptoms may have exposed as many as 56 clients health officials said. On Saturday officials said that another symptomatic hairstylist at the Great Clips salon in Springfield may have exposed up to 84 customers and seven coworkers while working for eight days between May 12 and May 20. The SpringfieldGreene County Health Department said that both hairstylists and their clients were wearing face coverings. It is the hope of the department that because face coverings were worn throughout this exposure timeline no additional cases will result the department said. Officials said they are tracking down everyone who was potentially exposed and advising them to watch for symptoms. https://www.thedailybeast.com/second-infected-missouri-hairstylist-in-springfield-may-have-exposed-56-clients-to-coronavirus?via=twitter_page 24th May 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters India on Sunday reported 6767 new coronavirus infections the countrys biggest oneday increase. Government data shows the number of coronavirus cases in the worlds secondmost populous country are doubling every 13 days or so even as the government begins easing lockdown restrictions. India has reported more than 131000 infections including 3867 deaths. The increasing trend has not gone down said Bhramar Mukherjee a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Michigan referring to Indias cases. Weve not seen a flattening of the curve. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-india-medics-insig-idUKKBN23103D?taid=5ecb48a04d8fc400014201a0&amputm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 25th May 2020

New Lockdown

The Times of India A total lockdown on Sunday turned Karnataka into a ghost state with an eerie silence and uneasy clam prevailing across its cities and towns. As decided by the state government to contain the coronavirus spread the Sunday lockdown comes after a partial relaxation of restrictions on weekdays since May 19 to revive economic activity and restore nearnormalcy https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/total-lockdown-turns-karnataka-into-ghost-state/articleshow/75938138.cms 24th May 2020