2nd Dec 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=152 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

USA Today In the U.S. negotiations restarted Tuesday and lawmakers introduced coronavirus relief proposals in the latest effort to break the logjam and reach a deal in the few remaining weeks a divided Congress has left in session. The day started with a bipartisan group of lawmakers introducing a roughly 908 billion proposal intended as a temporary package that would run until April. It ended with two additional proposals one offered privately by Democratic leaders to Republicans and a third that Republicans have approved with the White House and could be voted on by the Senate. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/01/lawmakers-introduce-bipartisan-covid-relief-proposal-congress/6475431002/ 1st Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

RTL Today Although Spain was struggling with one of Europes most deadly outbreaks Tomelloso was particularly hardhit losing almost one percent of its 36000 residents in the first wave. During the second wave it has been a completely different story with the figures significantly lower although memories of the earlier nightmare remain all too fresh. Around 300 people were buried in the local cemetery in the first wave Mayor Inmaculada Jimenez told AFP. Every day they were burying 10 11 or 12 people it was incredibly hard. These days as Spain and Europe grapple with a second wave Tomelloso has stayed well out of the headlines with just 13 deaths between May and September. https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/1622450.html 1st Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian The Spanish government has called on people to behave responsibly and use their common sense after pictures over the weekend showed the streets of Madrid and other big cities heaving with crowds despite the countrys ongoing struggle with the second wave of the coronavirus. Spain has been in a state of emergency since the end of October and is subject to an overnight curfew. The prime minister Pedro Snchez has asked people to drastically curtail their social lives and limit their movements for the common good. However a combination of Black Friday seasonal shopping and the switching on of Christmas lights appears to have brought large numbers of people out on to the streets of Madrid Barcelona Valencia and Mlaga over the weekend. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/30/spain-appeals-for-covid-common-sense-after-weekend-crowd-scenes 1st Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

ABC news France will apply restrictions to prevent vacationers from going to Swiss ski resorts and French slopes will remain closed during the Christmas period amid the coronavirus pandemic President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. If there are countries ... which maintain their ski resorts open we will have to take control measures to dissuade people to go to these areas and to be fair toward French ski resorts Macron said. France has started relaxing lockdown measures on Saturday but bars and restaurants will remain closed at least until Jan. 20. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/frances-macron-warns-skiing-switzerland-74481903 1st Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has warned Australia not to withdraw fiscal and monetary policy support before the recovery from the economic shock associated with the coronavirus pandemic is well entrenched. The new outlook published on Tuesday night notes the planned unwinding of Australias strong fiscal support rolled out during the first wave of the pandemic will be a headwind to higher GDP growth in the second half of 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/01/oecd-warns-australia-not-to-withdraw-economic-support-too-early-in-pandemic-recovery 1st Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail Britains workers are unlikely to return to the traditional nine to five ever again and lockdown habits such as stockpiling could also become the new normal once the pandemic is over a new reports claims. In her report titled Zoomsday Predictions author and cultural commentator Marian Salzman said staff will continue to work the same hours but in a way that combines their personal and professional lifestyles with many moving to a fourday week. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9004979/Tradition-eight-hour-day-five-days-week-come-end-report-claims.html 1st Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Stuff.co.nz In New Zealand the countrys hospitals have caught up with the cancer backlog caused by the Covid19 lockdown in March and April Te Aho o Te Kahu Cancer Control Agency chief executive Diana Sarfati says. Diagnostic services and cancer screening programmes stopped during lockdown as the health service prepared for the pandemic and the Cancer Society in June warned 400 people could die if hospitals didnt act quickly. But unpublished figures for September show the number of people diagnosed with cancer mirrors that of last year indicating hospitals have worked through the backlog Sarfati said. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/123562084/hospitals-catch-up-with-covid19-lockdown-cancer-backlog-cancer-control-agency-says 1st Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK As Europeans brace for a grim winter with the threat of rising COVID19 infections minimal numbers of flu cases recorded so far point to a possible silver lining. Data available for Europe since the beginning of October when flu case numbers usually start to ramp up mirror shallow figures seen in the Southern Hemisphere earlier this year and in the United States where the flu season has also just begun. Some doctors say a combination of lockdowns mask wearing and handwashing appear to have hampered transmission of the flu while warning that the data should be treated with caution because the peak of the season is weeks or even months away. According to Flu News Europe a joint monitoring platform of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization which collects samples in 54 European regions only one person was diagnosed with flu out of 4433 sentinel tests during Sept. 28Nov. 22. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-europe-influenza-a/analysis-could-covid-knock-out-flu-in-europe-this-winter-idUKKBN28B531 1st Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters The United States entered the final month of the year hoping that promising vaccine candidates will soon be approved to halt the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus after 4.2 million new cases were reported in November. With outgoing President Donald Trumps coronavirus strategy relying heavily on a vaccine the chief adviser of his administrations Operation Warp Speed program said on Tuesday that 20 million people could be vaccinated by the end of 2020 and that by the middle of 2021 most Americans will have access to highly effective vaccines. Within 24 hours maybe at most 36 to 48 hours from the approval the vaccine can be in peoples arms Moncef Slaoui a former GlaxoSmithKline executive said at an event conducted by The Washington Post newspaper. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/after-4-2-million-covid-19-cases-in-november-u-s-pins-hope-on-vaccine-idUSKBN28B4YV 1st Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC The mass testing of university students for Covid19 so they can go home for the Christmas break has started in Canterbury. Those testing negative will be able to use the travel window between 3 and 9 December. Two tests must be taken 72 hours apart. Were trying to ensure the safety of students returning to their families and not presenting a risk to them said Simon Gwynne of Canterbury Christchurch University. The testing centre set up at the university will be open from 1000 to 1800 GMT every day until 8 December with 900 students booked in on the first day. Anyone who tests positive for Covid19 must isolate for 10 days with a community buddy system making sure they are looked after. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-55136146 1st Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail People might also be selected based on age group job type or where they live Local officials will be able to offer shopping vouchers to incentivise people Tier 3 areas will be given access to rapid Covid tests when lockdown ends https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9004901/Ethnic-minorities-prioritised-Covid-19-tests-Tier-Three-areas.html 1st Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Belfast Telegraph Some nonessential retail and other businesses are reopening to the public as Ireland eases out of its second lockdown. A Government decision to lift Level 5 restrictions will also see the hair and beauty industry and gyms and leisure centres open their doors after six weeks of closures. Restaurants and pubs that serve food will remain shut until Friday in line with the Governments plans to reopen on a phased basis. As Covid19 restrictions ease countrywide health chiefs have issued warnings not to gather in crowded areas. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/ireland-eases-out-of-second-lockdown-39812614.html 1st Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

FRANCE 24 Dublin thronged with facemasked Christmas shoppers on Tuesday as Ireland ended a second partial coronavirus lockdown allowing nonessential retail to resume after six weeks of tough restrictions. Dozens queued for the midmorning reopening of upmarket department store Brown Thomas festooned with seasonal decorations in the epicentre of the capitals shopping district. Amidst tables of designer handbags one customer confided in staff that she had taken the morning off work to shop. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201201-dublin-has-shopping-fever-as-ireland-ends-second-virus-lockdown 1st Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Chez Francoise is a discreetly located venue near the French parliament whose visitors book boasts signatures from former leaders including Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande. Options include a Menu Parlementaire three courses including wild boar pate with chestnuts veal and crepes suzette. In late September as a second wave of COVID19 infection loomed government scientific advisers wanted new restrictions on bars restaurants and cafes. Fearing his business would suffer Pascal Mousset who owns Chez Francoise and four other restaurants in the French capital decided to seek help from an old contact. For pitys sake dont close Paris Mousset texted to Alain Griset a junior minister at the finance and economy ministry. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france-restaurants/chefs-vs-scientists-frances-pandemic-fight-to-keep-eating-out-idUKKBN28B4S4 1st Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

AlJazeera The coronavirus pandemic is pushing the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance to new highs according to the United Nations dramatically increasing the ranks of extreme poverty in just one year. One in 33 people will need aid to meet basic needs like food water and sanitation in 2021 an increase of 40 percent from this year the UN said on Tuesday in its Global Humanitarian Overview 2021. That translates to 235 million people worldwide with concentrations in Syria Yemen Afghanistan the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia it said. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/1/un-pandemic-to-fan-surge-in-humanitarian-needs-in-2021 1st Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

AlJazeera A bipartisan group of US legislators on Tuesday unveiled a 908bn COVID19 relief bill aimed at breaking a monthslong deadlock between Democrats and Republicans over new emergency assistance for small businesses unemployed people airlines and other industries during the pandemic. The measure has not yet been written into legislation. Nor has it been embraced yet by the Republican Trump administration Democratic Presidentelect Joe Biden or leaders in the Senate or House of Representatives all of whom would be needed for passage. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/12/2/us-lawmakers-float-new-908bn-coronavirus-aid-package 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Business Insider Bolivias new health minister Edgar Pozo at a press conference Sunday said consuming toxic bleach chlorine dioxide as a COVID19 treatment is now permitted. It has no medical value and is potentially deadly if consumed according to medical authorities including the FDA and WHO. Despite this a determined campaign by advocates of the substance also called Miracle Mineral Solution persuaded many to take it. Business Insider previously reported how lawmakers in Bolivia embraced the substance despite warnings from the nations own health ministry. But last month the old government lost power allowing the newlyinstalled Pozo to effectively overturn that advice. https://www.businessinsider.com/bolivia-minister-says-toxic-mms-bleach-for-covid-19-2020-12 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Metro.co.uk One of Americas most powerful politicians has refused to enact fresh lockdown measures after saying he wants to leave people alone to make responsible choices. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who has the final say on the Sunshine States coronavirus rules said Monday that he will not be enacting any lockdown measures edicts which require people to wear masks in public or school closures. DeSantis one of President Trumps staunchest allies told a press conference No lockdowns no fines no school closures. He previously lifted all rules including a 50 capacity limit in bars and restaurants in September. https://metro.co.uk/2020/11/30/top-us-politician-refuses-to-bring-in-lockdown-or-other-covid-rules-saying-he-wants-to-leave-people-alone-13679432/ 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged lawmakers to vote Tuesday for a new set of coronavirus restrictions in England saying the country must hold our nerve until vaccines are approved and distributed. Englands current fourweek national lockdown ends at midnight and the government plans to replace it starting Wednesday with a threetier regional system based on the severity of the outbreak in different parts of the country. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-leader-touts-local-virus-rules-but-pubs-are-in-distress-boris-johnson-lawmakers-change-pubs-nerve-b1764584.html 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Report by the Institute of Economic Affairs claimed outdated studies were used Did not factor in Covidsecure infection control measures hospitality adopted Cobbled together a handful of studies to give the veneer of science report said https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9002281/Tenuous-science-used-justify-keeping-Englands-pubs-restaurants-locked-down.html 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Simon Dolan 51 was pursuing case against Matt Hancock and Gavin Williamson He took case to Court of Appeal after High Court refused full hearing permission Lord Burnett dismissed Mr Dolans argument that the restrictions were unlawful Mr Dolan stated he plans to seek permission to take case to the Supreme Court https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9005815/Aviation-tycoon-worth-200m-loses-legal-fight-against-coronavirus-lockdown-rules.html 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

DW (English) Hildburghausen in eastern Germany is a coronavirus hotspot where the rate of infection is particularly high much higher than anywhere else in the state of Thuringia. And no one knows why that is. The town has a population of 63000 and last week the statistical rate of new infections per 100000 inhabitants reached 588.6. The district administrator imposed tough anticorona measures including shutting down the local schools. And the people of the town are obliged to wear masks wherever they go. https://www.dw.com/en/covid-19-protests-and-death-threats-in-east-german-hotspot/a-55782350 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

New Statesman In a recent Sunday antilockdown protesters passed under my window which looks out onto one of the main Berlin thoroughfares. They call themselves Querdenker lateral thinkers. To my untrained eye not many of the demonstrators resembled fascists although perhaps at least some of the shaved heads were concealed by beanies. There were teenagers old women doddering along with walkers and middleaged men wearing face coverings declaring fuck masks accompanied by bored riot police. They were met by locals and blackclad antifascists banging pans and shouting Nazis out. The weekly protests attract a range of ideological tendencies from sandalclad hippies to Reich citizens an eccentric rightwing group which denies the legitimacy of the postwar Federal Republic. Others have no truck with such fringe groups but are worried about whether their livelihoods can survive the economic crisis even though support for businesses and individuals is by European standards relatively generous in Germany. The peculiarity of the Querdenker which remains a minority movement with polls showing up to 85 per cent of Germans opposed is that they present themselves not as infringers of the liberal constitutional order but as its defenders. https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2020/11/what-germany-s-anti-lockdown-protests-reveal-about-country 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Indias first female comic superhero Priya a gangrape survivor who earlier campaigned against rape acid attack and sex trafficking is back to fight disinformation around the Covid19 pandemic. In Priyas Mask due to be launched on 2 December the comic crusader joins hands with Jiya the Burka Avenger a popular character from a Pakistani cartoon show as the two go about trying to tackle the pandemic and also the infodemic a major proliferation in fake news surrounding the coronavirus. With more than 9.4 million infections and 137000 deaths India has the second highest caseload globally. A strict nationwide lockdown that was imposed on 21 March delayed the spread for a while but infections grew rapidly and continue to do so since restrictions were relaxed. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55100084 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Sky News Boris Johnson has said there is a compelling case for further coronavirus restrictions as he promised pubs which do not serve food a oneoff payment of 1000 in December. Pubs which only sell drinks or wet pubs will be unable to open if they are in Tier 2 or Tier 3 areas under the new system of restrictions from tomorrow. The prime minister made the announcement after saying the hospitality sector has been hit disproportionately hard in the pandemic. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-boris-johnson-announces-1-000-payment-for-wet-pubs-in-december-12148031 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Metro When actor Laurence Fox tweeted about inviting a large group over to lunch and hugging them all during a pandemic I was frustrated and disappointed. Not because I dont like hugs over lunch but because its irresponsible ignorant privileged and could dangerously incite others to behave the same way. As a doctor working in intensive care during the pandemic Foxs words stung twice. First for brazenly admitting to breaking lockdown rules but also criticising the NHS as being not fit for purpose. https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/01/laurence-foxs-disregard-for-lockdown-is-a-slap-in-the-face-for-nhs-workers-13680986/ 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Nine restaurant bar and nightclub owners began a fifth day of hunger strike on Tuesday outside Portugals parliament in protest against coronavirus restrictions. We need support ... to keep our heads above water said Alberto Cabral who runs a nightclub. The protesters camping outside parliament and living off water tea and coffee donated by their supporters say they will not eat until they are met by the prime minister and economy minister. One more business owner joined their strike on Sunday. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-portugal-hunger-st/we-need-support-portuguese-restaurant-owners-stage-lockdown-hunger-strike-idUKKBN28B5B0?il=0 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK A senior politician from Hungarys ruling party said he had been present at a house party in Belgium that was broken up by Brussels police last Friday for breaching lockdown rules but denied taking drugs. Jozsef Szajer a leading light in Prime Minister Viktor Orbans ruling conservative Fidesz party and an ally for more than 30 years quit as a European deputy on Sunday citing unspecified moral reasons. In a statement on Tuesday he apologised for any wrongdoing. I regret that I broke the lockdown rules that was irresponsible of me and I will accept the sanctions that result the statement said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-hungary-fidesz-mep/hungarian-politician-says-he-was-present-at-brussels-party-that-breached-lockdown-rules-idUKKBN28B5E0?il=0 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Senior British minister Michael Gove said that the government was not planning a system of vaccine passports which would prevent those who hadnt had a COVID19 jab from going to the pub or attending events. I certainly am not planning to introduce any vaccine passports and I dont know anyone else in government who is Gove told Sky News on Tuesday. The minister in charge of vaccines Nadhim Zadhawi said on Monday that he expected people who refused the COVID19 vaccine could find that they were refused entry to restaurants bars cinemas and sports venues. When asked about that Gove said he did not think people would need a vaccine passport to go to the pub the theatre or to sports events. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain/uk-not-planning-vaccine-passports-for-pubs-theatre-sports-events-idUKKBN28B3ZK?il=0 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Britains economy will contract this quarter and it will take at least two years for GDP to reach preCOVID19 levels according to a Reuters poll which also found London would agree a freetrade deal with the European Union. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-economy-poll-idUKKBN28C04A 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Parliament approved a system of regional COVID19 restrictions for England on Tuesday despite a rebellion within Prime Minister Boris Johnsons own party which underlined growing unhappiness at his handling of the pandemic. More than 40 of people in England will be subject to the toughest tier of restrictions on their daily life from Wednesday when the government shifts to its new approach after a month of national lockdown with just 1 in the lowest band. With the spread of the epidemic varying across the country there remains a compelling case ... for regional tiers in England Johnson told parliament batting away criticism from unhappy lawmakers. The tiered system has ignited a rebellion in Johnsons party with dozens of the 364 elected Conservatives criticizing the plan as draconian badly implemented or based on insufficient evidence. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain/johnson-urges-mps-to-back-regional-covid-19-restrictions-idUKKBN28B50R 1st Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

AlJazeera The administration of United States President Donald Trump has invited vaccine manufacturers drug distributors and government officials to a COVID19 Vaccine Summit next week at the White House Stat News reported on Tuesday citing an invitation obtained by the news organisation. It is scheduled for December 8 and will be attended by Trump Vice President Mike Pence and privatesector executives the report said. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/1/trump-to-meet-with-covid-vaccine-makers-distributors-reports 1st Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Wales Online A quarter of people have found it harder to follow rules during the UKs second lockdown citing bad weather feeling worn out and a sense of unfairness a study has found. Some 24 of people are finding the second lockdown harder 24 said the rules are easier to follow now and 48 said they are coping about the same according to Kings College London KCL research. The majority 82 said they are being just as careful or more careful now about obeying the rules. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/major-study-shows-how-many-19376257 1st Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC The invisibility of vulnerable children during the pandemic should be a matter of national concern says Englands chief inspector of schools. Amanda Spielman warns when many pupils were out of school in the lockdown teachers might not have picked up early warning signs of abuse or neglect. The chief inspector says such children at risk of harm slipped out of sight. Launching her annual report Ms Spielman says it should now be a priority to find such overlooked cases. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55138429 1st Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Bloomberg Quint Germanys labor market shrugged off a worsening pandemic and new restrictions with unemployment unexpectedly declining for a fifth month in November. A drop of 39000 left the total number of jobless people at 2.82 million pushing the unemployment rate down to 6.1. While companies are avoiding widespread dismissals in response to the countrys second lockdown they have grown reluctant to hire. https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/german-joblessness-fell-in-november-despite-second-lockdown 1st Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian Comfortseeking Britons have eaten and drunk their way through more unhealthy snacks and alcohol during lockdown than their peers elsewhere in Europe a study suggests. Overall the survey of 5000 consumers in 10 European countries found that lockdown restrictions may have caused lasting positive change in relation to food consumption with significant shifts in shopping patterns meal preparation and eating habits. In line with the rest of Europe people in the UK increased their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables during the pandemic. However the British are snacking and boozing more than people in other European countries https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/01/britons-were-the-lockdown-bingers-of-europe-finds-study 1st Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

The New York Times As a second lockdown appeared inevitable amid skyrocketing coronavirus infections the scientists advising the French government in October warned that keeping students in their classrooms meant it would take longer to tame the surge. The government kept the schools open anyway even as the country became an epicenter of the second wave of the coronavirus in Europe. French leaders decided that they would try to subdue the surge while also trying to minimize economic and academic damage by keeping children learning where they do it best in school. Five weeks into a second nationwide lockdown France like much of Europe has proved that it is possible to bring the rate of known infections down even with schools open. It is a lesson that has been taken up late in the United States https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/world/europe/france-covid-schools.html 1st Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Daily Mail More than a quarter of Britons found it harder to follow the second lockdown compared to the first a survey has revealed. The most common reasons for struggling were feeling fatigued by Covid restrictions a belief measures were unjust and bad weather restricting people from going outside and seeing friends and family. Experts feared that lockdown fatigue would mean many Brits would defy the second shutdown and see loved ones anyway. But Kings College London scientists found a remarkable resilience in the British public with 82 per cent still following the rules to the best of their abilities. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9001941/One-quarter-Britons-second-national-lockdown-harder-follow.html 1st Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that Germany could face a third wave of coronavirus infections if citizens are careless in the coming weeks. Germanys number of new infections has stabilized at a high level since a partial lockdown was imposed on Nov 2. to contain a second wave of coronavirus infections. But officials have said that progress was still fragile. Well have to be very very careful during the winter Merkel said in a virtual panel discussion with police officers. Otherwise well end up directly in the next wave. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-altmaier/merkel-urges-germans-to-be-careful-or-risk-third-coronavirus-wave-idUSKBN28A0J5 1st Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Austrian unemployment rose in November as a coronavirus lockdown kicked in in the second half of the month Labour Minister Christine Aschbacher said on Tuesday with hospitality jobs especially hard hit. The effects of the pandemic but also the global economic crisis that it caused are leaving deep marks on the job market Aschbacher said adding that public health measures were currently the top priority. https://uk.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idUKKBN28B4ZJ 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Washington Post The first doses of a coronavirus vaccine should be given to an estimated 21 million healthcare workers and 3 million residents and staff of nursing homes and other longterm care facilities a federal advisory panel recommended Tuesday afternoon. These groups were deemed the highest priority by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices because the vaccine will initially be in extremely short supply after it is cleared by federal regulators. Healthcare personnel are a top priority because of their exposure to the virus and their critical role of keeping the nations hospitals and clinics functioning. Residents and employees of longterm care facilities were prioritized because they account for nearly 40 percent of deaths from covid19 the disease caused by the coronavirus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/01/vaccine-priority-groups-covid/ 2nd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The European Commission is likely to give the final authorisation for the rollout of COVID19 vaccines days after the EU drug regulator approves them a spokesman for the EU executive said on Tuesday. The European Medicines Agency EMA said earlier on Tuesday it planned to decide whether to approve the vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech by Dec 29 and by Jan. 12 on the shot being developed by Moderna. Its probably a matter of days. The goal is to do it rapidly the spokesman told a news conference adding the exact date depended on the EMAs possible authorisations. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eu-vaccines-idUSKBN28B4R7 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal Pfizer Inc. partner BioNTech and U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc. both applied for their coronavirus vaccines to be approved in the European Union the EUs chief medicines regulator said Tuesday with officials expected to make a decision on at least one of the vaccines by the end of the month. The announcement brings hope that the EU will soon be able to start vaccinating its 448 million people against a disease that has done some of its earliest and worst damage on the continent. https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-biontech-file-for-covid-19-vaccine-approval-in-europe-11606816904?mod=pls_whats_news_us_business_f 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Independent China underreported Covid19 numbers by more than half as it downplayed the severity of the virus and their failure to quickly diagnose cases in the early stages of the pandemic according to leaked documents. A series of revelations in 117 pages of internal documents from the Hubei Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention obtained by CNN shows how the Chinese Communist Party withheld vital information as the world grappled to contain the rapidly spreading virus. On 10 February China publicly reported 2478 new confirmed cases while privately documenting 5918 new cases a 139 per cent difference. On 17 February China publicly reported new deaths in Hubei province where the pandemic is believed to have originated in Wuhan at 93 while privately reporting 196 a difference of more than double. https://www.independent.co.uk/world/covid19-china-mishandle-pandemic-leaked-documents-b1764276.html 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC Researchers made a mathematical model to find the daily disease growth rate European nations took 9 days to bring in lockdown from first death on average In nine days epidemic size grows by a factor of ten the researchers say https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55017301 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Researchers made a mathematical model to find the daily disease growth rate European nations took 9 days to bring in lockdown from first death on average In nine days epidemic size grows by a factor of ten the researchers say https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9005397/Number-Covid-deaths-Europe-increased-ten-fold-death-lockdown.html 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Independent The same rigorous approval standards are being applied to the coronavirus vaccine candidates as for other medicines Germanys science minister has said adding that any approved jab will be voluntary. Anja Karliczek said the key to gaining widespread public support for the immunisation is ensuring the same standards are applied across the board. Authorities will educate the public about any possible side effects that could occur after vaccination including headaches localised pain and fever. Vaccination against the virus will not be mandatory Ms Karliczek said. The rapid pace of the vaccines development is down to huge efforts by scientists as well as early funding and experience from previous vaccines Marylyn Addo a doctor at Hamburgs UKE hospital who is working in vaccine trials said. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/germany-covid-vaccine-approval-b1764467.html 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Eastern Daily Press Researchers from Norwich have found a mass screening programme of more than 10 million people in the Chinese city of Wuhan identified 300 asymptomatic Covid19 cases but none were infectious. But the University of East Anglia scientists stressed the findings do not show people who have coronavirus but no symptoms cannot pass on the virus. Mass testing took place over two weeks at the end of May after the citys stringent lockdown was lifted in April. The study found no viable virus in the asymptomatic cases and their close contacts did not test positive. Prof Fujian Song from UEAs Norwich Medical School said The virus cultures indicated no viable virus in the identified asymptomatic cases. This means that these people were not likely to infect anyone else. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/uea-study-hows-asymptomatic-covid-cases-in-wuhan-not-infectious-6569130 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Its time to become a mum was the pushnotification hundreds of Portuguese women received on their cell phones last month. The text sent by a private hospital in Lisbon trying to drum up clients for its maternity unit caused outrage on social media with some women saying that the middle of a pandemic and recession is the worst possible time to have a baby. Evidence suggests the coronavirus is deterring wouldbe parents from conceiving in most of Europe but especially in the southern countries from Italy to Greece where safety nets are weakest and the birth rate was already in strong decline. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eu-births-analysis/analysis-covid-19-worsens-europes-inequalities-in-yet-another-way-the-fertility-gap-idUSKBN28B3XA 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

MSN.com In 2009 a flu pandemic was racing across the world when a venture capital firm that backs health care companies held its annual retreat. The meeting was a whos who of pharmaceutical and biotechnology executives the top leaders of the top companies in the world. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/deliver-a-safe-effective-covid-19-vaccine-in-less-than-a-year-impossible-meet-moncef-slaoui/ar-BB1bwpLw?fbclid=IwAR0Nr6m-9UWDCNfNpBINCjg5fwHU-MMkbuzDKIURpWJpAwiKv1yhqAagfQY 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera The European Medicines Agency has said it would convene a meeting on December 29 to decide if there is enough data about the safety and efficacy of the COVID19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for it to be approved. The agency also said on Tuesday it could decide as early as January 12 whether to approve an experimental COVID19 vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/1/europes-medical-agency-eyes-safety-of-two-covid-19-vaccines 1st Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Novavax Inc on Monday pushed back the start of a U.S.based latestage trial for its experimental COVID19 vaccine for the second time and now expects it to begin in the coming weeks instead of November. While the U.S. trial has been hampered by issues in scaling up the vaccines manufacturing Novavax has a latestage study underway in the UK which finished enrollment on Monday. Shares of the U.S.based company were up 10 in lateafternoon trading. The U.S. trial delay was not meaningful and it could provide more information into Novavaxs secondgeneration vaccine that already lags behind larger rivals said Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Charles Duncan. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-novavax-vaccine/novavax-expects-delayed-u-s-covid-19-vaccine-trial-to-start-in-coming-weeks-idUKKBN28A1E1 30th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Express Coronaviruslinked deaths recorded by health officials in Northern Ireland have surpassed 1000. Health minister Robin Swann said the region had passed a sad milestone after 15 further fatalities were reported on Tuesday taking the toll collated by the Department of Health to 1011. Another 391 confirmed cases of the virus were also recorded in the last 24hour reporting period. https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/uk/covid-19-death-toll-passes-1000-in-northern-ireland/ 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail A new map from an internal federal government brief shows that 48 US states and the District of Columbia are marked as sustained hotspots of coronavirus Only two states on the map dated November 29 and labeled not for distribution did not fall in this category which were Hawaii and Rhode Island. Another map from the brief also revealed the incidence rate of COVID19 across the country is 336 cases per 100000 people up from 322 cases per 100000 two weeks prior Most US counties on the map had incidence rates of either 200499 new cases per 100000 or 500 new cases per 100000. It comes as the US hit a grim new record of 96039 coronavirus hospitalizations across the nation. Hospitals in several states are beyond capacity with health officials blaming COVID fatigue and travel that occurred over Thanksgiving https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9005605/Almost-county-America-coronavirus-hotspot-government-map-reveals.html 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Hospitals from Rhode Island to Alabama and Montana were beyond capacity The pandemic now has no epicenter and is rampant across the whole country Case loads rose in 41 states and the mayor of El Paso blamed COVID fatigue he said that many cases in his city had been traced back to large stores Health officials are resigned to the situation worsening thanks to Thanksgiving and those who did travel for Thanksgiving are urged to assume they have COVID The decision by more than a million to travel means Christmas will be miserable On Monday Scott Atlas Trumps favorite member of COVID taskforce resigned. He has been strongly criticized for his skepticism about masks and lockdown https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9003923/Hospitalizations-hit-record-96-039-rise-41-states-America-faces-new-restrictions.html 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News Another 13430 people have tested positive for COVID19 in the UK with 603 more having died after contracting the disease. The latest government figures bring the total number of coronavirus cases in the UK to 1643086 and the total number of deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID19 test to 59051. It is a slight rise from the 12330 new cases that were posted on Monday but a significant increase on the 205 deaths that were recorded. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-uk-records-another-13-430-cases-and-603-deaths-12148119 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian on MSN.com The UKs total Covid death toll has passed 75000 according to a tally of all fatalities that mention the disease on death certificates. The grim milestone comes just over a month after the UK surpassed 60000 deaths in late October showing how the Covid death toll accelerated since September having slowed during the summer. The figure is higher than the governments Covid death toll of 59051. The latter figure only covers people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus. Covid deaths have been recorded in almost every corner of the UK with the Isles of Scilly the only local authority area in the country not to have had a coronavirus fatality. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-passes-75000/ar-BB1bwVct 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Metro Another 603 UK coronavirus deaths have been reported today hours before England comes out of its second national lockdown. The latest official figures show Covid19 cases are continuing to drop with another 13430 people testing positive bringing the total since the pandemic began to 1643086. The overall death toll for the UK now stands at 59051 though separate figures from statistics agencies and more recent deaths suggest Covid19 has been linked to some 74000 deaths. Todays death toll the highest since 696 reported deaths on November 25 is a significant rise on the past couple of days but figures at the weekend are often lower since reporting can lag behind. However they will still alarm scientists and those who fear a third national lockdown in England which is set to return to a harsher tiered system from tomorrow. https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/01/another-603-covid-deaths-recorded-the-day-before-lockdown-lifts-13683999/ 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Mirror Online England is preparing to exit a monthlong full national lockdown but 99 of the population will remain in Tier 2 or 3 coronavirus measures from December 2 onwards https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-uk-coronavirus-daily-deaths-23097980 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNBC Germany was widely seen as a posterchild for its approach to tackling the coronavirus during the first wave of cases that emerged in Europe in the spring. Covid19 cases in the country started to creep higher in October however. This rise has been accompanied by an increasing daily death rate on a 7day average which has now passed its April peak. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/germanys-second-wave-of-covid-19-has-been-worse-than-the-first.html 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Wall Street Journal The coronavirus has resurged in Europes nursing homes killing thousands of older people and forcing facilities to make a difficult choice impose another period of crushing isolation or risk greater exposure to the virus. Nursing home outbreaks have dashed hopes that their residents could be shielded from the virus when it is spreading quickly in society at large. As cases soared across Europe this fall nursing home personnel and visitors brought the virus in with them despite strict sanitary rules infecting tens of thousands of residents. https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-europes-nursing-homes-a-soaring-covid-19-death-toll-and-the-pain-of-isolation-11606742116 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Austrias government appears to have bowed to pressure from Germany France and Italy and will ban skiing holidays over the Christmas break in an attempt to control the coronavirus pandemic Austrian media is reporting. The decision expected to be officially announced on Wednesday follows heated disagreements between Berlin and Vienna. On Tuesday morning Austrias tourist minister accused the German government of interfering in its domestic affairs after Angela Merkel said she had wanted a ban on skiing holidays. The chancellor secured the backing of the Italian and French governments as well as the leaders of the 16 German states. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/01/austria-set-to-bow-to-pressure-on-covid-risk-with-ski-holiday-ban 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC The Netherlands has made it compulsory to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus. The country is one of the last in Europe to introduce such a measure. The rule will apply to those over the age of 13 in public buildings such as shops railway stations and hairdressers from Tuesday. The Netherlands has been one of the countries worst affected by Europes second wave of Covid19. It broke daily case records throughout October and the number of new confirmed infections in the country of 17 million has remained fairly stable at about 5000 a day for several weeks. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55143938 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Associated Press The panicked 22yearold is led to Consultation Room No. 2 with its easymop floor and honeycombed meshing over the window. Behind her the psychiatric emergency wards heavy double doors openable only with a staff members key thud shut. With anxious taps of her white sneakers she confides to an onduty psychiatrist how the solitude of the coronavirus lockdown and the angst of not finding work in the pandemicbattered job market are contributing to her maelstrom of anxieties. She is unnerved that she is starting to obsess about knives fearful that her mental health might be collapsing. https://apnews.com/article/international-news-france-coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-99db6e83c092f426b453670fa1b95cd3 1st Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Boston Globe The World Health Organization chief is hailing the first weekly decline in global COVID19 cases since September citing the impact of measures mainly in hardhit Europe and warning that this is no time for complacency. DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the welcome news still should be taken with caution and warned that death counts were still rising across the world and cases were still rising in other parts of the world outside of Europe. This is no time for complacency especially with holiday season approaching in many cultures and countries he said. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/30/world/who-head-hails-first-weekly-decline-worldwide-covid-19-cases/ 30th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

India.com Earlier states like Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Odisha and Rajashtan had extended the lockdown restrictions in the containment zones till December 31. https://www.india.com/news/india/lockdown-uttar-pradesh-news-lockdown-restrictions-may-return-in-uttar-pradesh-soon-check-details-noida-gautam-buddh-nagar-lucknow-covid-19-restrictions-4234769/ 1st Dec 2020