4th Dec 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=154 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Global News Challenges in Pfizer Incs supply chain for the raw materials used in its COVID19 vaccine played a role in its decision to slash its 2020 production target a Pfizer spokeswoman told Reuters. Pfizer has said in recent weeks that it anticipates producing 50 million doses of its COVID19 vaccine this year. That is down from an earlier target of 100 million doses. Pfizers vaccine relies on a two dose regimen meaning 50 million doses is enough to inoculate 25 million people. https://globalnews.ca/news/7500692/pfizer-vaccine-delivery-2020-supply-chain/ 3rd Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail The WHO recommended that countries do not begin issuing immunity passports A number of governments have suggested they are a route back to normality British experts warned issuing immunity passports would lead to inequality WHO Rich nations will lose hundreds of billions if vaccine isnt issued equally https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9013955/WHO-looks-possible-e-vaccination-certificates-travel.html 3rd Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Luxembourg Times Spains government is analysing shortening working hours as well as cutting the workingweek to four days. According to Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias leader of the leftwing Unidas Podemos the government is considering proposing shorter working hours to boost employment. The idea of a shorter working week has been around for years across the world but the pandemic this year and its impact on work wellbeing and inequality has led to a new push to think about economies and social structures. https://luxtimes.lu/business-finance/42448-spain-s-government-is-studying-a-four-day-work-week 3rd Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

USA Today Presidentelect Joe Biden said he would publicly take a vaccine when its available to encourage the public to get vaccinated joining three former presidents who recently pledged to do the same. Biden said hed be happy to join former Presidents Barack Obama George W. Bush and Bill Clinton in getting the vaccine in public to prove it is safe. When Dr. Fauci says we have a vaccine that is safe thats the moment in which I will stand before the public Biden said during an interview on CNN Thursday night. People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work Biden told CNN pointing to the high number of cases. It matters what a president and vice president do. I think my three predecessors have set the model on what should be done. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/03/biden-says-hed-be-happy-join-former-presidents-taking-covid-vaccine-publicly/3819923001/ 4th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Biden told CNN that he plans to ask the public to wear masks for 100 days to help drive down the spread of the novel coronavirus. Im going to ask the public for 100 days to mask Biden said. Not forever 100 days. His office would issue a standing order for people to wear masks in federal buildings and on interstate transportation including aeroplanes and buses he added. Biden also said he would get the COVID19 vaccine when Fauci says it is safe and would be happy to take it publicly. Its important to communicate to the American people its safe safe to do this he said. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/4/biden-fauci-covid-team-stresses-need-masks 3rd Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Chronic malnutrition that has long afflicted isolated communities in the remote eastern cape of Bali has ballooned as a result of the COVID19 pandemic and with a new wave of COVIDpoor emerging in urban areas NGOs have said thousands of people on the island are going hungry. With about 60 percent of Balis gross domestic product attributed to tourism before the coronavirus struck the islands economy has been the hardest hit in Indonesia by the pandemic the central bank reported negative growth of just less than 11 percent for the province in September. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/4/covid-poor-emerge-in-bali-as-indonesian-cases-hit-new-records 4th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Over 1.5 million people have lost their lives due to COVID19 with one death reported every nine seconds on a weekly average as vaccinations are set to begin in December in a handful of developed nations. Half a million deaths occurred in just the last two months indicating that the severity of the pandemic is far from over. Nearly 65 million people globally have been infected by the disease and the worst affected country United States is currently battling a third wave of coronavirus infections. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-global-casualties-idAFKBN28D37M 4th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

ABC.Net.au The lawyer for a pizza bar worker who was accused of causing South Australias coronavirus lockdown by allegedly lying to contact tracers says his client is worried about stepping outside for fear of backlash. SA Police on Wednesday revealed they would not press charges against the man due to a lack of evidence saying SA Health had not provided key information which was deemed confidential and privileged. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-03/lawyer-speaks-for-pizza-worker-linked-to-sa-coronavirus-lockdown/12945954 3rd Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Nearly 500000 high school students are sitting the test with stringent measures imposed to curb the virus. South Korea fell quiet on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of students sat for the countrys highstakes national university entrance exam amid a surge in coronavirus cases that has prompted new measures to curb its spread including for candidates sitting the test. Teenagers spend years preparing for the exam which can mean a place in one of the elite colleges that are seen as key to future careers incomes and even marriage prospects. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/3/key-test-south-koreans-sit-university-exam-amid-covid-19-surge 3rd Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail Initial batches of the PfizerBioNTech jab are already heading to Britain after it was approved by UK regulators. Vaccine will be distributed at hospitals first and then GPs and city hubs in stadiums and conference centres. The UK has ordered 40million doses in total with several millions due by end of 2020 and the rest next year https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9013511/First-batch-Pfizers-Covid-vaccine-arrive-UK-HOURS.html 4th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday it was a matter of weeks before the country will start rolling out COVID19 vaccinations and that they will be free for all. Castex also told a news conference that the vaccinations would be deployed in three phases https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-vaccination-idUSP6N2HA01Y 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal Britains authorization of a Covid19 vaccine the first in the West sets in motion an ambitious plan that will test the capabilities of its staterun National Health Service Inoculate everybody in the country over 50 within months. The U.K. has been laying the groundwork for some time. The scale and urgency of the task is such that the NHS already under enormous pressure because of the pandemic has appealed for retired doctors and nurses to rejoin the service and for thousands of volunteers to train as vaccinators and support staff. The project will be the biggest vaccination campaign in our history NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens said Wednesday. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-s-covid-19-vaccine-program-to-test-its-state-run-medical-system-11607000400 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal Criminal gangs will likely attempt to get their hands on the new Covid19 vaccines international police organization Interpol warned potentially disrupting supplies of the crucial shots as they become available. The agency issued a global orange noticewhich it describes as a serious and imminent threat to public safetyto its 194 members calling the vaccines liquid gold. It warned that counterfeit vaccines or fake coronavirus tests could become a growing problem as international travel gradually resumes in the months to come. As governments are preparing to roll out vaccines criminal organizations are planning to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains Interpol SecretaryGeneral Jrgen Stock said https://www.wsj.com/articles/virus-vaccines-are-liquid-gold-to-organized-crime-interpol-warns-11607000854 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Mirror Online TV presenters Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid spoke to Professor Ugur Sahin Chief Executive of BioNTech the company which created the newlyapproved coronavirus vaccine. The professor revealed he is actually unable to take his own vaccine at present because it has only been approved in the UK and because he is not allowed to take it first as a drug developer. Professor Ugur lives in Germany where the vaccine has not yet been approved and he admitted this was disappointing. https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/scientist-who-created-covid-19-23107653 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Belfast Live Northern Ireland Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride and Chief Scientific Advisor Professor Ian Young write about the approval of the PfizerBioNTech coronavirus vaccine An unprecedented vaccination programme can now begin involving a massive logistical exercise that will span many months. Each person receiving the vaccination will require two doses. Strict conditions on vaccine deployment will be set by the MHRA while the JCVI Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will guide on which population groups should receive the vaccine first. The rollout will take up a large part of 2021. https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/health/covid-19-ni-chief-medical-19388935 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail Britain may still face a circuit breaker lockdown in January or February despite the mass rollout of Pfizers Covid19 vaccine a top scientist has warned. Professor Liam Smeeth an epidemiology and public health expert at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine issued his caution as Britain made one of 2020s biggest breakthroughs and announced vaccination will start next week. Casting a shadow over reignited hopes of a return to normality he added that the virus would be with us for the forseeable future and maybe forever. A further circuit breaker in January or possibly February is likely to be needed but it is realistic to hope that by March or April the vast majority of older people care home residents and those with severe conditions will have been immunised. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9010469/Britain-need-circuit-breaker-lockdown-January-February.html 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC People will be able to travel from Wales to tier one and two areas in England and Scotland from Friday. The new regulations prohibit travel into tier three zones in England tiers three and four in Scotland and the whole of Northern Ireland. Previously people could only travel out of Wales if it was essential. But the Welsh Government said it still strongly advised people against travelling to other parts of the UK to help control the spread of the virus. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55170248 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

ABC.Net.au UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says COVID vaccinations will start rolling out to the British public next week. So why do Australians have to wait Prime Minister Scott Morrison Health Minister Greg Hunt and John Skerritt the head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration spent more than an hour on Thursday explaining why and what happens next. The Government is looking at four different vaccines including the Pfizer vaccine just approved for emergency use in the UK. Mr Morrison said all four vaccines the Government was pursuing still had stages to pass in the months ahead. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-03/covid-vaccine-australia-uk-when-get-it/12946148 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Students in England will be asked to stay at home after Christmas and continue their studies online at the start of the new year as part of a staggered return to university to minimise the risk of Covid transmission. The government wants students to stagger their journeys back to campus over a fiveweek period beginning on 4 January 2021 with everyone expected to be back at university by 7 February and coronavirus tests available to all returning students. Many students have expressed frustration with their experience at university this term with the bulk of studies online social activities curtailed because of Covid restrictions long periods of selfisolation and harsh penalties for breaches. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/02/staggered-return-planned-for-university-students-in-england-after-christmas?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Evening Standard NHS trusts are poised for the roll out the coronavirus vaccine after it emerged the first of 40 million doses are to be administered from next week. It comes as the military reportedly carried out dryrun drills for what will be the countrys biggest ever mass vacation with the first deliveries of the vaccine arriving as soon as today. Boris Johnson has warned of the immense logistical challenges in distributing the newly approved jab as it emerged that most care home residents will need to wait to receive it. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/hospitals-poised-for-roll-out-of-covid-vaccine-as-first-deliveries-set-to-arrive-b147150.html?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1606980567 3rd Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian In England hundreds of thousands of care home residents will miss out on the first wave of Covid vaccinations when the rollout begins next week the government has admitted. The fragility of the newly licensed Pfizer vaccine means it will first be delivered only to hospitals. The news came hours after the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation JCVI which advises ministers said care home residents and staff should be prioritised. Boris Johnson described the distribution of the vaccine as an immense logistical challenge and said it would take months before all of the most vulnerable were protected. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/02/uk-care-home-residents-to-miss-out-on-first-wave-of-covid-vaccinations?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent Facebook said Thursday it will start removing false claims about COVID19 vaccines in its latest move to counter a tide of coronavirusrelated online misinformation. In the coming weeks the social network will begin taking down any Facebook or Instagram posts with false information about the vaccines that have been debunked by public health experts. The U.S. tech giant is taking action as the first COVID19 vaccines are set to be rolled out. Britain this week became the first country to give emergency authorization for a vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germanys BioNTech and innoculations could start within days. Regulators in the U.S. the European Union and Canada are also vetting vaccines. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/facebook-to-remove-covid19-vaccinerelated-misinformation-facebook-covid-vaccines-misinformation-misinformation-b1765786.html 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Financial Times Facebook on Thursday said it would start removing false claims about Covid19 vaccines in a tightening of its policies on healthrelated misinformation. The new restrictions come a day after UK prime minister Boris Johnson vowed to fight the spread of misleading content from antivaxxers as the UK prepares to roll out Covid19 vaccinations from next week. Facebook said in a blog post that it would remove falsities debunked by public health experts citing as an example claims that Covid19 jabs contain microchips a theory often spuriously linked to Bill Gates. Earlier this year Facebook began removing Covid19related misinformation but only if it could contribute to imminent physical harm while material considered false by factcheckers was covered with a warning label. https://www.ft.com/content/2fc9e693-790a-40ab-8ac2-0aafd59ef515 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian The government has been accused of completely unnecessary secrecy after refusing to say which companies have been awarded multimillionpound Covid19 contracts after being processed in a highpriority channel for firms with political connections. A report by the National Audit Office last month stated that a government unit set up to procure PPE established the highpriority lane to deal with leads that came from government officials ministers offices MPs and members of the House of Lords senior NHS staff and other health professionals. The 493 companies given high priority due to these connections secured contracts to supply PPE with 10 times the success rate of nearly 15000 companies that were not given enhanced attention. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/03/government-secrecy-over-huge-covid-contracts-completely-unnecessary-say-critics 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

CNN on MSN.com A Staten Island bar was shut down after calling itself an autonomous zone and defying Covid19 restrictions the New York City Sheriffs Office said. The bar Macs Public House was also not following face covering rules and social distancing guidelines while continuing to allow indoor dining despite being in a designated orange zone the sheriffs office said in a statement. An executive order by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo allows only outdoor dining of up to four people per table at businesses in areas designated as orange zones. The bar has refused to shut down because the restrictions have impacted business said Louis Gelormino a lawyer representing the bar. They opened two months before Covid and spent 150000 to open the place Gelormino said. About a week ago they refused to close down the place and abide by those state restrictions. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/staten-island-bar-shut-down-after-declaring-itself-an-autonomous-zone-and-defying-covid-19-rules-sheriffs-office-says/ar-BB1bBG4g 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Sheriffs deputies shut down a Staten Island bar and arrested the owner on Tuesday night. Danny Presti was led out in handcuffs after repeated warnings to stop serving customers indoors. The bar has been fined thousands of dollars as it continued to serve patrons inside and to operate past the 10pm curfew for restaurant service that Cuomo imposed citywide. Demonstrators gathered on both Tuesday and Wednesday evening to protest. The bar is located in a coronavirus hot spot and with hospitalizations surging Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered that indoor dining be suspended https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9012567/2-000-people-gather-outside-Staten-Island-bar-declared-autonomous-zone.html 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Boris Johnson has promised action to tackle online disinformation about vaccines that could prevent takeup. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for emergency legislation to fine social media firms who failed to clamp down on incorrect information. Mr Johnson agreed online antivaxxers were a problem and promised a plan to deal with them very shortly. It came as the UK approved the PfizerBioNTech coronavirus vaccine paving the way for mass vaccinations. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55160246 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Facebook says it will start removing false claims about Covid19 vaccines to prevent imminent physical harm. The company says it is accelerating its plans to ban misleading and false information on its Facebook and Instagram platforms following the announcement of the first vaccine being approved for use in the United Kingdom. Among alreadydebunked claims that wont be allowed are falsehoods about vaccine ingredients safety effectiveness and sideeffects. Also banned will be the longrunning false conspiracy theory that coronavirus vaccines will contain a microchip to control or monitor patients. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55175222 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Japan Times 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://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/03/world/france-coronavirus-dining-out/ 3rd Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK On the October evening President Emmanuel Macron ordered France back into lockdown the chief executive of Thales told staff in a memo that antiCOVID measures already in place at the company conformed with the new requirements. At the time staff were required to wear a face mask at work stagger arrival and departure times and were permitted to work up to two days per week at home. But in his address Macron urged everyone to work from home fulltime if they could although the order was not legally binding and the final decision was left to employers. Sensing a reticence at Thales several unions complained to the labour inspectorate according to the hardleft CGT union. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-homeworking-idUKKBN28D0RB 3rd Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Bloomberg Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany will extend its partial lockdown by three more weeks into next year as the country struggles to regain control of the coronavirus spread. Bars gyms and cinemas will remain closed until Jan. 10 and the government will reconvene with regional leaders on Jan. 4 to reassess the restrictions Merkel said late Wednesday after talks with the premiers of Germanys 16 states. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-02/germany-extends-partial-lockdown-until-jan-10-to-fight-virus 3rd Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Germanys second lockdown to contain the COVID19 pandemic pushed the services sector deeper into recession in November bringing overall private sector activity in Europes largest economy to a near halt a survey showed on Thursday. Restaurants bars hotels gyms and entertainment venues have been closed since Nov. 2 to contain an aggressive second wave of coronavirus infections. Factories and shops remain open with social distancing conditions in place. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-economy-pmi/germanys-second-lockdown-pushed-services-sector-deeper-into-recession-pmi-idUSKBN28D11O 3rd Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Wall Street Journal Germany lengthened its coronavirus restrictions for the third time in the current wave of the pandemic saying late Wednesday that the constraints would remain in place until at least Jan. 10 after a mild lockdown first introduced in November has failed to push infections lower. https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/covid-2020-12-03/card/5ibhOqSHWA4zvrhTH1Pc 3rd Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Financial Times If lockdown and social distancing are not enough of a challenge how would you like to be confined to a research lab with your colleagues for three weeks 19 metres under the sea Or perhaps you would prefer to be left in a cave system isolated from the outside world with no natural light minimal privacy and limited equipment for hygiene and comfort Welcome to the world of astronaut training. Both Nasa and the European Space Agency run field studies in locations with similarities to working in space a dangerous and unfriendly place according to Nasas website. Hazards include isolation and confinement while behavioural issues are inevitable https://www.ft.com/content/0d41f06c-3bab-4599-a184-f1fb52ced4d4 3rd Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters A Belgian restaurant has found a way to keep orders rolling in during lockdown by serving its seafood to customers in camper vans. People can rent a vehicle or bring their own park up outside the Matthias and Sea restaurant and wait for masked staff to bring the food over from the kitchens. COVID19 restrictions have banned indoor dining. But restaurants can still do takeaways and serve food outside. Owner Mattia Collu said he got the idea while delivering orders to peoples houses in and around his base in the southern village of Tarcienne. https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-belgium-restaurant-idINKBN28D25P 3rd Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Japan Times Outofschool kids and adult predators spending more time at home and on the internet during the coronavirus pandemic is the perfect storm driving a spike in online child sex abuse around the world activists and police say. From slums in the Philippines to Australias suburbs the crossborder crime has mushroomed as offenders take advantage of school closures and lockdowns to reach children either in person or via social media gaming sites and the dark web. In Australia federal police received more than 21000 reports of child sex abuse in the 12 months to June 30 an increase of over 7000 cases on the previous year. Their investigators also recorded a 136 increase in online child sex exploitation material. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/03/world/coronavirus-lockdown-child-abuse/ 3rd Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Africa Greece has extended to Dec. 14 a nationwide lockdown imposed last month to contain a surge in new coronavirus cases government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Thursday. The lockdown the countrys second since the pandemic began was extended by a week. There is a stabilisation or rather a decline in the number of cases but at a slower pace than expected Petsas told a televised briefing. Greece has registered a total of 109655 COVID19 cases and 2186 deaths with northern Greece hardest hit and hospitals operating at almost full capacity. The restrictions were initially expected to end on Nov. 30 but the government had already extended them to Dec. 7. Petsas said seasonal stores selling Christmas items would reopen next week. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-greece-lockdown/greece-extends-nationwide-lockdown-by-a-week-to-dec-14-idUSKBN28D1F9?il=0 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Turkeys health minister has announced a plan to start using an experimental Chinese COVID19 vaccine later this month amid a surge in infections and deaths. Fahrettin Koca had previously announced an agreement with Chinas Sinovac Biotech for 50 million doses of CoronaVac which is currently in latestage trials. Koca said in a statement late on Wednesday the first shipment of the vaccine will arrive in Turkey after December 11. The minister said early use authorisation would be granted after Turkish labs confirm the shots are safe and after assessment of initial results from the latest trials. If developments continue positively as we expect Turkey would be among the first countries in the world to begin vaccinations in the early phase Koca said. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/3/turkey-announces-vaccination-plan-for-chinese-coronavac 4th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times Since October when the first data from the BioNTechPfizer trial became available scientists and clinicians at the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency or MHRA had worked round the clock to review more than 1000 pages of information according to June Raine the agencys chief executive. Normally each stage of a clinical trial must be completed before the next stage begins but the BioNTechPfizer trial had been adapted by the companies to allow the different trial stages to overlap Ms Raine said. The MHRA then undertook a rolling review of the data she said to allow for the assessment of the vaccine in the shortest time possible. https://www.ft.com/content/021720c2-157e-40b4-b2f9-33515032fb19 4th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian The WHO has urged European countries to prepare for vaccinations against Covid19 stressing that community acceptance will be crucial to the success of the health programmes. More than 200 Covid vaccines are under development some of which have already completed phase 3 clinical trials with an efficacy rate of more than 90. This week the UK became the first country to approve the PfizerBioNTech vaccine against Covid19. The UKs Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is also reviewing vaccines from the US company Moderna and the Oxford UniversityAstraZeneca team. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/03/public-trust-vital-for-covid-19-vaccine-programmes-who-eu 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

nejm.org At 405 hospitals in 30 countries 11330 adults underwent randomization 2750 were assigned to receive remdesivir 954 to hydroxychloroquine 1411 to lopinavir without interferon 2063 to interferon including 651 to interferon plus lopinavir and 4088 to no trial drug. Adherence was 94 to 96 midway through treatment with 2 to 6 crossover. In total 1253 deaths were reported median day of death day 8 interquartile range 4 to 14. The KaplanMeier 28day mortality was 11.8 39.0 if the patient was already receiving ventilation at randomization and 9.5 otherwise. Death occurred in 301 of 2743 patients receiving remdesivir and in 303 of 2708 receiving its control rate ratio 0.95 95 confidence interval CI 0.81 to 1.11 P0.50 in 104 of 947 patients receiving hydroxychloroquine and in 84 of 906 receiving its control rate ratio 1.19 95 CI 0.89 to 1.59 P0.23 in 148 of 1399 patients receiving lopinavir and in 146 of 1372 receiving its control rate ratio 1.00 95 CI 0.79 to 1.25 P0.97 and in 243 of 2050 patients receiving interferon and in 216 of 2050 receiving its control rate ratio 1.16 95 CI 0.96 to 1.39 P0.11. No drug definitely reduced mortality overall or in any subgroup or reduced initiation of ventilation or hospitalization duration. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2023184 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC Up to 99 of Covid19 hospitalisations and deaths could be avoided with the first wave of vaccinations Englands deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan VanTam has said. Speaking to BBC News he said that would be possible if everyone on the first priority list took the vaccine and it was highly effective. He said it was key to go as fast and at the highest volume as possible. But he acknowledged there would need to be some flexibility in the list. On Wednesday the UK became the first country in the world to approve the PfizerBioNTech vaccine for use. The BBC understands that some of the first delivery of the Pfizer vaccine is travelling via the Eurotunnel to the UK on Thursday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55169799 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress Italy on Thursday announced national travel restrictions for the Christmas holidays designed to limit the spread of COVID19 in the European country first hit by the pandemic. The new rules together with an existing curfew and other regulations already in place seek to curb circulation throughout the country during the festive period by limiting the number of gatherings. Earlier this year a punishing lockdown of all Italys 60 million residents helped bring the outbreak under control but the government is trying to avoid missteps made over the summer after the lockdown lifted when the return of vacationers fuelled a new rise in cases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-italy-curbs-christmas-virus.html 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Nature.com Since SARSCoV2 was first reported in China almost a year ago policymakers have swung the weight of the states resources towards developing a vaccine. Their approach alongside similar efforts in other countries has thrown a spotlight on immunology epidemiology and virology bringing increased funding prestige and public interest. Conversations with Chinese immunologists policymakers and funders including some who asked not to be named so they could speak more freely reveal a complex picture of science mixed with international politics. Scientists drug developers and research institutions are racing to tackle the virus. But some are concerned about the cost of rapid progress and the incentives that have been created for companies and researchers to rush their work. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03361-7 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

New Scientist As the second wave of the covid19 pandemic worsens across the northern hemisphere life has largely returned to normal in the country where the virus first made its mark. Restaurants and markets in Chinese cities are bustling as are tourist sites and cinemas. In Wuhan where a lockdown in late January first shocked and then became a precedent for the rest of the world recent months have seen packed concerts food festivals and pool parties. https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833112-900-how-is-china-beating-covid-19-and-are-the-reported-numbers-reliable/ 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Irish Examiner World Health Organisation WHO spokesperson Dr Margaret Harris has said that Covid19 vaccines have not been rushed. The science that was needed to develop them was already there from the time of Sars and Murs. Corners havent been cut she told RT radios Morning Ireland. The regulatory authorities were kept up to date during the development process so they were able to move swiftly on seeing the final data. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40139276.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amputm_medium=twitter 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Swissinfo.ch Switzerlands medical regulator Swissmedic says it lacks the necessary information to sign off on three different coronavirus vaccines ordered by the government. The regulator said important data on safety efficacy and quality are still missing. It has reached out to the manufacturers who provided data from their studies. We lack data on the effectiveness of the clinical trials and on the important subgroups that participated in these large studies said Claus Bolte head of the authorisation division at Swissmedic at a press briefing on Tuesday organised by the Federal Office of Public Health. For example Swissmedic wants to know about the preexisting illnesses of the people who took part in these studies. According to the regulator acceptance of such rapidly developed vaccines requires a high degree of trust in manufacturers and approving authorities. It is therefore important to examine very closely the effects on different groups of people. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/incomplete-data-stalls-swiss-authorisation-of-covid-19-vaccines/46196598#.X8dtof2Uab8.twitter 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Bill Gates said the next five months look pretty grim for the United States unless COVID19 stops surging across the country. The billionaire philanthropist said things could likely return to normal by the spring if Americans doubled down on public health measures now. He also vowed to immediately take a COVID19 vaccine once its available to him. It comes as health officials revealed yesterday that Americans will likely be armed with a COVID19 vaccine card to keep track of the shots. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9014825/Bill-Gates-warns-five-months-pretty-grim-COVID.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailus 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal When Pfizer Inc. said last month it expects to ship half the Covid19 vaccines it had originally planned for this year the decision highlighted the challenges drug makers face in rapidly building supply chains to meet the high demand. Scaling up the raw material supply chain took longer than expected a company spokeswoman said. And its important to highlight that the outcome of the clinical trial was somewhat later than the initial projection. https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-slashed-its-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-target-after-facing-supply-chain-obstacles-11607027787 3rd Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Moderna is planning to test the effects of its COVID19 vaccine on children. Its study will include administering two doses of the vaccine within 28 days to 3000 children aged 12 to 17. Earlier this week the United Kingdom became the first country to grant emergency use to the PfizerBioNTech coronavirus vaccine raising hopes that an end to the global pandemic which has seen almost 65 million people infected and nearly 1.5 million deaths might be in sight. Moderna an American firm said this week it would apply to United States and European regulators to grant emergency use of its COVID19 vaccine after further evidence confirmed the efficacy of its jab stood at more than 94 percent. Neither vaccines can be injected in children and pregnant women. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/3/moderna-plans-to-test-its-coronavirus-vaccine-on-children 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Times Coronavirus cases have halved in the past two weeks among people in their twenties and seventies with falls continuing in all age groups.Test and Trace figures also show a drop of more than a quarter https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/steep-fall-in-coronavirus-cases-across-britain-brings-relief-to-hospitals-d2xh9s53m 4th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Sweden whose unorthodox pandemic strategy placed it in the global spotlight registered 35 new COVID19 related deaths Health Agency statistics showed on Thursday taking the total to 7007. Sweden registered 6485 new coronavirus cases on Thursday. The increase compared with a previous high of 7240 daily cases recorded two weeks ago. Swedens death rate per capita is several times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours but lower than several European countries that opted for lockdowns. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-sweden-cases-idUSL8N2IJ3G8 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News There have been a further 14879 confirmed COVID19 cases and 414 deaths recorded in the UK in the last 24 hours government figures show. The update brings the total number of coronavirus cases in the UK to 1674134 and takes the number of deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID19 test to 60113. On Wednesday 16170 cases and 648 deaths were recorded. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-uk-deaths-pass-60000-as-another-414-are-recorded-and-14879-more-cases-12150076 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

City A.M. Positive Covid cases dropped more than a quarter in England last week according to the latest Test and Trace figures as the country begins to feel the effects of the nationwide lockdown. Figures from the Department for Health and Social Care DHSC found that just over 110000 people in England tested positive for coronavirus in England in the week to 25 November marking a 28 per cent slump on the previous week. https://www.cityam.com/positive-coronavirus-tests-fall-28-per-cent-as-englands-lockdown-makes-its-mark/ 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

RTE.ie Localised coronavirus outbreaks in parts of South Africa have raised fears that the country could see a resurgence in cases compounded by gatherings during the upcoming festive season. Officials in Africas hardest virushit country are scrambling to contain infections after a flareup was reported in the impoverished Eastern Cape province and adjacent Western Cape province last month. The national number of new daily cases crept over 3000 last week up 50 from an average of 2000 earlier in November. https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/1203/1182055-world-covid/ 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Anadolu Agency France having the highest number of COVID19 cases with more than 2.27 million announced a gradual exit strategy from lockdown last month. On Nov. 28 lockdowns started to loosen with the opening of shops that had been considered nonessential but only until 900 p.m. local time 2000GMT. Religious services resumed albeit with a 30person limit. However lockdown will be lifted on Dec. 15 but a curfew will be imposed from 900 p.m. to 700 a.m. excluding Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. Museums theaters movie houses conservatories and music schools will reopen. On Jan. 20 restaurants cafes bars gyms and sports halls will finally reopen. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/europe-struggles-with-2nd-virus-wave-as-winter-arrives/2064268 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian on MSN.com Support for Swedens government and public confidence in authorities ability to handle the coronavirus crisis are sliding as the countrys antilockdown approach continues to be tested by mounting numbers of deaths and new cases. As the national health agency announced 6485 new infections and 33 more deaths on Thursday the prime minister Stefan Lfven said the countrys high schools would switch to distance learning from 7 December for the rest of the term. This is being done so as to have a slowing effect on the spread of the disease Lfven said adding that the measure was not an extended break. What the country does now will determine how we can celebrate Christmas he said. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/swedes-support-for-anti-lockdown-stance-slips-amid-rising-covid-deaths/ar-BB1bBdsK 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters India Lebanon will not have enough hospital beds to cope with increasing COVID19 cases the health minister in the caretaker government warned on Thursday saying compliance with a twoweek lockdown that ended this week had been patchy. In a Tweet Hamad Hassan said cases were on the rise and although more hospital beds had been added these would not be enough. Intensive care units were at critical capacity when Lebanon ordered the lockdown and caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab had warned the shutdown may be extended if people did not comply. https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-lebanon/lebanese-minister-says-covid-cases-rising-beds-wont-suffice-idINKBN28D14A 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Hungary reported 182 new COVID19 deaths on Thursday by far the highest daily toll since the start of the coronavirus pandemic government data showed. Thursdays tally brought the total number of deaths to 5324 while infections rose by 6635 to 231844. As of Wednesday Hungary ran the European Unions fifthhighest death rate per 100000 people over a twoweek period based on data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government imposed a partial lockdown three weeks ago to slow the spread of the virus including a 1900 GMT curfew and closing secondary schools. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-hungary-casualties/hungary-reports-record-182-daily-covid-deaths-idUKKBN28D0ZP?il=0 3rd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Italians will not be able to attend midnight mass or move between regions over the Christmas period a top health ministry official said on Wednesday as the country battles high coronavirus infection rates and deaths. Italy has been reporting more daily COVID19 fatalities than any other European nation in recent weeks and while the increase in new cases and hospital admissions is slowing the government is worried about gatherings over Christmas. Junior Health Minister Sandra Zampa said Christmas Eve mass must end by around 830 p.m. so that worshippers can return home before a 10 p.m. curfew and people should not invite nonfamily members home for Christmas lunch or other celebrations. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy/italy-bans-xmas-midnight-mass-movement-between-regions-amid-high-covid-toll-idUKKBN28C14F 2nd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Mirror Online Latest Public Health England data shows Swale in Kent Boston in Lincolnshire and Medway also in Kent are among a small number of towns and cities to see a seven day rise in cases https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-surging-englands-three-worst-23105727 2nd Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Washington Post Symptoms of covid19 the illness caused by the coronavirus can range from mild to severe. The most common include fever a dry cough or shortness of breath but there are other indications you could need to be tested or have a conversation with your doctor. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms and the order in which they appear can vary. Some people dont show any symptoms what health experts call asymptomatic cases but still could spread the virus to others. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/02/covid-symptoms/ 2nd Dec 2020

New Lockdown

The Guardian Englands new threetier system came into effect on 2 December after the national lockdown was lifted. Nonessential shops in all areas can reopen as can gyms hairdressers and other personal care businesses with the formal instruction to stay at home coming to an end. The rule of six will again apply for outdoor gatherings in all areas. Places of worship will be able to open and weddings will be allowed within local restrictions. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/02/tier-3-lockdown-rules-in-england-latest-covid-restrictions-explained 3rd Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Daily Mail Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered the citys 4 million residents to stay at home Wednesday night. The mayor told the public to cancel everything and banned all travel including walking and bicycling. Nonessential businesses were ordered to close and officials threatened to arrest those breaking the rules. There are however a long list of exemptions included in the Mayors order. People can leaves their homes if they need to engage in a number of the exempt activities such as visiting certain businesses and exercise including at beaches and on trails. Businesses that are exempt from the order include healthcare operations supermarkets and convenience stores liquor stores gas stations banks hardware stores handymen services and laundromats. Retail stores that follow the countys inperson shopping health protocols are allowed to remain open. Indoor capacity however must be limited to 20 percent and be closed between 10pm to 5am. Personal care establishments such as hair and nail salons tattoo parlors and tanning salons must limit indoor capacity to 20 percent. Garcettis order mirrors a directive put in place by Los Angeles County health officials last week. During a press conference Garcetti said Los Angeles County saw increase of 5987 new cases on Wednesday. 40 new deaths were reported bringing countys toll to 7740 which could hit 11130 by end of the year. According to Garcetti 2572 Angelenos were hospitalized as of Wednesday there are only 479 beds left across county and at current rate health officials are predicting county will run out of beds in next 24 weeks. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9012939/LA-told-stay-homes-effective-immediately.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailus 3rd Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Owners of small businesses in Serbia on Wednesday demanded government aid as the country prepared for its first weekend coronavirus lockdown since May. Several dozen people including restaurant owners and travel agents protested in front of the Finance Ministry. A crisis committee made up of doctors and members of the government has proposed a weekend lockdown for all except food stores and green markets. The government is expected to formally adopt the measure which will see cafes restaurants hair salons shopping malls gyms swimming pools and other businesses close at the weekend on Thursday. Vladanka Rakic owner of a small travel agency in the western town of Uzice said We travel agencies are on ventilators we have not been working since March. https://news.trust.org/item/20201202144931-1y9o2/ 2nd Dec 2020