9th Dec 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=157 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK People in the United Kingdom may have to wear face masks for another year despite the countrys national vaccination programme getting under way The Telegraph reported citing chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance. Restrictions may remain in place long after a full rollout of a vaccine Vallance suggested according to the report. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-mask/uks-chief-science-advisor-says-masks-may-be-needed-for-another-year-the-telegraph-idUKKBN28I37Z 8th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK British retail sales growth slowed in November when nonessential stores shut as part of a fourweek lockdown in England but online sales were able to fill more of the gap than in the first lockdown in March industry data showed on Tuesday. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-retail/uk-retail-sales-growth-slows-as-november-lockdown-hits-non-food-sales-brc-idUKKBN28I00G?il=0 9th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruisetonowhere from Singapore has tested positive for COVID19 forcing all guests to be quarantined in their cabins and the Quantum of the Seas ship to return to dock on Wednesday. Singapore has been piloting the trips which are open only to residents make no stops and sail in waters just off the citystate. There were around 2000 passengers aboard at the time who have all been confined to their rooms. The global cruise industry has taken a major hit from the coronavirus pandemic with some of the earliest big outbreaks found on cruise ships. In one case in February off the coast of Japan passengers were stuck for weeks aboard the Diamond Princess with over 700 guests and crew infected. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-singapore-cruise/singapore-cruise-to-nowhere-turns-back-after-covid-19-case-aboard-idUKKBN28J078 9th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

9News.com.au Western Australias hard border came down at midnight after a ninemonth closure marking another major milestone in Australias fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Passengers were greeted by loved ones some of whom told 9News they have not seen their family in over a year. Its been 14 months since we have been together one person said. Those who arrive in WA today will no longer need to complete the 14day quarantine. However visitors will need to complete a G2G declaration pass and undergo a health screening on arrival. Some may be asked to take a COVID19 test. https://www.9news.com.au/national/western-australia-borders-reopen-to-new-south-wales-and-victoria-in-coronavirus-milestone/a61745e2-3f22-4a68-95b3-20fa37c54fe0 8th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Hundreds of shoppers pack a wet market on a December weekday morning in the Chinese city of Wuhan jostling to buy fresh vegetables and live fish frogs and turtles. Almost a year since the city reported the worlds first cases of COVID19 in one of its handful of vast wet markets and even as several other countries remain firmly in the grip of the subsequent pandemic life in Wuhan has largely returned to normal. Wuhan has not recorded a new locally transmitted case in several months and is now indistinguishable from other Chinese cities with crowded shopping streets traffic jams and tightly packed restaurants. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-wuhan-mood/a-year-on-markets-bustling-in-chinese-city-where-covid-19-emerged-idUSL4N2IO0FA 8th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Evening Standard The UKs coronavirus vaccine tsar has said she expects families will be able to go on holiday next summer as the Covid jab started its historic rollout. Kate Bingham chair of the coronavirus vaccine taskforce said she expects by the summer that people will be in a better place to get on planes. She made the comments just hours after Margaret Keenan 90 became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer jab on what has been dubbed VDay. Ms Bingham told BBC Radio 4s Today programme My gut feel is that we will all be going on summer holidays. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/holidays-travel-summer-covid-vaccine-normal-life-b217359.html?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1607419653 8th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Presidentelect Joe Biden on Tuesday laid out his plan to fight the coronavirus pandemic during his first 100 days in office saying his administration would vaccinate 100 million Americans push to reopen schools and strengthen mask mandates. https://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-biden/biden-introducing-health-teams-vows-100-million-covid-19-vaccinations-in-first-100-days-idUKKBN28I1DR?il=0 8th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Detailed results from the AstraZenecaOxford trials have been eagerly awaited after some scientists criticised a lack of information in their initial announcement last month. However the Lancet study gave few extra clues about why efficacy was 62 for trial participants given two full doses but 90 for a smaller subgroup given a half then a full dose. This will require further research as more data becomes available from the trial the study said. Less than 6 of UK trial participants were given the lower dose regimen and none of them was aged over 55 meaning more research will be needed to investigate the vaccines efficacy in older people who are particularly susceptible to COVID19. Pooling the results overall efficacy was 70.4 the data on Tuesday showed. That is above the 50 minimum set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-vaccine/testing-times-more-work-needed-on-astra-oxford-vaccine-trials-idUKKBN28I2AY 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Sydney Morning Herald UK health authorities have rolled out the first doses of a widely tested and independently reviewed COVID19 vaccine starting a global immunisation program that is expected to gain momentum as more serums win approval. The first shot came on Tuesday local time at one of a network of hospital hubs around the country where the initial phase of the program will be rolled out on what has been dubbed VDay. https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/turning-point-90-year-old-first-to-receive-approved-covid-vaccine-20201208-p56ls4.html 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal The U.K. became the first Western country to start inoculating its population with a Covid19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germanys BioNTech SE . Maggie Keenan 90 years old received the first shot at a hospital in Coventry early Tuesday morning in a program that could provide a taste of the logistical challenges facing other countries including the U.S. as they prepare to roll out their own largescale vaccination plans. https://www.wsj.com/articles/uk-vaccine-covid-news-update-11606905307 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC A UK grandmother has become the first person in the world to be given the Pfizer Covid19 jab as part of a mass vaccination programme. Margaret Keenan who turns 91 next week said the injection she received at 0631 GMT was the best early birthday present. It was the first of 800000 doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine that will be dispensed in the coming weeks. Up to four million more are expected by the end of the month. Hubs in the UK are starting the rollout by vaccinating the over80s and some health and care staff. Senior NHS sources told the BBC thousands of vaccinations had taken place across the UK on Tuesday. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55227325?fbclid=IwAR2m9mhep2SKHtnlyvabGNmydAtd-IAafc6iPt7qfEX9FrXeniI-2BwvqgY 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Record The first of the longawaited vaccinations against Covid19 will be issued on Tuesday at hospitals across Scotland. Its a landmark day in the global battle against coronavirus which has raged throughout 2020. While its a welcome breakthrough it will take several months at least for the vaccination to be rolled out across all age groups. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/covid-vaccinations-begin-scotland-today-23129421 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Pulse GPs have been instructed to prioritise patients from Black Asian and minority ethnic BAME backgrounds in their first over80s Covid19 vaccination cohorts. Details outlined in a letter sent yesterday from NHS England advise that GP practices must select and contact priority vaccination patients by tomorrow 9 December. GP sites selected to begin vaccinations next week of which there are expected to be around 280 will each receive one batch of 975 doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine. If a Primary Care Network PCN designated site has more than 975 patients over 80 years of age they must prioritise based on comorbidities and ethnicity. GP surgeries will be responsible for generating patient lists based on this new priority cohort definition. https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/immunology-and-vaccines/gps-to-prioritise-elderly-bame-patients-for-first-covid-19-vaccine-batch/ 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Liverpool Echo The first vaccines against Covid19 will be administered on Merseyside today. Hospital sites across our region will start to give people the PfizerBioNTech vaccine that begins its national rollout today. The first batch of 800000 doses of the vaccine are already being administered to top priority people with 90yearold Margaret Keenan the first person in the world to be vaccinated at the University Hospital in Coventry this morning. In Merseyside the two main hospital sites where the vaccine will be delivered to people are Aintree Hospital and Clatterbridge Hospital in Wirral. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/historic-day-first-covid-19-19417991 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC An 87yearold grandfather who received one of the first coronavirus vaccines said he felt it was his duty to do whatever I can to help. Dr Hari Shukla who was given his jab at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle said the whole world is looking at us to see how things go. The PfizerBioNTech jab is being given first to over 80s and some NHS staff. South Tees Hospitals Trust chairman Alan Downey said the first vaccinations had been a huge logistical effort. One of the first to be given the jab at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough was Margaret Dixon from Redcar who said she was looking forward to being free and being able to go to the shops. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-55230948 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Grampian Online The first vaccinations against Covid19 are taking place today in the NHS Grampian region which covers Moray Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen. Initial supplies of the Pfizer vaccine have been arriving at health boards across Scotland since the weekend and are being stored at the required ultralow temperature. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said This is obviously a very welcome milestone in our collective fight against the pandemic. Science has given us hope and we are starting on a journey which will eventually allow us to return to the lives we want to lead. Following clinical advice from the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation we will begin with those groups which have been prioritised to address 99 per cent of preventable deaths associated with Covid19. Initial supplies of the Pfizer vaccine have been arriving at health boards across Scotland since the weekend and are being stored at the required ultralow temperature. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said This is obviously a very welcome milestone in our collective fight against the pandemic. https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/first-covid-19-vaccinations-begin-today-in-nhs-grampian-region-220826/ 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Indias claim to fame is staggering scale of its general elections with 900 million voters mobilised across 1 million polling stations to choose from 8000 candidates across a landmass spanning 2000 miles north to south and pretty much the same east to west. But now the country has to go one better. India must vaccinate 1.3bn people against Covid19 twice and twice as fast. With more than 9 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and a battered economy how will the country meet this challenge Prime minister Narendra Modi is confident. We have a vast and experienced vaccination network and the country will capitalise on these advantages he said recently. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/08/indias-biggest-challenge-how-to-vaccinate-13bn-people-against-covid-19 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

GP online GPled sites could deliver COVID19 vaccinations to care home residents as soon as next week LMCs believe as NHS Englands medical director confirmed rollout to this group would start before Christmas. Scottish health minister Jeane Freeman said last week that in Scotland vaccination of care home residents the group idenfied by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI as the top priority would start from 14 December. The Westminster government has yet to confirm when vaccination of care home residents will start in England but a senior GP involved in rolling out the COVID19 vaccination campaign has told GPonline that GPled vaccination sites in the first wave set to start from next week could administer some vaccines in care homes. https://www.gponline.com/gps-deliver-covid-19-vaccine-care-homes-next-week/article/1702172 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

ITV News Covid restrictions will ease for the majority of Scots later this week with cafes restaurants shops and hairdressers allowed to reopen from Friday and Saturday. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed on Tuesday that no area of Scotland will remain in Level 4 when changes come into force. A total of 11 Scottish council areas including Glasgow Lanarkshire and Stirling have been under the toughest tier of restrictions in the country since November 20. They will now all move down to Level 3. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-12-08/covid-19-lockdown-restrictions-to-be-eased-for-majority-in-scotland 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

glasgowlive.co.uk Level four lockdown will end in Glasgow on Friday. Nicola Sturgeon has just announced the city will shift to tier three allowing all shops restaurants and cafes to reopen. Hairdressers and gyms are also among the businesses permitted to start trading again weeks after the Scottish Government imposed the strictest level of lockdown on 11 local authority areas in Scotland including Glasgow City. https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/nicola-sturgeon-announces-level-three-19419110 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Japan Times Russia has sought to assert itself on the world stage through arms sales and energy exports but the coronavirus pandemic has given Moscow another tool to win influence abroad a vaccine. President Vladimir Putins announcement in August that Russia had registered the worlds first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V was met with raised eyebrows. Scientists at home and abroad raised concerns that the jab had yet to complete mass trials and that crucial data about the vaccine had not been made public. The developers have since claimed that the vaccine has an efficacy of above 95 according to preliminary data from Phase 3 trials but the full data has yet to be disclosed as the trials are ongoing https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/08/world/russia-vaccine-geopolitics/ 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

ABC News South Australia has no known active coronavirus cases for the first time in more than two months with health authorities announcing restrictions on social gatherings will again be eased from next Monday. The state today recorded no new COVID19 cases for the 10th consecutive day. The maximum number of people allowed at home gatherings will rise while patrons will be able to stand up while drinking at hospitality venues. From Monday the limit on the number of people allowed at private functions at licensed venues will increase from 150 to 200. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-08/no-active-coronavirus-cases-in-sa-as-restrictions-set-to-ease/12960028 8th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters Helping to lead a mass trial for a Chinesemade COVID19 vaccine in Pakistan a country where antivax sentiment can turn lethal and conspiracy theories are endemic Dr. Mohsin Ali has heard all kind of questions from anxious prospective volunteers. Is this going to take away my reproductive ability Is this going to kill me Is there any 5G chip in this And is there a conspiracy to control people en masse he said recounting the sometimes bizarre doubts clouding peoples minds. I get many questions like this he told Reuters at Islamabads Shifa International Hospital before adding I try to answer them with logic and on the level of the individual asking them. Some still refuse. The hospital is one of a number in Pakistan where phase III trials are underway for Chinese vaccine developer CanSino Biologics Ad5nCoV candidate. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-pakistan-vaccine/pakistans-covid-vaccine-drive-needs-antidote-to-conspiracy-theories-idUSKBN28I1B0 8th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC US Presidentelect Joe Biden has set a goal of 100 million Covid vaccinations in his first 100 days in office. He said his first months in office would not end the outbreak and gave few details on rollout strategy but he said he would change the course of Covid19. Introducing his health team for when he takes office on 20 January he urged Americans to mask up for 100 days. On Tuesday a report paved the way for a PfizerBioNTech vaccine to be approved and rolled out for Americans. President Donald Trump meanwhile attended a summit at the White House of his Covid vaccination programme called Operation Warp Speed and hailed the expected approval of vaccines. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55238092 9th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent on MSN.com Earlier this year we faced a new dangerously infectious virus and such a health crisis like any other crisis with an unknown and unproven enemy cannot rely exclusively on the tried and true Ramin Oskoui vice president of the medica staff at Washingtons Sibley Memorial Hospital told a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday. But it was worse than that. Affirmative steps to keep physicians and patients ignorant were taken. Medical McCarthyism became the norm he added comparing criticism of medical experts and politicians who pushed malaria drugs like hydroxychloriquine to treat Covid19 to the push by thenSenator Joseph McCarthy of accusing alleged communist sympathisers of treason. The use of antimalarials and other drugs to treat Covid19 has been roundly rejected by the US and Western medical community. Despite the president repeatedly pushing hydroxychloriquine describing it as something of a Covid wonder drug his own Food and Drug Administration in July said it was not suited to treat the respiratory disease. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/critics-of-hydroxychloriquine-to-treat-covid-19-are-guilty-of-e2-80-98medical-mccarthyism-e2-80-99-controversial-doctor-says/ar-BB1bKc5M 8th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Florida police have raided the home of data scientist Rebekah Jones who built the states official Covid19 database. Ms Jones has accused the US Department of Health of manipulating virus data in order to relax pandemic restrictions. She posted a series of videos of the raid on Twitter in which armed officers seized her phone and laptop. Floridas law enforcement department said it was responding to a hack of the states emergency health alert system. Ms Jones denies any involvement. Ms Jones was fired from her job at the Department of Health in May after making her accusations and has since maintained her own database independently tracking the spread of the virus. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55230764 8th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

ITV News When shaping policy to protect us from Covid19 the government relies on data from the Office for National Statistics ONS to provide the scientific basis for its actions. The weekly ONS coronavirus survey is supposed to be the information gold standard and in particular it underpinned Boris Johnsons controversial announcement at the end of October to put England back into national lockdown. No other course of action seemed sensible given that the ONS survey on October 30 showed the incidence of coronavirus in the community in England had surged from 4.3 per 10000 people on October 3 to 9.52 on October 17 the latest date for data then available. This was a terrifyingly fast doubling rate. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-12-08/covid-did-boris-johnson-order-englands-coronavirus-lockdown-based-on-false-data 8th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters Most Californians faced heavy new restrictions on Monday aimed at slowing the spread of COVID19 while New Yorks governor threatened to ban indoor restaurant dining in New York City as the United States feared infections would continue skyrocketing. Restaurants in Southern California the San Francisco Bay Area and the states agricultural San Joaquin Valley shut for all but takeout and delivery. Playgrounds closed stores reduced capacity and hair salons and barbershops shuttered. The moves affected about threequarters of the nearly 40 million people in Americas mostpopulous state. California Governor Gavin Newsoms order allowed some schools to continue to hold classes. But the Los Angeles Unified School District the states largest closed campuses that had been partially open to offer inperson services and tutoring affecting many specialneeds students. https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-usa/amid-resistance-california-imposes-strict-stay-at-home-orders-idUSKBN28H1HM 8th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Children in Spain and Portugal could find that their Christmas presents this year reflect the coronavirus pandemic as dolls wearing face masks kits for making personal protection items and other toys adapted to fit the times fly off shop shelves. Millions of kids around the world were stuck in their homes during a series of lockdowns and when they did emerge they were often told to wear masks. So as the holiday season approached some toymakers gave their toys a twist. I think its a way of adapting to reality said mum Reyes Lopez as she looked around a toy store in Madrid. Dolls also have to represent society. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-spain-toys-idUSKBN28I13F 8th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

The New York Times Drew Holden is a public affairs consultant in Washington D.C. and a former Republican congressional staff member. He writes Research suggests that to mitigate negative side effects lockdowns should be well communicated and as short as possible. In many cities and states one or both of these guidelines were ignored. When lockdowns seemed wanton and capricious many Americans felt deceived. If new lockdowns are absolutely needed something that the World Health Organization and some health experts believe is inadvisable then policymakers must avoid both the reality and appearance of hypocrisy. This is particularly true because unlike many other wealthy countries the United States is not providing any type of ongoing direct aid to those who are struggling. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/opinion/covid-lockdown-isolation.html 8th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Financial Times The November lockdown in England brought to an end five months of strong retail sales but the consumer sector showed much more resilience than in the spring with online purchases soaring and strong spending on electronics and digital entertainment. Retail sales in the UK grew 0.9 per cent in November compared with the same month last year down from a 4.9 per cent annual expansion in October according to data compiled by the British Retail Consortium trade body in association with the consultancy KPMG. The overall nearstagnation masked widely different trends across the sector. https://www.ft.com/content/aca3f6e3-c5a2-45bc-bcd5-d17af31b29e3 8th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

iNews It took a pandemic to silence Gerhard Schmiderer. For the past quartercentury the now 70yearold DJ Gerhard has blasted trashy hits for drunken aprsskiers at MooserWirt a bar in St Anton an Austrian ski resort. This year however the speakers will be silent rather than blaring out yet another rendition of The Final Countdown a raucous anthem sung by bighaired Swedes. The usual revellers dancing on tables in ski boots will be absent. The 500m run back to the resort will no longer be strewn with those who have quaffed too much and fallen over in the snow. https://inews.co.uk/news/world/france-germany-italy-skiing-resorts-shut-january-row-austria-coronavirus-risk-786418 8th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Germany is speeding up the disbursement of coronavirus aid for lockdownaffected firms this month by lifting the threshold of an initial payout which comes with less bureaucratic paperwork government officials said on Tuesday. Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders have agreed to extend restrictive measures designed to stem a tide of new coronavirus infections until Jan. 10. The measures which had been put in place since Nov. 2 have forced restaurants bars hotels gyms and entertainment venues to close. But factories shops and schools remain open. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany-aid-idUKKBN28I1RG 8th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK France may have to delay unwinding some COVID lockdown restrictions next week after signs the downward trend in new cases has flattened out after shops were allowed to reopen late last month two government sources said. France was far from hauling the number of daily new infections down to a target 5000 and the risk of a rebound in the European Unions secondbiggest economy remained high Jerome Salomon the health ministrys top official said. The 5000 threshold was an early condition of President Emmanuel Macron for replacing the lockdown with a nightly curfew allowing cinemas and museums to reopen and ending the need for people to carry sworn affidavits outside their homes. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france/france-may-have-to-delay-unwinding-covid-19-lockdown-as-cases-plateau-idUKKBN28H0QR?il=0 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal Peerreviewed data from latestage human trials of a Covid19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca PLC reaffirmed the shots strong safety results and provided some additional evidence that halving the first of two doses of the shot boosts its effectiveness. AstraZeneca and Oxford said the data gave them confidence to ask the U.K. and other countries for emergencyuse authorization of the vaccine but said regulators will have to decide which dosing regimen to approve. Last month AstraZeneca and Oxford said trial data showed the vaccine was between 62 and 90 effective but that the higher results were observed in a small subset of the wider trial. https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-trial-data-underscore-safety-range-of-efficacy-11607443250 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Business Journals Plymouth Meetings Inovio Pharmaceuticals provides an updated timeline for its experimental Covid19 vaccine and says it expects to play an important role in the battle against the coronavirus. On Monday Inovio began phaseII testing of its DNAbased Covid19 vaccine candidate INO4800. https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2020/12/08/inovio-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-ino-4800.html 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC News New results on a possible COVID19 vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca suggest it is safe and about 70 effective but questions remain about how well it may help protect those over 55 a key concern for a vaccine that health officials hope to rely on around the world because of its low cost availability and ease of use. Still experts say the vaccine seems likely to be approved despite some confusion in the results and lower levels of protection than what some other vaccine candidates have shown. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/studies-suggest-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-safe-effective-74605477 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters AstraZeneca and Oxford University have more work to do to confirm whether their COVID19 vaccine can be 90 effective peerreviewed data published in The Lancet showed on Tuesday potentially slowing its eventual rollout in the fight against the pandemic. Once seen as the frontrunner in the development of a vaccine against the coronavirus crisis the British team was overtaken by U.S. drugmaker Pfizer whose shots with a success rate of around 95 were administered to UK pensioners on Tuesday in a worldfirst hailed as VDay. Detailed results from the AstraZenecaOxford trials have been eagerly awaited after some scientists criticised a lack of information in their initial announcement last month. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-vaccin/testing-times-more-work-needed-on-astra-oxford-vaccine-trials-idUSKBN28I2AS 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Forbes There are so many amazing facts in here Akiko Iwasaki an immunology professor at Yale said in a tweet about her review of the materials. Including she continued that people who received the Pfizer vaccine are protected from Covid19 as early as 12 to 13 days post first dose. These materials will be used by the FDA this Thursday at a meeting of the regulatory bodys Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee which will use them to determine whether to grant an EUA. That decision could come as early as Thursday and if granted would mean that administration of the vaccine could begin in the United States. The two companies have already received similar authorization from the United Kingdom where the first doses of the vaccine to the general population were administered Tuesday. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2020/12/08/fda-review-of-pfizer-vaccine-data-confirms-protection-against-covid-19-infection/ 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

USA Today Data on a candidate COVID19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University are strong enough to present to regulators in the U.K. Europe and elsewhere around the world the collaborators said Tuesday but they dont expect approval from the U.S. without more data from American volunteers. The team presented their data Tuesday in the medical journal The Lancet the first latestage trial information to be published under peer review with careful independent analysis. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/12/08/astrazeneca-oxford-covid-vaccine-effectiveness-reaffirmed-after-error/6488650002/ 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Aberdeen Evening Express Interim results from pooled studies show the vaccine was 70.4 effective on average in preventing coronavirus after two doses were given. For people given two full doses of the jab in one study the vaccine was 62.1 effective. In a study where people received a half dose followed by a full dose the vaccine was 90 effective. The overall efficacy of 70.4 is based on 11636 volunteers across the United Kingdom and Brazil and combined across three groups of people vaccinated. But on a day when the NHS started rolling out the PfizerBioNTech vaccine in older people health staff and care home workers the Oxford researchers said more detail is required on how effective their vaccine is in older adults. https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/uk/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-has-good-safety-record-and-efficacy-study/ 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Harvard Business Review By now its clear that bringing the pandemic under control will require a range of actions that can persuade people opposed to wearing masks socially distancing or getting vaccinated to change their behaviors. For this reason Presidentelect Joseph Biden should add to his Covid19 task force social and behavioral scientists who have the expertise to design and apply such interventions. https://hbr.org/2020/12/bidens-covid-19-task-force-needs-behavioral-scientists 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The BMJ The UKs response to the covid19 pandemic has on any measure been unimpressive. In a recent assessment of G7 countries it came out second worst in the cumulative number of deaths in relation to population just behind Italy. It was worst in terms of the contraction of the economy. These facts were well known. What was new and surprising was that it had achieved these unenviable positions despite spending far more than most of the other countries. Using a measure based on the core budget deficit it spent 80 more than the average among these industrialized countries beaten only by Canada. Faced with this predicament it is understandable that ministers would look elsewhere for ideas. At first it was Sweden with Downing Street seeking advice from its chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnell. Swedens refusal to adopt the stringent measures imposed elsewhere had obvious attractions for a party committed to individual freedom with ministers who had spent many years criticizing the nanny state. Unfortunately as the evidence from Stockholm accumulated revealing a magnitude of economic decline similar to that in its locked down neighbours but at a much higher cost in lives the attraction waned finally evaporating when the second wave which advocates for the Swedish model predicted would not happen became apparent. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/12/07/could-slovakias-mass-testing-programme-work-in-england/ 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CBC.ca The first president of Alberta Health Services says Australias strict lockdown shows its possible to reach zero COVID19 cases. He would know as one of the authors of the report that guided the countrys restrictions. We eliminated the virus. The feeling of relief and celebration how proud we were that wed done it after 110 days of lockdown was immense and were going back to normal. Since last night I can have 30 people I think in my house if I want to Stephen Duckett said speaking to CBC News from Melbourne. The evidence is that theres no conflict between whats right for the economy whats right for peoples health people in hospital dont spend money. The health economist was hired as AHSs first president and CEO in 2009 but shortly after his appointment the province cut the newly created agencys budget by 1 billion. He left in 2010. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/stephen-duckett-lockdown-1.5831808 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Sydney Morning Herald Indonesias stateowned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma said on Tuesday that interim data on trials it was conducting on vaccines produced by the Chinese company Sinovac showed up to 97 per cent efficacy. Our clinical trial team found within one month that the interim data shows up to 97 per cent for its efficacy said Iwan Setiawan a spokesman for Bio Farma at a news conference. https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/sinovac-covid-19-vaccine-showing-up-to-97-per-cent-efficacy-in-early-trials-20201208-p56lsn.html?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1607417538 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma The FDA has released its internal review documents ahead of the closely watched COVID19 vaccine advisory committee meeting scheduled for Thursdayand they bode well for Pfizer and partner BioNTechs prospects for securing a quick emergency use authorization EUA. The FDA meeting briefing published PDF on Tuesday confirmed the efficacy and safety profile of Pfizer and BioNTechs BNT162b2 reiterating that the shot was 95 effective at preventing COVID19 after two doses with no serious safety concerns. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/fda-internal-review-bodes-well-for-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-snagging-a-quick-eua 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma Just as thousands of Brits were lining up to get Pfizers mRNA COVID19 vaccine yesterday a troubling question emerged in the U.S. Did the United States government fail to lock in enough doses of the vaccine to ensure a broad and quick rollout here The short answer appears to be yes. And reviewers were full of praise for the vaccines clinical program. BNT162b2s development has ensured the highest compliance and quality standards while progressing expeditiously to address the pandemic the agency wrote in its executive summary. Statistical analysis suggests the vaccines true efficacy is at least 90.3 with a possibility of hitting as high as 97.5. Notably the efficacy was consistently high at 94.7 for participants at 65 years of age or older. And even in those with underlying conditions who are considered at risk of developing serious COVID cases the vaccines efficacy stood strong at 95.3. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/not-enough-covid-19-vaccine-doses-blame-feds-not-pfizer-reports 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma As the various COVID19 vaccines move closer to the finish line their developers have been raising money from investors or through advance government purchases to ramp up manufacturing. Now a Chinese company has done the same for its candidate. Sinovac Biotech netted 515 million in investment from local firm Sino Biopharmaceutical which in exchange gets a 15.03 stake in Sinovac Life Sciences a subsidiary of the Nasdaqlisted vaccine specialist. The money will help fund development manufacturing and new production capacity for Sinovacs COVID19 vaccine candidate CoronaVac as well as other activities Sinovac said Monday. Currently Sinovac can make 300 million doses of CoronaVac a year. But the company hopes to finish building another production facility by the end of 2020 to boost annual capacity to 600 million doses with the potential to expand output even further in the future. CoronaVac an inactivated shot is one of the frontrunning COVID19 vaccines. Its actually been used in China in a secretive emergency use program. Meanwhile its undergoing phase 3 trials in Brazil Chile Turkey and Indonesia with supply deals in place with these countries. https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/sinovac-secures-515m-investment-to-double-covid-19-vaccine-capacity-as-phase-3 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP The first full peerreviewed results of phase 3 trials of the COVID19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University show that it is safe and up to 90 effective in preventing infection supporting regulatory submissions for emergency use. The interim analysis published today in The Lancet identified no severe coronavirus disease or hospitalizations in pooled results from the 11636 adults vaccinated in the United Kingdom and Brazil. Of the 11636 adults 131 1.1 had symptomatic COVID19 more than 14 days after the second vaccine dose including 30 of 5807 0.5 in the COVID19 vaccine group and 101 of 5829 1.7 in the control group indicating a vaccine efficacy of 70 https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/phase-3-trials-show-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-has-90-efficacy 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Food and Drug Administration FDA documents posted in advance of advisory group consideration of emergency use authorization EUA for the PfizerBioNTech COVID19 vaccine revealed promising new findings including strong protection after the first dose and protection in groups at risk for disease complications. The good news comes on the same day immunization with the vaccine began with much fanfare in the United Kingdom where a 90yearold woman who lives in Coventry was the first to receive it outside of a vaccine trial. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/fda-documents-show-pfizer-covid-vaccine-protects-after-1-dose 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration endorsed the efficacy and safety of the Covid19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech in detailed documents released Tuesday setting the stage for an emergency authorization as early as this week. The documents are a prelude to a Thursday meeting of outside experts which is likely the final step before the FDA grants an emergency use authorization or EUA. The FDA reviewers state that the twodose vaccine was highly effective in preventing symptomatic Covid19 and that the data suggest a favorable safety profile with no specific safety concerns identified that would preclude issuance of an EUA. The data also suggest that the twodose vaccine may begin preventing some Covid19 cases after the first dose. https://www.statnews.com/2020/12/08/fda-scientists-endorse-highly-effective-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-ahead-of-key-panel/ 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News The Covid19 vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca appears to have moderate efficacy in preventing symptomatic illness and may significantly reduce hospitalization from the disease data from four clinical trials of the vaccine reveal. The highly anticipated publication of the data released Tuesday in The Lancet also point to some signals that deserve further exploration the possibility of protection after a single dose and the suggestion that at least one dosing regimen may have led to a decrease the number of asymptomatic infections. https://www.statnews.com/2020/12/08/detailed-data-on-astrazeneca-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-show-it-has-moderate-efficacy/ 8th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Some of Englands most ethnically diverse areas have suffered up to four times more coronavirus infections than mostly white neighbourhoods only a few miles away a Guardian analysis reveals as health experts said the UK had paid the price for failing to tackle structural racism. A study of Englands 10 worsthit council areas found huge disparities in the effect of Covid19 on residents living alongside one another with densely packed Black Asian and minority ethnic BAME communities bearing the brunt of the pandemic. In Blackburn with Darwen which has experienced the UKs highest coronavirus cases per capita the contrast between neighbouring areas is stark. One in 10 people have had the virus in Bastwell where 85.7 of residents come from a BAME background four times higher than a neighbourhood five miles away where only 2 of people are nonwhite. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/07/densely-packed-bame-communities-in-england-bear-brunt-of-covid-19 7th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Sabah Officials say the Phase 1 human trials of ERUCOVVAC developed at Erciyes University in central Turkey will conclude on Dec. 14. and that Phase 2 may begin two days later. If the vaccine is proven to be effective it will be added to Turkeys growing arsenal of vaccines to put an end to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Turkey announced it had received a shipment of the Chinese vaccine earlier. Ahmet Inal deputy director of the universitys research center where trials are being conducted says they had 44 volunteers for the first phase and they were planning to inoculate some 200 volunteers in the second phase. He noted that they have already received more than 100 volunteer applications. https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkeys-domestic-covid-19-vaccine-set-for-next-stage-of-human-trials/news 6th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN on MSN.com Dr. Cleavon Gilman served in the Iraq War but he said that doesnt compare to the battle hes fighting as an emergency room physician in Arizona. This pandemic is a lot worse than being in Iraq just because when youre in a war zone you can leave that war zone. You can fly out of Iraq youre OK here in the United States the Yuma doctor said. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/covid-19-pandemic-as-hospitals-start-to-max-out-medical-workers-beg-for-help/ar-BB1bExIP?fbclid=IwAR3ASHbe1Q5WICT4c44JiMBIV_aprBMPHfxO9mTSJY2GKCrgD0RM7X68lLo 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard Matt Hancock issued an urgent appeal to Londoners today to stick by the rules after shock figures showed Covid19 cases rising in 21 boroughs increasing the risk of Tier 3 for the city before Christmas. The Health Secretary also stressed that more people in the capital will end up in hospital and die because of the diseases spread. He spoke out after alarming data showed confirmed cases jumping by 46.7 in Haringey in the week to December 2 with many boroughs in east London also being particularly badly hit. Worryingly much of the rise happened before lockdown ended last Wednesday. The coronavirus surge is all the more striking as just over a week earlier cases were falling in 30 out of 32 boroughs. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-tier-3-warning-coronavirus-cases-latest-figures-b216408.html 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Russia and Ukraine has seen a number of Covid19 patients fall to their deaths The latest one of Russias oldest war heroes had recently been discharged Russian doctors are now calling for an investigation into the suicide cases They want to look into whether Covid19 can cause neuropsychiatric disorders https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9029597/Russian-doctors-demand-probe-Covid-19-patients-jumping-high-rise-buildings.html 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail The US recorded 1404 deaths and 192299 new coronavirus cases yesterday while the number of people currently hospitalized reached a record 102148 Deaths which have been rising rapidly since last month are now currently averaging 2200 per day. During the initial peak of the virus in April the highest sevenday rolling average was just over 2000. In the last week 15658 Americans have died from COVID19 making it the deadliest week since April. Hospitalizations have consistently set singleday highs since late October and are currently rising in 31 states. In the last week every state apart from Utah and Montana have reported an increase in deaths compared to the previous seven days. The Dakotas continue to record the most deaths per 100000 across the country. Rhode Island is currently the worst affected state with an average of 110 cases per 100000 people in a week. It comes as alarming new red wave maps created by US government health officials show how surging COVID19 hospitalizations and deaths have engulfed the United States in the last four months The data included in the most recent White House task force situation report sent weekly to states tracks the number of new COVID19 admissions per 100 inpatient beds across the country https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9030471/Americas-COVID-19-death-toll-surpasses-April-peak.html 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Aberdeen Evening Express A growing number of areas in England are seeing a rise in Covid19 case rates. Seven days ago just 21 out of a total of 315 local authority areas had recorded a weekonweek jump in rates. That figure now stands at 126. A majority of places are still recording a fall but there is only one region northeast England where are rates coming down in all local areas. https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/uk/more-areas-in-england-recording-rise-in-covid-19-case-rates-figures-show/ 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

iNews As people welcome the news that a 90yearold woman has become the first person in the world to receive a Covid19 jab stark new data has highlighted why the vaccine programme will be vital in the UKs ongoing fight against the coronavirus. Despite tough restrictions brought in across England and Wales in recent months new figures from the Office for National Statistics ONS show that by the end of November the number deaths from Covid19 had reached the highest rate since May. https://inews.co.uk/news/health/covid-deaths-england-lockdown-end-november-statistics-figures-786782 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Matt Hancock has refused to rule out imposing Tier Three measures onto the capital a week before Christmas. Department of Health data shows infections in the city continued to rise during the fourweek lockdown. But NHS hospital admissions and deaths from the virus are still flatlining despite the surge in infections https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9029671/Londons-Covid-cases-higher-Englands-lockdown.html 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times The United States reported its 10 millionth coronavirus case on Sunday with the latest million added in just 10 days as most of the country struggled to contain outbreaks in the third and most widespread wave of infection since the pandemic began. More than 103600 new cases were announced on Sunday the fifthhighest total of the pandemic according to a New York Times database and the fifth day in a row the country exceeded 100000 cases in a single day. Case reports have soared in the last week shattering records. The sevenday average of new cases now exceeds 111000 per day far more than any other country. The United States accounts for about onefifth of all reported coronavirus cases in the world a total that has passed 50.2 million. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/08/world/covid19-coronavirus-live-updates 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera Japan will compile a fresh economic stimulus package worth 73.6 trillion yen 708bn Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday signalling his resolve to pull the country out of its coronavirus crisisinduced slump. The new stimulus package will include fiscal spending worth around 40 trillion yen 384.2bn Suga said in a meeting with ruling party executives. The government is set to finalise the stimulus package later on Tuesday which would follow a combined 2.2 trillion from two previous packages that focused on dealing with the immediate strain on households and business. The new economic measures would help push new economic growth Suga said at the meeting. The package is likely to include subsidies and incentives to prod companies to boost green investment and spending on digitalisation an area Suga has laid out as his key policy priorities. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/12/8/japan-announces-708-bn-in-fresh-stimulus-as-covid-cases-rise/ 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard Londoners might be facing Tier Three lockdown restrictions just a week before Christmas as data shows infections are up in two thirds of the capitals boroughs. The latest Public Health England data shows infection rates are rising in the capital with cases per person up by half in certain areas of the city. Some officials are reportedly now voicing concern about London. Rates in some areas were rising even before lockdown was lifted on December 2 and before Londoners enjoyed the first weekend of slightly eased measures. Government officials are set to meet on December 16 to review tiers across the country just over a week before Christmas Day. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/london-facing-tier-3-before-christmas-b209285.html 8th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP More than 200000 Americans are now testing positive for COVID19 each day on average according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins data. Yesterday the Department of Health and Human Services HHS released its most detailed report of hospital capacity yet the first to show facilitylevel status NPR reported. The HHS data show that for 126 US counties the average hospital is 90 occupied. Yesterday the United States reported 192299 new cases and 1404 deaths according to the Johns Hopkins tracker. And the COVID Tracking Project reported that 102148 Americans are currently hospitalized for COVID19. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/us-total-tops-15-million-covid-19-surge-expands 8th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Germany inched towards stricter measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus on Tuesday as an eastern region said it would close schools and most businesses and the health minister warned a partial lockdown had not stopped the disease. Europes biggest economy is struggling to squash new infections in a second wave of COVID19 that is both proving far more difficult to tame than the first one and extracting a heavier human toll as daily deaths hit record highs. The governor of the eastern state of Saxony which has the highest sevenday incidence rate per 100000 residents anywhere in Germany said schools and nonessential businesses will be shut from Dec. 14 as hospitals struggle to take in patients. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany/germany-inches-towards-stricter-covid-19-lockdown-idUKKBN28I0NN 8th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

POLITICO Germany should introduce stricter measures before and especially during the Christmas holidays to bring down stagnating coronavirus numbers a group of experts said Tuesday. In a statement the countrys National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina recommended a twophase hard lockdown until at least January 10. In the first phase from December 14 the experts want Germans to reduce contacts and work from home while authorities should lift the requirement for children to attend school. In the second phase from December 24 when Christmas is traditionally celebrated in Germany nonessential shops should close larger gatherings should be banned and contacts reduced to a minimum https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-experts-christmas-lockdown-december-coronavirus-deaths/ 8th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters The German government and states will discuss tighter measures this week to suppress the COVID19 virus RBB broadcaster reported on Tuesday citing the Brandenburg state premier Dietmar Woidke. Woidke said a number of state premiers would exchange views ahead of the meeting with the federal government. A partial lockdown and social distancing rules in place since the start of November have slowed but not stopped the spread of the disease. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-germany/german-leaders-to-discuss-tighter-covid-19-measures-this-week-rbb-idUSL8N2IO0V9 8th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Azerbaijan will impose a strict lockdown in all of its major cities for just over a month from Dec. 14 to limit the spread of COVID19 the governments emergency coronavirus department said on Tuesday. Azerbaijan already has a raft of restrictions in place but cases have roughly doubled in the past three to four weeks. Restaurants cafes beauty salons and shops are closed at weekends with public transport not in operation. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-azerbaijan/azerbaijan-to-introduce-lockdown-in-major-cities-from-dec-14-idUSL8N2IO2KY 8th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Most Californians face heavy new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID19 while New Yorks governor threatened to ban indoor restaurant dining in New York City as the United States feared infections would continue skyrocketing. Restaurants in Southern California the San Francisco Bay Area and the states agricultural San Joaquin Valley shut for all but takeout and delivery. Playgrounds closed stores reduced capacity and hair salons and barbershops shuttered. The moves affected about threequarters of the nearly 40 million people in Americas mostpopulous state. California Governor Gavin Newsoms order allowed some schools to continue to hold classes. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-usa/californians-endure-another-lockdown-as-covid-19-patients-overwhelm-hospitals-idUSKBN28H1HM 8th Dec 2020