17th Dec 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=163 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The Times From the moment the first cases came to light in the Wuhan wet market last December the coronavirus pandemic represented a profound loss of face for China. A superpowerinwaiting proudly but defensively emerging on to the world stage has inadvertently unleashed the worst global catastrophe since the Second World War. You didnt need to talk about the China virus or believe in conspiracies about leaks from bio labs to recognise the humiliation for the communist government of Xi Jinping. But now Beijing is attempting to win back international prestige by providing the solution to the problem that it incubated in the first place. After effectively quelling the pandemic among its own people China and to a lesser extent Russia are positioning themselves as benefactors to countries which are struggling to secure supplies of vaccine. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/china-embarks-on-campaign-of-covid-vaccine-diplomacy-2739zdrnd 16th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Independent In many ways normal life has resumed in China the country where COVID19 first appeared one year ago. It feels like life has recovered said moviegoer Meng Xiangyu when Beijing theaters reopened with 30 percent of their seating after a sixmonth hiatus. Everything feels fresh. Chinas ruling Communist Party has withdrawn some of the most sweeping antidisease controls ever imposed but remains on guard against fresh outbreaks and cases from abroad. Health authorities report a dozen or so imported cases every day. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/a-pandemic-atlas-chinas-state-power-crushes-covid19-china-wuhan-communist-party-life-restaurants-b1774699.html 16th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg New Zealands government said the fiscal and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be less severe than first feared as its decision to impose one of the worlds strictest lockdowns pays off. Economic growth will recover more rapidly while budget deficits and net debt will be much lower than expected just three months ago Finance Minister Grant Robertson said Wednesday in Wellington when presenting the halfyear fiscal and economic update. Unemployment will now peak at 6.9 at the end of next year rather than the 7.8 predicted in September https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-16/new-zealand-says-harsh-lockdown-paying-off-as-economy-rebounds 16th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

Irish Independent New Zealand this year pulled off a moonshot that remains the envy of most other nations it eliminated the coronavirus. But the goal was driven as much by fear as it was ambition Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed in an interview with The Associated Press. Ms Ardern said the target grew from an early realisation the nations health system simply could not cope with a big outbreak. https://www.irishnews.com/news/worldnews/2020/12/16/news/jacinda-arden-on-how-new-zealand-eliminated-covid-19-you-just-have-to-get-on-with-it--2162343/ 16th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Times of Israel A health worker in Alaska suffered a serious allergic reaction after getting PfizerBioNTechs COVID19 vaccine and is now hospitalized but stable a report said Wednesday. The New York Times reported that the person received their shot on Tuesday and Pfizer confirmed that the company was working with local authorities to investigate the incident. https://www.timesofisrael.com/alaska-health-worker-has-serious-allergic-reaction-to-pfizers-covid-vaccine/ 16th Dec 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC The World Health Organization WHO has urged Europeans to wear masks during family gatherings at Christmas. It said Europe was at high risk of a new wave of coronavirus infections in the early part of 2021 as transmission of the virus remained high. Countries across the continent have been registering thousands of daily cases and hundreds of deaths. Germany was among countries tightening restrictions on Wednesday closing schools and nonessential businesses. Meanwhile European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the first Covid vaccine would be authorised for use within a week. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55333195 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail The U.S. has delivered coronavirus vaccines to all 50 states since Pfizers shot was given emergency FDA approval on Friday. Doses have reached all 636 locations slated for the first wave of deliveries. Another 2 million doses of Pfizers shot will be rolled out next week. If Modernas shot is given emergency FDA approval this week as expected 5.9 million doses of its vaccine will ship out next week. Most states are vaccinating highrisk health care workers only but Florida and West Virginia have started inoculating nursing home residents. The U.S. is negotiating with Pfizer for another 100 million doses of its vaccine but officials said the firm has been unable to specify how many it can supply. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9059827/Rollout-COVID-19-vaccines-track-20-million-Americans-vaccinated-year.html 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

CNBC As coronavirus cases and related deaths surge experts are questioning the ethics of how governments plan to distribute the first vaccines. Incarcerated individuals in the U.S. are almost four times more likely to become infected than people in the general population and twice as likely to die according to a study by a criminal justice group. If the biggest hotspots for Covid are prisons doesnt it make sense to inoculate everyone from the guards to the prisoners said Ashish Prashar a justice reform advocate at Publicis. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/16/coronavirus-prisoners-have-been-excluded-from-covid-vaccine-plans.html 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Scotsman More than 18000 Scots have been given a first dose of the Covid19 vaccine it has been announced in the first of what will be weekly updates on the Covid19 vaccination programme. https://www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-vaccine-more-18000-scots-given-first-dose-weekly-updates-begin-3070215 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Sky News More than 137000 people have received a coronavirus vaccine in the UK it has been announced. Nadhim Zahawi the minister responsible for the jabs deployment tweeted that it was a really good start. In seven days he said the number of doses administered were 108000 in England 7897 in Wales 4000 in Northern Ireland 18000 in Scotland https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-vaccine-137-000-people-in-uk-get-covid-jab-in-first-week-12163995 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Financial Times Asia has led the world in controlling the spread of Covid19 but that very success has set the region behind the US and Europe in the race to vaccinate against the disease. In countries with limited coronavirus outbreaks regulators have been happy to let westerners act as guinea pigs for quickly approved jabs while in others the low level of Covid19 cases means that locally developed vaccines have struggled to complete clinical trials. Asias vaccine caution contrasts with fervent enthusiasm in the US and Europe where coronavirus infection is raging and authorities have made it a point of pride to grant approvals quickly. https://www.ft.com/content/3a37c3f5-20fc-4d1f-8dd4-2fd966c27542 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Vaccinating the population against Covid19 will cost up to 12bn Whitehalls spending watchdog has disclosed amid details of tensions between health bodies over the rollout. The National Audit Office said the government would spend up to 11.7bn on purchasing and manufacturing Covid19 jabs for the UK before deploying them in England. A report released on Wednesday reveals officials from Public Health England complained that they had been cut out of key decisions despite having previous experience of vaccine delivery programmes. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/16/tensions-mount-over-handling-of-uk-covid-vaccine-rollout 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC The European Commission president says they have enough doses for everyone. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p091mkjf 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters Indonesia will provide free coronavirus vaccines to its citizens when the worlds fourth most populous nation starts its inoculation programme President Joko Widodo said on Wednesday adding he would get the first shot to reassure people on safety. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-indonesia-vaccines/indonesia-pledges-free-covid-19-vaccines-with-president-first-in-line-idUSKBN28Q102 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

CNN on MSN.com Help is on the way. But for many Americans it may not be soon enough.More Americans received their first dose of the PfizerBioNTech Covid19 vaccine Wedneday and federal health officials could authorize a second coronavirus vaccine in the next few days. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-coronavirus-a-second-vaccine-could-soon-get-the-green-light-while-officials-issue-warning-for-the-holidays/ar-BB1bYf8r 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC People from BAME backgrounds are being encouraged to accept a Covid19 vaccine amid concerns that they are less likely to take it up. Thornbury district nurse Genevieve Palmer was given the jab at Kingswood Health Centre in Bristol on Tuesday. She asked communities to take the vaccine to protect yourself protect your family and protect everybody. A Royal Society for Public Health survey found that BAME groups were less likely to want the Covid vaccine. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-55333513 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

RTE.ie The EUs 27 member countries aim to start Covid19 vaccinations on the same day in a sign of unity European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has said. Her statement to the European Parliament came as pressure mounted on the bloc to catch up with the United States and Britain which have already started inoculating people with a vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech. To get to the end of the pandemic we will need up to 70 of the population vaccinated. This is a huge task a big task. So lets start as soon as possible with the vaccination together as 27 with a start at the same day Ms von der Leyen told MEPs. https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/1216/1184718-covid-virus-europe-christmas/ 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

ITV News A senior Cabinet minister has said he hopes the relaxation of coronavirus rules at Christmas wont lead to a rise in Covid19 cases that force the UK into another lockdown in January. Robert Jenrick urged the public to be cautious at Christmas with Boris Johnson confirming at Prime Ministers Questions that the rules would not change saying all four UK nations had agreed to continue in principle with the easing of restrictions. But the communities secretary added that Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has been very clear that there are risks of families coming together and people need to be very careful. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-12-16/covid-minister-hopes-christmas-relaxations-wont-lead-to-january-lockdown 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

USA Today Indias nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID19 rendered millions of migrant workers jobless. But for the handtomouth workers who had migrated to cities like New Delhi and Mumbai for employment staying at home was not an option. https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2020/12/16/india-virus-lockdown-devastates-migrant-workers/3917679001/ 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The New York Times The crowds surged through the gates fought their way up the stairs of the 160yearold station poured across the platforms and engulfed the trains. It was May 5 around 10 a.m. Surat was beastly hot 106 degrees. Thousands of migrant laborers were frantic to leave loom operators diamond polishers mechanics truck drivers cooks cleaners the backbone of Surats economy. Two of them were Rabindra and Prafulla Behera brothers and textile workers who had arrived in Surat a decade ago in search of opportunity and were now fleeing disease and death. Rabindra stepped aboard carrying a bag stuffed with chapatis. His older brother Prafulla clattered in behind dragging a plastic suitcase packed with pencils toys lipstick for his wife and 13 dresses for his girls. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/15/world/asia/india-coronavirus-shramik-specials.html 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

Associated Press The COVID19 pandemic came by ship to Japan in February a foreboding harbinger for a world that had not yet come to grips with the disaster to come. The virus raced through a luxury cruise ship called the Diamond Princess after it had returned to its home port near Tokyo. A 14day quarantine was imposed on the passengers some of whom complained that they were being held in a floating prison. Of 3711 people aboard 712 were infected and 12 died. Though Japanese health officials were accused of botching the handling of the ship the country has weathered the pandemic well it has been spared the dangerous surges seen in the U.S. and Europe thus far. By midDecember Japan had reported 138 cases per 100000 population. https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-tokyo-health-coronavirus-pandemic-japan-3036635e7dcc12722f68999ea5767928 16th Dec 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian For around one third of residents in aged care homes this will be their last Christmas. Yet many residents will not be able to celebrate with families and loved ones even though Australia has transitioned to Covidnormal. An aged care home in Melbourne informed families that residents would not be able to have guests join them for Christmas lunch due to Covidsafe reasons. The home also announced that while residents and staff could enjoy a Christmas party of afternoon tea with carols there would be no entertainers and again families would not be able to join the celebration. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/16/aged-care-residents-have-endured-brutal-lockdowns-they-deserve-christmas-with-their-families 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Presidentelect Joe Biden will get the coronavirus vaccine as soon as next week transition officials said on Wednesday as U.S. authorities try to build public confidence in a measure that promises to stanch the deadly pandemic. Vice President Mike Pence will get the vaccine on Friday the White House said. Both men will receive the shot publicly in an effort to boost confidence in the safety of the vaccine which will become widely available to the public next year. I dont want to get ahead of the line but I want to make sure that we demonstrate to the American people that it is safe to take Biden said at an event earlier on Wednesday. Biden 78 is in a highrisk category for the coronavirus because of his age. https://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-biden-idUKKBN28Q1EK 17th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent TikTok is cracking down on Covid19 vaccine misinformation through a suite of new changes aimed at protecting vulnerable users from harmful conspiracy theories. The videosharing app will introduce a new tool to detect content relating to the Covid19 vaccine as part of a series of updates being released later this month. From that date any relevant videos will come with a banner message attached stating Learn more about Covid19 vaccines. Coronavirus vaccinations developed by Pfizer and BioNTech began to be administered in the UK last week and have since begun in the US and other countries. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/tiktok-update-covid-vaccine-news-b1774949.html 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent A Georgia couple who appeared last week as Mr and Mrs Santa Claus for an event attended by at least 50 children and posed with them for pictures tested positive for coronavirus two days after the event exposing them to risk of infection. Most of the children came in close contact with the couple and some of them even sat on their laps. The pictures from the event also showed the man dressed up as Santa Claus posing without a mask on. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/santa-claus-georgia-covid-test-positive-children-b1774760.html 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Hundreds of actors theatre directors musicians film technicians and critics and many others from the world of French culture gathered in the heart of Paris and other cities on Tuesday to protest against the governments shutdown of culture venues because of Covid19. Cinemas theatres museums and concert halls had been set to reopen but days in advance Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a change of heart in response to Frances stubbornly high infection rate. No reopening will take place now until at least 7 January a decision Mr Castex said was particularly painful for us. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55314653 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK One police officer was knocked unconscious and 40 others received chemical eye burns from gas on Tuesday in clashes between police and thousands of people protesting a government lockdown to fight the coronavirus the interior ministry said. President Volodymyr Zelenskiys government has announced a tight national lockdown starting in January to fight the spread of COVID19 in the wake of a recent spike in cases. At a rally of entrepreneurs and representatives of small businesses on Kyivs Independence Square clashes between helmeted riot police and demonstrators erupted after the protesters tried to set up tents. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-ukraine-lockdown-idUKKBN28P2FN 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday asked the U.S. government to prioritize essential workers including its warehouse grocery store and data center staff for receipt of the COVID19 vaccine according to a letter seen by Reuters. The request shows how the countrys secondbiggest private employer with 800000 workers in the United States considers the vaccine important to keeping its staff safe and its facilities open. The U.S. National Retail Federation made a similar request on the industrys behalf Wednesday as well. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-amazon-com-vaccine/amazon-asks-u-s-to-include-warehouse-grocery-staff-in-vaccine-rollout-idUSKBN28Q2WA 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

STAT News Facebook has overhauled its approach to harmful Covid19 health misinformation announcing major changes that would send a much stronger message to users who have interacted with harmful falsehoods about the virus. The decision on Tuesday comes after STAT reported in May on expert criticism of the social networks handling of falsehoods about Covid19 from the researchers whom Facebook said it had consulted to design the policy. Those experts told STAT that Facebook appeared to have misinterpreted the research and that the social media platforms approach was unlikely to be effective. https://www.statnews.com/2020/12/16/facebook-misinformation-covid19-update/ 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Dodge City Mayor Joyce Warshaw stepped down over concerns for her safety. She received threats after she advocated mask mandates in a USA Today story. Warshaw said people are not acting normally during the pandemic. Despite resigning she said she doesnt regret backing the mask mandate https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9057727/Kansas-mayor-resigns-threats-backing-mask-mandate.html 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC People from ethnic minorities in the UK are significantly less likely to take the coronavirus vaccine with warnings of targeted online scaremongering. A study from the Royal Society for Public Health found 57 of black Asian and minority ethnic BAME people said they would take the vaccine. This compared with 79 of white people who would take a Covid vaccine. Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi warned of the impact of conspiracy theories being shared online. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55332321 16th Dec 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters Chancellor Angela Merkel banged the podium in frustration as she implored Germans this month to reduce social contacts to curb the spread of COVID19. At one point in her unusually passionate address to parliament during which she was heckled she brought her hands together as if in prayer. At others she shook her fist. I want to say this if we have too much contact over Christmas and afterwards it turns out that that was the last Christmas with the grandparents then we will have really messed up and we should not mess up she said. Merkels rare show of emotion on Dec. 9 was widely seen as a sign of impatience with the difficulties and now criticism she faces as she tries to steer Europes biggest economy through a second wave of COVID19. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany-criticism/after-the-cheers-come-jeers-for-germanys-merkel-over-covid-19-idUKKBN28Q2M1 16th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian Unicef has launched a domestic emergency response in the UK for the first time in its more than 70year history to help feed children hit by the Covid19 crisis. The UN agency which is responsible for providing humanitarian aid to children worldwide said the coronavirus pandemic was the most urgent crisis affecting children since the second world war. A YouGov poll in May commissioned by the charity Food Foundation found 2.4 million children 17 were living in food insecure households. By October an extra 900000 children had been registered for free school meals. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/16/unicef-feed-hungry-children-uk-first-time-history 16th Dec 2020

Continued Lockdown

Sky News UNICEF says its the first time in its 70year history that it has responded to a UK domestic emergency. For the first time UNICEF has launched a domestic emergency response in the UK to help feed children hit by the COVID19 crisis. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-for-the-first-time-in-its-history-unicef-will-help-feed-kids-in-the-uk-12163515 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK The first days of Pfizer Incs COVID19 vaccine rollout have seen unexpected hitches including some vaccines being stored at excessively cold temperatures and Pfizer reporting potential challenges in its vaccine production U.S. officials said on a Wednesday press call. At least two trays of COVID19 vaccine doses delivered in California needed to be replaced after their storage temperatures dipped below minus 80 Celsius minus 112 Fahrenheit U.S. Army General Gustave Perna said on the call. Pfizers vaccines made with partner BioNTech SE are supposed to be kept at around minus 70C. Officials are investigating whether storing the vaccines at excessively cold temperatures poses a safety or efficacy risk he said. Pfizer also has reported some production issues U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine-idUKKBN28Q2BM 17th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK The coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University would significantly accelerate the rollout of vaccines in Britain if it is approved by regulators the countrys Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said. If AZ comes through if there arent any lastminute hitches it will speed up very substantially the period before we can actually get to the point ... when those in the highestrisk groups ... can all be vaccinated he told reporters. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-astrazeneca-idUKKBN28Q2EI 17th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

PMLive.com A briefing document published by the US Food and Drug Administration FDA has confirmed the safety and efficacy of Modernas mRNAbased COVID19 vaccine paving the way for a potential approval soon. The document published ahead of tomorrows FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting confirmed that the vaccine has a 94.1 efficacy rate supporting Modernas own findings. The FDA analysis found that although the mRNA1273 vaccine caused some common adverse reactions including injection site pain fatigue headache musclejoint pain and chills serious adverse reactions occurred in 0.2 to 9.7 of participants. https://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/fda_experts_back_safety_and_efficacy_of_modernas_covid-19_vaccine_1360084 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

PMLive.com The European Medicines Agency EMA has scheduled an exceptional meeting of its Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use CHMP on 21 December to review additional data for PfizerBioNTechs COVID19 vaccine. The move to bring the review forward comes after the vaccine BNT162b2 gained approval in the US last week and earlier this month in the UK. The meeting was originally scheduled for 29 December and the EMA added that this meeting will still take place if needed but that the CHMP is hoping to conclude the review on 21 December if possible. http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/eu_fast-tracks_review_of_pfizerbiontech_covid-19_vaccine_1360098 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The European Union could give final approval for the PfizerBioNTech COVID19 vaccine as early as Dec. 23 a senior Commission official said on Wednesday only two days after a possible green light from the blocs regulator. Under EU rules the European Medicines Agency EMA recommends the approval of new medicines and vaccines but the final decision to allow them onto the market is made by the EU executive Commission after consultation with EU governments. The EMA said on Tuesday it could issue a recommendation on the PfizerBioNTech vaccine on Dec. 21.. https://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKKBN28Q25H 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Evening Standard A coronavirus vaccine being developed by cigarette giant British American Tobacco BAT is launching human trials after receiving regulatory approval. The UKbased manufacturer of Benson Hedges and Lucky Strike said Americas Food and Drug Administration FDA has given the green light for clinical tests involving 180 adult volunteers with results expected in the middle of 2021. The vaccine has been developed by BATs biotechnology division Kentucky BioProcessing KBP which has previously worked on a treatment for Ebola and is also developing a seasonal flu vaccine. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/pharmaceuticals/bat-coronavirus-vaccine-gets-approval-for-human-trials-b339925.html 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News Clinical trials have begun in the UK for a new COVID19 vaccine being developed in Scotland. The UK government has preordered 60 million doses of the Valneva candidate which is being developed at the French biotech companys facility in Livingston West Lothian. It is being tested on 150 volunteers at four National Institute for Health Research NIHR testing sites in Birmingham Bristol Newcastle and Southampton. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-valneva-begins-clinical-trials-for-new-coronavirus-vaccine-in-uk-12163618 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Financial Times The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised emergency use of the first overthecounter selftesting Covid19 antigen kit which can produce results within 20 minutes. The test which was developed by Australias Ellume https://www.ft.com/content/af6f26c1-0bad-4c51-9dc3-1ed35854258b?sharetype=gift?token=cc7616da-127a-47c5-b6a2-bb5ded9c1a52 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian The world wasnt prepared for the Covid19 pandemic and it still isnt. Critical shortages of personal protective equipment and ventilators continue to put medical professionals and patients at unnecessary risk. Meanwhile long wait times for test results contribute to viral spread. Yet throughout this year promising scientific innovations have been developed that could help reduce deaths until everyone can get the vaccine. So why arent they available https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/16/coronavirus-test-app-infections 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal Jocelyn Edwards wasnt sure she got Moderna Inc.s experimental Covid19 vaccine or a placebo when she received her first of two doses in August. Hours after the second shot she said she was sure it was the genuine article. I woke up around midnight freezing said the 68yearold retired nurse. For the next 24 hours I had intense chills serious neck pain headache all my joints were aching. She had a fever that peaked at 102.4 and poured out so much sweat that she lost 3 pounds she said. The following day she woke up and felt fine. Ms. Edwards like the other 30000 volunteers who took part in Phase 3 clinical trials for Modernas Covid19 vaccine wasnt told whether she got the vaccine or a placebo. However she said a trial researcher attributed her symptoms to her body mounting a strong immune response to what was most likely the vaccine. Its better having 36 hours of feeling really rough than getting Covid she said. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-trial-volunteers-note-occasional-harsh-side-effects-11608114601 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian A rapid overthecounter Covid19 test developed by Australian firm Ellume has been given emergency approval in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration FDA approved the Brisbanebased companys 20minute Covid19 Home Test on Tuesday as the US battles the virus that has infected 16.5 million people and killed more than 300000 people in the country. The agency approved a prescription coronavirus test last month but an overthecounter product will make it easier to ramp up testing. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/16/fda-approves-ellume-health-covid-19-home-test-developed-brisbane-australia-emergency-use-usa-coronavirus 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Plans to relax Covid restrictions at Christmas must be reversed or many lives risk being lost according to a rare joint editorial from two of the UKs most eminent medical journals. That call was echoed by the head of the hospital doctors union who described the governments plans as kamikaze. Keir Starmer the Labour leader also urged Boris Johnson to reconsider the restrictions in a letter to the prime minister on Tuesday afternoon. The British Medical Journal and Health Service Journal said the government could no longer claim to be protecting the NHS if it went ahead with its rash plans to allow households to mix indoors over Christmas. We believe the government is about to blunder into another major error that will cost many lives it says. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/15/uk-medical-journals-call-for-christmas-covid-rules-to-be-reversed 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Associated Press On the morning of Feb. 20 Dr. Annalisa Malara went to work at the public hospital in tiny Codogno Italy and broke protocol by ordering up a coronavirus test for a patient. In so doing she confirmed that Europes coronavirus outbreak was under way. Malaras intuition to test a 38yearold Italian marathoner who hadnt traveled to China or been in contact with a known positive case sounded the alarm to Italy and the rest of the world The virus had not only arrived in the West but was circulating locally. Italy would go on to become the epicenter of COVID19 in Europe and a cautionary tale of what happens when a health care system in even one of the wealthiest parts of the world collapses under the weight of the pandemic sick and dead. https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-europe-italy-health-coronavirus-pandemic-f71955b0327aa9f7a0c2e44b9f485475 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Olive Press Just under 10 of the Spanish population have been infected with COVID19 since the start of the pandemic a study has found. The fourth round of the ENECOVID national Serprevalence Study estimates that 4.7m people 9.9 have already caught the disease. Around half of these were infected during the first wave and the other half during the second wave said the report prepared by the ministry of Health the Carlos III Health Institute and National Institute of Statistics. https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/12/16/study-10-of-spain-has-been-infected-with-covid-19-as-two-andalucia-provinces-revealed-among-least-affected/ 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Forbes Chinas vaccine diplomacy efforts hit a snag on Monday as Brazilian health regulator Anvisa said that Chinese health authorities had not been transparent about their experimental Covid19 vaccines one of which is currently being tested in Sao Paulo. Anvisa which is assessing the CoronaVac shot developed by Chinas Sinovac Biotech said that Brazil was the international leader in the evaluation process for the experimental vaccine Reuters reported. The health regulator noted that while the vaccine has had an emergency use authorization in China since June the countrys authorities have not been transparent about the criteria used for granting this authorization. https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2020/12/15/brazilian-health-regulator-says-chinese-authorities-have-not-been-transparent-about-covid-19-vaccine/ 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

1News The nations of the world ran the gamut in their responses to the Covid19 pandemic sometimes veering from strict to lax measures in the course of just a few months and vice versa. A look at the state of the pandemic around the globe https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/pandemic-atlas-nz-envy-world-nations-ran-gamut-in-their-response 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Express Germany will begin coronavirus vaccinations on December 27 with elderly care home residents Health Minister Jens Spahn announced Wednesday with the European Union aiming for all 27 member states to begin on the same day. In a statement Germanys 16 statelevel health ministers said Spahn had announced the expected approval and supply of the BioNTech vaccine with distribution beginning shortly before years end. As Germany holds the EUs rotating presidency that could mean December 27 will be the start date for all member countries. Also Wednesday. French Prime Minister Jean Castex said that France could begin vaccinations in the last week of December if all conditions are met. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-germany-aims-virus-vaccinations-december.html 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian A World Health Organization research mission to China is expected to arrive in Wuhan next month to investigate how the novel coronavirus jumped from animals to humans and whether it emerged earlier or in a different place than originally thought. Fabian Leendertz a biologist at Germanys Robert Koch Institute and a member of the WHOs 10person mission team told the Associated Press they will be working with Chinese scientists for four to five weeks. Most scientists think the virus SarsCov2 began in animals in China most likely bats before jumping to humans. Cases were first discovered in the city of Wuhan in late December 2019 linked to a seafood market. More than 73.4 million people have since been diagnosed with the virus and 1.63 million have died. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/16/who-research-team-expected-to-travel-to-wuhan-to-investigate-coronavirus-origin 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK The United States on Thursday expanded its campaign to deliver COVID19 vaccine shots into the arms of doctors and nurses on the frontlines of a pandemic that has killed more than 2500 Americans a day even as a major winter storm threatened to slow progress on the East Coast. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-usa/u-s-vaccine-campaign-grows-as-covid-19-kills-2500-plus-americans-daily-idUKKBN28Q1TO 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera US officials are working with Pfizer Inc to help maximize production capacity for its COVID19 vaccine after the drugmaker told them it may be facing production challenges US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said in a Wednesday press call. Pfizer did not immediately respond to a request for comment but its Chief Executive Albert Bourla told CNBC earlier this week the company was asking the US government to use the Defense Production Act to relieve some critical supply limitations particularly in some components. He did not provide further details on the areas of shortage. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/16/us-says-pfizer-vaccine-production-may-face-challenges 16th Dec 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Two commentaries published yesterday in JAMA and a University of Michigan news release offer ideas from behavioral science and other fields to boost COVID19 vaccine uptake in the United States and discuss the ethics of continuing placebo arms in trials of coronavirus vaccines already proven effective. The first commentary by Kevin Volpp MD PhD and Alison Buttenheim PhD MBA of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia and George Loewenstein PhD of Carnegie Mellon University tackled the problem of Americans hesitancy to take a COVID19 vaccine. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/experts-propose-steps-promote-distribute-covid-vaccine 15th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail There were 128 deaths reported on Monday across New York which is the highest daily death toll since May 16 when 132 fatalities were reported. Hospitalizations have surged 23 percent in the last week with 5982 patients currently being treated for COVID19 across the state. There are now 1065 patients being treated in intensive care a 17 percent increase from a week earlier. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has threatened to close all nonessential businesses in regions where hospitalizations reach 90 percent. Currently 77 percent of hospital beds are full in New York state and 67 percent of ICU beds are occupied. New York Citys hospital beds are now 80 percent full. Cuomo is warning that hospitals in parts of the state could become overwhelmed by January based on the current unsustainable trajectory. He said the state may be headed for a second lockdown like the one seen in the spring if the trajectory of hospitalizations cases and deaths doesnt change https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9059621/New-Yorks-COVID-19-hospitalizations-rise-23-week.html 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN Europe is preparing for a Christmas season like no other as governments desperately try to thread the needle between preserving public health and allowing families to gather for traditional celebrations at the end of a tough year. Countries across the continent are taking varied approaches even as Covid19 cases continue to rise in some nations. Heres what European nations are planning this festive season https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/16/europe/europe-christmas-covid-restrictions-intl/index.html 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Germany has recorded a daily record 952 coronavirusrelated deaths as shops schools and nurseries across the country close for an emergency Christmas lockdown. After experiencing relatively low numbers of infections and fatalities compared with other European countries in the spring Germanys disease control agency has recorded more than 400 deaths for 11 days in a row. Wednesdays figure of 952 deaths was artificially inflated by the fact that Saxony one of the federal states most affected by the second wave also supplied numbers its health authorities had failed to report for Monday. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/16/germany-reports-record-covid-deaths-as-country-enters-christmas-lockdown 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters An adviser to Italys health ministry has called for coronavirus restrictions to be drastically tightened to avoid a national tragedy after the national statistics bureau ISTAT said deaths this year would be the highest since World War Two. We are in a war situation people dont realise it but the last time we had this many deaths bombs were dropping on our cities during the war public health professor Walter Ricciardi told the television channel la7 on Tuesday evening. Ricciardi the adviser to Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the government which is considering tightening restrictions over the Christmas and New Year holidays should lock down the main cities completely. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-idUSKBN28Q0ZW 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

FRANCE 24 German streets were quiet like Sunday on the first day of a new partial lockdown to try to halt surging infections as the country reported a record number of Covid19 deaths. A total of 952 people died in the previous 24 hours according to the Robert Koch Institute RKI disease control centre Wednesday a figure that could rise as the hardhit Saxony region was not included in Tuesdays numbers. The RKI said 27728 new coronavirus cases were registered a figure close to the daily record of nearly 30000 infections reported on Friday. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201216-germany-sees-record-death-toll-on-first-day-of-new-lockdown 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters South Korea reported a record daily rise in novel coronavirus cases on Wednesday and the prime minister issued an urgent call for more hospital beds to cope with the countrys worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic. Hospitals were at breaking point with only three critical care beds available in greater Seoul an area with a population of almost 26 million people officials said. The top priority is securing more hospital beds Prime Minister Chung Syekyun told a government meeting according to a transcript. Full administrative power should be mobilised so that no patient would wait for more than a day before being assigned to her bed. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-southkorea/south-korea-reports-record-coronavirus-cases-as-seoul-runs-out-of-critical-care-beds-idUSKBN28Q05Z 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Yoshihide Sugas honeymoon period as Japans prime minister had barely begun when coronavirus intervened. Now two months into his leadership he finds himself battling a resurgent outbreak and disillusionment among voters. Enthusiasm for the farmers son who worked parttime to pay his way through university has all but evaporated since he took office in late September. As Japan prepares for a holiday period that experts fear could be overshadowed by a sharp rise in Covid19 cases an anxious public has Suga in its sights. After the ruling Liberal Democratic party LDP selected Suga to replace an apparently ailing Shinz Abe as party leader and following parliamentary approval prime minister his support rating was briefly 74. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/16/honeymoon-over-for-yoshihide-suga-japan-pm-covid-third-wave 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg on MSN.com German manufacturing powered ahead in December with global demand helping factories post a betterthanforecast performance. IHS Markits monthly index unexpectedly jumped to 58.6 the highest level in almost three years from 57.8. Orders across the goodsproducing sector increased sharply with many firms citing stronger demand from China in particular. The reading pushed the euro higher. It extended its gain and was up 0.4 to 1.2198 as of 1047 a.m Frankfurt time. The yield on German 10year bonds rose. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/german-factories-saw-bottlenecks-in-days-before-new-lockdown/ar-BB1bYbkK?fbclid=IwAR3i95bZKW_CRtLAXnvDL6bFLgVRBZqJ2m6unFoztUn-6Mx3tqzmFa1O87g 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Irish Times Great news a Covid vaccine is coming But we cant let our guard down nowit will take many months to fully roll it out and it remains only one important tool in our toolbox. In the meantime we must deploy parallel strategies to suppress Covid so that health and business can get back to normal as soon as possible. Failing that we will face more lockdowns and risks for example the new Covid strain revealed this week in England which could spread to Ireland given significant traffic between the two jurisdictions. Also this week Michael Martin warned us about an impending January lockdown as have many experts. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/if-australia-can-close-internal-borders-to-fight-covid-so-can-we-here-s-how-1.4437622 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to review plans aimed at easing coronavirus restrictions for the Christmas period. Several European countries have imposed tighter coronavirus restrictions ahead of the festive season. The United States reported another record number of new cases as worldwide infections near 73 million with more than 1.6 million deaths. South Korea hit another record high of daily new COVID19 cases since the pandemic began prompting health officials to consider even tougher measures. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/16/uk-govt-slammed-for-plans-to-relax-covid-rules-for-christmas 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK South Korea reported a record daily rise in novel coronavirus cases on Wednesday and the prime minister issued an urgent call for more hospital beds to cope with the countrys worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic. Hospitals were at breaking point with only three critical care beds available in greater Seoul an area with a population of almost 26 million people officials said. The top priority is securing more hospital beds Prime Minister Chung Syekyun told a government meeting according to a transcript. Full administrative power should be mobilised so that no patient would wait for more than a day before being assigned to her bed. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-southkorea-idUKKBN28Q0H1 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that people should plan only for a merry little Christmas and exercise extreme caution but he refused to outlaw festive family gatherings as COVID19 cases soared across swathes of Britain. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain/should-covid-cancel-christmas-uk-says-it-is-a-personal-decision-idUKKBN28Q0QN 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK The leading expert advising the Swiss government on the coronavirus pandemic urged it on Tuesday to impose an immediate and strict lockdown to contain the infection rate echoing calls by other scientists officials and medical professionals. We think we need very strong measures the earlier the better Martin Ackermann who heads the independent scientific advisory body on COVID19 told a media briefing. Ackermann called for the closure of restaurants and nonessential shops and for strict workfromhome rules. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-swiss/swiss-coronavirus-expert-calls-for-lockdown-to-curb-covid-19-idUKKBN28P24Q 16th Dec 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian When ambulances started queueing outside hospitals across Northern Ireland revealing a health system overwhelmed by Covid19 Sean Brophy was not surprised. Weeks earlier the 52yearold hospital transport worker had himself been hospitalised with the virus and saw how even then the system was cracking under pressure. When someone died or was discharged the bed was filled within an hour they were already at capacity. Staff were brilliant but they looked as fatigued as those of us with Covid. It was just wrong. I could see where it was heading said Brophy. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/16/on-brink-covid-pressure-mounts-hospitals-northern-ireland-wales 16th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

BBC First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has announced tougher new measures to tackle Covid19 including a postChristmas lockdown. We must move to alert level 4 and tighten the restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus and save lives he said. Mr Drakeford also advised that only two households should come together at Christmas. Under rules agreed for all nations of the UK up to three households are allowed to meet for a limited period. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55335968 16th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

The Guardian Fresh lockdown measures are to be imposed in Wales beginning on Christmas Eve while the law will be changed to limit Christmas mixing to two households the first minister Mark Drakeford has announced. Amid surging cases all nonessential shops plus leisure and fitness centres and closecontact services will shut at the end of trading on Thursday 24 December. Hospitality premises including pubs and restaurants will close from 6pm on Christmas Day. On 28 December tighter restrictions for household mixing staying at home holiday accommodation and travel will apply. This new set of level 4 restrictions will apply to the whole of Wales. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/16/wales-to-impose-fresh-covid-lockdown-rules-from-christmas-eve 16th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

The Times Germanys Covid19 death toll has risen by nearly 1000 in a single day leading to speculation that its lockdown could last until Easter. One of the countrys regional chief ministers has warned that the hospital system is for the first time seriously on the brink of overload as the infection rate continues to mount and spare intensive care capacity dwindles. This morning the Robert Koch Institute RKI which compiles the governments coronavirus statistics reported 952 deaths within the previous 24 hours well above the previous singleday record of 590 which was set on Friday. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/coronavirus-germany-faces-hard-lockdown-until-easter-as-deaths-spiral-2v3cntf2d 16th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

CNN Philippines South Korean health officials have warned residents to take current restrictions seriously as the country faces the possibility of entering into its first potential lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic amid an alarming rise in new infections. https://cnnphilippines.com/world/2020/12/16/South-Korea-first-COVID-lockdown.html 16th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters One woman waved purple burlesque feather fans while dozens cheered with beers and some sang Karaoke in the streets for one last gasp of revelry in Londons partyland before the capital went into the strictest level of COVID restrictions. For much of 2020 the pubs of Londons West End and the hedonistic nightclubs of Shoreditch have lain silent devoid of the fun that has over the centuries attracted drunken poets louche musicians and the lonely seeking a liaison. As tougher restrictions loomed at the stroke of midnight a few hundred revellers brushed away the COVID19 doom and gloom in Soho by partying on the streets mostly without masks. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-party/last-gasp-londoners-party-on-eve-of-tougher-rules-idUKKBN28Q184 16th Dec 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Denmark will impose a hard lockdown over Christmas and the New Year to limit the spread of COVID19 Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Wednesday. Shopping malls will close starting Thursday and other stores with the exception of supermarkets and food shops will close from Dec. 25. Students still in school will be sent home as of Monday. Our healthcare system is under pressure Frederiksen said. We have to act now. Danish authorities expect the coming months to be the worst of the pandemic she said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-denmark-idUKKBN28Q2B0 16th Dec 2020