7th Jan 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=172 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Mirror Online Ive been an NHS doctor for 31 years and worked in some demanding jobs. But since last March I have looked after wards where all the patients have Covid19 for months on end. Ive never seen anything like it. Total UK Covid deaths hit 70000 this week but many more infected people end up in hospital get sick in care homes or have a rough few weeks at home. On call for emergency admissions as I was this week around half the patients I admit are sick due to Covid. Right now a quarter of our beds are filled by Covid patients and our Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units have nearly doubled in size to cope with the surge in demand. The current peak is already as high as it was in April and the models suggest it will worsen through January https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/david-oliver-walk-mile-shoes-23273264 7th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

Stuff.co.nz New details have emerged in the governments hunt for a Covid19 vaccine distributor including the requirement to be able to move doses through roadblocks during another lockdown. The exacting requirements for prospective distributors have emerged in a Ministry of Health procurement document obtained by Stuff. They include the ability to distribute dangerously large quantities of dry ice and transport items at ultracold temperatures down to minus 70 Celsius. Interested companies are also asked about contingency plans for delivering a vaccine in another Covid19 lockdown scenario including whether they could handle disruptions to their networks such as roadblocks. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300199285/covid19-new-details-revealed-in-governments-vaccine-distribution-plan 6th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

Stuff.co.nz Since the new Covid19 variant began spreading rapidly around the world new measures have been rolled out to slow it down. The B.1.1.7 strain which was first identified in the UK on September 20 is more transmissible than other coronavirus variants. According to DirectorGeneral of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield it is roughly oneandahalf times more infectious than earlier versions of the virus. The new variant has since been found in more than 30 countries including New Zealand. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/123870153/covid19-predeparture-tests-and-more-lockdowns-additional-measures-rolled-out-to-battle-new-variant 6th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

New Zealand Herald A worker at a managed isolation facility who sparked a lockdown at Hamilton District Court has tested negative for Covid19. The lockdown was triggered shortly before 10am and was lifted around 11.20am when members of the public were allowed out again. The court then closed for the rest of the day. People who were inside have been told they are only casual contacts so dont have to do any mandatory quarantine at home. A source has told the Herald that the lockdown was triggered because a woman who worked at a managed isolation facility had turned up at court and told a staff member she had a runny nose and was awaiting the result of a Covid19 test. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-scare-hamilton-district-court-lockdown-lifts-isolation-worker-tests-negative/GF3JLARWVCYT6H4FNR2EKOWHC4/ 6th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

VICE In a year that mostly felt devoid of hope a light at the end of the tunnel emerged from a surprising source the bottom of the world. Longsince illuminated for its historymaking politics 2020 saw New Zealand burn even brighter on the global stage for all but eliminating coronavirus twice with remarkable efficiency announcing 95 percent probability of zero local transmissions as other firstworld nations confronted yet another surge. Perhaps it was the countrys dispersed population borderless isolation or high governmental trust index but once again a small island nation just North of Antarctica and often confused with Australia had set an undeniable precedent. https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/g5bwyx/new-zealand-creatives-on-life-after-covid-19 6th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

STAT News Moncef Slaoui the controversial head of Operation Warp Speed will serve as a consultant in the Biden administration he confirmed Wednesday. He suggested it would be a less active role than his current position as the initiatives chief adviser. I will continue to support as needed I think we are getting close to the point where my value add is more limited and therefore Ill expect my activity to decrease gradually after January 21 Slaoui told STAT Wednesday during a briefing with reporters. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/06/moncef-slaoui-consultant-biden/ 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

ITV News Around 50000 people have received a first dose of coronavirus vaccine in Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann said. Nine in 10 care home residents have been inoculated. By January 18 more supplies are expected to be received from manufacturer AstraZeneca. Mr Swann urged the public to stay at home while the programme gathers steam. This is a time to hunker down and weather the crisis he said. https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2021-01-06/around-50000-receive-first-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-in-northern-ireland 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Millions of South Africans will have their COVID19 vaccinations subsidised by medical schemes that pool health insurance premiums through an agreement with the government a top medical scheme administrator said. Under the arrangement medical schemes will pay above cost for doses for their members roughly 7 million adults over the age of 15 subsidising procurement for another 7 million adults who are without private medical cover Ryan Noach chief executive of the countrys largest medical scheme administrator Discovery Health said. In all vaccines for around 30 of the countrys adult population would be financed by the agreement. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-vaccines/south-african-medical-schemes-to-fund-covid-19-vaccines-for-30-of-adults-idUKKBN29B2GB 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

POLITICO.eu The mafia will be trying to get their hands on COVID19 vaccines Italian police have warned. Giving vaccines to millions of people is proving problematic for most governments and now law enforcement authorities are bracing for an additional challenge criminals targeting vaccine distribution. Their interest in vaccines is due to the high demand and the low initial supply the Italian police body monitoring mafia infiltration of the economy said in an internal report extracts of which were released on Wednesday. https://www.politico.eu/article/mafia-hunt-coronavirus-vaccine-italy-police/ 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Israel expects to receive its first shipment of Moderna Inc coronavirus vaccines on Thursday and will administer them to people confined to homes or otherwise unable to go to clinics Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. His statement issued late on Wednesday did not detail the size of the shipment. Moderna said on Monday that Israel had approved the vaccine securing 6 million doses. Israel has since Dec. 19 been administering Pfizer Incs coronavirus vaccine with the Health Ministry saying on Wednesday that some 16 of citizens had received a first shot. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-vaccine-idUKKBN29B2EE 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

BBC News The Dutch army is cleared to help hospitals intensive care units borrow beds from other wards patients are sent to Germany for treatment routine operations are postponed a nationwide lockdown is in place and still no vaccinations. In a proudly wellorganised country with a wellfunded health service the first Dutch nationals will receive their coronavirus jabs on Wednesday ten days after their European neighbours and nearly a month after the UK. The Dutch government has come in for stinging criticism. One former public health director Roel Coutinho warned the countrys shameful vaccination strategy was going to cost lives. During an emergency debate in parliament opposition politicians called the approach chaotic and confusing. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55549656 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Top Serbian politicians urged greater international acceptance of Russias coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday as they joined the front of their countrys queue for shots days after Moscow delivered the first consignment. The first batch of 2400 doses of Sputnik V vaccine arrived on Dec. 30 and Russian sovereign fund RDIF said it had agreed to supply more up to a total of 2 million. Serbia started inoculations with the twostage drug on Wednesday including a shot for parliament speaker Ivica Dacic who urged the World Health Organization to register it. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-serbia-russia-vaccine/serbia-praises-russian-covid-vaccine-as-first-shots-administered-idUKL8N2JH27K 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

POLITICO.eu German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that she is open to the idea of using European manufacturing capacities to increase the production of Russias Sputnik V vaccine a German government spokesperson said on Wednesday. News of a MerkelPutin call on Tuesday to discuss cooperation on vaccine production was first made public by the Kremlin that same day. Speaking at a German government press briefing Wednesday deputy spokesperson Ulrike Demmer said that Merkel had told Putin that she is open to the idea of bilateral cooperation for the purpose of tapping European production capacities for the Russian vaccine. Demmer added that this would only happen if the European Medicines Agency EMA gives its approval to the Sputnik V vaccine. https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-vadimit-putin-russian-vaccine/ 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

POLITICO.eu Faced with surging coronavirus cases some European countries are considering whether to change tack and join the U.K. in vaccinating as many people as possible with just one dose rather than the two administered during clinical trials so far. This issue has been live since December 30 when the U.K. announced its decision to delay second doses by up to 12 weeks when it approved the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use. The switch also applied to the BioNTechPfizer jab. Just this week Denmark announced its decision to delay the second dose of both the Pfizer and forthcoming Moderna jabs by up to six weeks. The German health ministry has also confirmed looking into widening vaccination coverage by similar delays between doses. https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-coronavirus-vaccine-shot-delay/ 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News Visitors to Ireland will have to produce a negative COVID19 test taken within the previous 72 hours as the countrys government brings in a raft of tough new restrictions. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-britons-must-take-coronavirus-test-before-travelling-to-ireland-12180841 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on Wednesday that states should not let recommendations to prioritize certain groups like essential workers slow the pace of COVID19 vaccinations. Those are simply recommendations and they should never stand in the way of getting shots in arms Azar said at a press conference for the Operation Warp Speed vaccination program If states are struggling to distribute the vaccine then by all means you want to be opening up to people 70 and over or 65 and over he said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-vaccines/azar-states-should-not-let-prioritization-slow-covid-19-vaccinations-idUKFWN2JH0XN 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

BBC News The end of Englands lockdown will not happen with a big bang but will instead be a gradual unwrapping Boris Johnson has told MPs. The prime minister made the comments in the Commons ahead of a retrospective vote later on the lockdown measures. He said the legislation runs until 31 March to allow a controlled easing of restrictions back into local tiers. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the governments decisions have led us to the position were now in. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there were now 30074 patients with coronavirus in UK hospitals. All of the UK is now under strict virus curbs with Wales Northern Ireland and most of Scotland also in lockdown. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55561024 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

The New York Times With a more contagious variant of the coronavirus forcing England to impose a strict new national lockdown and European nations extending restrictions in the face of rising cases political leaders have promised that mass vaccinations will bring an end to the suffering. But in the race to beat the virus the virus is still way out in front. There are shortages of needles in Italy Greece and other countries. Spain has not trained enough nurses. France has only managed to vaccinate around 7000 people. Polands program was rocked by scandal after it was revealed that celebrities were given preferential treatment. There are calls in Germany to take control over vaccine purchases from European Union authorities. Nearly every country in Europe has complained about burdensome paperwork. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/world/europe/europe-covid-vaccinations.html 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

The Associated Press When thousands of people across the European Union began rolling up their sleeves last month to get a coronavirus vaccination shot one corner of the continent was left behind feeling isolated and abandoned the Balkans. Balkan nations have struggled to get access to COVID19 vaccines from multiple companies and programs but most of the nations on Europes southeastern periphery are still waiting for their first vaccines to arrive with no firm timeline for the start of their national inoculation drives. What is already clear is that Albania Bosnia Kosovo Montenegro North Macedonia and Serbia home to some 20 million people will lag far behind the EUs 27 nations and Britain in efforts to reach herd immunity by quickly vaccinating a large number of their people. https://apnews.com/article/europe-albania-kosovo-serbia-montenegro-d91575ce2e00705f9fa733737b83da25 6th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won parliaments backing for Englands latest lockdown on Wednesday after telling lawmakers that schools would be the first to reopen when he can start a gradual unwrapping of the strict measures. Faced with criticism over the timing of the lockdown and the abrupt closure of all schools Johnson defended his decision by saying the new more contagious coronavirus variant and the threat it posed to the health service offered little choice. Johnson justified his decision on schools which some lawmakers said threatened to hurt the opportunities of millions of children by saying he did everything in our power to keep them open until every other option had been closed off. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-johnson/british-pm-johnson-says-englands-lockdown-will-be-slowly-unwrapped-idUKKBN29B1G4 6th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

The Guardian The leak of plans for a November lockdown in England to the media approximately a week before restrictions came into force has been linked by researchers to a jump in Covid19 cases caused by people rushing to socialise before the deadline. There was a surge in new infections starting a couple of days before the lockdown and running for about a week or so after the lockdown was implemented said the studys lead author Paul Hunter a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/06/leak-of-november-covid-lockdown-plan-linked-to-surge-in-new-infections-say-researchers 6th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

POLITICO.eu What a difference a month and a new strain of coronavirus makes. The last time MPs held a major vote on coronavirus measures on December 1 it prompted the biggest rebellion of Boris Johnsons premiership with 55 of his backbenchers voting against new restrictions. When the House of Commons is asked to vote on the new national lockdown on Wednesday any such backlash among the lockdownskeptic wing of Johnsons party is likely to be much smaller several MPs predicted with a number of former rebels saying they would now back the government. https://www.politico.eu/article/retreat-of-the-uk-coronavirus-lockdown-skeptics/ 6th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail From today across England it is illegal to leave home without a reasonable excuse such as essential shopping Scotland Yard arrests suspects in Parliament Square and seven outside Assange case including Eric Levy 92 Boris Johnson will give statement to the Commons today ahead of a vote on his lockdown measures tonight Police have warned they will be taking a tougher line on enforcing the rules with fines issued more quickly But some officers say it will be impossible to fine every lockdownflouter as people lie about why theyre out https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9117399/Lockdown-LAW-Boris-Johnson-set-face-MPs-ahead-vote.html 6th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Greek Christian churches held Epiphany services on Wednesday openly defying government coronavirus restrictions that banned public gatherings including religious ceremonies on one of the most important days of the Orthodox calendar. Despite a plea by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for Church authorities to set an example during a crisis that has killed more than 5000 in Greece worshippers attended morning services although limits were placed on the number allowed into churches at one time. State orders are one thing and faith is another said a 38yearold worshipper who gave her name as Stavroula after attending morning service at a church in the outskirts of Athens. No law can order us what to do. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-greece-epiphany/no-law-can-order-us-greek-christians-defy-covid-ban-on-epiphany-services-idUKL8N2JG482 6th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

The Financial Times Germany is extending its lockdown until the end of January and banning nonessential travel in those areas worsthit by the coronavirus pandemic as it battles to control an upsurge in new infections. We are appealing to people to reduce their contacts to an absolute minimum Angela Merkel told reporters after a videoconference with the leaders of Germanys 16 federal states. The chancellor said infection rates were still too high and many hospitals were reaching the limits of their capacity. Germany also had to be particularly careful in view of the new viral variant spreading from the UK that was much more infectious than previous forms of the coronavirus she said. https://www.ft.com/content/2ec52089-b9e3-4ad2-bb23-f3a4a09eccbe 6th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Bloomberg Markets are eyeing an everworsening situation with coronavirus in many parts of the world. In the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says one in 50 people in England and one in 30 in London have the virus as the nation steps up its vaccination drive. In Europes biggest economy the lockdown has been extended and tightened. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders agreed to limit movements and sharpened restrictions on private gatherings. Bloombergs Maria Tadeo reports on Bloomberg Daybreak Europe. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2021-01-06/merkel-tightens-german-lockdown-video 6th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters A tightening of Israels third nationwide coronavirus lockdown is expected to cost the countrys economy as much as 4.0 billion shekels 1.3 billion a week according to government and central bank estimates. New restrictions that will tighten a lockdown imposed on Dec. 27 will take effect at midnight and last 14 days. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the curbs as Israels final push to stop a sharp rise in COVID19 cases while it presses ahead with a rapid vaccination drive hoping to emerge from the crisis within weeks. Israels vaccination campaign has reached nearly 15 of its 9 million population in about two weeks. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-economy/israel-economy-to-lose-up-to-1-3-billion-a-week-from-tighter-lockdown-idUSKBN29B1HM 6th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Hungary should extend a partial lockdown currently due to end on Monday because of a rise in coronavirus infections in neighbouring countries Surgeon General Cecilia Muller said on Wednesday. The measures imposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government in November include a 1900 GMT curfew a ban on all gatherings and the closure of hotels and restaurants. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-hungary-lockdown/update-1-hungary-should-extend-partial-lockdown-beyond-monday-surgeon-general-says-idUKL1N2JH0S4 6th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Europes biggest economy can hold out through a coronavirus shutdown for a long time German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday adding he expected lower levels of government debt than after the financial crisis of 2008. We can hold out for a long time Scholz told ZDF television. Budget legislators in the German parliament have authorised us to provide the aid that is needed he said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-germany-scholz/german-economy-can-get-through-long-virus-lockdown-finance-minister-idUKL8N2JH0RE 6th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Switzerland plans to extend its lockdown restrictions by five weeks to the end of February including closing all restaurants cultural and recreational sites the government said on Wednesday. A formal decision is due next week after consultations with cantons. Exemptions for regions less severely hit by the coronavirus have been scrapped the government said with a countrywide approach now entering force. The extension of the socalled lockdownlight is needed because it is already foreseeable that the number of cases will not decrease significantly and sustainably in the coming weeks the government said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-swiss-idUKZ8N2HS00G 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

ITV News Welsh researchers developing a revolutionary skin patch vaccine for coronavirus say they hope to have a prototype ready as early as March. The bodyworn patches similar to those used by people aiming to give up smoking are designed to break the skin barrier and deliver medicines in a less invasive way. Swansea University scientists say the worldfirst smart patches will also be able to tell how effective the vaccine is for each recipient by measuring their bodys response. Researchers say the patches could prove a cheaper and easier way of administering vaccines and would be welcomed by those who dislike traditional hypodermic needles. https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-01-06/welsh-researchers-developing-revolutionary-skin-patch-vaccine-for-coronavirus 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News Modernas COVID19 vaccine has been approved for use by the EUs drug regulator. The decision by the European Medicines Agency came on the same day as the Netherlands began administering its first doses against coronavirus. EMA executive director Emer Cooke said This vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency. The decision which must be rubber stamped by the EUs executive commission came hours after nurse Sanna Elkadiri 39 became the first person in the Netherlands to receive the PfizerBioNTech vaccine. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-moderna-vaccine-approved-by-eu-drugs-regulator-12180512 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News Britain is putting vulnerable people at risk from mutant variants of the coronavirus by delaying the second dose of the vaccine according to South Africas top adviser on immunisations. South Africa is suffering a sharp spike in cases driven by a new variant that may reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. That threat has been underlined by new lab tests showing that antibodies may be at least 10 times less effective against the new variant which is separate to the mutation that was originally identified in England. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-single-vaccine-dose-leads-to-greater-risk-from-new-coronavirus-variants-south-african-experts-warn-12180837 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times The new coronavirus variant linked to a surge in Covid19 cases in South Africa is not only more infectious than previous forms of the virus but could make some vaccines less effective. Scientists racing to understand the new strain said they still expected the current crop of approved vaccines to work but were worried that a specific mutation also identified in a new variant in Brazil could affect the way the virus responds. https://www.ft.com/content/c2aa5ea4-66b9-4f64-9e74-7c89c12f9461 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters COVID19 vaccine won regulatory approval in Europe on Wednesday and the Netherlands belatedly started its vaccination campaign as European countries accelerated a patchy drive to defeat the coronavirus pandemic. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-approved-in-europe-dutch-play-catch-up-idUKKBN29B1DM 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail The device from experts at Swansea University is covered in tiny microneedles It would work like a nicotine patch and need to be worn on the arm for 24 hours It has been designed to monitor the bodys response to the COVID19 vaccine The concept could also be adapted to deliver vaccines against other diseases A working model will come before April and commercial release within 3 years https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9118339/Researchers-claim-world-s-coronavirus-vaccine-patch.html 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News The head of the World Health Organisation has said he is very disappointed China has denied its experts access to investigating the origins of coronavirus. A tenstrong team of international scientists and virologists had been due to set off in early January as part of a longawaited mission to probe early cases of coronavirus first reported over a year ago in Chinas Wuhan province. But Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the team to enter the country despite the WHO having been talking with Chinese officials since July. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-china-blocks-who-team-from-entering-country-to-study-coronavirus-origin-12180308 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Evening Standard A World Health Organisation WHO team due to investigate the origins of Covid in the Chinese city of Wuhan has been denied entry to the country. The WHO said the problem was a lack of visa clearances. The longawaited probe was agreed upon by Beijing in December after many months of negotiations with the WHO. WHO DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was disappointed Chinese officials have not finalised the permissions to allow a team of experts into China. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/who-team-investigating-origins-of-covid-denied-entry-to-china-b711454.html 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Plasma from recovered COVID19 patients with high levels of antibodies appeared to delay or stop progression of illness in mildly ill older adults infected with the novel coronavirus a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded. Researchers at Fundacion INFANT in Buenos Aires Argentina led the small randomized controlled doubleblind trial of the effects of infusing convalescent plasma in 160 older adults within 72 hours of symptom onset from Jun 4 to Oct 25 2020 half of whom received the treatment. The patients were either 75 years and older 88 55 with or without underlying illnesses or 65 to 74 years with at least one underlying condition 72 45. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/early-convalescent-plasma-may-lower-risk-severe-covid-seniors 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Today in separate press conferences the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC and members of Operation Warp Speed addressed the two major hurdles facing COVID19 vaccination campaigns in the United States slow distribution and safety concerns. Since the vaccines were approved for emergency use in midDecember most states have focused on vaccinating the recommended top priority groups healthcare workers and residents of longterm care facilities. But no states have yet to fully use their current allotment of vaccine. We cannot let perfection be the enemy of good said Department of Health and Human Services Director Alex Azar during an Operation Warp Speed media briefing on vaccine rollout. Prioritized recommendations are simply recommendations they should never stand in the way of getting shots in the arms. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/governors-urged-ensure-covid-vaccination-cdc-addresses-adverse-events 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP The European Medicines Agency EMA today cleared Modernas COVID19 vaccine for emergency use clearing the way for a second vaccine to be used in much of Europe where the more transmissible B117 variant virus appears to be spreading quickly. In a statement today the EMA said the vaccine is authorized for use in adults and provides another tool for battling the pandemic. In Ireland hospitalizations have now topped the countrys first peak according to CNN. Tony Holohan MBBS MPH chief medical officer of Irelands health department today warned that the country is in a serious phase of its surge and there is evidence of an increasing presence of the UK variant. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/european-officials-ok-moderna-vaccine-emergency-use 6th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Two weeks after European regulators endorsed Pfizer and BioNTechs COVID19 vaccine a second shot is getting ready for a broad rollout in the region. Moderna scored regulatory support for its vaccine enabling health officials to expand their vaccination push amid fresh lockdowns and increases in cases. The European Medicines Agency recommended a conditional marketing authorization for Modernas vaccine and the European Commission signed off. The shot provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency EMAs executive director Emer Cooke said in a statement. Europe has secured 160 million doses of the vaccine and the first deliveries are set to begin next week. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/moderna-scores-covid-19-vaccine-backing-europe-setting-off-another-major-vaccination-push 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters A more contagious variant of COVID19 that has swept through the United Kingdom has been reported in at least five states in the U.S. National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said in an interview to the Washington Post on Wednesday. We have now seen that same UK virus in the U.S. in at least five states and I would be surprised if that doesnt grow pretty rapidly Collins said adding that it doesnt however seem to be more severe. Last week Reuters reported that Florida became the third known U.S. state to identify such a case with two other cases identified in Colorado and California. Scientists have said newly developed vaccines should be equally effective against both variants. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nih/more-infectious-covid-19-variant-in-at-least-five-u-s-states-nih-director-idUSKBN29B2H6 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Star A southwestern Ontario hospital grappling with recordhigh COVID19 admissions was cancelling surgeries and transferring patients to other facilities this week while another scrapped procedures to free up staff who could care for the gravely ill. The capacity crunch due to rising cases of the novel coronavirus had the head of a group representing Ontarios hospitals warning that the acutecare system is more stretched than ever and the situation could get worse. The Windsor Regional Hospital cancelled all nonurgent elective surgeries indefinitely and is preparing to send patients to hospitals near and far hospital CEO David Musyj said Wednesday. Some acutecare patients are being transferred to the hospital in nearby ChathamKent Ont. he said while those with higher needs are being transferred to London Ont. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/01/06/record-high-covid-19-hospitalizations-strain-southwestern-ontario-health-care-system.html 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed the British mutation of COVID19 for a big spike in coronavirus cases in Israel. The Israeli prime minister said the pandemic was spreading at top speed with the British mutation as his government placed the country under stricter lockdown measures for the third time. It the British mutation has reached Israel and is claiming many lives. We need to impose a full lockdown immediately said Mr Netanyahu. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-benjamin-netanyahu-blames-israels-spike-in-coronavirus-cases-on-british-mutation-12180641 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK More Americans were hospitalized with COVID19 on Wednesday than at any time since the pandemic began as total coronavirus infections crossed the 21 million mark deaths soared across much of the United States and a historic vaccination effort lagged. U.S. COVID19 hospitalizations reached a record 130834 late on Tuesday according to a Reuters tally of public health data while 3684 reported fatalities was the secondhighest singleday death toll of the pandemic. That appalling toll meant that on Tuesday someone died from COVID19 every 24 seconds in the United States. With total deaths surpassing 357000 one in every 914 U.S. residents has died from COVID19 since the pandemic began according to a Reuters analysis. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-usa/us-sets-covid-19-hospitalization-record-as-states-ramp-up-vaccination-efforts-idUKKBN29B254 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC News The UK has reported a further 1041 people have died with coronavirus the highest daily death toll since April. It came as 62322 new cases were recorded the highest daily rise since mass testing began and as MPs supported Englands lockdown. Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier said doctors could be forced to ration treatment without the new curbs. There are 30074 Covid patients in UK hospitals he said as an ambulance trust told of severe pressure. Current patient numbers are 39 higher than the previous peak on 12 April last year when 21684 were in hospital. The number of those who died within 28 days of a positive test in the past week is 37 higher than the previous seven days. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55565254 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg If the British governments goal throughout the coronavirus pandemic has been to protect the health service the next few weeks will be the biggest challenge yet. After overtaking Italy again as the country with Europes highest death toll the U.K. is at the epicenter of the continents struggle to contain Covid19. Daily infections are at a recordone in 50 people in England now have the diseasewhile Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week shut schools and ordered the population to stay at home. Medical staff say they may be forced to turn people away from hospitals if the latest lockdown fails to curb quickly enough a new strain of the virus that emerged in southeast England last month. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-06/swamped-hospitals-expose-depth-of-britain-s-unfolding-crisis 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English The mutation of SARSCoV2 first identified in the United Kingdom has been detected by a research foundation in Valencia in two patients with no epidemiological connection to the country. The new more contagious strain of the coronavirus that was first detected in the United Kingdom is already circulating in Spain between people who have no epidemiological connection with that country. Thats according to a preliminary genetic analysis carried out by the Fisabio Foundation research institute in Valencia which has found the same mutations of SARSCoV2 that were detected in the UK in samples taken two weeks ago from two patients who had not traveled to the country nor come into contact with someone who had. https://english.elpais.com/society/2021-01-06/new-strain-of-coronavirus-has-been-circulating-in-spain-for-two-weeks-experts-conclude.html 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Euro Weekly News Silvia Cazon Spains Secretary of State for Health has claimed that Spain can avoid a full national lockdown despite fears of a third wave alongside the new British mutant strain. Speaking to Hoy por Hoy Silivia Cazon said that Spain can implement immediate measures using current instruments to curb the rise in Covid cases without restorting to another national lockdown. https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2021/01/06/health-secretary-says-spain-can-avoid-new-lockdown/ 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English Valencian authorities are confining 26 municipalities Extremadura is closing bars and restaurants in its main cities and La Rioja will limit all social gatherings to four people. After partially loosening restrictions during the Christmas holidays Spanish regional governments are tightening their coronavirus measures again as cases continue to soar amid what experts are already describing as a third wave of the pandemic. The decisions come as Health Ministry data on Tuesday showed a 25 rise in reported cases over the last seven days. Nine Spanish territories now have an incidence rate categorized as extreme risk by health authorities. https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2021-01-05/spains-regions-tighten-restrictions-as-covid-19-cases-surge.html 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News The UK has recorded its highest number of COVIDrelated deaths since 21 April and the highest daily increase in cases. The government figures reported on Wednesday afternoon showed another 1041 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus. This is the 10th time since the pandemic began that the daily number of deaths has been above 1000. The figure was a significant increase from the 830 deaths reported on Tuesday with both days likely to contain some deaths that took place over the Christmas and New Year period that have only just been reported. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-uk-records-1-041-covid-deaths-and-highest-daily-increase-in-cases-12180762 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

swissinfo.ch A third national lockdown to rein in the COVID19 pandemic should not be ruled out in France where new daily cases are picking up but it is still too early to make that decision a senior medical expert said on Wednesday. A new lockdown should not be ruled out Eric Caumes head of infectious diseases expert at Paris PitieSalpetriere hospital told BFM TV. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/a-third-lockdown-should-not-be-ruled-out-in-france--says-health-expert/46263934 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Forbes With Covid19 cases hitting a plateau in France it appears bars and restaurants will remain closed beyond the target date of January 20. The news comes as the government tries to reboot a vaccination strategy that has been widely criticized as too slow. Back in late November President Emmanuel Macron spelled out 3 stages for reopening the country after its second lockdown when daily cases peaked at 86852 on November 7. But following the first stage that allowed many local businesses to reopen Frances case stopped falling and eventually settled into a more or less steady pace of 15000 per day. https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisobrien/2021/01/06/3rd-lockdown-in-france-bars-restaurants-fear-the-worst-amid-vaccination-controversy/ 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

RFI English French health officials say a potentially more contagious strain of the virus causing Covid19 has caused a handful of cases in the country including the Paris region. The variant identified in Britain last month has been linked to a surge in cases that has forced the UK government to impose the most restrictive lockdown since early last summer. As France scrambles to catch up with its neighbours in vaccinating against Covid19 top officials said they were closely watching for signs of the potentially highly contagious new variant which has been identified in a small number of cases. At this stage we have about 10 suspected or confirmed cases of the variant which is not spreading widely in France for the moment Health Minister Olivier Vran told RTL radio. https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20210105-covid-variant-behind-strict-new-uk-lockdown-spreading-in-france-officials-say 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Rising infections have driven Tokyo and surrounding areas to the highest level of a fourstage alert prompting regional governors to call for a declaration of emergency that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to announce on Thursday. The health ministry held a meeting of infectious disease experts on Wednesday the second in as many days. They have called for stricter and longer countermeasures while Suga has sought a more limited response to avoid damaging the economy. Even if we take strong measures immediately it will be difficult to bring the Tokyo metropolitan area down to stage 3 by the end of January Takaji Wakita chief of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases told reporters after the meeting https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan/tokyo-daily-coronavirus-cases-exceed-1500-renewing-record-media-idINKBN29B0L4 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Japan Times With numbers of new COVID19 cases across the Tokyo region surging to record levels the government is expected to announce a state of emergency this week for the capital and three adjacent prefectures. But Prime Minister Yoshihide Sugas government already has doubts about its effectiveness and wants the Diet to approve a bill by the start of next month that would revise the 2020 special measures law on infectious diseases. The revision could strengthen the existing law by levying fines against businesses that ignore government demands to shorten their hours or shut to prevent the spread of infection. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/06/national/japan-coronavirus-response/ 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

CBS News Travel has been restricted to a northern Chinese city of 11 million people and schools closed as authorities moved on Wednesday to snuff out a cluster of COVID19 cases after more than 100 infections were confirmed. Ten major highways leading into the city of Shijiazhuang around 200 miles south of Beijing have been closed and a bus terminus was closed in an attempt to prevent the virus spreading beyond the city in Hebei province. Chinas staterun Global Times newspaper said all train ticket sales from neighboring Hebei province into the capital were halted and Shijiazhuangs longdistance bus station closed as officials declared Hebei in wartime mode against the virus. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-covid-lockdown-hebei-shijiazhuang-city-coronavirus-cases-discovered/ 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times As England reentered lockdown on Tuesday new figures showed that one in 50 people had recently been infected with the virus and officials warned that some restrictions on daily life could still be needed next winter. Speaking at a news conference Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to focus government efforts on rolling out its strained mass vaccination program intended to prevent a surge in infections of a highly transmissible variant of the virus from overwhelming the health service. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/05/world/covid-19-coronavirus 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

ABC News New South Wales health authorities will ramp up testing on workers transporting Australians returning from overseas after an infected driver unwittingly put thousands of people in Greater Sydney at risk of contracting COVID19. Drivers had been getting weekly throat and nose swabs for the virus but from January 21 all people transporting passengers coming back from overseas will have a daily saliva test. The test involves taking a small amount of saliva to detect fragments of the virus and is about 85 per cent accurate at picking up COVID19. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-07/coronavirus-testing-for-hotel-quarantine-drivers-and-transport/13037400 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

ABC News The coronavirus health crisis facing the United Kingdom is dire this week forcing the country back into lockdown until at least mid February as authorities brace for the potential of hospitals being completely overwhelmed. There are routinely more than 50000 new cases being recorded each day as an aggressive new strain of the virus takes hold. Health workers are stretched to the limit and among them are many Australian professionals. Here three Australian nurses tell firsthand of their experiences https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-06/australian-nurses-describe-working-in-english-uk-hospitals/13031940 6th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Indonesia will impose two weeks of increased coronavirus restrictions in parts of its most populous island of Java from Jan. 11 and in the resort island of Bali to support hospitals and reduce fatality rates a minister said on Wednesday. The chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said some of the measures include changes to opening hours for malls and limited capacity at restaurants and places of worship. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-indonesia/indonesia-to-impose-more-targeted-restrictions-to-fight-covid-19-idUKKBN29B0M5 6th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

The Times of Israel Netanyahu and Gantz said to agree on plan to shutter schools and most businesses both appear to blame UK virus variant for recent steep rise in cases. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz have reached an agreement on tightening the current nationwide lockdown for 10 days shuttering schools and nonessential businesses and closing supermarkets at 7 p.m. according to Hebrew media reports Tuesday with the aim of reversing a steep spike in infections that have passed 8000 a day. https://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-expected-to-back-full-10-day-lockdown-closing-schools-and-businesses/ 6th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

The Independent Prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that the end of lockdown may be delayed beyond midFebruary telling MPs the government will be extremely cautious about lifting restrictions and reopening schools. His comments came as antilockdown backbenchers raised concern about lockdown regulations published last night which set a date of 31 March for them to remain in force. Announcing Englands third national lockdown on Monday Mr Johnson said that the vaccination could progress fast enough to allow restrictions to be eased by the middle of February if things go well and with a fair wind in our sails. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lockdown-england-end-date-boris-johnson-b1783177.html 6th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

South China Morning Post Shijiazhuang capital of Hebei enters lockdown after accounting for most of provinces 63 cases the highest daily figure for months in mainland China. First locally transmitted infections in the northern province since June and health authorities expect case numbers to rise https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3116597/coronavirus-china-raises-alarm-after-63-local-infections-found 6th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

Sky News Australia Lockdown uncertainty is causing anxiety among students in the UK as classes have been moved to remote learning and exams cancelled in a bid to stem the spread of COVID19. In England schools and universities have been closed for sevenweeks as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnsons latest COVID19 lockdown. The government has confirmed students will not be asked to sit GCSE and Alevel exams. ALevel student Maryam Mazhar said she is hoping to go to university to study history. I definitely feel quite anxious now especially because the government hasnt outlined what the methods of grading are going to be this year Ms Mazhar said. The exams regulator is now considering a number of options. Both families and schools are desperately hoping pupils will return after halfterm. https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6220513010001 6th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

BBC News Met Police officers have been told to enforce Covid regulations more strictly during the latest lockdown.Under the new instructions people who attend large gatherings will be fined along with organisers while those not wearing face coverings without good excuse will also be targeted. Londoners have also been warned to expect officers to be more inquisitive if they are seen outside. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said police would act robustly. Englands third national lockdown legally came into force overnight with measures including a stayathome order and the closure of schools to most pupils. https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-london-55557034 6th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

Reuters British supermarket group Asda on Wednesday urged its customers to shop considerately and not buy more than they normally would after new COVID19 lockdowns were introduced across the United Kingdom to stem the spread of the virus. Under the new rules in England schools are closed to most pupils people should work from home if possible and all hospitality and nonessential shops are closed. Semiautonomous executives in Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland have imposed similar measures. With the hospitality sector shut there is pressure on supermarkets to meet demand. December trade hit record levels. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-asda-idUSL8N2JH20J 6th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

Reuters UK The risks for Britons without COVID19 vaccinations were extraordinarily high if people dont follow the current lockdown rules Englands Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said on Tuesday adding that the risks will not disappear in the spring. If people dont take the stay at home seriously the risk at this point in time in the middle of winter with this new variant is extraordinarily high Whitty said. We shouldnt kid ourselves ... this just disappears with spring. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-whitty/covid-risk-extraordinarily-high-if-lockdown-rules-ignored-official-idUKKBN29A281 6th Jan 2021