18th Jan 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=179 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

CNN Hopes of a surge in Covid19 vaccine shipments under a new policy to release second doses held in reserve appear to be evaporating with the revelation that those doses have already been distributed contrary to recent indications by the Trump administration. A senior administration official told CNN that when the administration announced that it would be releasing reserved doses Friday many of those reserves had already been released into the system starting last year as production was ramping up. When Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar was asked Friday whether there is in fact a reserve of second doses left to release he said No. Theres not a reserve stockpile. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/politics/coronavirus-vaccine-reserve-dose/index.html 17th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

BBC News A temporary mortuary that can hold up to 1300 bodies has been opened in Ruislip west London as the capital faces a growing coronavirus death toll. London recently exceeded 10000 Covidrelated deaths a figure mayor Sadiq Khan described as heartbreaking. Four temporary mortuary sites were set up in London during the first wave of coronavirus but were put on standby. The use of the Ruislip site has been called a visual sobering reminder of the continuing cost of the pandemic. Westminster City Council chief executive Stuart Love who is leading the Londonwide response added We want to give people hope but we are not there yet. From my point of view we have built this really hoping it doesnt get used to its capacity. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55670469 16th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

CNBC Africa Millions of coronavirus vaccine doses secured by the African Union AU will be allocated according to countries population size South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday. Ramaphosa who is the current AU chairman said on Wednesday that vaccines from Pfizer Johnson Johnson and AstraZeneca would be available this year but he did not specify how much each African country would get. No African countries have begun largescale coronavirus vaccination campaigns and the AUs 270 million shots if administered two per person would still only cover around 10 of the continents 1.3 billion people. https://www.cnbcafrica.com/article/2021/01/15/african-union-vaccines-to-be-allocated-according-to-population/ 15th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Scotlands plan for the distribution of coronavirus vaccinations has been taken offline after the UK government raised concerns that the document included sensitive details about vaccine supply. The plan which was published on Wednesday evening but removed by Thursday morning set out the exact numbers of vaccines from Pfizer AstraZeneca and Moderna the Scottish government expected to receive on a weekly basis up to the end of May revealing two weeks when no AstraZeneca vaccine would be available. The UK government is reportedly furious at the publication of such detailed figures amid anxieties it could lead to suppliers coming under pressure from other countries. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/14/scotland-covid-vaccine-plan-that-included-exact-numbers-taken-offline 17th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

Financial Times Narendra Modi has kicked off one of the worlds most ambitious inoculation drives in the midst of growing vaccine scepticism over the contentious approval of an indigenously developed jab. The Indian prime minister launched the campaign with an emotional live address on Saturday saying the nation has been desperately waiting for this moment and warned against false propaganda about vaccine safety. India a country of 1.4bn people has the worlds secondhighest number of coronavirus infections at 10.5m. Lockdowns have had limited effect in controlling the spread of the virus and contact tracing has faltered making a successful inoculation programme essential. The first phase of the vaccination rollout targets 30m healthcare and frontline workers with the goal of inoculating 300m people by July. https://www.ft.com/content/491573e6-f7df-449a-9c38-3df1bfe734ae 17th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

BBC News Ten new mass Covid vaccination centres are to open in England from Monday as the government bids to meet its target of offering 15 million people in the UK a dose by 15 February. Blackburn Cathedral and St Helens Rugby Ground are among the venues chosen to join the seven hubs already in use. NHS England said the new centres would offer thousands of jabs a week. It comes as a further 324233 vaccine doses were administered across the UK taking the total above 3.5 million. As the latest figures were announced on Sunday Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted his thanks to everyone who is helping in this fantastic national effort. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55692321 17th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

Sky News For a few hours this week we were given an insight into the closelyguarded secret at the centre of the UKs vaccination programme. It came courtesy of the Scottish government which published its vaccination plan on Wednesday. The plan included detailed figures for the number of vaccines that would be supplied to Scotland by the UK each week until the end of May. The UK government objected saying the publication of the figures would create difficulties for the pharmaceutical companies and the offending page was quickly removed but not before some clever internet users were able to save a copy. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-every-uk-adult-could-be-vaccinated-by-mid-july-if-these-figures-are-anything-to-go-by-12188909 16th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

Associated Press While most of Europe kicked off 2021 with earlier curfews or stayathome orders authorities in Spain insist the new coronavirus variant causing havoc elsewhere is not to blame for a sharp resurgence of cases and that the country can avoid a full lockdown even as its hospitals fill up. The government has been tirelessly fending off drastic home confinement like the one that paralyzed the economy for nearly three months in the spring of 2020 the last time Spain could claim victory over the stubborn rising curve of cases. Infection rates ebbed in October but never completely flattened the surge from summer. Cases started climbing again before the end of the year. In the past month 14day rates more than doubled from 188 cases per 100000 residents on Dec. 10 to 522 per 100000 on Thursday. https://apnews.com/article/spain-coronavirus-news-6186fece500a711d6180502f7c51998e 15th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

MSN.com Germanys 2020 contraction shows economy in better shape than thought. Norwegian to abandon longhaul market as it fights for survival. France tightens Covid curfew and border controls. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/uk-vaccine-rollout-constrained-by-manufacturing-say-ministers/ar-BB1cJ4fw?li=BBoPWjQ 15th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Evening Standard In the UK GPs are being forced to bin leftover vaccines rather than give patients second doses or use them on staff according to reports. Local NHS leaders are said to have issued the vaccine disposal instructions to doctors organising clinics. The revelation comes as Pfizer said there would be a short delay to UK orders of its vaccine. GPs are struggling to book the exact number of appointments to match the doses of the vaccine which needs to kept at 70c which adds another layer of difficulty. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/covid-vaccine-bin-leftover-nhs-b900001.html 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Evening Standard Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the UK is nearly on the home straight out of the pandemic as the vaccine rollout gathers pace. More than 324000 doses of coronavirus vaccines were administered in the space of 24 hours new Government statistics showed with 3.5 million people in the UK now receiving their first dose of a vaccine with new vaccination centres opening from tomorrow. But Government sources have dismissed as speculation reports that every adult in Britain could be vaccinated by the end of June. Other reports state the government is looking at relaxing lockdown restrictions in March. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/coronavirus-uk-live-updates-latest-covid-vaccine-lockdown-ends-b900029.html 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News More than half of over80s in the UK have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine as the government has revealed that 140 jabs are being given out a minute. Sharing the news on Twitter Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Im delighted that over half of all over80s have been vaccinated. Each jab brings us one step closer to normal. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-more-than-half-of-over-80s-have-received-vaccine-as-140-jabs-given-a-minute-12190563 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News All UK adults should be offered the first dose of a COVID vaccine by September with the hope some restrictions can be lifted by March Dominic Raab has told Sky News. The foreign secretary said Our target is that by September to have offered all the adult population a first dose if we can do it faster than that great but thats the roadmap. The target is more specific than the governments COVID19 vaccine delivery plan published a week ago which said that level of protection should be provided by the autumn. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-all-uk-adults-will-be-offered-first-vaccine-dose-by-september-raab-says-12190336 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

BBC News People in England are being vaccinated four times faster than new cases of the virus are being detected NHS Englands chief executive has said. Sir Simon Stevens told the BBC that 140 people a minute were now being given the jab usually the first dose of two. But he said the NHS had never been in a more precarious position with 75 more Covid patients than at the April peak. It comes as a further 298087 people received their first dose of the vaccine on Saturday. There were also 671 more deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test and another 38598 positive tests. Sir Simon said some hospitals would open for vaccinations 24 hours a day seven days a week on a trial basis in the next 10 days. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55694967 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Metro It would be a disaster to remove coronavirus restrictions at the end of February even if the vaccine target is met according to a leading expert. Epidemiologist Professor John Edmunds who sits on the Governments Sage committee of scientific advisors warned against lifting lockdown too soon because of the enormous pressure it would place on the NHS. He also said it was likely both variants of Covid first detected in Brazil have already made it to the UK before new travel restrictions were introduced. https://metro.co.uk/2021/01/16/covid-lifting-lockdown-in-february-would-be-a-disaster-says-expert-13914706/ 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Greece kicked off COVID19 vaccinations among the elderly on Saturday after first inoculating tens of thousands of frontline workers to fight the spread of the coronavirus. More than 75000 healthcare workers and nursing home residents and carers have received the shot of the vaccine produced by PfizerBioNTech since Greece rolled out the plan along with other EU countries last month. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-greece-vaccine/greece-starts-covid-19-vaccinations-among-the-elderly-idUSL8N2JQ48T 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters People who have been vaccinated against COVID19 should be allowed to go to restaurants and cinemas earlier than others a German minister said contradicting other cabinet members who have so far opposed special freedoms for those inoculated. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the state had massively restricted peoples basic rights in order to contain infections and avoid overwhelming hospitals. It has not yet been conclusively clarified to what extent vaccinated people can infect others Maas told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. What is clear however is that a vaccinated person no longer takes a ventilator away from anyone. This removes at least one central reason for restricting fundamental rights. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-germany-maas/german-minister-says-covid-curbs-should-be-eased-for-vaccinated-people-idUSL8N2JS039 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Britains government hopes to ease some lockdown restrictions in March as it presses ahead with Europes fastest rollout of COVID19 vaccines foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday. The country which also has Europes highest COVID19 death toll has been under national lockdown since Jan. 5 with schools closed for most pupils nonessential businesses shut and people ordered to work from home where possible. What we want to do is get out of this national lockdown as soon as possible Raab told Sky News television. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain/uk-hopes-to-ease-lockdown-from-march-minister-idUSKBN29M06H 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News The second of two new coronavirus variants from Brazil is likely to already be in the UK despite the government imposing a travel ban a leading epidemiologist has warned. Eight cases of the first variant which has a small number of mutations have been identified in the UK. The second which has been detected in the Brazilian city of Manaus and in travellers arriving in Japan has not been detected in the UK so far. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-second-variant-from-brazil-likely-already-in-the-uk-sage-scientist-says-12189428 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Business Standard The smell salty and pungent wafts through the freshly paved streets near the gleaming new factory. The factory is owned by a company called Laoganma which makes a piquant chiliandsoybean sauce famous across China for its power to set mouths watering. In a time of global pandemic when the jobs of working people around the world hang in the balance the factorys scents signal opportunity. Since it opened in March when China was still in the grip of Covid19 the factory has struggled to find enough machinery operators or quality control technicians. Now workers are flocking to Changmingzhen a oncequiet farming town ringed with green mountains and rice paddies from which young people once fled for better jobs elsewhere. https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/from-hard-lockdown-to-tactful-reopening-how-china-bounced-back-from-covid-121011600196_1.html 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

NPR Cheers erupted in hospital wards across India on Saturday as a first group of nurses and sanitation workers rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated against COVID19 at the start of whats likely to become the biggest national vaccination campaign in history. India aims to vaccinate 300 million people by July though it could take an additional two or more years to inoculate all nearly 1.4 billion Indians. The shots are voluntary. Hospitals and clinics have been setting up and rehearsing for weeks. A proud moment indeed This is what weve been waiting for Dr. R. Jayanthi dean of the Omandurar Medical College in the southern city of Chennai told local media moments after receiving her shot. Im truly a very privileged beneficiary today and Im feeling absolutely fine. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/01/16/957593507/indias-massive-coronavirus-vaccine-effort-begins-today 17th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

BBC New Several EU countries are receiving significantly fewer doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine than expected after the US firm slowed shipments. Six nations called the situation unacceptable and warned it decreases the credibility of the vaccination process. Sweden Denmark Finland Lithuania Latvia and Estonia urged the EU to apply pressure on PfizerBioNTech. Pfizer said the reduced deliveries were a temporary issue. In a statement on Friday the drugmaker said shipments were being affected by changes to its manufacturing processes designed to boost production. Although this will temporarily impact shipments in late January to early February it will provide a significant increase in doses available for patients in late February and March Pfizer said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55666399 16th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

South Wales Argus A care boss has been left frustrated by people in Gwent not turning up for coronavirus vaccines. Mary Wimbury the chief executive of Care Forum Wales which represents nearly 500 independent providers said it was particularly galling when many vulnerable care home residents in the Aneurin Bevan health board area are desperate to have them. There has been a significant number of noshows across Wales at a time when vaccine supplies are limited. It was now said Ms Wimbury a race against time to get all 23000 care home residents as well as the 12000 staff in Wales vaccinated with the Welsh Government promising that all of them will be given the jab before the end of January. https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19016817.care-boss-frustration-covid-vaccine-no-shows-gwent/ 16th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

CIDRAP Presidentelect Joe Biden revealed details of his 1.9 trillion stimulus plan which includes an emergency vaccination and relief package to help see America through the COVID19 pandemic and today the former vice president presented a 5point plan aimed at quickly ramping up vaccinations. Were sparing no effort in getting Americans vaccinated Biden said. We remain in a very dark winter the infection rate is up 34 we see 3 or 4000 deaths per day. Things will get worse before they get better. Biden named a new head for Operation Warp Speed which promoted rapid vaccine development under President Donald Trump though the Biden team will rename the effort. Biden said the Trump administrations efforts to roll out two approved COVID19 vaccines one from Pfizer and one from Moderna was a dismal failure. He said he wanted to turn frustration into motivation and meet his goal of 100 million shots during his first 100 days in office. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/biden-details-5-step-covid-vaccine-plan-names-new-lead-vaccines 15th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

STAT News Presidentelect Bidens newly released vaccine distribution plan promises to dramatically increase the number of vaccination sites in America by mobilizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard relying on lowincome community health centers and pharmacies around the country. Biden unveiled the plan in a Friday afternoon speech in which he doubled down on his longstated goal Administering 100 million vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office. Some wonder if were reaching too far for that goal Biden said. Is it achievable Its a legitimate question to ask. Let me be clear. Im convinced we can get it done. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/15/biden-mobilize-fema-national-guard-ramp-up-vaccines/ 15th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Financial Times EU governments struggling with the slow rollout of coronavirus vaccines have hit out at plans by Pfizer to delay supplies to European countries including the UK from next week. Germanys health ministry said on Friday that it regretted the unexpected and...very short notice announcement especially as the US pharmaceuticals company had promised binding delivery dates until the middle of next month. Health ministers from six Nordic and Baltic states also expressed severe concern about the sustainability and credibility of the Covid19 vaccination process following the US companys decision. https://www.ft.com/content/e8177df6-04ae-4d20-8e62-ca76589c7653 15th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal The recorded death count from the Covid19 pandemic as of Thursday is nearing 2 million. The true extent is far worse. More than 2.8 million people have lost their lives due to the pandemic according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of data from 59 countries and jurisdictions. This tally offers the most comprehensive view yet of the pandemics global impact. Deaths in these places last year surged more than 12 above average levels. Less than twothirds of that surge has been attributed directly to Covid19. Publichealth experts believe that many if not most of the additional deaths were directly linked to the disease particularly early in the pandemic when testing was sparse. Some of those excess deaths came from indirect fallout from healthcare disruptions people avoiding the hospital and other issues. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-19-death-toll-is-even-worse-than-it-looks-11610636840 14th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and surrounding prefectures this month. He expanded it to 11 prefectures accounting for 55 of the population on Wednesday. Unlike in many other countries with mandatory lockdowns Japanese authorities legally can only urge people to stay at home and businesses to close. While compliance has been high most of Shimbashis karaoke bars and izakaya taverns were closed on Friday night more people appear to be ignoring the state of emergency this time than one last year. Authorities have worried about the potential spread of infection at bars and restaurants. In Shimbashi many drinking spots are cramped and with poor ventilation. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-japan-restaurants/in-tokyos-lockdown-some-drink-on-even-after-authorities-call-time-idUSL1N2JS02B 17th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

The Independent People are being forced to travel as far as 85 miles to attend Home Office appointments during the lockdown prompting critics to claim the government is prioritising distrust of migrants over public health. Ministers are being urged to act after it emerged vulnerable asylum seekers and visa applicants have had to take long journeys on public transport in recent weeks in order to comply with Home Office rules. In March substantive asylum interviews during which the Home Office gathers information to determine whether someone should be granted asylum in the UK were paused in response to the pandemic. Biometric appointments where UK visa applicants submit their fingerprints as part of the application process were also suspended during the first lockdown as visa application centres closed. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/travel-home-office-appointments-asylum-seekers-visas-b1787997.html 17th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

RepublicWorld On Saturday January 16 thousands of people marched through Vienna to protest against the restrictions kept in place to battle the novel coronavirus. According to the reports by CNA the demonstrators chanted Kurz Must Go and Make Influenza Great Again during marches through the city centre. Also the demonstrators were not seen wearing any mask. The protests began when Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his government discussed extending the existing lockdown in Austria. The lockdown includes movement restrictions and the closure of all nonessential businesses. However no official announcement has come as of now. People took to their social media handles and shared image and videos from the protest march. Lets have a look. https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/europe/thousands-take-to-streets-to-protest-over-viennas-new-lockdown-laws-as-cases-spike-again.html 17th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Evening Standard More than 800 chain restaurants bars and coffee shops have closed since the start of the Covid pandemic research compiled for the Evening Standard has found. Covid has wrought havoc on cashflows of leisure sector operators as they have been repeatedly forced to close or only open under tough restrictions to ensure social distancing. Data compiled for the Evening Standard showed that when administrations and Company Voluntary Arrangements are included chains with 6231 outlets have been affected. That compares with 593 closed during the two previous years which included the oneoff corporate shakeups at Patisserie Valerie and The Restaurant Group accounting for nearly 150 closures. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/more-than-800-chain-restaurants-bars-cafes-close-as-covid19-lockdowns-bite-b899855.html 17th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Times of India Recalling Indias fight against Covid19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the decision to go in for a nationwide lockdown in March 2020 was not easy as the government had assessed its impact on the economy and peoples livelihood and worked to devise welfare nets. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/call-on-lockdown-was-not-easy-assessed-impact-pm/articleshow/80309305.cms 17th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

iNews on MSN.com Scientific advisers are concerned about the coronavirus vaccine uptake among black Asian and minority ethnic communities following the release of data from a new study. Research from the UK Household Longitudinal Study which conducts annual interviews to gain a longterm perspective on British peoples lives showed 72 per cent of black people said they were unlikely to have the jab. A report from Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies Sage highlighted the persisting problems of structural and institutional racism and historic under representation in healthcare research as driving the reduced levels of trust in the vaccination programme. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/familyhealth/people-from-ethnic-minorities-far-more-hesitant-to-take-coronavirus-vaccine/ar-BB1cNLwm 17th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

City A.M. The aviation industry risks collapse without urgent government support industry groups have warned following the latest travel curbs. From Monday all travel corridors to the UK will be scrapped to prevent any further spread of the new strains of coronavirus. https://www.cityam.com/aviation-industry-risks-collapse-without-urgent-support-following-travel-curbs/ 16th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Planners have been forced to be inventive after the deadly pandemic and now last weeks Capitol insurrection dictated a pareddown event amid real fears of assassination https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/16/joe-biden-inauguration-wounded-nation 16th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Al Jazeera English Nigerian authorities have warned against fake coronavirus vaccines in the country where 10 million real doses of the shots are expected to arrive in March. There are reports of fake vaccines in Nigeria Director General of Nigerias National Agency for Food Drug and Administration Control NAFDAC Mojisola Adeyeye said on Friday. NAFDAC is pleading with the public to beware. No COVID vaccines have been approved by NAFDAC. Fake vaccines can cause COVIDlike illnesses or other serious diseases that could kill. Nigerias anticipated vaccines add to 100000 expected doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine although it was not specified which type of jab would be used for the 10 million doses. It was also unclear whether the batch would be financed by the African Union AU or as part of COVAX which links the World Health Organization WHO with private partners to work for pooled procurement and equitable distribution. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/15/nigeria-warns-against-fake-vaccines-as-10-mn-doses-expected 15th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

The Conversation UK The pandemic is the UKs worst ever health crisis and tragically itss been getting worse and worse. A more infectious variant of the coronavirus together with insufficient restrictions in December 2020 have sent COVID19 cases soaring. The National Health Service is teetering on the brink with hospitals close to capacity and daily deaths are now in the thousands surpassing April 2020s peak. The UK continues to have one of the worst COVID19 death rates in the world. However Britain has a solution in hand having authorised three COVID19 vaccines for use. Its started rolling out two those developed by PfizerBioNTech and OxfordAstraZeneca and has delivered the first dose to more than 2.4 million people well ahead of most other countries https://theconversation.com/covid-vaccine-weekly-can-the-uk-vaccinate-15-million-people-by-mid-february-153155 14th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

The Independent Faced with a rapid resurgence of COVID19 overwhelming the countrys hospitals and driven by a more infectious variant of the virus South Africa has delayed reopening its schools. The variant is having farreaching consequences for Africas most developed nation as several countries trying to prevent its spread have stopped or reduced flights with South Africa. South Africa has the highest prevalence of COVID19 in Africa with a cumulative total of more than 1.3 million confirmed cases including 36851 deaths. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/amid-covid19-surge-south-africa-delays-reopening-schools-south-africa-country-schools-schools-virus-b1788557.html 17th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

BBC News The number of reported incidents of children dying or being seriously harmed after suspected abuse or neglect rose by a quarter after Englands first lockdown last year figures indicate. The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel received 285 serious incident notifications from April to September. This is an increase of 27 from 225 in the same period the previous year. The data also includes children who were in care and died regardless of whether abuse or neglect was suspected. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55682745 17th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

BBC News A whole generation of young people could be lost to education during the Covid19 lockdown because they do not have access to digital learning a leading charity warned. Schools have been closed to most children meaning remotelearning at home with lessons via the internet. Rae Tooth of the Villiers Park Education Trust is concerned about children without computers. The government said it was providing thousands of laptops for pupils. Ms Tooth chief executive of the Trust told BBC Politics East that digital poverty hits the ability of children to learn if they have no access to the internet or can only access if via smartphones with small screens. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-55653458 17th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Austria on Sunday extend its third COVID19 lockdown into February hoping to drive down infection rates despite an influx of variants that spread the coronavirus more easily. The goal is to let shops museums and personal services like hairdressers reopen from Feb. 8 while the catering and tourism sectors will stay shuttered until at least March. We have two to three hard months ahead of us Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a news conference flanked by regional leaders and health officials in a show of unity a day after thousands marched in Vienna to protest against restrictions. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-austria/austria-extends-covid-19-lockdown-sees-hard-months-ahead-idUSKBN29M052 17th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Cities towns and villages across France were practically empty on Saturday as residents stayed home and businesses shut to observe a nationwide curfew intended to help stem the spread of coronavirus especially a more infectious variant. The virus has killed 70000 people in France the seventh highest toll in the world and the government is particularly worried by the more transmissible variant first detected in Britain which now accounts for about 1 of new cases. The curfew was brought forward two hours to 6 p.m. and will run until 6 a.m. In addition from Monday anyone travelling to France from outside the European Union will have to show a negative test result and selfisolate for a week upon arrival. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france/france-observes-nationwide-6-pm-curfew-to-slow-coronavirus-spread-idUSKBN29L0L2 17th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Surrey Live All of France will be under a strict 6pm curfew for at least 15 days to fight the spread of coronavirus the Prime Minister has announced. Jean Castex also revealed strict new controls for those arriving in France from countries outside the European Union. Starting on Monday they must produce a PCR test with negative results and selfisolate for seven days followed by a new negative test. France wants to coordinate a response with the European Union about arrivals from EU countries he said. The French government is trying to avoid a third lockdown with partial measures like curfews which Mr Castex called both preventative and reactive. https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/6pm-curfew-across-whole-france-19629647 17th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Yahoo News Italy is suspending flights from Brazil Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Saturday in response to a new coronavirus variant. Anyone who has transited Brazil in the last 14 days is also prohibited from entering Italy he said on Facebook while people arriving in Italy from Brazil will be required to take a test for the virus. It is critical for our scientists to study the new strain. In the meantime we are taking a very cautious approach he said. Such rules will remain in place until Jan. 31 the order issued on Saturday by the health minister showed. https://news.yahoo.com/italy-suspends-flights-brazil-response-164015435.html 16th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

SBS News The Australian Open leadup has been thrown into chaos with at least 47 players now confined to their hotel rooms for the next 14 days following three positive coronavirus tests from two separate charter flights into Melbourne. Twotime Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka threetime grand slam winner Angelique Kerber and 2019 US Open title holder Bianca Andreescu are among the players affected. Ms Andreesecus coach Sylvain Bruneau wrote in a media statement that he had been the source of the infection on the second flight from Abu Dhabi having tested positive on arrival in Melbourne. I am deeply sorry to share that I have just tested positive for Covid19 upon arrival after travelling from Abu Dhabi he wrote. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australian-open-thrown-into-chaos-as-47-players-are-forced-into-lockdown-over-coronavirus-cases-from-charter-flights 16th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters German pharmaceutical giant Bayer is examining whether it can help CureVac to produce its experimental COVID19 vaccine its chief executive was quoted as saying on Sunday. Though inoculation campaigns have started around the world using various COVID19 vaccines many countries say their ability to get shots into arms is being limited by lower than expected supplies owing to a shortage of production. We are prepared to pull out all the stops for this Werner Baumann told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. This is not primarily about financial considerations but about making the vaccine available as quickly as possible. Bayer agreed this month to help fellow German company CureVac with development of its COVID19 vaccine candidate which is in latestage clinical trials and has not yet been approved. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-curevac-bayer-idUKKBN29M09P?fbclid=IwAR3dvTpwXxMj6_C2HeZfd9cygaxm8LB6DCsydj6MGwVtV2YnbmQxgiV00jQ 17th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters on MSN.com French drugmaker Valneva hopes its COVID19 vaccine can start to be used in Britain between July and September the companys chief executive was quoted as saying. Valneva has agreed to provide Britain with 60 million doses of its vaccine compared with 100 million doses of the shot from AstraZeneca and Oxford University. It is expected to need a twodose regimen. We are days away from starting the commercial manufacturing Thomas Lingelbach told The Mail on Sunday newspaper. https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/wellbeing/valneva-says-uk-rollout-of-covid-19-vaccine-could-start-in-july-september-report/ar-BB1cPCF8 17th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical News Today In their study the researchers found that 76 of COVID19 patients from a hospital in Wuhan China were still not symptomfree at a 6month followup. The research which appears in the journal The Lancet identifies the most common symptoms that the study participants continued to experience. It also highlights the possible effects of COVID19 on the participants cardiopulmonary health and identifies potential risk factors associated with the longterm effects of COVID19. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/most-hospitalized-covid-19-patients-still-have-symptoms-after-6-months 17th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The Brazilian jungle state of Amazonas received more emergency supplies of oxygen and respirators on Saturday as the military and neighboring Venezuela scrambled to alleviate an unfolding humanitarian crisis caused by the COVID19 outbreak. The Air Force also said it had evacuated 12 patients from hospitals in the state capital Manaus to the northern city of Sao Luis overnight with hospitals at breaking point with no oxygen supplies and overflowing intensive care wards. Mass graves were dug in Manaus during the first wave of the pandemic last year. Harrowing scenes are again emerging in the second wave of doctors and relatives running out of supplies and equipment while trying desperately to keep patients alive. Brazils Air Force said on Saturday a second flight had landed in Manaus with eight tanks of liquid oxygen following an earlier emergency delivery of five tanks and the Navy said in a statement that it is sending 40 respirators. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil/reeling-again-from-covid-19-amazonas-gets-respirators-oxygen-from-brazil-air-force-and-venezuela-idUSKBN29L0KD 17th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The News Letter Travellers from across South America have been banned from entering the UK amid growing concerns about a mutant coronavirus strain which has emerged in Brazil. The ban which also covers Portugal due to its strong travel links with Brazil the Central American state of Panama and the former Portuguese colony of Cape Verde came into force at 4am on Friday. But what is the Brazil variant and how worried should we be about the latest mutation of the virus https://www.newsletter.co.uk/read-this/new-covid-variant-brazil-may-have-been-found-uk-it-more-infectious-3100276 17th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Associated Press Brazils health regulator on Sunday approved the urgent use of coronavirus vaccines made by Sinovac and AstraZeneca enabling Latin Americas largest nation to begin an immunization program thats been subject to delay and political disputes. Brazil currently has 6 million doses of Sinovacs CoronaVac vaccine ready to distribute in the next few days and is awaiting the arrival of 2 million doses of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca and partner Oxford University. This is good news for Brazil but 6 million doses are still very few. It will not allow the entire population at risk to be fully immunized nor is it clear how quickly the country will obtain more vaccines said Ethel Maciel an epidemiologist at the Federal University of Espirito Santo. https://apnews.com/50fb245ef2f73f38f25b43891b8a8cd3 17th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Associated Press Like many Brazilian public health experts Dr. Regina Flauzino spent most of 2020 watching with horror as COVID19 devastated Brazil. When the opportunity to join the governments vaccination effort came she was thrilled She would be able to share her decades of ontheground experience. But her excitement quickly faded. Flauzino an epidemiologist who worked on Brazilian vaccine campaigns for 20 years became frustrated with what she described as a rushed chaotic process. The government has yet to approve a single vaccine and Health Ministry officials have ignored outside experts advice. Shortly after the government presented its vaccination plan more than a quarter of the roughly 140 experts involved demanded their names be excised. https://apnews.com/article/public-health-brazil-immunizations-health-coronavirus-pandemic-29c5d78c09a32151d80954fb9fc887f8 17th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post Japan plans to collect data from people who become infected with the novel coronavirus even after they receive vaccinations to assess how vaccines may help prevent the spread of the virus sources close to the matter said on Sunday. Inoculations are expected to start in Japan possibly in February. The health ministry will create a system to gather vaccination records of all infected people by adding checkboxes to a document that doctors are required to submit to public health centres when they confirm coronavirus infections the sources said. The formats for reporting rubella and measles other major communicable diseases also have checkboxes for vaccination records. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3118112/coronavirus-japan-study-cases-people-infected-even-after 17th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Mirror Online Every single British adult could have a Covid vaccine as early as July as the UKs race for immunisation picks up speed secret Government data suggests. The Scottish Government came under fire earlier this week for publishing the closely guarded stats about the vaccine rollout on its website. The figures were deleted from the page after the UK Government complained that they created problems for pharmaceutical companies but not before some quickwitted internet users saved a copy. They reveal Britain appears to be on target to deliver its promise of 15 million Covid vaccines for vulnerable people by midFebruary. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/every-adult-uk-on-track-23329360 16th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Whitehall sources have set an ambitious target of vaccinating four to five million people a week in summer. Came as new stateoftheart vaccine production factory said it was on standby to tackle any future variants. French drugs firm Valneva is just also days away from kickstarting manufacture of its jab on British soil https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9155273/French-drugs-firm-days-away-making-60million-doses-Britains-FOURTH-coronavirus-vaccine.html 16th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News With shaking hands broadcast live to the nation a doctor administered Indonesias first COVID19 vaccination. The recipient was President Joko Widodo a man who hopes to get 181.5 million Indonesians vaccinated this year. Its a huge challenge almost three times the population of the UK and so far one of the largest rollouts in the world. But the nations vaccination drive which started this week using CoronaVac a jab from Chinese manufacturer Sinovac Biotech bucks the current trend by injecting under60s first. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-indonesia-vaccine-rollout-bucks-trend-by-targeting-younger-generations-12188490 16th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID19 the illness caused by the virus. Johnson Johnson vaccine advancing through clinical trials An experimental COVID19 vaccine from Johnson Johnson produced protective antibodies against the novel coronavirus in 90 of 805 volunteers by 29 days and that increased to 100 by day 57 according to data from an ongoing midstage study. Side effects such as fever muscle aches and injection site pain resolved quickly researchers reported on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. To be approved by regulators the JJ vaccine must show efficacy as reflected by a lower risk of infections and severe disease in study participants who receive it compared to those who do not. Efficacy data from a large latestage trial on the vaccine is due by February https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-science/covid-science-progress-reported-on-one-dose-jj-vaccine-covid-19-reinfections-seen-as-rare-idUSL1N2JQ29Y 16th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Hill on MSN.com Pakistan on Saturday gave the green light to the countrys first coronavirus vaccine with the approval of AstraZenecas inoculation for emergency use. The countrys health minister Faisal Sultan informed Reuters of the emergency approval which the nation hopes will be the first of many as it battles a rising number of COVID19 cases. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pakistan-becomes-latest-to-approve-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-for-emergency-use/ar-BB1cOo5C 16th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP COVID19 may shorten Americans life expectancy at birth of by a median of 1.13 years to 77.48 yearsthe largest singleyear dip in at least 40 years and the lowest estimated lifespan since 2003 according to projections from a study published yesterday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers from the University of Southern California USC and Princeton University also projected a decline in life expectancy at age 65 of 0.87 years. They caution that their projections are only best estimates and not definitive. The decline is especially steep for black Americans who could expect to die 2.10 years sooner at 72.78 years and for Latinos who could see their lives shortened by 3.05 years to 78.77. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/covid-may-cut-us-life-expectancy-especially-blacks-latinos 15th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News A new more transmissible variant of the virus that causes Covid19 could sweep the United States in coming weeks and become the dominant strain as soon as March leading to a new surge of cases through the spring the CDC warned. The CDC believes the variant known as B117 is still circulating at low levels in the U.S. Only 76 infections caused by the new variant have been detected in 12 states though testing for it has not been routinely conducted. CDC officials acknowledge the variant is likely more widespread here than is currently recognized. Modeling work done by CDC scientists suggests that unless the pace of vaccination of the population increases dramatically and people adhere stringently to Covid19 control measures the new variant will spread rapidly https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/15/covid19-b117-variant-cdc/ 15th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News Haider Warraich is a cardiologist and researcher at Brigham and Womens Hospital associate director of the heart failure program at the VA Boston Healthcare System and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. He writes about his experience of treating Covid19 patients Physicians crave agency a power they can use to turn around the course of an ailing patients life. Yet for me and countless physicians nurses and other clinicians Covid19 has been a grim lesson in humility. While we have learned so much about this illness in such a short time we still have almost no ability to change the fate of patients with severe Covid19 infections. There is now concern that some of the drugs we were giving to Covid19 patients were more than just useless they might in fact have been harmful. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/15/are-more-people-surviving-covid-19-because-doctors-are-doing-less/ 15th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times During every major epidemic Ive worked on there has been speculation about virus mutations. Mostly these mutations are innocuous just random errors in a viruss genetic code that dont change how it infects or spreads. But every now and then a collection of mutations crops up and dramatically changes the threat we face. In recent weeks researchers have noticed three troubling new SarsCov2 variants scattered among the various virus lineages circulating globally. Such variants could well change the pandemics shape in 2021. The first new variant was detected in southeast England in autumn 2020. It sparked concern after spreading easily despite the control measures in place during November outpacing existing variants to become dominant in much of the UK by the end of December. Early analysis of contact tracing data and local epidemic growth suggested this variant could be 40 to 70 per cent more transmissible than earlier viruses. It has since been detected in other countries with initial patterns in Denmark and Ireland consistent with its accelerated growth in the UK. https://www.ft.com/content/5691b1bb-0f9f-4410-9ade-84f4d55ea778 15th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard The number of daily coronavirus cases has rise above 50000 for the first time in five days despite hopes that the outbreak is slowing in parts of the UK. A further 1280 deaths of people within 28 days of testing positive for Covid19 were also reported on Friday. It is the first time daily infections have topped 50000 since Sunday and brings the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to 3316019. Earlier on Friday the Governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said the UKs coronavirus reproduction rate the R number had narrowed to between 1.2 and 1.3. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-covid-cases-deaths-latest-b899948.html?itm_source=Internal&ampitm_channel=banner&ampitm_campaign=breaking-news-ticker&ampitm_content=2 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Business Line The Covid19 vaccine was administered to 3225 persons today. New coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu declined to less than 600 to 589 in the last 24 hours to take the total number of infections in the State to 830772. After 770 Covid19 patients were discharged the number of active cases declined to less than 6000 to 5940. There were seven deaths registered and 52213 samples tested. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/tamil-nadu-reports-less-than-600-covid-19-cases-7-deaths/article33593976.ece 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Worries simmered in mainland China about a potential fresh wave of coronavirus cases ahead of the Lunar New Year next month as authorities on Sunday reported 109 new COVID19 cases most of them in Hebei province surrounding Beijing. Though the Jan. 16 tally of new cases was less than the previous days 130 China has in the past week seen the number of daily cases jump to an over 10month high. The unsettling trend has emerged while a World Health Organizationled WHO team of investigators remained in quarantine in the city of Wuhan where the disease was first detected in late 2019. The team aims to investigate the origins of the pandemic that has now killed over 2 million people worldwide. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-toll/china-reports-109-new-covid-19-cases-to-keep-concerns-simmering-before-lunar-new-year-idINKBN29M038 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Financial Times The new coronavirus variant first discovered in the UK could become the predominant strain in the US by March according to a new model from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC warned on Friday the B.1.1.7 variant was likely to spread rapidly across the US in the coming months. So far 76 cases were identified in 10 US states but scientists warn the actual number of B.1.1.7 cases is likely to be higher as the US lags behind many other countries with its genomic sequencing to identify the variants. The CDC is now trying to expand sequencing to track the variant and other possible mutations. https://www.ft.com/content/48acaaf1-8f0b-4d30-b032-5d7637d4105f 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC News Ten hospital trusts across England reported having no spare critical care beds for most of last week. It comes as hospital waiting times coronavirus admissions and patients requiring intensive care rises. Across all Englands acute trusts the total number of critical care beds available is 5503 with 4632 in use on 10 January. NHS England has not yet commented. Last year hospitals added 39 more beds for seriously ill patients. The latest figures from NHS England show the number of trusts who were on average at full capacity in adult critical care rose from four to ten in the week to 10 January. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-55672901 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC News A further 1295 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test have been reported in the UK the thirdhighest daily total since the pandemic began. It brings the total number of deaths by this measure to 88590. There have also been a further 41346 labconfirmed cases and 4262 more people have been admitted to hospital. Dr Yvonne Doyle medical director for Public Health England said the continuous rise in cases and deaths should be a bitter warning for us all. We must not forget the basics she added. The lives of our friends and family depend on it. Keep your distance from others wash your hands and wear a mask. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55690720 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC News The coronavirus pandemic has brought with it an intense interest in the statistics and figures that can be used to try to understand whats happening with the virus. While numbers cant reflect the real human cost of the pandemic they can give us an insight into how we are doing in our battle against Covid19. Deaths are counted in different ways by authorities in Northern Ireland. The Department of Health counts the number of people who die within 28 days of a having a positive Covid test. This is published daily on the departments dashboard. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency Nisra counts the number of death certificates that mention Covid19 regardless of whether that person had a test for the virus. This is usually published on Friday mornings. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55691168 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters A cluster of new coronavirus cases has emerged in Australias New South Wales State health officials said on Sunday just as the country appeared on the verge of snuffing out all community transmission. Health authorities were still investigating a mystery case in a man who tested positive on Friday in the western Sydney suburb of Berala. All six locally acquired cases registered on Sunday were close contacts of the man. Australia which has managed the coronavirus better than many other nations through targeted lockdowns and high rates of testing and contact tracing last week recorded a day of zero locally acquired cases raising hopes that outbreaks in three states over the summer holidays had been brought under control. The latest outbreak shows how easily the virus can spread New South Wales state leader Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney as she called for more people to come forward for testing. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-australia/small-coronavirus-cluster-emerges-in-sydney-suburb-idUSL8N2JS005 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Portugals fragile health system is under growing pressure due to a worrying rise in coronavirus infections with the country reporting 10947 new cases and 166 deaths on Saturday the worst surge since the pandemic started last year. The cases which come a day after a new lockdown was put in place bring the total number of cases in a country of just over 10 million people to 539416 with the death toll increasing to 8709. The number of infections per 100000 people measured over the past 14 days is 901 nearly double that in hardhit neighbouring Spain data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control showed. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-portugal/portuguese-hospitals-under-pressure-as-covid-19-cases-reach-record-idUSL8N2JR0B6 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Britain reported its lowest number of daily new coronavirus infections since the start of the year on Saturday adding to signs that a national lockdown is slowing the spread of a more infectious variant of the disease. However the effect of the recent surge in cases remains clear in the death toll which was the thirdhighest on record. Health experts have warned it has further to rise. Government figures showed the number of people testing positive was 41346 compared with 55761 on Friday. It was the lowest daily reading since Dec. 27 when fewer people were getting tested over the festive holiday period. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-cases/uk-sees-third-highest-daily-death-toll-with-new-cases-at-three-week-low-idUSKBN29L0M0 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Denmark on Saturday found its first case of a more contagious coronavirus variant from South Africa and saw a rise in the number of infections with the highly transmissible B117 variant first identified in Britain health authorities said. The Nordic country extended a lockdown for three weeks on Wednesday in a bid to curtail the spread of the new variant from Britain which authorities expect to be the dominant one by midFebruary. Denmark has become a frontrunner in monitoring coronavirus mutations by running most positive tests through genome sequencing analysis. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-denmark/denmark-logs-256-cases-of-more-contagious-coronavirus-variant-idUSKBN29L0HY 17th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC News Hospitals in the Brazilian city of Manaus have reached breaking point while treating Covid19 patients amid reports of severe oxygen shortages and desperate staff. The city in Amazonas state has seen a surge of deaths and infections. Health professionals quoted by local media warned many people could die due to lack of supplies and assistance. Brazil has recorded more than 205000 virus deaths the secondhighest tally in the world behind the US. A new coronavirus variant has recently emerged in Brazil with several cases in travellers arriving in Japan traced back to the Amazonas region. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-55670318 16th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Authorities in the Brazilian Amazon are reportedly racing to save dozens of premature babies after a surge in coronavirus cases caused a catastrophic breakdown in the oxygen supply to hospitals and clinics. On Friday CNN Brasil reported that the northern state of Amazonas was seeking to transfer at least 60 babies from neonatal units in its capital Manaus to hospitals elsewhere in the country. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/15/brazil-premature-babies-manaus-coronavirus-covid-19 16th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian As the 15 chartered planes transporting more than 1000 players and team members began to land in Australia this past week many athletes punctuated their arrivals with a stream of statements expressing deep gratitude towards Tennis Australia the Victorian Government and the Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley for making the event possible. That heartwarming honeymoon did not last long. There were no positive messages on Saturdaymorning as two groups of players were confined to their rooms for 14 days. The tournament begins on 8 February meaning those players on the affected flights will be restricted to little more than a week of practice. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jan/16/tennis-covid-19-positives-australian-open-flights-47-players-isolation-coronavirus 16th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP The worlds death toll from COVID19 today topped 2 million with yesterday marking the deadliest day of the pandemic with 16056 fatalities logged amid reports of collapsing health systems in parts of Brazil and exponential spread in some of its neighbors. Death levels are still soaring in hardhit parts of Europe and health officials say human behaviors including those that occurred over the holiday season are the main driver of virus surges though they are worried about the potential impact of new more transmissible SARSCoV2 variants. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/pandemic-deaths-top-2-million-crisis-deepens-americas 15th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Noticias.uol.com.br The Brazilian Air Force flew the first shipment of patients with covid19 in Manaus to other states. Nine patients and five doctors boarded the flight to Teresina. Two C99 aircraft from the First Squadron of the Second Transport Group 1st 2nd GT Condor Squadron carried out patient transfers with the objective of minimizing the impact on the Amazonas state health system https://noticias.uol.com.br/saude/ultimas-noticias/redacao/2021/01/15/fab-transporta-primeiros-pacientes-com-covid-19-de-manaus-a-outros-estados.htm 15th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday that all means are being made available to help the countrys largest state Amazonas where hospitals are running out of beds and oxygen tanks amid soaring coronavirus infections. His claim came a day after Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello described the healthcare system in the Amazonas state capital Manaus as being in collapse. I would say yes there is a collapse in healthcare in Manaus. The line to get a hospital bed has grown a lot today we have about 480 people waiting in line. And the reality is that there is a lower supply of oxygen not an interruption but a lower supply of oxygen he said during a Facebook live with Bolsonaro on Thursday. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/americas/brazil-manaus-coronavirus-crisis-intl/index.html 15th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Mirror Online NHS heroes have blasted the Government for using them as guinea pigs by denying them an early booster vaccine. Doctors nurses and paramedics fighting Covid must wait three months like the rest of us for a second jab instead of the three weeks recommended after manufacturer trials. But calls are growing for frontline heroes to get the booster within the 21 days vaccine maker Pfizer deems vital for best protection. The UKs chief medical officers recommended the 12week gap so more of the population can get some immunity from the first jab. Currently the NHS is under severe strain with record numbers of Covid patients. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-heroes-fear-government-using-23332219 15th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

South China Morning Post More than 20 million people across China are in lockdown as the country battles a spike in Covid19 infections the worst flareup since last summer. China reported 135 new locally transmitted cases for Thursday of which 90 were in the northern province of Hebei 43 in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang one in the southern region of Guangxi and one in the northwestern province of Shaanxi. A total of 66 asymptomatic cases were also reported. As of the end of Thursday 1001 Covid19 patients were receiving treatment in hospital and 618 asymptomatic cases which are not included in the tally were under medical observation. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3117958/coronavirus-whats-life-20-million-chinese-back-lockdown 16th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

Axios China on Saturday finished a fiveday construction project on a 1500room hospital as clusters of COVID19 spread in Beijing and the surrounding provinces. The state of play The facility is the one of six hospitals with a total of 6500 rooms in the works in Nangong the Xinhua News Agency said Saturday per AP reporting. They are all expected to be completed next week. China reportedly put roughly 28 million people on lockdown this week in the the Hebei provincial capital of Shijiazhuang. https://www.axios.com/china-hospital-surge-coronavirus-581cf7c5-da96-44f6-940b-8f076bf0e1f2.html 16th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

BBC News French Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced a new evening curfew will begin nationally across France starting at 1800 1700 GMT on Saturday. The move is a tightening of a curfew already in place since December which restricts movement from 20000600. Announcing the measure on Thursday Mr Castex described the countrys situation as worrying with infections remaining at a high plateau. He also announced new restrictions for people arriving into the country. France has so far recorded more than 69000 coronavirus deaths the seventhhighest death toll in the world. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55669172?fbclid=IwAR23Eahc4POvYv_cX0AVbGMa98WWExc8FvIoQH4e8IFobs32oCuK_JgMbvg 15th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

France 24 The January 2 discovery of a cluster of coronavirus infections in Shijiazhuang the capital of Chinas northern Hebei province has led to Chinas most severe Covid19 outbreak in five months with 463 reported active infections in the province as of January 14 and one death. Authorities have placed the provinces three major cities Shijiazhuang Xingtai and Langfang under lockdown starting from last week. However videos posted on Chinese social media reveal differing quarantine experiences as the authorities proceed with a more localised lockdown approach. https://observers.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210115-covid19-hebei-china-shijiazhuang-lockdown 16th Jan 2021