29th Jan 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=188 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The BMJ The dominance of new more transmissible variants means that a policy of trying to live with the virus will fail certainly in the UK where the new B.1.1.7 variant is now the most common. I know of no country that is successfully living with the virus while avoiding lockdown and restriction cycles a high death toll oras in the UKboth. We need to set our sights instead on where we want to be and then work out how to get there. The role models we have are Vietnam 35 deaths 98 million population Thailand 73 deaths 70 million population South Korea 1371 deaths 51 million population and New Zealand 25 deaths 5 million population where people have been living much more normal lives for months. Following their example the way out is for the UK to pursue a national suppression strategyzero tolerance for any community transmissionwhich comes with the added benefit of protecting ourselves from homegrown vaccine resistant variants. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/27/covid-19-how-to-break-the-cycle-of-lockdowns/ 29th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Wall Street Journal The setbacks which come on the eve of a decision from regulators whether to recommend the shot for use in Europe suggest AstraZeneca is falling behind in the vaccine arms race. The company has relatively little experience in vaccines a tricky typically lowmargin niche in the global pharmaceuticals industry. The manufacturing process the company uses piggybacking on a chimpanzee cold virus can be more difficult to quickly scale up than the one employed by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. both of which use a new genetic technology. The company has also proved maladroit politically. After learning of the glitches early this month AstraZeneca deployed engineers to troubleshoot but didnt warn European officials hoping the company could fix the problems to minimize the dent in production according to a person familiar with the matter. Lower output of raw vaccine substance had first been spotted in December but worsened in January with the clock ticking. When production didnt improve AstraZenecas bad news hit like a bombshell. Now it is grappling with a political backlash just when the pandemic seems to be entering a more dangerous phase. https://www.wsj.com/articles/behind-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-stumble-11611871968 29th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

BBC News Social workers say they are braced for a tsunami of needs as the UK recovers from the pandemic. The British Association of Social Workers BASW expects workloads to increase as restrictions are lifted. One worker described a big surge in referrals after the first lockdown and the fears of missing something wrong. Officials in all four nations praised the efforts of social workers and highlighted schemes to help vulnerable children set up in the pandemic. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55825991 28th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times Nearly a year into the pandemic the situation in Britain is dire. A vicious first wave has given way to an even more deadly second one. On Tuesday the country passed a milestone of 100000 deaths from the coronavirus which amounts to one of the worst fatality rates in the world. A national lockdown in place since Jan. 4 has only recently begun to lower the eyewateringly high number of cases fueled in part by the emergence of a new apparently more contagious strain of the virus. The toll on the National Health Service is close to unbearable Nearly 40000 Covid19 patients are in hospitals almost double the peak last year. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/28/opinion/uk-covid-deaths-hospitals.html 28th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

9News.com.au Australia has extended its suspension of the safe travel bubble with New Zealand for a further 72 hours. The decision was made after another two cases of the South African strain of coronavirus were detected in returned travellers in Auckland. This recommendation has been made to the Australian Government Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said. The government has accepted the advice and so the travel pause on green zone flights from New Zealand to Australia has been extended for a further 72 hours until 2pm on Sunday 31 January. https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-extends-transtasman-travel-bubble-suspension-for-a-further-72-hours/81f7a88d-4677-4e35-814a-054e3a8a191c 28th Jan 2021

Lockdown Exit

BBC News Two Australian states will reopen their borders to New South Wales NSW after it managed to control a Covid19 outbreak in Sydney. South Australia and Queensland will remove their travel restrictions on Sunday and Monday respectively. It comes after NSW reported 11 days without a locally acquired infection. About 180 cases were tied to the Sydney cluster which emerged just before Christmas and prompted nationwide travel bans on the citys residents. Credit to New South Wales. They got on top of their cases said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-55836110 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

MSN.com Scotlands national clinical director has voiced guarded support for calls to introduce a global Covid19 vaccine passport to suppress future spread of the virus. But Professor Jason Leitch warned more data would be needed on the impact of vaccines before pressing ahead with the move which is being proposed by former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The exLabour leader says the UK could lead the the way in the creation of a global ID that shows Covid19 vaccine and disease status. Mr Blair claimed this would aid the recovery of the economy including the vital tourism sector. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/global-covid-19-vaccine-passports-probably-way-to-go-says-jason-leitch/ar-BB1daFRn 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

The Irish News Coronavirus vaccines must be made available around the world in an effort to keep cases down and prevent new mutations which could escape the effects of the jabs an expert has warned. Sir Jeremy Farrar a member of the British governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies Sage said the amount of virus circulating in the world will determine the chances of a new variant emerging. He said new strains are a warning of what is coming which we must take incredibly seriously and suggested countries with access to vaccines could donate a percentage of their doses through the international Covax drive which aims to ensure equitable access. https://www.irishnews.com/news/worldnews/2021/01/28/news/covid-19-vaccines-needed-across-world-to-reduce-chance-of-new-variants--2202170/ 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Belfast Newsletter The Royal College of GPs in Northern Ireland has spoken out about concerns over the supply of vaccines. Dr Laurence Dorman who chairs the organisation was responding to the decision to open Trust vaccination centres to those aged 6569 while those aged 7079 are asked to wait for an appointment to see their GP. We fully support the principle of vaccinating as many people as possible as quickly as possible and it is encouraging to see such high demand for appointments since the booking portal launched on Wednesday night he said. However we have concerns about the speed of vaccine rollout to those people in higher priority groups. https://www.newsletter.co.uk/health/coronavirus/ni-coronavirus-vaccine-roll-out-gps-raise-concern-about-supply-amid-worry-speed-roll-out-higher-priority-groups-3116091 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

CNN Unlike many who have to drive miles to get a Covid19 vaccine some travelers in southwestern Oregon had the vaccine come to them Tuesday under treacherous weather conditions. Josephine County Public Health workers were returning from a mass vaccination clinic at Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction when about 20 members of the group got stranded in a snowstorm at Hayes Hill the agency said. They had with them six leftover doses of the vaccine. To keep those doses from going unused before expiring the workers went from car to car to offer people the chance to get a shot the health department said. An ambulance was waiting nearby in case any recipients had an adverse reaction https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/28/us/snow-storm-covid-vaccines-oregon-trnd/index.html 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

ITV Bristol and its surrounding areas have been named as one of the best performing parts of the UK for rolling out the Covid19 vaccinations according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The fantastic efforts of the vaccination teams were praised in a letter to a North Somerset MP Liam Fox. More than 80 of care home residents in the area covered by the Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire NHS clinical commissioning group CCG had received the vaccine making it one of the highest performing parts of the country. In the letter Matt Hancock said the success in Bristol and its surrounding areas was down to the tireless efforts of everyone involved in rolling out the vaccine. He praised the incredible community spirit that has contributed to the success. https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-01-28/matt-hancock-names-bristol-one-of-the-best-areas-in-uk-for-covid-19-vaccine-rollout 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

The Independent Another 400 million doses of COVID19 vaccines have been secured for the African continent through the Serum Institute of India the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. With the new doses on top of the 270 million doses announced earlier this month from Pfizer AstraZeneca and Johnson Johnson I think were beginning to make very good progress Africa CDC director John Nkengasong told reporters. An Africa CDC spokesman said the 400 million doses are of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine. As with many vaccine deals there were no immediate details on cost or how much people might pay per dose. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/africa-secures-another-400-million-covid19-vaccine-doses-south-africa-vaccines-continent-vaccine-ap-b1794066.html 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News Germany has said the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine should not be offered to people over the age of 65 a source close to the countrys government has told Sky News. It comes after Reuters reported Germanys vaccine committee made the recommendation citing insufficient data about how effective the jab is for older people not because of any safety concerns. But UK prime minister Boris Johnson said he was not worried because Britains medicines regulator had judged it is effective across all age groups and provides a good immune response across all age groups. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-germany-says-oxfordastrazeneca-jab-should-not-be-given-to-over-65s-12201458 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Belfast Telegraph In Northern Ireland the chief executives of health trusts have received a Covid19 vaccine while some patients over 80 years old are still waiting for the potentially lifesaving jab it has emerged. The row over the vaccination programme intensified on Wednesday night as a leading doctor hit out at the system that means healthcare staff working at home have been given priority over those most at risk of dying from the virus. Guidance from the UK advisory body the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI states that as the risk of mortality from Covid19 increases with age prioritisation is primarily based on age. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus/trust-chiefs-get-covid-19-jab-while-some-people-over-80-are-still-waiting-40020497.html 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

BBC News In England selfisolation payment rules need to be reviewed as some people have to chose between selfisolating or putting food on their tables a council has said. Knowsley Council has rejected two thirds of applications for 500 as they did not meet government criteria which includes those on low incomes. Councillor Jayne Aston said only a small number of people who need this help actually qualify. Knowsley currently has the highest rate of Covid19 infections in England according to the latest data with 822.6 infections per 100000 people in the week to 23 January. Our rates are beginning to fall but only very slowly Ms Aston said. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-55835548 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

MSN.com Europes fight to secure COVID19 vaccine supplies intensified on Thursday when the European Union warned drug companies such as AstraZeneca that it would use all legal means or even block exports unless they agreed to deliver shots as promised. The EU whose member states are far behind Israel the United Kingdom and the United States in rolling out vaccines is scrambling to get supplies just as the Wests biggest drugmakers slow deliveries to the bloc due to production problems. As vaccination centres in Germany France and Spain cancelled or delayed appointments the EU publicly rebuked AngloSwedish drugmaker AstraZeneca for failing to deliver and even asked if it could divert supplies from Britain. http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/eu-warns-it-could-block-vaccine-exports-wields-legal-threat-at-drugmakers/ar-BB1db9sJ 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

BBC News Germanys vaccine committee has said AstraZenecas Covid jab should only be given to people aged under 65. The committee cited insufficient data over its efficacy for older people. The European Medicines Agency is to decide on Friday whether to approve the vaccine for use across the EU. The UK has been using the AstraZeneca vaccine in its mass immunisation programme for weeks now and public health officials say it is safe and provides high levels of protection. The German announcement comes as the EU is in dispute with leading manufacturers over a shortage of vaccines on the continent. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55839885 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

South China Morning Post Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country would release more locally made Covid19 vaccines as New Delhi continues to save the lives of people in other countries by exporting medicines and vaccines. So far only two madeinIndia vaccines have been introduced but in the future many more vaccines will be made available Modi said at a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum adding India had fulfilled its global responsibilities by setting up infrastructure related to vaccination. Modi also said India will issue health identity cards to 1.3 billion citizens. The South Asian nation one of the worlds biggest makers of medicines is producing two vaccines Covishield licensed from Oxford University and AstraZeneca and Covaxin developed at home by Bharat Biotech in partnership with Indian Council of Medical Research. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3119682/india-will-make-more-home-grown-coronavirus-vaccines-available 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Germany has the fiscal strength to mobilize further state aid of up to 50 billion euros 60.5 billion for companies affected by the second coronavirus lockdown Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Thursday in a speech in parliament. This comes on top of grants already paid out of roughly 80 billion euros an additional 23 billion euros as part of the Kurzarbeit job protection scheme and a multiyear stimulus programme worth 130 billion euros Altmaier told lawmakers. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-economy/germany-will-mobilize-up-to-50-billion-eur-more-state-aid-for-firms-idUSKBN29X0Z7 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Germany faces a shortage of coronavirus shots well into April its health minister said on Thursday and called for a summit with the countrys state leaders to discuss vaccinations as the government faced fresh criticism over the pace of the rollout. We will still have at least 10 tough weeks with a shortage of vaccine Jens Spahn said in a Tweet adding the meeting should focus on how Europe gets its fair share of shots and what can be done to support the process. Germany like the rest of the European Union is scrambling to obtain shots as the Wests biggest drugmakers slow deliveries to the bloc due to production problems. Germanys topselling Bild newspaper described the problem of procuring enough vaccines as a scandal. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany/german-minister-sees-covid-19-vaccine-shortage-well-into-april-idUKKBN29X0UB 28th Jan 2021

Exit Strategies

The Guardian The top US public health official and chief medical adviser to Joe Biden Dr Anthony Fauci has emphasised the need for people of colour to be prioritised for Covid19 vaccines. I think thats the one thing we really got to be careful of Fauci told the New England Journal of Medicine. Most of the people who are getting it are otherwise well middleclass white people. You really want to get it to the people who are really the most vulnerable you dont want to have a situation where people who really are in need of it because of where they are where they live what their economic status is that they dont have access to the vaccine. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/28/us-coronavirus-vaccines-poc-groups-fair-access-fauci 28th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Belfast Telegraph Police have detained a man after a suspicious package was sent to a coronavirus vaccine production site. All staff had to be evacuated from the Wockhardt site in Wrexham North Wales on Wednesday while the package was investigated. The global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company provides fillandfinish services for the OxfordAstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine the final stage of putting the vaccine into vials. Production ground to a halt for hours while police and the Army investigated the suspicious package though it is understood the production schedule was not affected. On Thursday afternoon Kent Police announced that they had arrested a man on suspicion of sending the package. The 53yearold from Chatham remains in custody. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/man-arrested-after-suspicious-package-sent-to-covid-19-vaccine-plant-40022716.html 28th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Washington Post Prosecutors from northern Italy traveled to Rome on Thursday to question the health minister and others as part of their broadening investigation into whether to lay any criminal blame for Italys horrific coronavirus toll and whether a lack of preparedness contributed to it. Back in June Bergamo prosecutors questioned Premier Giuseppe Conte Health Minister Roberto Speranza and other top officials about the delayed lockdown in two Bergamo towns where infections were reported in the early days of the outbreak. Bergamo went onto become Italys COVID19 epicenter the first in the West registering a 571 increase in excess deaths in March compared to the previous fiveyear average. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/probe-into-italy-virus-response-looks-into-preparedness-plan/2021/01/28/e69d5a0e-617e-11eb-a177-7765f29a9524_story.html 28th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

The New York Times The Italian prime minister resigned on Tuesday and triggered the collapse of the government. This sort of thing happens all the time in Italy. But the return to a familiar state of political instability has never happened in the midst of a pandemic that has seared the country so deeply. After offering a terrible preview to the West of the misery wrought by the coronavirus Italy is again an unfortunate vanguard. It is testing whether a country even one well accustomed to governments that perennially dissolve and reform can manage vaccine rollouts national curfews business restrictions and enormous economic bailouts during a fullblown political crisis. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/26/world/europe/italy-government-collapse.html 28th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

FRANCE 24 A man died of his wounds Thursday in Lebanon after clashes between security forces and protesters angered by the combined impact of a severe economic crisis and a coronavirus lockdown. Omar Tayba sustained a bullet wound late Wednesday when protests in the northern city of Tripoli turned violent for the third night running his brother Ahmad told AFP. My brother was in Tripoli watching the protests when he was hit he said. He was transferred to hospital and died this morning. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210128-lebanese-man-dies-of-wounds-after-lockdown-protests 28th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

FRANCE 24 Lebanese security forces opened fire in violent clashes Wednesday with dozens of protesters who took to the street in the countrys north for a third consecutive day to denounce deteriorating living conditions amid a strict lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210128-protesters-in-lebanon-clash-with-police-over-virus-lockdown 28th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

BBC News A man has died after protesters angry with a total coronavirus lockdown and dire economic conditions clashed with riot police in the Lebanese city of Tripoli for a third consecutive night. Omar Tayba 29 was among 220 people injured during the unrest. His brother said he had been shot. Witnesses and local media reported that police fired live rounds at protesters. The roundtheclock curfew imposed this month to halt a surge in Covid19 cases has worsened Lebanons economic crisis. People are forbidden from leaving their homes unless they are essential workers and they must rely on deliveries from supermarkets for food. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55839957 28th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters President John Magufuli said on Wednesday that Tanzania did not need a coronavirus lockdown because God would protect his people and homespun precautions such as steam inhalation were better than dangerous foreign vaccines. Contradicting global scientific consensus and advice from the World Health Organization WHO Magufulis government has largely eschewed maskwearing and social distancing in Tanzania. It stopped reporting coronavirus data in mid2020. Vaccines are not good. If they were then the white man would have brought vaccines for HIVAIDS Magufuli said during the opening of a new farm in his western home region. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-tanzania/update-2-decrying-vaccines-tanzania-leader-says-god-will-protect-from-covid-19-idUSL1N2K21FV 28th Jan 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters Lebanese security forces clashed for the third night with protesters in Tripoli angry about a coronavirus lockdown with witnesses and local media reporting that riot police fired live bullets as protesters tried to storm the citys government building. Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who threw stones hurled Molotov cocktails and lit a car on fire a witness and police said. Dozens were wounded. The police did not immediately comment on whether live rounds had been fired. Reuters footage showed sparks hitting the ground apparently from ricocheting bullets and the sound of gunfire. It marked the third night of violence in a row in one of Lebanons poorest cities where protesters railed against a strict lockdown that they say has left them with no means to survive the countrys economic collapse. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-lebanon-protests-idUSKBN29W2W5 28th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian UK travellers will be interrogated at the border on their reasons for going abroad Boris Johnson has said as he confirmed that British citizens returning from highrisk countries must quarantine in hotels at their own expense. The government is facing criticism from the Scottish and Welsh governments as well as scientists for rejecting a more comprehensive hotel quarantine system. They are warning that it could allow as yet unknown new variants to slip through the gaps. Speaking in the Commons Johnson said no one should be travelling except for a narrow range of reasons. I want to make clear that under the stayathome regulations it is illegal to leave home to travel abroad for leisure purposes and we will enforce this at ports and airports by asking people why they are leaving and instructing them to return home if they do not have a valid reason to travel he said. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/27/arrivals-in-uk-from-high-risk-countries-to-pay-for-hotel-quarantine 29th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

BBC News Most pupils in Northern Ireland will not return to school until Monday 8 March at the earliest the Stormont Executive has agreed. First Minister Arlene Foster said the ongoing public health situation meant remote learning must continue. It may also be the case that only some year groups go back to school on 8 March if a return then is possible. Mrs Foster said she recognised it would come as a disappointment for many parents and pupils. The kitchen table is no substitute for the school desk she said giving details of the decision at a news conference in Dungannon. It is also important though that we give people a clear view of what is happening so we thought it was important to indicate today that we would not be back before 5 March in schools. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55834042 28th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

The Hill The birth rate in the United States has been declining for years falling to a record low in 2020. Hopes of a second baby boom mirroring that of the mid1900s have been dashed by the coronavirus pandemic. A new report by NBCLX found that birthrates are dropping at a faster rate than in previous years. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/536007-the-coronavirus-pandemic-has-not-given-birth-to-the 28th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Bloomberg Almost one in five of the U.K. workforce was on furlough leave as a third national lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus got under way according to figures published Thursday. The report will raise concerns that removing government lifelines for jobs could wreak havoc on the economy following the worst slump in three centuries last year. Pulling the plug would threaten to decimate consumer spending the engine of growth. The Office for National Statistics data show 17 were reliant on Treasury wage support in early January the highest proportion since July after the government ordered the public to stay home and retail and hospitality businesses were closed. The program pays as much as 80 of an employees wage if theyre kept on the payroll. The figures come a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put England on notice that the national lockdown will continue for at least another six weeks warning that some rules may even be tightened in an attempt to suppress a virus that has claimed more than 100000 lives in the U.K. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-28/almost-20-of-u-k-workforce-furloughed-as-third-lockdown-hit 28th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters From unlimited paid time off to laptops for children some of Britains bluechip employers are trying to persuade parent employees juggling jobs and childcare during the pandemic that they have their backs. A third British lockdown from Jan. 5 that shut schools to most children and confined many workers to their homes has exacerbated a childcare crisis that unions warn could herald a drain of talent that disproportionately impacts women. On Wednesday the government said schools will remain largely closed for at least another six weeks. Some banks professional services firms law firms and insurers are offering staff flexible working arrangements reduced hours and increased emergency leave alongside benefits such as free counselling and parent buddy schemes. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-workers-carers-idUSKBN29X16K 28th Jan 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Britains Financial Conduct Authority on Thursday told banks to rethink moves to close branches during the pandemic lockdown. The FCA said banks should consider the impact of national pandemic restrictions on their ability to comply with regulatory guidance on closing branches including consulting customers affected. We are concerned that these activities could have significant consequences for customers. It may be harder than usual to reach all customers under the current restrictions and engage with them on closure proposals effectively the FCA said in a statement. https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-banks-regulator/uk-banks-told-to-pause-branch-closures-during-pandemic-lockdown-idUSL8N2K33D1 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Washington Post Making vaccines is hard. Making vaccines that keep up with mutations is even harder. The race is now on to keep up with the mutating coronavirus. Mutations occur when the genetic code of an organism is not copied accurately during cell replication. This is true in humans and viruses but viruses make orders of magnitude more copying mistakes than humans do. These mutations are random and the vast majority have no impact on or damage the virus. For example influenza mutates so rapidly that approximately 99 percent of virus particles produced by an infected cell are defective so defective that they cannot infect another cell and replicate. Unfortunately the part of the influenza virus most easily recognized by our immune systems which the influenza vaccine mimics to stimulate an immune response can mutate without destroying the viruss ability to infect. Vaccine makers are constantly playing catchup. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/27/covid-vaccines-new-strains/ 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail MSD Pharmaceutical are in advanced stages of producing Covid19 tablet. Deputy PM Leo Varadkar told his party of the development on Wednesday night. The company had previously discontinued two experimental vaccines. The US drug giant has extensive operations in Ireland across six sites https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9195397/Irish-firm-advanced-stages-swallowable-coronavirus-vaccine-Leo-Varadkar-tells-MPs.html 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Mirror A new Covid19 test has been shown to be effective in detecting the virus in people without symptoms the Government has said. The tests use swab samples in the same way as a traditional PCR test but were also found to be effective in saliva samples. Pilots found tests in patients with symptoms were 100 effective while swab and saliva samples were more than 99 effective for asymptomatic patients. The tests were also able to pick up other winter viruses such as flu. Results from a largescale analysis of LamPORE tests on asymptomatic patients revealed an overall sensitivity of 99.57 and specificity of 99.4 meaning the test is highly effective for testing people without symptoms in the community. The tests use swab samples in the same way as a traditional PCR test but were also found to be effective in saliva samples. Pilots found tests in patients with symptoms were 100 effective while swab and saliva samples were more than 99 effective for asymptomatic patients. The tests were also able to pick up other winter viruses such as flu. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-new-covid-19-test-23403139 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Evening Standard on MSN.com A new test for Covid that can detect the virus in saliva is highly effective in picking up asymptomatic cases ministers announced on Thursday. They revealed that a largescale technical and clinical evaluation of the LamPORE Covid19 test had confirmed its high sensitivity and specificity. Health Minister Lord Bethell said With one in three people not displaying symptoms of Covid19 broadening asymptomatic testing is critical to protect those at highest risk. Oxford Nanopores LamPORE test is another example of British innovation leading the way and is an incredibly useful addition to our Covid19 testing toolkit delivering accurate results to people with and without symptoms. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/new-saliva-covid-19-test-e2-80-98highly-effective-in-detecting-asymptomatic-cases-e2-80-99/ar-BB1db4TP 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News AstraZenecas chief executive has said the UKs target of vaccinating the top four priority groups against COVID19 by midFebruary will be possible. In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica Pascal Soriot said By March the UK will have vaccinated maybe 28 to 30 million people. The prime minister has a goal to vaccinate 15 million people by midFebruary and theyre already at 6.5 million. So they will get there. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-astrazeneca-boss-blames-glitches-for-vaccine-supply-delays-in-europe-12200035 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

nejm.org We are writing in response to the editorial by Heaton Nov. 12 issue1 on Covid19 vaccines. Currently Blacks Native Americans and Hispanic or Latino persons are disproportionately affected by Covid192 and testing to detect SARSCoV2 is lagging in lowincome and minority neighborhoods.3 New approaches will be needed to safely and equitably distribute Covid19 vaccines. Drivethrough SARSCoV2 testing sites in Los Angeles County are widely used by persons from racial and ethnic groups that are representative of that county Table 1. A pilot influenza vaccination program was conducted at one SARSCoV2 drivethrough testing site in an underserved neighborhood. Vaccines were refrigerated before administration and trained health care professionals administered them. During the period from October 6 through November 5 2020 vaccinations were offered on 9 days and 661 persons were vaccinated Table 1. The highest daily number of vaccinations was 148. SARSCoV2 testing was completed by 599 of the 661 persons who were vaccinated 90.6. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2034838 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC News Early in its existence Covid19 gained an ability that would prove decisive in its relationship with human beings. The virus picked up a seemingly small change in its genetic code. It was likely an unfortunate accident a fragment of genetic information from another virus got muddled up with that of the coronavirus while they were both infecting a bat. Included within this tiny piece of genome however were the instructions that altered a key part of the virus its spike protein. This important protein studs the outside of the coronavirus and is the part that attaches to the outside of cells helping the rest of the virus to sneak inside where it can replicate. This change to Covid19s spike protein meant it could hijack an enzyme found in the human body called furin. This enzyme acts like a pair of molecular scissors normally cutting open hormones and growth factors to activate them. But when furin snips part of the Covid19 spike protein which is normally folded in a series of loops on the outside of the virus it opens like a hinge. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210127-covid-19-variants-how-mutations-are-changing-the-pandemic 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times The UK government has commissioned a study to investigate the effects of Covid19 vaccination on transmission of the virus which will play a big role in Boris Johnsons decision on when to ease Englands lockdown. Coronavirus vaccines have been found to have a high degree of efficacy in providing immunity from the disease but their impact on transmission of the disease is less clear. Downing Street officials said cutting transmission was a critical factor in easing the current restrictions. The study which is being overseen by Public Health England is focused on frontline healthcare workers who were given jabs early in the vaccination programme. Jonathan VanTam deputy chief medical officer is closely involved with the research which is expected to conclude in late February. Prof VanTam confirmed at a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday that the research was under way and it would be a question of to what extent not if vaccines cut transmission rates. https://www.ft.com/content/f87523c9-5500-439e-bff2-28c6e2642254 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times There are tentative signs that the lockdown in England is beginning to curb coronavirus transmission according to a closely watched study although stubbornly high infection rates will continue to strain the overstretched healthcare system. The React1 study led by Imperial College London concluded that prevalence of the virus had started to flatten last week with initial indications of a small decline. Researchers estimated that the reproduction number R which measures the average number of people one individual infects was between 0.92 and 1.04 with a central estimate of 0.98 suggesting that the rate of infection is close to stable or falling slightly. https://www.ft.com/content/4a2cc45f-0c66-4e40-a2f8-1c9e8ee418ed 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Brussels Times Belgium scored in 72nd place in a world ranking of 98 countries for its handling of the Covid19 pandemic according to a league table drawn up by Lowy Institute in Australia. Unsurprisingly the New Zealand government of prime minister Jacinda Ardern took top spot with a score of 94.4 from a possible 100. New Zealand was given credit for getting the pandemic under control thanks to a closure of its borders lockdown measures and a swift and vigorous contact tracing. The criteria used to determine a countrys performance were Reported cases and deaths both aggregate and per capita Tests per capita and lower per capita positives Rolling averages of cases cases per million deaths deaths per million positivity rate for tests test per capita. https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/belgium-all-news/health/151522/belgium-in-72nd-place-for-handling-of-covid-19-new-zealand-top/ 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FRANCE 24 English Brazils handling of the coronavirus pandemic has been ranked the worlds worst while New Zealand topped the class according to research published by a leading Australian think tank on Thursday. Sydneys Lowy Institute assessed almost 100 countries on six criteria including confirmed cases Covid19 deaths and testing metrics. Collectively these indicators point to how well or poorly countries have managed the pandemic according to the report by the independent body. Aside from New Zealand which has largely kept the virus at bay with border closures and go early go hard lockdowns and testing regimes Vietnam Taiwan Thailand Cyprus Rwanda Iceland Australia Latvia and Sri Lanka made the top 10 for their responses. In bottom place was Brazil closely followed by Mexico Colombia Iran and the United States. https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210128-study-ranks-new-zealand-covid-19-response-best-brazil-worst-us-in-bottom-five 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The number of COVID19 infections in England is starting to fall possibly reflecting the impact of a new lockdown but cases are not coming down quickly enough and prevalence remains very high a large study showed on Thursday. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday indicated that the COVID19 lockdown in England would last until at least March 8 dashing any lingering hopes that schools would be able to fully reopen in February. The Imperial College London study found that the numbers infected with coronavirus are at their highest since the study began last May. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-prevalence/english-covid-19-infections-starting-to-fall-but-prevalence-still-high-study-finds-idUSKBN29X00M 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Independent The US company Novavax has said its coronavirus vaccine is 89.3 per cent effective in preventing Covid19 and nearly as effective in protecting against the fasterspreading variant first discovered in Kent according to a preliminary analysis. Data from the UKs Phase 3 trial for the jab showed the new variant was detected in more than half of the Covid19 cases recorded with the vaccine candidate shown to be 95.6 per cent effective against the original strain and 85.6 per cent effective against the variant. The study involved more than 15000 participants aged 18 to 84 with 27 per cent aged over 65. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-novavax-vaccine-covid-b1794439.html 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC today confirmed the first US cases of B1.351 a variant of COVID19 first discovered in South Africa in South Carolina. In other US news CDC experts discuss a rare COVIDrelated syndrome in children a Johns Hopkins expert highlights hospital oxygen shortages and Novavax reports good results for its vaccine. According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control DHEC the variant was detected in two people with no known travel history and no contact with one another. The arrival of the SARSCoV2 variant in our state is an important reminder to all South Carolinians that the fight against this deadly virus is far from over said Brannon Traxler MD DHEC Interim Public Health Director. While more COVID19 vaccines are on the way supplies are still limited. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/south-african-covid-variant-detected-south-carolina 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Four months after their release from the hospital more than half of 238 adult COVID19 patients in northern Italy still had impaired lung function or mobility issues and about onefifth had symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD a prospective cohort study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open found. The findings add to growing evidence and discussion of socalled COVID19 longhaulers or patients with functionimpairing symptoms persisting for months after their initial recovery. Researchers from two universities in Novara Italy assessed the patients who had been hospitalized from Mar 1 to Jun 29 2020. Of the 219 patients who completed both lung function tests and carbon monoxide CO measurements 113 51.6 had a diffusing lung capacity for CO of less than 80 of the expected level indicating compromised lung function and 34 patients 15.5 had more severe impairment with a value less than 60 of normal. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/lingering-lung-physical-mental-symptoms-4-months-after-covid-19 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma Just as the U.S. government is starting to ramp up purchases of Pfizers and Modernas mRNA vaccines to prevent COVID19 a troubling question is emerging in the scientific community Can these shots protect people against aggressive new variants racing through the U.K. South Africa and Brazil Several analysts have scoured the medical literature and interviewed infectious disease experts in an effort to answer that question. Their conclusion There is no clear answer. At least not yet. When it comes to SARSCoV2 the virus at the heart of the pandemic we are in a state of ignorance with incomplete data said SVB Leerink analyst Geoffrey Porges in a note to clients Wednesday. He reached that conclusion after interviewing an infectious disease specialist who is also an official with the FDA he said. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/pfizer-and-moderna-have-not-yet-proven-their-covid-19-vaccines-shield-against-new-variants 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma Syringe makers are scrambling to meet demand for socalled low dead space syringes as Pfizer and the U.S. look to squeeze out extra vaccine doses. The specialty needles are needed to eke out a sixth shot in Pfizer and BioNTechs Comirnaty prepared fivedose glass vials. Physicians and pharmacists discovered the potential extra dose after they began vaccinating patients. But initial enthusiasm has been dampened by the requirement of the nowscarce specialty needles to extract the last bit from each vial. Syringe maker Becton Dickinson contracted with the U.S. government to supply needles for COVID vaccinations without knowing about the niche need. The manufacturer confirmed to Fierce Pharma that its U.S. government contract includes a limited supply of the specialty needles. A spokesman told Reuters that Becton Dickinson is on target to provide 286 million syringes for use with COVID19 vaccines a figure that only includes about 40 million low dead space syringes. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/scramble-for-specialty-syringes-as-feds-and-pfizer-look-to-extract-sixth-vaccine-doses 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Stat News Covid19 vaccine from Novavax proved nearly 90 effective in preliminary results from a key clinical trial in the United Kingdom the company said but in a separate trial appeared far less effective against a new variant of the coronavirus that was first identified in South Africa. In its 15000volunteer U.K. trial Novavax said the vaccine prevented nine in 10 cases including against a new strain of the virus that is circulating there. But in a 4400volunteer study in South Africa the vaccine proved only 49 effective. In the 94 of the study population that did not have HIV the efficacy was 60. In the U.K. trial Novavax observed 62 cases of symptomatic Covid19 with 56 in the placebo group and six among volunteers who got the vaccine. One patient on placebo developed severe Covid19 compared with zero in the vaccine group. The company provided few details on the vaccines safety saying only that the serious side effects were rare and balanced between the studies vaccine and placebo groups. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/28/novavax-says-its-covid-19-vaccine-is-90-effective-but-far-less-so-against-one-variant/ 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Berliner-Zeitung The European Medicines Agency strongly recommends that you inject the second dose within three weeks. With a longer period between vaccinations the effectiveness of the vaccine is uncertain as there is a lack of data available. The European Medicines Agency EMA has tightened the guidelines for the use of the corona vaccine from the manufacturers Pfizer and Biontech. After that the second dose must be injected within three weeks according to the decision published on Thursday in Amsterdam. The experts had previously recommended that there should be at least 21 days between the first and second vaccination dose. The term three weeks is now clearly being used and it is not advisable to extend the period. Various countries including the Netherlands had decided not to inject the second dose of Pfizer until after about six weeks due to the lack of vaccines. The rationale was that it should allow more people to be vaccinated. But remember full protection against corona infection is only achieved after vaccination with both doses. The EMA now emphatically points out that the effectiveness is not certain in the event of a longer break There are currently no clinical data on the effectiveness of the vaccine if it is not administered in the interval of the clinical trials. The EMA has now noted that more than 93 percent of subjects in the clinical trials received the second dose of the vaccine within 19 to 23 days after the first. Only on this basis was the effectiveness of the vaccine deemed to be around 95 percent. https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/news/ema-verschaerft-regeln-fuer-zweitimpfung-mit-pfizer-vakzin-li.136084 28th Jan 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Stat News The Covid19 virus is evolving rapidly. That should come as no surprise RNAbased viruses generate mutations constantly as a result of their errorprone replication. Wherever there are more infections there are more opportunities for the virus to mutate. For a virus new to a species as this coronavirus is to humans some mutations are likely to make it more transmissible. Important new coronavirus variants have emerged in the United Kingdom Brazil and South Africa. What is worrisome about these variants is that even though they evolved independently they have some similarities. All share the N501Y mutation in the viruss immunologically key spike protein. The strains in South African and Brazil also share the E484K mutation in the same protein which some experiments suggest may at least partially evade the antibody response people generate after infection with older strains. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/28/new-coronavirus-variants-call-for-intensified-surveillance-control-and-vaccination-efforts/ 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters on MSN.com Portugal reported a recordbreaking 303 COVID19 deaths and 16432 cases on Thursday as it struggles to contain a crippling surge in cases over the past month. The country of 10 million people which has so far reported a total of 11608 COVID19 deaths and 685383 cases has the worlds highest sevenday rolling average of cases and deaths per capita according to data tracker https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/wellbeing/portugal-breaks-daily-records-in-covid-19-cases-and-deaths/ar-BB1dbj90 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Deutsche Welle on MSN.com The coronavirus pandemic has struck southern Africa harder than any other region on the continent. DW looks at stories from South Africa to Tanzania that shed light on how different countries are battling the disease. Southern Africa welcomed news on Thursday that the African Union AU had secured an additional 400 million doses of coronavirus vaccines for its member states. South Africa is set to receive its first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday after approving it for emergency use. However there is still little cause for celebration as the regions healthcare systems begin to wilt under the strain of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The devastating reality of the pandemic is playing out differently in these five southern African countries. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/southern-africa-caught-in-covid-19-surge/ar-BB1dbexJ 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard Some 1239 more people in the UK have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid19 the government announced on Thursday. The number compares with 1725 deaths reported the previous day and brings the total number of deaths from the disease in Britain to 103126. The latest daily figure is slightly under the 1290 fatalities reported on the same day last week and could raise hopes that the countrys daily death toll is peaking. However separate figures published by the UKs statistics agencies for deaths where Covid19 has been mentioned on the death certificate together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days show there have now been 120000 deaths involving Covid19 in the UK. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-covid-daily-deaths-cases-b908343.html?itm_source=Internal&ampitm_channel=section_banner&ampitm_campaign=breaking-news-ticker&ampitm_content=1 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Cases have been down weekonweek every day for 20 days in a row the latest data from Health chiefs shows. Death toll remains high as almost 37000 patients are still receiving treatment in hospitals across the UK. Separate data shows lockdown 3.0 is bringing winter outbreak under control although some say it is too slow https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9198099/UK-coronavirus-cases-continue-decline-28-680-positive-tests.html 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg More dangerous variants of the coronavirus are becoming increasingly common in France putting pressure on the hospital system and raising the likelihood the government will soon impose tighter curbs. Health authorities are finding more than 2000 cases a day of new forms of the virus up from several hundred at the start of January Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday during a weekly update of the health situation. President Emmanuel Macron has been trying to give a national curfew which runs from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. a chance to slow the viruss spread but hes coming under mounting pressure to impose another lockdown the third since the crisis began about a year ago. The tension on the hospitals is real Veran said. The curfew doesnt allow us to sufficiently stop the variant from developing and if we follow the development curve of these variants we could enter an English Portuguese or Spanish scenario and youve seen the damages that can cause. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-28/france-has-more-than-2-000-cases-day-of-variants-veran 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg The worlds most rapidly aging society has long struggled to talk to its youth. Thats a disconnect thats turning deadly in the pandemic. The difficulty in persuading young adults to upend their lifestyles to prevent Covid19s spread has challenged countries across the globe. Yet nowhere are the stakes higher than in Japan where nearly a third of residents are over the age of 65 and the virus response depends on voluntary cooperation. The nation has so far relied on people changing their behavior in its largely successful fight against the virus as authorities lack the legal ability to enforce lockdowns. But while calling for cooperation worked in the early days of fighting an unknown pathogen like their global peers younger Japanese are increasingly hit with virus fatigue. Thats left officials struggling to persuade a demographic thats least likely to be struck by a harsh bout of Covid but most likely to pass the virus on. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-27/japan-s-old-politicians-can-t-convince-young-people-to-stay-home 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg China is ramping up efforts to neutralize the coronavirus as new outbreaks challenge its already stringent pandemic strategy with another weapon added to an arsenal of border curbs mass testing and hard lockdowns anal swabs. While theres no nationwide policy on use of the technique some residents in Chinas northern regions where more than 1700 cases have emerged have been subjected to the swabs with little warning. The method involves the insertion of a salinesoaked cotton swab about twotothree centimeters into the anus with the sample then tested for active traces of the virus. More than 1000 schoolchildren and teachers in Beijing were given anal throat and nose swabs last week along with a separate antibody test after one asymptomatic virus case was detected on campus according to local officials. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-27/china-s-zero-tolerance-covid-approach-now-includes-anal-swabs 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC News Today marks the start of the worlds largest human migration an event which sees millions of people travel thousands of miles across China to reach home in time for the Lunar New Year. For some it is the only time they will see their families all year and is an event not to be missed. But there are fears the Spring Festival travel season or Chunyun in Chinese could become a superspreader event. After all last years Chunyun is believed to have played a significant role in the spread of Covid19. So the Chinese authorities have been left with a problem how do you encourage people to stay local without actually cancelling the countrys biggest annual celebration https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55791858 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian The past year of Covid19 has taught us that it is the behaviour of governments more than the behaviour of the virus or individuals that shapes countries experience of the crisis. Talking about pandemic waves has given the virus far too much agency until quite recently the apparent waves of infection were driven by government action and inaction. It is only now with the emergence of more infectious variants that it might be appropriate to talk about a true second wave. As governments draw up their battle plans for year two we might expect them to base their strategies on the wealth of data about what works best. And the evidence to date suggests that countries pursuing elimination of Covid19 are performing much better than those trying to suppress the virus. Aiming for zeroCovid is producing more positive results than trying to live with the virus. https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2021/jan/28/all-countries-should-pursue-a-covid-19-elimination-strategy-here-are-16-reasons-why 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Metro The number of coronavirus infections is falling across the country and the R rate could be as low as 0.9 a new study shows. The findings from the eighth round of Imperial College Londons React study indicates a drop in numbers last week suggesting lockdown is starting to have an effect. But the research which tested more than 167600 volunteers in England between January 6 and 22 also shows Covid19 cases remained high over this period with one in 64 people infected. Scientists warned this number is still at the highest level recorded since May. https://metro.co.uk/2021/01/28/lockdown-beginning-to-slow-spread-of-covid-as-r-rate-falls-to-0-9-13978208/?ico=more_text_links 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP In one of the most puzzling and worrisome developments in the pandemic scientists are racing to explain whats happening in Manaus Brazil a city of 2.2 million at the edge of the countrys rainforest that is experiencing a second explosive outbreak even though the first one was so bad it was thought to have produced herd immunity. As the situation deepens in Manaus overwhelming the citys health system again researchers from Brazil and the United Kingdom yesterday said four possibilities might explain the recent dramatic resurgence including variant SARSCoV2 viruses that arose in Brazil. They published their analysis yesterday in The Lancet. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/01/variant-covid-among-triggers-grim-surge-manaus-brazil 28th Jan 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Stat News Health authorities have identified the first U.S. cases of Covid19 caused by a fastspreading form of the coronavirus initially seen in South Africa in two people in South Carolina. Neither person has a history of travel to countries where the variant has been confirmed and there is no connection between the two people South Carolina health officials said Thursday. That indicates there has been some local spread of the variant after it arrived in the United States. One case was found in South Carolinas Pee Dee region and one in the Lowcountry. The announcement Thursday means that three coronavirus variants that appear to be more contagious and have emerged in recent months have all been documented in the United States. But in a way the news was no surprise to experts. They had for weeks said the variant that first cropped up in South Africa called B.1.351 was likely already in the U.S. but this countrys limited system of surveillance for different iterations of the coronavirus meant the variant likely went unnoticed once it was imported via a traveler and could have even been spreading. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/28/south-carolina-first-cases-of-south-africa-variant/ 28th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

Wall Street Journal French officials are considering a third nationwide lockdown as soon as Saturday in an effort to stop the countrys increase in Covid19 cases and hospitalizations. Options under consideration include continuing the countrys nationwide 6 p. https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/covid-2021-01-28/card/N2kRYaWLRxf8Q3iX8RaQ 28th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

NPR The virus is hitting Europe with its full force. Across the continent countries are fighting back with various restrictive measures to control COVID spread. France has Europes strictest overnight curfew but the government there says it hasnt been enough to slow the virus down. NPRs Eleanor Beardsley has more. https://www.npr.org/2021/01/28/961470089/france-will-likely-be-put-under-a-3rd-nationwide-lockdown 28th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

FRANCE 24 The French government admitted on Wednesday that current restrictions designed to contain the spread of coronavirus were not enough raising the prospect of a third nationwide lockdown. FRANCE 24s International Affairs Commentator Doug Herbert tells us more. https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210128-coronavirus-pandemic-is-france-heading-back-into-a-nationwide-lockdown 28th Jan 2021

New Lockdown

South China Morning Post Chief Executive Carrie Lam spends 15 minutes in the area for a briefing from health officials and to show support for workers. Residents of four North Point tenement buildings locked down for testing overnight with restrictions relaxing from 7am on Friday https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3119581/coronavirus-lockdown-fears-mount-neighbourhood 28th Jan 2021