17th Feb 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=201 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Al Jazeera English The doctor leading a coronavirus vaccine trial in Peru has said former President Martin Vizcarra got a COVID19 jab out of turn as a scandal over government officials receiving vaccines before the general public continues to roil the South American nation. Dr German Malaga testified in parliament on Tuesday that Vizcarra who previously said he had been inoculated as a clinical trial volunteer was not in fact a volunteer. He asked me for two vaccines Malaga of the Cayetano Heredia University in Lima running the trial told a virtual session of a congressional commission. Vizcarras wife also received a shot. Malaga said Vizcarra had approached him about being vaccinated on October 1 when the drug was being rolled out to 12000 trial volunteers. Vizcarra knew he would be getting the real vaccine from Chinese company Sinopharm the doctor added. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/16/peru-ex-president-sought-covid-jab-out-of-turn-doctor-says 16th Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Mexicos total number of coronavirus cases crossed 2 million with another 8683 cases recorded on Tuesday the health ministry said. The countrys tally of infections now stands at 2004575. Mexico also reported 1329 additional fatalities bringing the total to 175986 deaths. The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mexico-tally/mexico-surpasses-2-million-coronavirus-cases-more-than-175000-deaths-idUSKBN2AH08W?il=0 16th Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Britains retail sector must stay open when it emerges from the latest coronavirus lockdown sector veteran Stuart Rose said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to set the path out of a third lockdown which has closed all nonessential shops on Feb. 22. The short term need is for us to have some clarity. We need to have confidence that when we reopen again we will stay open Rose the current chairman of Ocado and a former boss of Marks Spencer told BBC radio. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-retail/uk-retail-must-stay-open-when-third-lockdown-ends-ocado-chairman-idUSKBN2AG0OQ 16th Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Australia Australias medical regulator granted provisional approval for AstraZeneca Plcs COVID19 vaccine on Tuesday bolstering a national inoculation programme it plans to begin rolling out next week. The vaccine boost came as Australias secondmost populous state neared the likely end of a fiveday snap lockdown sparked by a fresh cluster of cases. The federal government says it has ordered enough of the AstraZeneca vaccine which will mostly be manufactured in Australia to cover the countrys population of 25 million people. It has also ordered enough doses of a vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech which is being manufactured offshore for a fifth of the population. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia/australia-approves-astrazeneca-vaccine-bolstering-inoculation-programme-idUSKBN2AG03N 16th Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Unemployment in France fell to prepandemic levels in the fourth quarter of 2020 though the data was partially skewed by a sixweek COVID19 lockdown during which jobseekers were unable to register as jobless the INSEE statistics office said. Unemployment in the euro zones second biggest economy fell 1.1 percentage points to 8 official data showed on Tuesday. That compared with a revised 9.1 in the third quarter and 8.1 in the last three months of 2019. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-economy-unemployment/french-unemployment-falls-to-pre-crisis-levels-in-fourth-quarter-skewed-by-lockdown-idUSKBN2AG0GF 16th Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Independent British prime minister Boris Johnson has said he is optimistic about the prospect of lifting the current national lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic while also pleading with the public to remain patient. Mr Johnson is due to unveil a roadmap to recovery on 22 February laying out a timeline for the easing of the social restrictions his government introduced in early January to quell the spread of Covid19 which has claimed 117000 lives in the UK since March 2020 and worsened when the country was hit by a brutal second wave of infections towards the end of the year. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-pandemic-lockdown-lift-restrictions-b1802832.html 16th Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters South Koreas Prime Minister Chung Syekyun on Wednesday warned against the loosening enforcement of social distancing rules after the number of new coronavirus cases hit the highest levels in nearly 40 days. The government relaxed distancing curbs on Saturday to take effect starting this week after getting on top of a third wave of COVID19 outbreaks that peaked at around 1200 daily cases in late December. But the numbers shot back up in just three days topping 600 for the first time in 39 days on Tuesday after a ban on nighttime entertainment facilities was lifted and a restaurant curfew extended by one hour to 10 p.m. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea/south-korea-warns-against-lax-distancing-as-daily-covid-19-count-hits-one-month-high-idUSKBN2AH04F 17th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Pakistan will allow private companies to import coronavirus vaccines and has exempted the vaccines from price caps in a divisive move that health experts fear will create vast inequalities in access. The country has been scrambling to secure vaccine supplies but so far only the Chinesemade Sinopharm treatment is being deployed. This month 500000 doses were donated to Pakistan. Like many other countries Pakistan has been relying on the GaviWorld Health Organization Covax vaccine initiative but has yet to receive any of the 17m doses it is expecting. The cabinet granted permission for unlimited imports of coronavirus vaccines which could be sold to customers. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/15/pakistan-allow-private-firms-import-coronavirus-vaccines 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

GP online In England more than 800000 extra patients will be prioritised for COVID19 vaccination after a major expansion of the shielding list based on data from a risk assessment tool. Around 1.7m additional patients have been identified as being at increased risk from COVID19 based on a combination of factors including age ethnicity BMI and medical conditions or treatments. Of these around 820000 are outside the over70 age group already offered a first dose of COVID19 vaccine by the NHS and will now be prioritised for a jab. These patients have been identified through a population risk assessment by NHS Digital based on a risk prediction tool called QCovid developed by the University of Oxford and thought to be the worlds only reliable COVID19 risk prediction model. http://www.gponline.com/covid-19-vaccine-priority-groups-expanded-17m-added-shielding-list/article/1707508 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

MSN.com Scientists and business leaders said that Boris Johnsons ultracautious new tone on Covid19 suggests he will keep many restrictions in place for longer despite the success of the vaccine rollout. The Prime Minister said he wants really really low case numbers and warned against allowing more dangerous new strains of Covid to be incubated in the population. Kate Nicholls of Hospitality UK said the change of tone was worrying for owners who face ruin some within weeks unless they can open their doors. Scientists said the language was significant because it suggested that the Government was being advised against the strategy being pressed by Tory MPs and many firms which is to sanction a rise in case numbers from May when all 32 million atrisk people are due to have been safely vaccinated. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/boris-johnson-e2-80-99s-cautious-tone-suggests-slow-way-out-of-lockdown-say-scientists/ar-BB1dJkQS 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News The phased return of pupils to classrooms in Scotland will begin on Monday the first minister has confirmed. Nicola Sturgeon revealed the news in a statement to the Scottish parliament as she said the countrys lockdown would continue until at least the beginning of March and possibly for a further period beyond that. She told MSPs the shutdown was working with fewer COVID19 patients in hospital and intensive care but cautioned that even a slight easing of restrictions could see cases start rising rapidly again. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-phased-return-of-schools-in-scotland-to-begin-on-monday-nicola-sturgeon-announces-12219913 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

Pharmaphorum UK health chiefs have urged caution over any relaxation of lockdown rules amid signs that the impact of vaccination and social distancing regulations are beginning to work. Prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a cautious but irreversible roadmap for the relaxation of lockdown rules early next week. Dr Layla McCay director at the NHS Confederation representing hospitals and clinics said the downward trend in deaths is good news and is testament to the monumental efforts from the NHS to care for patients along with the impact of lockdown. But she added However we must remember that there is a long way to go yet as the number of deaths from COVID is still very high and still accounts for some 42.6 of all deaths in England and Wales the third highest proportion recorded during the pandemic. https://pharmaphorum.com/news/uk-health-chiefs/ 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

The Guardian While the government has said very little about how lockdown restrictions in England will start to be relaxed there is a lot to be read between the lines. With a week to go before Boris Johnson spells out his roadmap for lifting the lockdown leaks about new rules and timetables being discussed in multiple meetings across Whitehall will be filtering into newspapers. The chronology now seems to be taking shape. There is a hope of allowing a small easing of restrictions at the same time as schools reopen to allow people to meet one other person for a coffee in the park say rather than just for exercise without running the risk of being moved on by police. That would put the whole country under something similar to the tier 4 rules that were in place across swathes of England in December. Apart from schools reopening the difference to a full lockdown is only subtle. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/15/englands-route-out-of-covid-lockdown-taking-shape-but-timings-unclear 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

MSN.com As Peru is caught in the throes of a brutal second wave millions of people are putting their faith in one country to turn the deadly tide. Peru has joined developing nations from North Africa to the Andes in counting on China for help. For these customers the vaccines developed in Chinese laboratories and now being distributed globally could hold the solution to a massive problem how to inoculate their populations after bigger and richer nations have pushed them to the back of the line for the more reliable vaccines developed in the West. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/squeezed-out-of-the-race-for-western-vaccines-developing-countries-turn-to-china/ar-BB1dIOSJ 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News Australia Victorias snap fiveday lockdown will end as planned at 1159 on Wednesday after senior Andrews government ministers met to confirm the plans on Tuesday night. The Herald Sun is reporting ministers met on Tuesday to finalise plans to end the lockdown barring any mystery cases emerging overnight. Key government ministers will reconvene on Wednesday morning to confirm the plan to reopen the state after it was plunged into a fiveday lockdown following the emergence of less than 20 cases from hotel quarantine. https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6232624267001 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Australias Victoria state is well placed to begin easing out of a snap fiveday coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday Premier Daniel Andrews said as it reported just two new COVID19 infections on Tuesday.Andrews reported two new COVID19 cases on Tuesday bringing the recent cluster to a total of 19 people. This strategy is working Andrews told reporters. We are wellplaced to be able to make changes tomorrow night. As I said yesterday Im not in a position to definitively commit to that because these next 24 hours will be crucial Andrews said. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-australia/australias-victoria-well-placed-to-start-easing-covid-19-curbs-premier-says-idUSL1N2KM01C 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

AlJazeera Fears are growing in Japan where an inoculation drive against COVID19 will begin on Wednesday that millions of doses of Pfizer vaccine could be wasted because of a shortage of special syringes that maximise the number of shots from each vial. The government has made urgent requests but manufacturers are struggling to ramp up production fast enough creating the latest headache for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga who suffers from weak public support. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/16/syringe-shortage-hampers-japans-covid-19-vaccination-drive 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

AlJazeera Israel has stopped 1000 doses of Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine that are intended for frontline medical workers from entering the besieged Gaza Strip. The Palestinian group Hamas which governs the Gaza Strip on Tuesday blasted Israels refusal to allow vaccine doses destined for Gaza health workers through its blockade of the territory as a violation of international law. Israel which is carrying out one of the worlds fastest vaccination campaigns per capita has faced international calls to share its stocks as an occupying power with Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/16/palestinians-say-israel-blocking-shipment-of-vaccines-to-gaza 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

AlJazeera The World Trade Organizations WTO incoming chief has warned against vaccine nationalism that would slow progress in ending the COVID19 pandemic and could erode economic growth for all countries rich and poor. Ngozi OkonjoIweala told the Reuters news agency that her top priority is to ensure the WTO does more to address the pandemic saying members should accelerate efforts to lift export restrictions slowing trade in needed medicines and supplies. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/2/16/vaccine-nationalism-will-hurt-all-countries-new-wto-chief 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

CIDRAP In the latest international COVID19 developments South Africa health officials announced they will share the countrys AstraZenecaOxford vaccine with other African nations and in Europe Johnson Johnson submitted its request for an emergency use authorization for its singledose COVID19 vaccine. South Africa recently announced a pause on the rollout of AstraZenecaOxford vaccine following early study findings that it appears have little impact on mildtomoderate disease from the B1351 variant that is dominant in the country. It followed that development with an announcement that it would temporarily switch to using the unapproved Johnson Johnson vaccine. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/02/south-africa-share-covid-vaccine-europe-weighs-jj-vaccine 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

CIDRAP President Joe Biden will host a town hall meeting tonight in Milwaukee to address his 1.9 billion COVID19 relief bill and bring Americans focus back to the pandemic after former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial ended this weekend the Washington Post reported. In addition to promised relief checks for families the Biden administration today said it is once again increasing the number of vaccine doses given to states each weekfrom 11 million to 13.5 million according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Psaki also said the federal government continues to increase its partnerships with commercial pharmacies and will send 2 million doses of vaccine to local pharmacies this week. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/02/biden-refocus-covid-19-relief-severe-weather-limits-vaccination 16th Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Border staff received guidelines on how to execute Englands new red list quarantine rules in an email two and a half hours before they came into force in a rollout that one worker described as an absolute joke. British and Irish nationals or UK residents arriving from a list of 33 countries are now required to book a 10day quarantine package costing 1750 per adult as the government seeks to limit the spread of new and potentially more dangerous coronavirus variants arriving from abroad. Border Force sources told the Guardian that all immigration control staff had received a lengthy email with five attachments detailing official guidance for carrying out the new checks at the border at 9.25pm on Sunday. The rules came into effect at midnight. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/15/hotel-quarantine-rollout-in-england-an-absolute-joke-says-border-official?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other 15th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Sky News Meaningful progress is being made in the campaign to overcome COVID vaccine hesitancy but it is happening amid a pandemic of disinformation the head of the NHS in England has said. The country is fighting a dual epidemic and must take on both coronavirus and disinformation with equal vigour Sir Simon Stevens said at Mondays Downing Street news conference. He added that progress is being made on uptake among black and south Asian communities and believes the involvement of local religious leaders will help build momentum. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-progress-made-on-vaccine-hesitancy-amid-pandemic-of-disinformation-nhs-chief-says-12218667 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Metro.co.uk In England JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has rubbished the idea of only reopening outdoor areas in pubs as a random idea that will leave jobs hanging in the balance. The chains founder dismissed the notion that the Covid risk could be reduced by allowing customers to sit in beer gardens while keeping indoor spaces closed to the public. He also branded the suggestion of vaccine passports allowing entry to supermarkets and hospitality venues as extreme as he addressed tentative plans to reopen pubs in April. The idea has been shot down by Boris Johnson who said it is more likely to apply to people travelling abroad. https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/16/spoons-boss-slams-absurd-outdoor-drinking-plan-after-lockdown-14089586/ 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

The Financial Times The German government is coming under mounting attack from business groups angry at its refusal to ease the countrys coronavirus restrictions as pressure grows for an exit strategy out of one of Europes longest shutdowns. Businesses are growing increasingly desperate and angry said Guido Zllick head of DEHOGA the German association of hotels and restaurants. More and more fear for their existence. He was speaking after a crisis meeting with German economy minister Peter Altmaier where 40 groups representing the hospitality industry tourism retail trade and other sectors lambasted the governments pandemic policies. https://www.ft.com/content/7882a2ac-d62a-433c-a327-35efeaec4b71 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

El País Compared to other major European capitals Madrid is swimming against the tide with regard to its Covid19 strategy. Although most of Europes main cities are imposing heavy restrictions on both mobility and social activities in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus the Spanish capital is opting for relaxing restrictions despite a 14day incidence rate of 625 cases per 100000 inhabitants. In fact while Lisbon London Paris Rome Berlin Athens and Brussels remain in partial lockdown Madrid plans to put the curfew and closing times in the hospitality sector back an hour. The Swedish capital Stockholm which took a controversial early approach to fighting the virus by trusting to individual responsibility is one of the few big European cities to take a similar line. But experts warn of the risks of relaxing restrictions when transmission remains high. https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2021-02-16/madrid-an-island-in-a-sea-of-coronavirus-restrictions.html 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

9News.com.au Dozens of police have stormed a gym in Melbournes north operating under Victorias lockdown with three men arrested. Late this afternoon officers swarmed on the Campbellfield gym open against the Chief Health Officers directives during lockdown. We cant afford to close the gym so weve been trading as per normal during the lockdown Al Pope partowner of the gym told 9News. Mr Pope said about 175 people came through for a casual session today plus normal members and no masks were worn. https://www.9news.com.au/national/gym-illegally-operating-in-melbourne-during-lockdown/0743de4b-8194-44f5-9945-bdd000364b7c 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters Appellate judges ruled on Tuesday that a nighttime curfew would remain in place in the Netherlands pending a government appeal of a lowercourt ruling that found the measure lacked legal justification. Prime Minister Mark Ruttes coronavirus policy was dealt a major blow earlier in the day when a district court in The Hague said his government had failed to make clear why it was necessary to use emergency powers at this stage of the pandemic. The government requested and was granted an injunction or emergency order in which the threejudge appellate panel in The Hague agreed to suspend that ruling and uphold the curfew pending the outcome of the appeal to be heard on Friday. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-netherlands-curfew-idUSL1N2KM0K4 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Sky News The boss of an outsourcing giant involved in the muchcriticised coronavirus Test and Trace programme has admitted it took some time to settle down but argued it was now working really really well. Speaking to Sky News Serco chief executive Rupert Soames also rejected comparisons with the widely hailed COVID19 vaccination rollout arguing his firm had been plunged straight into it last year while there had been time to plan for the administration of jabs. The UK now had the largest and most successful test and tracing system in Europe Mr Soames told the Ian King Live programme. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-test-and-trace-now-working-really-really-well-says-serco-boss-12219905 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

BBC News A court in The Hague has told the Dutch government that an overnight curfew to reduce the spread of coronavirus should be lifted ruling that it breaches the right to free movement. The court said the 2100 to 0430 curfew was imposed by an emergency law when there was no acute emergency. Later a higher court ruled that the curfew could stay in place pending an appeal on Friday. The curfew imposed in January led to rioting in several Dutch cities. Police were patrolling streets near the Dutch parliament on Tuesday evening but no unrest has been reported so far. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56084466 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Al Jazeera English Israel has stopped 1000 doses of Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine that are intended for frontline medical workers from entering the besieged Gaza Strip. The Palestinian group Hamas which governs the Gaza Strip on Tuesday blasted Israels refusal to allow vaccine doses destined for Gaza health workers through its blockade of the territory as a violation of international law. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/16/palestinians-say-israel-blocking-shipment-of-vaccines-to-gaza 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Al Jazeera English Lebanons COVID19 vaccination rollout has begun but there remain concerns the most vulnerable people in the country may be left out of the campaign or excluded altogether. Regardless of nationality or legal status anyone living in Lebanon is supposed to be covered under its vaccination campaign including refugees and migrant labourers who count for about 1.5 million of the estimated six million people living here. For refugees one of the problems that weve noticed are very low registration it could be a lack of awareness or a lack of trust in the process said Aya Majzoub Human Rights Watchs Lebanon and Bahrain researcher. Of the almost 540000 people who have registered in Lebanon for the vaccine so far slightly more than 11000 are Syrian or Palestinian the two largest nonLebanese populations in the country. Migrant labourers the majority of whom hail from Bangladesh Ethiopia Sri Lanka and the Philippines appear to be completely ineligible as per a statement by the countrys Ministry of Labour last week. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/16/lebanon-begins-vaccinations-with-sceptics-a-major-hurdle 16th Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Al Jazeera English United States President Joe Biden extended a federal moratorium on foreclosures and mortgage forbearance policies on Tuesday giving the more than 10 million homeowners who are behind on payments additional months of assistance as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the US economy. Bidens announcement extends the moratorium on foreclosures through the end of June after it was due to expire at the end of next month. The policy also extends the mortgage forbearance window until June 30 and provides up to six months of additional mortgage payment relief for the 2.7 million Americans who are already receiving it the White House said in a statement. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/2/16/biden-extends-foreclosure-moratorium-for-struggling-homeowners 16th Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian Remote education does not just mean a new system of learning but missing out on daytoday interactions with friends and losing the traditional structure of weekdays. While teachers work to engage students from home there are concerns about the impact of lockdown on school attainment and social development. As many students break for halfterm teenagers and their families have spoken about how the second lockdown has affected them. Im so scared about next year and the prospect of doing formal exams Remote learning has definitely been a struggle said 17yearold Aisha Qureshi. She is in her first year of Alevels after having her GCSE exams cancelled last year. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/16/just-fed-up-families-teenagers-life-second-uk-lockdown 16th Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

South China Morning Post Once Europes poster child in the battle against Covid19 Germany has turned into a problem child with the pandemic threatening to spin out of control even after two months of a strict national lockdown that has frayed nerves eroded faith in the government and darkened the countrys mood. German leaders had to scramble on Monday to defend a controversial decision to shut its borders to the Czech Republic and parts of Austria to foreign travellers including commuting workers in a desperate bid to slow the spread of a highly infections coronavirus mutation from the United Kingdom. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3121890/coronavirus-germans-sick-and-tired-long-lockdown-hits-national 16th Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

Zimbabwe Every life lost is a big loss to us. I therefore extend the national lockdown by two weeks. This will see the reduction of active cases and monitoring of cases in incubation. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/zimbabwe-sinopharm-lockdown-extension/5779147.html 16th Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

New Zealand Herald South Aucklanders already struggling to feed their families could be hit hard by the stresses of a third Covid19 lockdown a prominent Mori leader says. Manukau Urban Maori Authority MUMA chairman Bernie ODonnell said since the first lockdown in 2020 the organisation has been busy helping families in south Auckland via its food bank and social services. ODonnell who is also a member of the Auckland District Health Board said most people have been focused on feeding their families and putting a roof over their heads. But its the issues we dont see like how our psyches are impacted by this he said. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-fears-for-south-aucklanders-mental-health-amid-third-lockdown/VVEUBAHGQQ2TNMDT6WEALK44KE/ 16th Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

ABC News For a second consecutive day New Zealand reported no new community cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday raising hopes that a lockdown in Auckland will be lifted Wednesday. Just how three family members contracted the disease remains a mystery. After the cases were found top lawmakers hurriedly placed New Zealands largest city into a threeday lockdown the nations first in six months. COVID19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the final decision by lawmakers on whether to lift the restrictions will depend on any new information or cases that crop up over the next 24 hours. A day when we get zero positive test results is always a good day Hipkins said. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/virus-cases-raise-hopes-zealand-end-lockdown-75913197 16th Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

Al Jazeera English John Kwarabu 36 knew he would be forced to stay at home when Zimbabwes authorities announced a 30day coronavirus lockdown early last month. His job hawking mobile phone appliances in the central business district of the capital Harare did not fall under essential service providers the only population segment exempted from restrictions barring movement. With the curbs set to take effect on January 5 Kwarabu decided to head to his rural home in Hwedza some 130km 81 miles from Harare to plant food crops for two weeks. His stay however was cut short when his wife called him after a week telling him that food had already run out for herself and their three children. I had no choice. I couldnt let my family starve said Kwarabu sitting on the concrete slab in front of a building in the capital. Following his return he has been risking arrest and fines as he boards a bus from Tafara a sprawling suburb north of Harare without a permit to head to the city centre and try to earn a living. On good days he manages to sell a few items USB cables chargers and power banks from the stock he had before the lockdown was imposed and buys food for his family. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/16/zimbabweans-worry-as-new-coronavirus-lockdown-looms 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Nursing Times Nurses and other health professionals from the UK are being encouraged to take part in a safety study of the OxfordAstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine in order to tackle possible side effects. They are also being asked to urge patients to sign up to the study https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/coronavirus/call-for-nurses-to-join-covid-19-vaccine-side-effects-study-16-02-2021/ 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Bristol Live Bristol has been selected as one of four locations to take part in a worldfirst coronavirus vaccine trial for children. The University of Oxford study will recruit up to 300 child volunteers nationally aged between six and 17 years old to investigate if the current OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine is effective in protecting children. As well as the Oxford site three partner sites in London Southampton and at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children will run the trial. It launched today Monday February 15 and the first vaccinations are expected to commence later this month. Recruitment for Bristols is open to all BS postcodes via the trial website which states that participants from Black Asian and minority ethnic groups are particularly welcome to take part. The length of the study is one year and participants will be asked to attend five visits with anyone under the age of 16 requiring parental consent. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-children-young-six-can-5006729 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The New York Times The day after my teenagers got their first shots in the Moderna Covid vaccine trial I found my 13yearold daughter Zoe sprawled out in bed during a distancelearning art class. Under a pile of blankets she said she had chills. My heart skipped a beat. Any other time I would have worried about her missing school or Nordic ski practice but this time I was elated when her temperature peaked at 100.5 degrees. A fever meant she was probably reacting to a real mRNA vaccine and not a placebo. Maybe shed won the vaccine lottery When Pfizer and Moderna were granted emergency authorization to license their vaccines in December the shots were approved for people as young as 16 and 18 respectively. But in order to end the pandemic many experts said that younger children will need to be vaccinated. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/parenting/teen-coronavirus-vaccine-trial.html 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail South Koreas National Intelligence Service claim North Korea tried stealing data The NIS claim hackers targeted vaccine manufacturer Pfizer to steal information North Korea has continuously claimed it has not had a single Covid19 case Last month it was reported North Korea was starting to develop its own vaccine https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9265515/North-Korean-hackers-attempted-steal-Pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine.html 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC News Englands vaccination programme is starting to pay off with the over80s age group now the most likely to test positive for coronavirus antibodies Office for National Statistics testing suggests. Blood tests reveal more over80s than any other age group in England are showing signs of some immunity against Covid infection. This comes as Covid deaths have fallen. But overall deaths are still 40 above the fiveyear average. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56083905 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Financial Times As pharmaceutical companies raced to develop Covid19 vaccines crossing the finishing line in record time the worlds three biggest vaccine makers were alsorans. GlaxoSmithKline Merck and Sanofi are now left playing catchup after upstarts including Moderna and BioNTech demonstrated their mastery of new technologies that will shape the industry for years to come. New Jerseybased Merck recently dropped its vaccine development programme completely while Parisbased Sanofi and the UKs GSK are having to redo an earlystage trial of the jab they are jointly developing after a dosing mistake. https://www.ft.com/content/657b123a-78ba-4fba-b18e-23c07e313331 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail on MSN.com From a dry cough to a high fever coronavirus is known to be linked to a range of unpleasant symptoms. Now a new study has revealed another potential side effect nodules on the eyeballs. Researchers have warned that coronavirus infection may trigger inflammation of the eyeballs and lead to the formation of mysterious nodules at the back of the organ. Experts do not yet know what causes these nodules or the impact they have on a patients longterm health. However a study of 129 French patients who had severe Covid19 and underwent MRI scans revealed nine of them seven per cent suffered abnormalities. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/covid-can-cause-potentially-dangerous-nodules-on-patients-eyeballs/ar-BB1dJn5z 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Pulse Today A common asthma drug Budesonide which could be given by GP surgeries as an early community intervention has been found to reduce Covid19 symptoms. In a small trial at the University of Oxford the steroid inhaler was given seven days after the onset of Covid19 symptoms and appeared to significantly reduce the need for critical care. The researchers also reported persistent symptoms seen after 28 days were reduced with the asthma drug. The study which has yet to be peerreviewed involved 146 people who had tested positive for Covid19 half of whom were given 800 mg of Budesonide twice a day and the other half received the usual care. https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/respiratory/gps-could-offer-common-asthma-drug-as-early-covid-19-intervention/ 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

TimesLIVE SA has asked the Serum Institute of India to take back the one million Covid19 vaccine doses the company had sent in early February The Economic Times reported on Tuesday a week after the country said it will put on hold use of AstraZenecas shot in its vaccination programme. Serum Institute of India which is producing AstraZenecas shot has emerged as a key vaccine supplier. One million doses of the Covid19 vaccine landed in SA last week and another 500000 were due to arrive in the next few weeks. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-02-16-sa-asks-serum-institute-to-take-back-1-million-vaccine-doses-report/ 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Post U.S. drug developer Novavax Inc said on Monday it has signed a license agreement with South Korea manufacturer SK Bioscience to produce 40 million doses of its COVID19 vaccine for South Korea. Concurrently SK Bioscience has finalized an advance purchase agreement with the Korean government to supply 40 million doses of NVXCoV2373 to the Republic of Korea beginning in 2021 Novavax said in a statement httpsbit.ly37eMKB2. https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/novavax-signs-deal-with-sk-bioscience-for-40-mln-vaccine-doses-for-s-korea 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Associated Press The World Health Organization has granted an emergency authorization to AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine a move that should allow the U.N. agencys partners to ship millions of doses to countries as part of a U.N.backed program to tame the pandemic. In a statement Monday the WHO said it was clearing the AstraZeneca vaccines made by the Serum Institute of India and South Koreas AstraZenecaSKBio. The WHOs green light for the AstraZeneca vaccine is only the second one the U.N. health agency has issued after authorizing the PfizerBioNTech vaccine in December. Mondays announcement should trigger the delivery of hundreds of millions of doses to countries that have signed up for the U.N.backed COVAX effort which aims to deliver vaccines to the worlds most vulnerable people. https://apnews.com/article/who-astrazeneca-vaccine-emergency-use-3270b68714c77cf4b292ad25a147323f 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC News Scientists have identified another new variant of coronavirus in the UK with some potentially troubling mutations. B.1.525 appears similar to the South African variant which prompted doortodoor tests in areas where it has been found. Researchers from Edinburgh University have found 38 cases so far 2 in Wales and 36 in England in samples dating back to December. It has been seen in other countries including Denmark Nigeria and the US. UK experts are studying it to understand what risk it poses. It is too soon to say if it should be added to the UKs list of variants of concern and whether mass testing for it should happen. So for now it is a variant under investigation. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56082573 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Al Jazeera English A coronavirus variant identified in the Brazilian Amazon may be three times more contagious but early analysis suggests vaccines are still effective against it the countrys health minister said on Thursday without providing evidence for the claims. Under pressure as the variant hammers the jungle city of Manaus with a devastating second wave of infections Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello sought to reassure legislators that the surge of recent months was unexpected but coming under control. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/12/brazil-says-amazon-covid-variant-three-times-more-contagious 12th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC News Scientists have identified another new coronavirus variant in the UK which has potentially concerning mutations. B.1.525 the new variant contains a genetic change called E484K which is also found in the Brazilian and South African variants. Public Health England PHE has said there is no evidence that the mutations in the new variant make the virus more transmissible or cause severe disease. Laboratory studies have shown that viruses with the E484K mutation can escape human defences making them more efficient at evading natural and vaccinetriggered immunity https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-scientists-identify-new-coronavirus-variant-with-potentially-concerning-mutations-12220007 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Hill The Dan David Foundation which is based at Tel Aviv University said on Monday that Fauci has won the prize for courageously defending science in the face of uninformed opposition during the challenging COVID crisis the Seattle Times reported. As the COVID19 pandemic unraveled Fauci leveraged his considerable communication skills to address people gripped by fear and anxiety and worked relentlessly to inform individuals in the United States and elsewhere about the public health measures essential for containing the pandemics spread the foundations awards committee said. https://thehill.com/homenews/news/538897-fauci-wins-1-million-israeli-prize-for-defending-science 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP The inhospital death rate among adult COVID19 patients in England early in the pandemic was 31 but declined significantly over time with older age male sex low socioeconomic status Asian or mixed ethnicity and underlying conditions signaling poor outcomes according to a retrospective observational study published yesterday in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. A team led by a researcher from University College London used the National Health Service Hospital Episode Statistics administrative dataset to estimate inhospital deaths and contributing factors among 91541 COVID19 patients at 500 hospitals from Mar 1 to May 31 2020. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/02/initial-sky-high-uk-hospital-covid-death-rate-fell-sharply 16th Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma AstraZeneca set up a globetrotting supply network for its COVID19 vaccine to deliver doses around the world but it hasnt tapped regional producers to ease delivery shortfalls elsewhere. But that could changeand soon. British regulators are inspecting one of the drugmakers biggest production partners Serum Institute of India which signed on to manufacture AstraZenecas shot for its home country and other global markets. Sources close to the matter told Reuters about the manufacturing audit. A green light from the U.K.s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA could clear the way for AstraZeneca to import the Indiamade shots to the U.K. and EU which has struggled to beef up vaccine supplies after AZ said it would cut firstquarter deliveries last month. https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/serum-institute-india-up-for-british-audit-as-astrazeneca-looks-to-boost-covid-19 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Independent Deaths among people over 80 is falling faster than with other age groups suggesting the UKs vaccine programme is starting to have an impact on the coronavirus pandemic. According to analysis of the latest data the proportion of deaths among the over80s as a seven day average have dropped by almost 50 per cent between 31 January to 10 February. This compares to a fall of 39 per cent for those aged under 80 over the same period. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-deaths-vaccine-lockdown-b1803071.html 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Washington Post Last month entrepreneur Peter Diamandis stood on a purplelit stage inside the offices of one of his tech companies in Culver City Calif. as hundreds listened online to his presentation. The summit was not completely virtual though. Dozens of attendees some of whom had traveled from abroad also sat in the indoor space that Diamandis pledged would be safe thanks to regular testing vitamins and doctors onsite. Instead nearly three weeks later at least 24 people who attended the conference have tested positive for the coronavirus including Diamandis himself. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/16/peter-diamandis-summit-coronavirus-outbreak/ 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News Another 799 COVIDrelated deaths and 10625 more cases have been reported in the UK in the last 24 hours government data shows. This is down from the 1052 deaths and 12364 cases recorded this time last week. Yesterday a total of 230 fatalities and 9765 infections were reported however its important to note that figures can differ widely early in the week due to a reporting lag from the weekend. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-another-799-coronavirus-deaths-and-10-625-cases-in-uk-as-over-15-5-million-have-had-first-vaccine-dose-12219964 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters on MSN.com Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are three times more likely to die with COVID19 than the population as a whole according to U.N. figures that highlight the pandemics outsized impact on the community. An estimated 207000 Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon after being driven from their homes or fleeing the conflict surrounding Israels 1948 creation the vast majority in cramped camps where social distancing is impossible. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/palestinian-refugees-in-lebanon-three-times-more-likely-to-die-with-covid-19/ar-BB1dJp3m 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News Scientists have been left confused by the plummeting rate of coronavirus infections in India particularly because the country was at one point on course for the biggest toll worldwide. Nearly 100000 infections were reported each day during Indias peak but this has taken an unexplained tumble since September to around 11000 a day. Official figures in November also showed 90 of New Delhis critical care beds with ventilators were filled whereas just 16 were full last Thursday. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-experts-left-puzzled-by-sudden-drop-in-coronavirus-cases-in-india-12219684 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

CBC.ca A second First Nations community in Manitoba is under lockdown following the potential discovery of a highly infectious coronavirus variant. On Monday the chief of Pimicikamak also known as Cross Lake First Nation about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg confirmed the community has seen at least one suspected case of the coronavirus variant first detected in the United Kingdom. Chief David Monias said in a statement the sample has been sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg for confirmation. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/another-blow-pauingassi-first-nation-pimicikamak-highly-contagious-variant-covid-19-1.5914653 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Associated Press On a recent evening Lela Ideddaim waited to receive a bag of food along with hundreds of other French young people who are unable to make ends meet. She saw the chitchat that accompanied the handout as a welcome byproduct given her intense isolation during the pandemic. The 21yearold student in hotel and restaurant management has seen her plans turned upside down by the virus crisis. With restaurants and tourist sites shuttered and France under a 6 p.m. curfew her career prospects are uncertain. Odd jobs that were supposed to keep her going during her studies are hard to come by. https://apnews.com/article/paris-france-coronavirus-pandemic-restaurants-59cb0184f0673310e5707f25620d86d4 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The COVID19 pandemic is on the rise again in Poland the health minister said on Tuesday a worrying turnaround after case numbers stabilised following a second wave of infections last autumn. Poland has loosened some of its COVID19 restrictions and scenes of partying tourists at Polands main ski resort at the weekend have raised fears of a new rise in infections. The reversal in the trend has become a fact Health Minister Adam Niedzielski wrote on Twitter. The trend for the weekly growth rate sevenday moving average is positive for the first time since midNovember excluding postholiday anomalies. On Tuesday Poland reported 5178 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 196 deaths. The European Union member states has reported a total of 1596673 cases and 41028 deaths. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-poland/coronavirus-pandemic-back-on-upward-trend-in-poland-minister-idUSL8N2KM2LC 16th Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Washington Post The rate of newly recorded infections is plummeting from coast to coast and the worst surge yet is finally relenting. But scientists are split on why exactly it is happening. Some point to the quickening pace of coronavirus vaccine administration some say its because of the natural seasonal ebb of respiratory viruses and others chalk it up to social distancing measures. And every explanation is appended with two significant caveats The country is still in a bad place continuing to notch more than 90000 new cases every day and recent progress could still be imperiled either by new fastspreading virus variants or by relaxed social distancing measures. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/02/14/why-coronavirus-cases-are-dropping/ 15th Feb 2021

New Lockdown

NDTV As Mumbai records a surge in Covid cases a lockdown is a possibility a top Mumbai official warned today. But whether the city will go into lockdown mode once again would depend on the people said Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar. The Mayor noted that most people travelling on trains did not wear masks. Its a matter of concern. Most people travelling in trains dont wear masks. People must take precautions or we will head towards another lockdown Kishori Pednekar said. Whether a lockdown will be implemented again is in the hands of people. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/another-mumbai-lockdown-amid-rising-coronavirus-cases-what-mayor-kishori-pednekar-said-2371730 16th Feb 2021

New Lockdown

DNA India While the countrywide coronavirus caseload is decreasing the situation in Maharashtras Akola is completely opposite as a sudden rise in the infections has raised the administrations concern. To control the spread of COVID19 strict rules have been implemented in the district till February 28. The administration has restricted social gatherings and has disallowed more than 50 people in functions like weddings. Schools and colleges have also been ordered to close and there is a ban on a gathering of five or more people. https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-covid-19-another-lockdown-in-maharashtra-this-district-shuts-down-schools-colleges-imposes-restrictions-2875565 16th Feb 2021