23rd Feb 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=206 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

BioPharma Dive Pfizer expects to roughly double the number of coronavirus vaccine doses it makes per week for use in the U.S CEO Albert Bourla said Friday at an event with President Joe Biden held at the companys plant in Kalamazoo Michigan. The boost in production should take effect in the next couple weeks Bourla said noting the drugmaker currently manufactures about 5 million doses each week. Pfizer has supplied approximately 40 million doses to the U.S. government through February 17 some 29 million of which have been administered since the vaccines emergency authorization last December. Pfizers steppedup manufacturing is a result of improvements the companys made in reducing by half the time it takes to make and do quality checks on each vaccine lot. The pharma is also expanding its production network tapping a site in Kansas to aid in the fill and finish of vaccine vials. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-manufacturing-kansas-factory/595407/ 23rd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Australia will ramp up its COVID19 immunisation drive with more shots to be rolled out from next week federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Tuesday after a second shipment of the vaccine reached the country overnight. About 166000 doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and Germanys BioNtech arrived late Monday authorities said as the country entered the second day of a nationwide inoculation programme. Total weekly doses will be raised to 80000 next week from 60000 doses this week with the number expected to reach 1 million a week by the end of March when CSL Ltd begins to locally produce the AstraZeneca vaccine. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia/australia-to-ramp-up-covid-19-vaccination-drive-as-more-doses-arrive-idUSKBN2AN02Q 23rd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

ABC.Net.au Two hotel quarantine nurses have become the first people in Western Australia to be given the COVID19 vaccine. Four thousand five hundred doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine arrived at Perth Airport yesterday and were stored overnight in a Perth Childrens Hospital PCH pharmacy freezer at minus 80 degrees Celsius. It is the first COVID vaccine approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration TGA. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-22/wa-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-begins-with-hotel-quarantine-nurses/13176590 22nd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

CBS News Italy discovered its first COVID19 infections one year ago. The outbreak led to the first nationwide lockdown outside of China and it has claimed more than 95000 lives across the country. But as CBS News correspondent Chris Livesay reports its a very different story there now. Life has slowly been returning to normal and Italians packed the streets over the weekend even in the countrys north which was once the epicenter of its coronavirus epidemic. Old traditions are bouncing back across Italy but with some differences. A year ago something as simple as drinking a cappuccino out in the open had become unthinkable. Life is hardly back to normal the law still requires that you to wear a mask at all times in public even outside except when youre eating or drinking. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-italy-anniversary-first-cases-cautious-return-normal-waiting-vaccines/ 22nd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

WION Air New Zealand will trial a digital travel pass to give airlines and border authorities access to passenger health information including their Covid19 vaccination status the carrier said Monday. The scheme dubbed a vaccination passport by industry observers is intended to streamline travel once borders reopen by allowing passengers to store their health credentials in one place. https://www.wionews.com/world/air-new-zealand-to-trial-digital-covid-vaccination-passport-365394 22nd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

New Zealand Herald Aucklands latest Covid19 episode will have proven frustrating to many but the snap lockdown was nonetheless ultimately justified an expert says. Scientists today welcomed Cabinets call to move Auckland to alert level 1 and to require masks on public transport across the whole country at all alert levels. Covid19 modeller Professor Michael Plank said the drop down made sense with a vast number of negative tests now giving officials good confidence there wasnt an undetected community outbreak. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-auckland-lockdown-was-frustrating-but-justified-says-expert/XHZGJNEF4OYZL3XGJIL6CHNIGI/ 22nd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

CIDRAP At a press briefing today the World Health Organizations WHO top official said money isnt the only obstacle to getting vaccines to lower income countries through the COVAX program designed to offer equitable access to tamp down the COVID19 activity across the globe. In other developments the WHO pleaded with Tanzania to report on its COVID19 situation and describe measures its taking as some countries in Europe looked toward easing measures while a few other nations tracked rising cases. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/02/who-calls-other-steps-ease-covax-vaccine-access 22nd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Pfizer Inc expects to deliver more than 13 million doses of its COVID19 vaccine per week to the United States by the middle of March more than doubling its shipments from early February a top Pfizer executive said in prepared testimony ahead of a Tuesday congressional hearing. Pfizer has shipped around 40 million doses to locations across the United States so far and is on track to deliver 120 million doses of its twodose regimen by the end of March said John Young Pfizers chief business officer. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-vaccines/pfizer-to-ship-13-million-covid-vaccine-doses-per-week-to-u-s-by-mid-march-says-executive-idINKBN2AM2LW 22nd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

STAT News After months of uncertainty and frustration a World Health Organization program designed to ensure access to Covid19 vaccines in dozens of lowincome countries late last week received a spate of good news. First Novavax pledged 1.1 billion doses of its shot to the WHO effort which is known as COVAX. Meanwhile the U.S. agreed to contribute 4 billion in aid over the next two years with Germany adding 1.2 billion and the European Commission providing 600 million. Collectively the G7 countries have now committed a total 7.5 billion. And the U.K. promised to provide surplus vaccines to lowincome countries. The sudden rush of announcements was in stark contrast to increasing concerns that COVAX was faltering. For much of the past year wealthy nations and drug makers reached deals that critics argued would leave lowincome nations with little access to vaccines. As a result the vast majority of vaccinations have so far occurred in highincome countries. https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2021/02/22/covid19-coronavirus-vaccine-who-covax-pfizer-jnj-moderna-astrazeneca/ 22nd Feb 2021

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times The growing optimism stems from the confluence of several factors. Coronavirus cases are falling in the United States. The vaccine rollout though slower than hoped is gaining steam. And largely because of trillions of dollars in federal help the economy appears to have made it through last year with less structural damage in the form of business failures home foreclosures and personal bankruptcies than many people feared last spring https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/21/business/economy/pandemic-economic-boom.html 21st Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

El País In Spain Extremadura last week took on the challenge of vaccinating 7000 adults with need for daily care who are not in residences and their professional carers in a week. This group included people who need help to carry out basic tasks recognized as Grade III dependents under the Law of Dependency those who have asked to be recognized in this category and those who without having made any request are accredited with suffering from a disease which requires them to have significant support measures. Thanks to the support of family and health workers the vaccination day was surprisingly easy said the coordinator of the drive Paula Salamanca. Red Cross teams which facilitated up to 300 trips to the center were also key. Salamanca said that it all comes down to teamwork If one of us fails we all fail. https://english.elpais.com/society/2021-02-22/spanish-region-vaccinates-7000-adults-living-with-a-disability-in-a-week.html 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters The United States has administered 64177474 doses of COVID19 vaccines as of Monday morning and delivered 75205940 doses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The tally of vaccine doses are for both Moderna and PfizerBioNTech vaccines as of 600 a.m. ET on Monday the agency said. According to the tally posted on Feb. 21 the agency had administered 63090634 doses of the vaccines and distributed 75204965 doses. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-cdc/u-s-administers-64-2-million-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines-cdc-idUSKBN2AM29A 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

Belfast Telegraph In Ireland more than 100000 doses of Covid19 are set to be administered this week as supplies of the vaccine are to be ramped up over the coming weeks. Health Service Executive HSE boss Paul Reid said the light is beginning to emerge as the State scales up its vaccine programme. The CEO of the HSE said that it delivered some 40000 to 45000 doses every week but that increased to 80000 vaccines last week. He said that 13500 of those vaccines went to people aged over 85 while 25000 were delivered to healthcare workers and 40000 to residents and staff in longterm residential facilities. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/more-than-100000-covid-19-vaccines-to-be-administered-this-week-40119551.html 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

Chemist+Druggist In the UK Superdrug has become the first high street pharmacy chain to offer a salivabased polymerase chain reaction PCR test for COVID19 at the price of 120. The salivabased PCR test is designed to be less intrusive than the standard method of using a swab to retrieve a sample from the back of the patients nose or throat. It is available in all 200 Superdrug branches across the country and via the multiples website it announced last week https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/superdrug-launches-120-salvia-pcr-test-covid 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

The Times Tens of thousands more people will die of Covid19 as Britain opens up government scientific advisers have concluded. Even a gradual easing during the spring is likely to produce a peak on the scale of last month or last April because so many people remain susceptible according to modelling by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies Sage. Lifting all restrictions from the end of April would lead to a far bigger wave of hospital admissions than last month and some limits on social contact will be needed into the summer the models suggest. Sage told ministers last week that maskwearing avoiding crowds and contact tracing may be needed indefinitely to keep the virus under control. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sage-warns-tens-of-thousands-more-will-die-of-covid-19-as-lockdown-eases-nkxxblktx 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

Evening Standard Boris Johnson said there is light aheadfor the UK today after earlier revealing his roadmap to bring England out of lockdown. All pupils in Englands schools will return to class from March 8 while people will be able to socialise with one person outside Mr Johnson confirmed earlier. Mr Johnson laying his roadmap out of lockdown to the House of Commons on Monday afternoon also revealed from April 12 at the earliest shops hairdressers nail salons libraries outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality venues such as beer gardens will be allowed to reopen. From June 21 at the earliest all remaining restrictions on social contact could be lifted larger events can go ahead and nightclubs could finally reopen. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/coronavirus-uk-live-boris-johnson-roadmap-covid-lockdown-announcement-latest-updates-b920680.html 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

The Independent Elementary students in more than half of Germanys 16 states returned to school Monday after more than two months at home the first major relaxation of the country s pandemic measures since before Christmas. Kindergartens also reopened their doors for preschool children giving muchanticipated relief to stressed parents trying to juggle working from home and childcare during the lockdown. The move was agreed at a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and state governors two weeks ago and stuck to despite signs that the decline in case numbers seen in the country is flattening out again and even rising in some areas. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/germany-reopens-some-schools-amid-fears-pandemic-may-rebound-germany-schools-school-states-country-b1805574.html 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

The New York Times Vicious winter weather has snarled vaccine deliveries nationwide. The White House estimated that the weather had created a backlog of six million doses and pleaded with local officials to extend hours at vaccination sites and schedule additional appointments. The bad weather has slowed two vaccine shipping hubs a FedEx center in Memphis and a UPS site in Louisville Ky. And the Federal Emergency Management Agency said this week that more than 2000 vaccine sites were in areas with power outages. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/20/world/covid-19-coronavirus 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

AlJazeera The inoculation campaign against COVID19 in the besieged Gaza Strip has kicked off after the arrival of vaccines donated by Russia and the United Arab Emirates. On Monday officials and health workers received the first shots of 22000 Russian Sputnik V jabs in front of dozens of cameras. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/22/gaza-starts-covid-19-inoculation-drive-amid-vaccine-shortage 22nd Feb 2021

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Boris Johnson has announced detailed plans for the unlocking of England amid the coronavirus vaccination programme. Here is the proposed timetable in four stages and other initiatives announced by Downing Street. No 10 is stressing that after the first step the subsequent stages of reopening could be subject to delay and that the programme would be guided by data rather than dates. There is a minimum of five weeks between each stage four weeks to collect and assess data and then a week for people and businesses to prepare for the next step. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/22/step-by-step-how-england-lockdown-lifted 22nd Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Al Jazeera English Forget about oil and arms. Coronavirus vaccines are emerging as the newest currency of choice in the Middle East. Israels reopening of its economy combined with a murky prisoner swap with Syria and the arrival of a batch of vaccines in the Gaza Strip have all underscored how those with access to the vaccines have political power in the turbulent region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been at the forefront of this trend pinning his reelection hopes on the success of his campaign to vaccinate Israels adult population. At the same time he has offered rewards to those who vaccinate and punishments to those who do not. Israel has rolled out the worlds fastest vaccination campaign administering at least one dose to more than half its 9.3 million people and the required two doses to about onethird in less than two months. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/22/israel-coronavirus-vaccines-wielding-political-power 23rd Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Al Jazeera English British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a fourstep plan to ease coronavirus restrictions in England expressing a hope that life could get back to normal by the end of June. Johnson outlined a gradual and cautious approach to lifting curbs in England starting with the return of pupils to schools from March 8. Nonessential retail and hairdressers will reopen April 12. So will pubs and restaurants though only outdoors. Indoor venues such as theatres and cinemas and indoor seating in bars and restaurants are scheduled to open May 17 when limited crowds will be able to return to sports stadiums. It is also the earliest date Britons may be allowed foreign holidays. The government is aiming for the lifting of all limits on social contact from June 21. The government says the dates could all be postponed if infections rise. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/22/uk-aims-for-lifting-all-social-restrictions-in-england-by-june-21 23rd Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters The United States on Monday crossed the staggering milestone of 500000 COVID19 deaths just over a year since the coronavirus pandemic claimed its first known victim in Santa Clara County California. In a proclamation honoring the dead President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. flag to be flown at halfstaff on public buildings and grounds until sunset on Friday. On this solemn occasion we reflect on their loss and on their loved ones left behind Biden said in the proclamation. We as a Nation must remember them so we can begin to heal to unite and find purpose as one Nation to defeat this pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/a-day-that-will-live-in-infamy-us-nears-500000th-covid-19-death-idUSKBN2AM1Y4 23rd Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

The Washington Post As the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine ramps up across the United States women of childbearing age have emerged as a surprising roadblock to efforts to halt the pandemic by achieving herd immunity. Officials have encountered hesitancy among other groups including some Black and Hispanic adults and those who believe the pandemic is a hoax. But the reluctance of women in their 20s and 30s largely around disinformation spread on Facebook Twitter and other social media has been more unexpected. With such women making up a large share of the healthcare workforce vaccine uptake at nursing homes and hospitals has been as low as 20 to 50 percent in some places a far cry from the 70 to 85 percent population target that health officials say may be needed to stop the virus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/02/22/women-vaccine-infertility-disinformation/ 22nd Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Sky News The behaviour of Australian Open fans who booed the mention of a COVID19 vaccine rollout after Sundays mens final has been branded disgusting. Tennis Australia president Jayne Hrdlicka was loudly heckled when she mentioned vaccines in her presentation speech after Novak Djokovics victory. Michael McCormack Australias deputy prime minister said Well thats unAustralian the booing incident Im sorry that is just unAustralian. This vaccine is going to get our country back to some sort of preCOVID normality. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-australian-open-fans-criticised-for-disgusting-booing-of-vaccine-rollout-12225467 22nd Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

New Zealand Herald An Australian woman who is refusing to take a Covid19 swab says she will finally leave MIQ in Wellington today after 28 days. Lucinda Baulch flew into New Zealand almost a month ago to drop off children she had been fostering to their new home in Aotearoa. I put my hand up saying Ill take the children on the plane Ill stay with them during managed isolation. She claims that while she was in Australia she was told by officials there she wouldnt need to take a Covid19 swab because she flew in from Australia but once she arrived she was informed that this was not the case. This isnt the first time Baulch has challenged Covid19 rules and back in Australia she participated in an antilockdown protest. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/australian-woman-refusing-a-covid-swab-in-miq-had-already-protested-against-lockdowns/TU6SVTXFGD3VBC5GCO27L2GBEM/ 22nd Feb 2021

Partisan Exits

Al Jazeera English The president of Argentina has decried an unforgivable COVID19 vaccine scandal that prompted the resignation of the countrys health minister. Gines Gonzalez Garcia stepped down on Friday after reports surfaced that he had aided people in the South American nation jump the queue to receive COVID19 vaccines. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/21/argentina-president-decries-unforgivable-vaccine-scandal 22nd Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

Bloomberg Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has extended a ban on movement between the countrys 20 regions for another month until late March as his new government tries to step up a vaccination campaign to counter the pandemic. A cabinet meeting chaired by Draghi prolonged travel curbs between regions until March 27 and maintained a 10 p.m. curfew according to a statement. The government also introduced a ban on visits between households in the highestrisk areas. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-22/italy-government-extends-ban-on-movement-between-regions?srnd=politics-vp 22nd Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

South China Morning Post Gaocheng a district of the Hebei capital Shijiazhuang went into lockdown in early January after a spike in cases. Many complain that they are still unable to leave their houses despite a fall in cases and an easing of restrictions earlier this month https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3122508/coronavirus-china-city-residents-vent-frustration-after-spending 22nd Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters The number of people heading out to shops across Britain increased by 6.8 last week versus the previous week a fifth straight week of uplift despite the national lockdown market researcher Springboard said on Monday. It said shopper numbers or footfall in the week to Feb. 20 was up 10.5 in high streets 4.5 in shopping centres and 1.2 in retail parks. You could be fooled into thinking that last week was a normal school half term week rather than the eighth week of a national lockdown as footfall continued to rise for the fifth consecutive week said Springboard director Diane Wehrle. https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-retail-springboard/update-1-uk-shopper-numbers-rise-for-fifth-straight-week-despite-lockdown-idUSL8N2KS3OQ 22nd Feb 2021

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Staff at financial firms in Britain are suffering from lockdown fatigue and their bosses are not always making sure all employees can speak up freely about their problems the Financial Conduct Authority said on Monday. Many staff at financial companies have been working from home since Britain went into its first lockdown in March last year to fight the COVID19 pandemic. One year on the challenges have evolved from adapting to working remotely to dealing with mental health issues said David Blunt the FCAs head of conduct specialists. During this third lockdown there has been a greater impact on mental wellbeing with many people struggling with job security caring responsibilities home schooling bereavements and lockdown fatigue. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-finance-regulator/dont-ignore-lockdown-fatigue-uk-watchdog-tells-finance-bosses-idUSKBN2AM18N?il=0 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Al Jazeera English Data from two separate studies published in the UK one in England and another in Scotland have shown vaccines against COVID19 are effective in cutting disease transmission and hospitalisations starting from the first dose. Analysis from Public Health England PHE published on Monday shows that the vaccine manufactured by PfizerBioNTech reduces the risk of catching infection by more than 70 percent after the first dose. That risk is reduced by 85 percent after a second dose. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/23/first-covid-vaccine-dose-cuts-transmission-hospitalisation 23rd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Novavax has now enrolled 30000 people in the US and Mexico to its shot trial Its CEO told Reuters last month it could deliver doses to the US by June if all goes well in its trials. The vaccine was shown to be 89.3 effective and works nearly as well against the UK variant in tests in Britain. But the shot is about 50 less effective against the South African variant. US has a contract for 100 million doses of Novavaxs COVID19 vaccine. It would likely be the fourth shot authorized in the US assuming Johnson Johnsons vaccine gets greenlit by the FDA this week https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9286595/Novavax-completes-enrollment-U-S-trial-COVID-19-vaccine.html 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

i on MSN.com One dose of the Pfizer vaccine slashes the chances of being admitted to hospital with Covid by at least 75 per cent among over80s realworld data from Public Health England PHE has found.Dr Mary Ramsay head of immunisation at PHE said this was at the lower end of the estimate and the drop in hospital admissions and deaths was thought to be even more profound. Another study found that the PfizerBioNTech jab also offered a high degree of protection for younger age groups. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/covid-19-pfizer-vaccine-cuts-chance-of-hospitalisation-for-elderly-by-75-25-after-one-jab-research-finds/ar-BB1dUviA 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News The COVID19 vaccines being used in the UK could reduce a persons risk of being admitted to hospital by as much as 94 four weeks after the first dose new data suggests. Experts examined coronavirus hospital admissions in Scotland among people who have had their first jab and compared them to those who had not yet received a vaccine. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-linked-to-85-and-94-drop-in-coronavirus-hospital-admissions-in-scotland-study-shows-12225532 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

BioPharma Dive This Friday a group of vaccine and infectious disease experts will assemble virtually to discuss whether the Food and Drug Administration should clear Johnson Johnsons coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. The meeting convened by the FDA is likely one of the last steps in the agencys review of JJs shot. The regulator held similar meetings to review study results from Pfizer and Moderna and each time authorized the companies vaccines the very next day. The advisers are expected to support emergency use of JJs vaccine as they did for Pfizers and Modernas. But Fridays meeting will be important viewing nonetheless as the experts are likely to debate emerging issues like protection against new virus variants. The meeting will be broadcast through an FDA conference system as well as on Youtube. BioPharma Dive will be covering live. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/johnson-johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-fda-advisory-meeting/595366/ 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

BioPharma Dive Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline on Monday announced the start of a Phase 2 study testing a new version of the experimental coronavirus vaccine the two partners have been developing. The 720volunteer midstage study begins roughly two months after the partners disclosed weaker than expected results for their first vaccine candidate. Sanofi and GSK are evaluating a refined antigen formulation in the new trial and could start Phase 3 testing in the second quarter if results are positive they said in a statement. If all goes well Sanofi and GSK hope to bring a vaccine to market by the fourth quarter of 2021. But that outcome would still represent a sixtonine month delay from previous estimates a significant setback for a program that was promised up to 2.1 billion in funding from the U.S. government. Multiple coronavirus vaccines are already available and others could arrive later this year. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/sanofi-gsk-upgraded-coronavirus-vaccine-trial/595457/ 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Wall Street Journal A single shot of the vaccine produced by Pfizer led to a 57 reduction in cases of Covid19 in people of age 80 and over rising to 88 after a second dose according to preliminary data from the U.K. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-effectiveness-highlighted-by-u-k-data-11614008331 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC News Clinical trials are taking place at the Great Western Hospital with the aim of finding more effective ways to treat patients with coronavirus. Operating department practitioner Helen Langton explains how her team approaches patients and families to get their consent. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-wiltshire-56155288 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Researchers looked at blood samples of 10 people previously infected with coronavirus who received one shot of the PfizerBioNTech or Moderna vaccine COVID19 survivors had boosted levels of immune system cells and a 1000fold increase in levels of neutralizing antibodies. The levels were enough to neutralize both the original strain of the virus and the South African variant that is more highly contagious. Dr Anthony Fauci said the data is impressive and that if it holds up health officials may consider letting survivors get one dose https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9287557/COVID-19-survivors-need-one-vaccine-dose-study-finds.html 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical News Today A new study has found that administering heparinbased blood thinners to patients with COVID19 in the first 24 hours of hospital admission reduced the risk of death. The researchers observed a 27 reduced risk of 30day mortality among patients who received blood thinners. Severe bleeding that required a blood transfusion occurred in 4.6 of patients and was not significantly linked with early intervention to prevent coagulation. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/blood-thinners-may-protect-against-covid-19-complications 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian As the UK has yoyoed in and out of multiple lockdowns restrictions have harmed peoples livelihoods businesses mental and physical health and their quality of life. In the first and second lockdowns these restrictions proved insufficient to permanently drive down the prevalence of Covid19. This time we have been promised that all adults will have received their first vaccine dose by July but its level of effectiveness coupled with the potential emergence of new strains of the virus means the vaccine rollout will not be a complete solution to the pandemic. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/21/uk-lockdown-health-livelihoods-2021-sage-committee 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP A single dose of the AstraZenecaOxford vaccine offered 76 protection against COVID19 for 3 months at which time administering the second dose resulted in up to 47 greater protection than giving it at 6 weeks according to a study published late last week in the Lancet. The pooled posthoc exploratory analysis of four randomized controlled trials led by researchers from Oxford University involved 17178 adults in the United Kingdom Brazil and South Africa from Apr 23 to Dec 6 2020. The study also examined the effect of one versus two doses of the vaccine in reducing community spread of COVID19 and the protection conferred by a low dose followed by a standard dose versus two standard doses. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/02/delaying-2nd-astrazeneca-covid-shot-may-boost-efficacy 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma Low and middleincome countries banking on doses of AstraZenecas COVID19 vaccine from Serum Institute of India may have to wait a bit longer the Indian shot makers CEO said over the weekend. The same goes for Europe where officials have reportedly considered importing supplies from the worlds largest vaccine maker by doses. Serum Institute has been told to prioritize supplies for India first as the country hustles to vaccinate 300 million people or a fifth of its population by August. The move could signal delays for other countries waiting on orders of AstraZenecas adenovirus shot which Serum Institute is cranking out on license under the name Covishield. https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/astrazeneca-s-indian-covid-19-vaccine-partner-told-to-prioritize-local-supplies-ceo 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma Sanofi hasnt abandoned its COVID19 vaccine hopes despite a setback in the highstakes race but as it moves two different shots forward its also pitching in to make doses for its usual rivals. The drugmaker on Monday inked a manufacturing tieup with Johnson Johnson to help produce that companys vaccine in Europe. The deal follows a separate agreement for Sanofi to turn out 100 million doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine for Europe this year. When JJs onedoseanddone vaccine scores an authorization Sanofi will give the company access to its plant in Marcy lEtoile France. Workers there will formulate the JJ vaccine and fill vials and the site will turn out around 12 million doses per month Sanofi said. The deal demonstrates Sanofis ongoing commitment to the collective effort to ending this crisis as quickly as possible CEO Paul Hudson said in a statement. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/after-pfizer-deal-sanofi-offers-a-hand-to-johnson-johnson-for-covid-19-vaccine-production 22nd Feb 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Al Jazeera English The first case of a fastspreading coronavirus variant from South Africa has been discovered in a resident of the US state of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. Cuomo said on Sunday the case a person from Nassau County was detected at the Opentrons Labworks Incs Pandemic Response Lab. The mutated strain of the coronavirus which was first detected in South Africa was first discovered in the US last month. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/22/south-african-variant-found-in-new-york-state-resident 22nd Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard More than 17 million people in the UK have now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine new figures reveal. The UK reported 445 coronavirusrelated deaths and 10406 new infections on Saturday. However London continues to lag behind other regions bar the South West. The NHS England data shows a total of 1753957 jabs were given to people in London between December 8 and February 19 including 1687471 first doses and 66486 second doses. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/more-than-17-million-coronavirus-vaccine-uk-445-deaths-covid-b920610.html?itm_source=Internal&ampitm_channel=homepage_banner&ampitm_campaign=breaking-news-ticker&ampitm_content=2 22nd Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Dr Scott Kobner 29 chief resident at Los Angeles CountyUSC Medical Centers Department of Emergency Medicine documented his frontline colleagues The amateur photographer took pictures of doctors and patients at the 600bed public hospital using Leica M6 and M10 cameras and posted them on Instagram Dr Kobner had permission from the hospital and patients. Kobner originally from New York doesnt photograph people he treats but comes in on his days off instead. He tested positive for the virus in the summer but recovered alone at home In LA County more than 19880 people have died of COVID19. There is a long history of photographing medical treatment during disasters that gained popularity in the US during the Civil War https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9287451/ER-doctor-documents-COVID-19-battle-LA-hospital-emotional-photographs.html 22nd Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC News Stubbornly high infection rates are hampering French efforts to ease coronavirus restrictions with Nice in the south a particular hotspot. In Germany many schools are reopening on Monday but officials say infection rates remain worryingly high. France is not under lockdown but there is a national curfew 18000600. The area around Nice which has the highest rate in France will go into partial lockdown for the next two weekends. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56153570 22nd Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

UPI.com COVID19 cases have been declining in South Africa despite the nation battling to contain a more contagious variant that has spread globally. Worldwide the virus has killed 2477790 people with 111953292 cases in tracking by Worldometers.info. The United States continues to lead both categories surpassing 28 million infections and fewer than 2000 deaths from 500000 fatalities according to Johns Hopkins tracking ahead of two other North American nations Brazil at 246504 and No. 3 Mexico with 179797 https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/02/21/South-Africas-COVID-19-cases-deaths-decline-as-variant-spreads-globally/5511613916328/ 22nd Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

National Herald Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that in view of the rising COVID19 cases religious social and political gatherings will be prohibited in the state from Monday https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/covid-19-lockdown-if-cases-keep-rising-for-8-15-days-says-uddhav-thackeray 22nd Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The mayor of Nice in southern France called on Sunday for a weekend lockdown in the area to reduce the flow of tourists as it battles a sharp spike in coronavirus infections to triple the national rate. The Nice area has Frances highest COVID19 infection rate with 740 new cases per week per 100000 residents according to Covidtracker.fr. We need strong measures that go beyond the nationwide 6 p.m. curfew either tighter curfew or a partial and timespecific lockdown. A weekend lockdown would make sense Mayor Christian Estrosi said on franceinfo radio. Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Saturday the government would decide this weekend on tightening virus control measures in the Mediterranean city. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france/french-city-of-nice-asks-tourists-to-stay-away-amid-covid-surge-idUSKBN2AL061 22nd Feb 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP Today the United States met a grim milestone In 1 year more than half a million Americans have died from COVID19 as at least 28174133 million have suffered infections thousands have lost jobs and all have had the pandemic touch multiple aspects of everyday life. To mark the passing of 500000 Americans President Joe Biden today will hold a moment of silence and candlelighting ceremony at sundown at the White House. The Washington Post today put the 500000 death toll in context. The first US death from COVID19 was reported on Feb 29 2020. By May 28 100000 had died. Deaths remained at a fairly steady clip until a postholiday surge. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/02/us-covid-19-death-toll-hits-500000-hospital-cases-drop 22nd Feb 2021

New Lockdown

Forbes No movement between regions until March 27th and no visits to family and friends in a red zone these are the main measures that Italys new government has introduced to counter the coronavirus crisis which has started to strike back and threaten the countrys restart. It is the first official act that the government has taken since its settlement last week. https://www.forbes.com/sites/irenedominioni/2021/02/22/first-test-for-italys-new-government-a-new-lockdown-ahead/ 22nd Feb 2021

New Lockdown

The Independent Cases of COVID19 are increasing in some parts of India after months of a steady nationwide decline prompting authorities to impose lockdowns and other virus restrictions. Infections have been plummeting in India since September and life has already returned to normal in large parts of the country. In many cities markets are bustling roads are crowded and restaurants are nearly full. But experts have been warning that the reasons behind Indias success arent really understood and that the country of nearly 1.4 billion people cant afford to let its guard down. Public health officials are now investigating potential mutations in the virus that could make it more contagious and render some treatments and vaccines less effective. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/india-sees-new-lockdowns-as-coronavirus-cases-rise-again-cases-parts-decline-india-life-b1805444.html 22nd Feb 2021

New Lockdown

Times of India A Covid19 test positivity rate inching towards 10 in Pune district and a surge in cases in Amravati division made authorities in Maharashtra act swiftly on Sunday to reimpose measures like school and college closure limitation on movement at night and restrictions on events like weddings for the remainder of the month. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maharashtra-reimposes-curbs-as-covid-cases-surge/articleshow/81143695.cms 22nd Feb 2021

New Lockdown

Politico The French government has placed the French Riviera in southern France under lockdown on weekends local authorities announced amid a rapid surge of coronavirus cases in recent weeks. While France has been reluctant to enforce a third nationwide lockdown local ones are seen as increasingly likely in areas where the situation has deteriorated including the Paris region. This measure will be enforced from Friday 6 p.m. until Monday 6 a.m. for the next two weekends following the same rules as during October lockdown state Representative Bernard Gonzalez said. https://www.politico.eu/article/france-riviera-weekend-lockdown-coronavirus-infections/ 22nd Feb 2021