5th Jun 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=24 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

U.S. News & World Report Tunisians returned to mosques and cafes on Thursday as the country ended most lockdown restrictions after largely containing the spread of the novel coronavirus for now. Sitting with friends at the Brazil coffeeshop in the Ibn Khaldoun district of Tunis schoolteacher Nizar Jamal said he was glad to resume his daily chats with friends. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-06-04/tunisians-emerge-from-lockdown-into-mosques-and-cafes 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Get Surrey The message to reopen primary schools to allow pupils in reception year one and year six back was not lost on local authorities teachers and parents up and down the country as it sparked an outburst of concern that they would not be ready in time. Indeed it came to light that as many as 18 councils would rebel against the proposals and keep classrooms shut The Guardian reported. Here in Surrey the county council broke its silence to say it would not sanction any parents for keeping their children at home and schools will only open to more students when it is safe to do so. https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/parents-view-childrens-first-week-18361939 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Huffington Post UK Across the UK zoos have been ordered to remain closed for the foreseeable amid the coronavirus pandemic sparking urgent requests for donations to save them from permanent closure. Chester Zoo launched a Save Our Zoo JustGiving page on Wednesday after admitting it is facing debt in excess of 24m by the end of 2020. ZSL which runs zoos in London and Whipsnade is also urging the public to donate to its regular fundraising page so the sites stand a chance of reopening once restrictions are lifted. Many other zoos across the country are facing a similar predicament according to The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums BIAZA. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/uk-zoos-future-hangs-in-the-balance_uk_5ed8d41fc5b651e16e2668b6 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

iNews Ongoing UCL study of over 90000 adults shows that depression levels have decreased particularly among the under60s https://inews.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-lockdown-anxiety-depression-uk-latest-restrictions-ease-2874023 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Independent Italy has reopened travel between regions as well to and from European countries in a bid to lure tourists back in time for the summer season. This next phase marks an important milestone for a country where the virus walloped communities killing over 33000 and sent the economy into a tailspin. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-lockdown-borders-europe-open-tourism-family-a9547216.html 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

iNews Spain holding its breath as it emerges from lockdown reported no deaths for the second day in a row since the pandemic started. One of the hardesthit countries by Covid19 it was positive news for Spaniards who had lived through dark times when hundreds of people lost their lives each day to the virus. https://inews.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-in-spain-latest-no-deaths-reported-madrid-lockdown-restrictions-2872679 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

The National The renaissance of cafe society in France has taken cautious first steps amid hopes for gradual economic recovery but also apprehension about the impact of the Covid19 pandemic and the risk of a second wave. In Paris on theIf keeping the distance between tables is impractical dividing screens are installed and throughout the country people took advantage of warm weather and the relaxation of restrictions to dine out or enjoy drinks on terraces on Tuesday for the first time since the president Emmanuel Macron ordered a lockdown in midMarch. https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/france-takes-first-small-steps-to-normality-after-covid-19-crisis-1.1028908 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

FRANCE 24 As France continues to ease its lockdown measures in place to curb the coronavirus pandemic some Parisians decided to move away from the highlydense capital and settle in the coast like in the city of SablesdOlonne known for its seaside activities and which is particularly visited during summer. https://www.france24.com/en/video/20200604-parisians-decided-to-settle-on-the-coast-as-france-eases-covid-19-lockdown-measures 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Russia Beyond Full body disinfection cabins for customers and no walking without masks and gloves. Muscovites are being forced to wake up to a new reality after selfisolation. On June 1 Moscow eased the selfisolation regime introduced on March 28 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Shopping malls car showrooms churches and city parks finally reopened after 65 days while Muscovites are allowed to walk on schedule. This is how it looks. https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/332278-moscow-after-lockdown 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

BNE IntelliNews The volume of foot traffic in Moscows leading malls increased sharply on June 1 as the lockdown restrictions in Russias capital start to be eased and residents go to the mall. Foot traffic volumes had collapsed by 6575 year on year during the lockdown but rebounded on June 1 and were down only 43.1 according to Watcom which uses cameras to measure foot traffic at leading Russian malls in real time. As bne IntelliNews reported the recovery in shopping traffic is part of a broader visible Russian rebound that has got underway in the last few days and seen the ruble break below RUB70 to the dollar for the first time in months among other things. http://www.intellinews.com/foot-traffic-at-russia-s-leading-malls-jumps-as-rebound-gets-underway-184697/ 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Independent Air pollution in China has risen above the levels measured in the same 30day period last year according to new data. Air pollutant levels dropped dramatically in February when China was under strict lock down measures to tackle the Covid19 pandemic and reached its lowest levels in March. As restrictions eased and travel and industry resumed air pollution is now overtaking the levels prior to the pandemic. The drop in air pollution during global lockdown led to clearer skies and a drop in emissions not only in China but around the world offering a small glimmer of hope during the unprecedented crisis. People shared photos from Los Angeles to the Himalayas of skylines coming into crystalclear view once the smog had cleared. https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/coronavirus-china-air-pollution-ozone-coal-lockdown-a9546681.html 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

INSIDER Over the weekend director James Cameron and 55 film crew members flew into. New Zealand on a private plan to begin filming Avatar 2. They are currently undergoing a twoweek quarantine in Wellington New Zealands capital. They were allowed to enter the country under a recently announced exemption based on economic value while thousands who already have temporary visas are unable. The exemption for Hollywood workers has sparked criticism from local politicians and immigration experts. David Seymour the leader of a rightwing libertarian party said Avatars exemptions were an insult to working New Zealanders according to Stuff.co.nz. https://www.insider.com/new-zealand-rapped-for-classifying-avatar-2-crew-essential-workers-2020-6 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Newshub New Zealands fast and hard lockdown is starting to show signs it was the right move not just from a health perspective but an economic one according to economist Shamubeel Eaqub. The New Zealand dollar NZD is rising against foreign currencies increasing Kiwis purchase power. The NZD is now trading at 64.1 US cents up from 62c a week ago and 57c when we went into alert level 4 temporarily crippling the economy in order to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/06/covid-19-strict-lockdown-s-economic-benefits-starting-to-show-economist.html 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Peru authorized more parts of the economy to reopen even as deaths from the virus surpassed 5000 and hospitals in Lima begin running low on oxygen for patients. The government said a wide range of sectors from roadbuilding to beermaking and printing could restart along with interprovincial transport services according to decree published Thursday. Seven of the countrys 25 regions were exempted from the measure given their high prevalence of Covid19 cases. President Martin Vizcarra said the move would see 80 of the economy reopened up from close to 50 now. We cant support 100 of the countrys needs with just 50 of the economys output he said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-04/peru-reopens-more-industries-undeterred-by-almost-5-000-deaths?srnd=prognosis 4th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Italians were allowed to travel to other regions of the country on Wednesday for the first time in nearly three months in a further relaxation of lockdown restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy/italians-on-the-move-again-as-lockdown-restrictions-ease-idUSKBN23A1EY 3rd Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC The taoiseach Irish prime minister said he believes Ireland will move to the next phase of its Covid19 relaxation measures on Monday. This includes reopening small retail outlets where social distancing is possible and an increase in travel restrictions to 20 kilometres. Leo Varadkar said he was concerned by some calls to accelerate the fivestage relaxation plan https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52922799 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

U.S. News & World Report People were restricted to their compounds from Jan. 23 when Wuhan went into a lockdown that lasted 76 days. Extensive surveillance infrastructure and strict housing registration rules already in place helped to facilitate implementation of the restrictions and the easing of them later. Now Wuhan residents live and move under the auspices of coloured QR codes embedded in WeChat and Alipay smartphone apps that use automatically collected travel and medical data. A green rating allows for unrestricted movement in and out of residential compounds and public areas while orange and red signify a quarantine for seven and 14 days respectively. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-06-04/breaking-down-wuhans-blueprint-for-lifting-lockdown 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Metro Crisis urged the Government to step in with contracts between local authorities in England and hotels are due to finish at the end of June when current state funding runs out. Almost 15000 people are now in emergency accommodation such as hotels according to the latest Government figures after local authorities moved people into safe accommodation during the coronavirus crisis. But Matt Downie Crisis director of policy says the vast majority of contracts between local authorities and London hotels are due to expire at the end of June. He believes it is a similar picture for the rest of the country. He claimed that the charity has received no indications at all from the Government that more money is forthcoming to extend the Everyone In scheme. https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/04/thousands-homeless-people-face-evicted-lockdown-loosened-12805736/ 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Get Surrey The message to reopen primary schools to allow pupils in reception year one and year six back was not lost on local authorities teachers and parents up and down the country as it sparked an outburst of concern that they would not be ready in time. Indeed it came to light that as many as 18 councils would rebel against the proposals and keep classrooms shut The Guardian reported. Here in Surrey the county council broke its silence to say it would not sanction any parents for keeping their children at home and schools will only open to more students when it is safe to do so. https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/parents-view-childrens-first-week-18361939 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Thousands of homeless people who have been housed during the coronavirus pandemic could return to the streets by the end of June a charity has warned. Since the lockdown began more than 14500 people who were on the streets or at risk of sleeping rough have been given emergency accommodation. But Crisis has warned contracts between local councils and hotels are due to end as government funding runs out. The government said councils must continue to provide accommodation. But councils have asked the government to be clear on what extra practical support they will get. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52915913 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Metro.co.uk The UK is slowly easing its way out of coronavirus lockdown restrictions with some nonessential shops and services having reopened this week while some primary school years returned to the classroom. Under the new rule people in England can also meet outdoors in groups of up to six provided social distancing measures are maintained while other nonessential retail is preparing to reopen from 15 June. The measures are being introduced in a phased easing of lockdown but what phase are we in now and when will we move on to the next onetroUK https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/04/what-phase-3-lockdown-when-might-uk-enter-what-phase-lockdown-are-12804504/ 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC The easing of more lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland has been given the green light by the Stormont Executive. The move which was expected was dependent on the Rnumber staying below one when ministers met on Thursday. From Monday vulnerable people advised to shield will be allowed outdoors. Large retailers including car showrooms and shops in retail parks can also reopen and outdoor weddings with 10 people present will be allowed. The executive has also confirmed that from Monday anyone who enters Northern Ireland from outside the Common Travel Area will have to selfisolate for 14 days. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52908571 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Independent In a message to the millions watching at home he said We want to take some more steps to unlock our society and try to get back to as normal as possible. Eventually I would like to do such things as reducing the twometre rule for instance. But all those changes all that future progress depends entirely on our ability to keep driving down the disease and that depends on us following basic rules wash your hands selfisolate if you have symptoms take a test and observe social distancing. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-boris-johnson-second-wave-indoor-gatherings-lockdown-a9547326.html 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Germany has unveiled a 130bn 116.4bn package of tax and spending measures designed to boost the countrys economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Announcing measures to drag Europes largest economy out of recession as lockdown measures are removed Angela Merkels government said it would use the package of sweeping temporary tax cuts and increase benefits to turbocharge its recovery. Measures included a cut in VAT until the end of this year and substantial payments for every child in the country designed to help ordinary German families alongside the launch of a 50bn fund to tackle global heating and finance new technologies. A state financial incentive to buy an electric car has been doubled to 6000. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/04/germany-unveils-huge-130bn-coronavirus-recovery-package 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte offered a hopeful message as the country moved to its final stage in easing lockdown restrictions. We deserve to smile to be cheerful after weeks of great sacrifice he said on Wednesday. He added that now was the time for the country to enact economic reforms. With more than 33600 fatalities and almost 234000 cases since the coronavirus outbreak began Italy has been one of the hardesthit countries. Only the US and the UK have recorded higher death tolls. Mr Contes comments came the same day as the country entered its final phase in easing lockdown restrictions allowing domestic travel between regions and opening its international borders. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52914089 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

POLITICO The debate over Swedens controversial nolockdown coronavirus strategy flared again after its architect state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell appeared to suggest the countrys approach had been flawed. If we encountered the same disease with what we know about it today I think we would end up doing in between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world did Tegnell told public service radio station Sveriges Radio in an interview broadcast Wednesday. Clearly there is room for improvement. https://www.politico.eu/article/swedens-dr-no-lockdown-denies-tactical-retreat/ 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

YAHOO! Spain played down the possibility of reopening its land borders on June 22 after a government minister announced earlier on Thursday it would do so prompting confusion in neighbouring Portugal which asked for clarification. Frontiers with France and Portugal have been shut to most people since Spain went into lockdown to stem the spread of the coronavirus in midMarch faced with what was then one of the worlds worst outbreaks of the virus. A government source said Madrid was still considering the plan to reopen land borders and would discuss it with France and Portugal rowing back on remarks by Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto earlier in the day. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/spain-open-land-borders-portugal-085336193.html 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Which Nonessential shops can reopen in England from 15 June if they meet guidelines to protect staff and shoppers but what will social distancing rules mean for the way we shop for clothes books and more All shops in England will be able to open with social distancing measures in place from Monday 15 June provided that the government continues to consider that its five key tests are being met. https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/06/coronavirus-lockdown-when-will-shops-reopen/ 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

POLITICO Members of Frances military will not march down the ChampsElyse this year as they usually do on Bastille Day in order to ensure social distancing guidelines are respected. Instead 2000 participants and 2500 guests will take part in a ceremony held at Place de la Concorde where the traditional parade usually ends. The ceremony will include an aerial parade and will honor the participation of our armies in the fight against COVID19 an Elyse official said in reference to troops setting up field hospitals and other efforts to manage the pandemic. The ceremony will also pay homage to healthcare workers as well as other professions that took part in the fight against coronavirus. More than 29000 people have died from coronavirus in France. The country is gradually lifting its lockdown and life is slowly getting back to normal with social distancing rules still in place. https://www.politico.eu/article/france-scraps-bastille-day-military-parade-over-coronavirus/ 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

iNews Northern neighbour Austria has said it would end border controls for all countries except for Italy https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/coronavirus-eu-lockdown-tensions-italy-neighbours-tourists-2874038 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

FRANCE 24 As Italy reopens its borders for EU citizens Italian government has called on partners to do the same as reciprocity measures after the whole continent decided lockdown measures to curb the coronavirus pandemic. French ministers were the first officials to make the trip across the Alps as FRANCE 24s Rome correspondents report https://www.france24.com/en/video/20200604-italy-calls-for-reciprocity-from-eu-partners-as-borders-reopen-over-covid-19-lockdown 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC The Stormont Executive is to meet later to confirm whether some planned changes to Northern Irelands lockdown can start on Monday. Vulnerable people advised to shield should be allowed outdoors from 8 June https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-52908571 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

BRINK And yet there are more eyeballs on screens than ever before because the coronavirus has dramatically accelerated the shift that had already begun toward streaming devices as the viewing point of choice for consumers. In our new pandemic world when so many people are stuck at home streaming devices have become our main source of information education and entertainment. So even as revenue from movie theaters has dried up cash is flowing fast and furiously to the streamers. And dealmaking in Hollywood says entertainment attorney Tara Kole has continued apace. https://www.brinknews.com/tv-film-production-lockdown-covid-streaming-production-insurance/ 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Economic Times The study found that stricter lockdowns imposed earlier such as the twomonth lockdown imposed in China are economically preferable to more moderate lockdowns imposed for four or six months as the duration of lockdown matters more to economies than their severity. This is because businesses can absorb the shock of a brief lockdown better by relying on reserves and because shorter lockdowns cause less disruption to regional and global supply chains. This is the first peerreviewed study to comprehensively assess potential global supply chain effects of Covid19 lockdowns modelling the impact of lockdowns on 140 countries including countries not directly affected by Covid19. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/study-reveals-slow-easing-of-lockdowns-might-be-good-for-global-economy/easier-rebound/slideshow/76188804.cms 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

CNA From outbreak to lockdown and reopening the Chinese city of Wuhan where the novel coronavirus emerged late last year has been through all stages of dealing with the health crisis. Specific characteristics allowed Wuhan to impose some of the tightest restrictions in the world on its 11 million residents until the outbreak was under control. Much of the city the capital of Hubei province is organised in residential compounds of apartment blocks outdoor spaces convenience stores and other basic services. The compounds are often walled off from the street and gated. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/breaking-down-wuhan-blueprint-lifting-covid-19-lockdown-12803818 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

China.org.cn Uzbekistan has further lifted lockdown restrictions allowing restaurants clothing markets and kindergartens to reopen starting from June 15 depending on the sanitary and epidemiological situation of COVID19 the countrys Special Republican Commission to Combat Coronavirus said Thursday. Uzbekistan has divided the country into red yellow and green zones depending on the level of quarantine severity. It also allowed resumption of domestic tourism educational recreational and sports centers in green zones starting from Friday. In green zones people are also allowed to hold weddings and other ceremonies with no more than 30 relatives and interregional bus commuting will reopen. http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2020-06/04/content_76127113.htm 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Financial Times China will allow more foreign airlines to resume flights to its cities in a move that comes a day after the US government threatened to bar Chinese carriers if the country did not reopen to American passenger aircraft. Foreign airlines that were at present unable to send international flights into China would now be able to fly to one city each week from Monday next week the countrys transport regulator said on Thursday. The Civil Aviation Administration of China did not refer to specific countries. But it said the measures would apply to any foreign airlines not included in a plan unveiled in March that rationed international flights. That plan barred US carriers from mainland China. https://www.ft.com/content/98948a5d-67b3-44b1-a0f5-b3eed90cf960 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Associated Press New Zealand is on the verge of eradicating the virus from its shores after it notched a 13th straight day with no reported new infections. Only a single person in the nation of 5 million people is known to still have the virus and that person is not hospitalized. However it remains likely that the country will import new cases once it reopens its borders and officials say their aim remains to stamp out new infections as they arise. The country has already lifted many of its virus restrictions and could remove most of those that remain including limiting crowd sizes next week. Just over 1500 people have contracted the virus during the outbreak including 22 who died. https://apnews.com/e27dc249d75c72638a348d416031d8fc 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Sydney Morning Herald New Zealand finally has a date for when it will achieve its lofty goal of elimination of COVID19 June 15. After weeks of urging by public health experts and government wrangling the Ministry of Health has settled on a definition of elimination of the deadly virus. New Zealand has followed an elimination policy path since the arrival of the virus eschewing lighter approaches by countries including Australia. https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/june-15-to-mark-new-zealand-s-covid-19-elimination-day-20200604-p54zga.html 4th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

National Institutes of Health Well obviously have to wait a few months to get the data. But for now many researchers have their doubts that the COVID19 pandemic will enter a needed summertime lull. Among them are some experts on infectious disease transmission and climate modeling who ran a series of sophisticated computer simulations of how the virus will likely spread over the coming months 1. This research team found that humans current lack of immunity to SARSCoV2not the weatherwill likely be a primary factor driving the continued rapid spread of the novel coronavirus this summer and into the fall. These sobering predictions published recently in the journal Science come from studies led by Rachel Baker and Bryan Grenfell at Princeton Environmental Institute Princeton NJ. The Grenfell lab has long studied the dynamics of infectious illnesses including seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus RSV. Last year they published one of the first studies to look at how our warming climate might influence those dynamics in the coming years https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/06/02/will-warm-weather-slow-spread-of-novel-coronavirus/ 2nd Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Hotels in the Republic of Ireland are currently due to reopen on 20 July the same day as those in Northern Ireland but hotel bars will remain closed. Reopening hotels subject to social distancing rules is part of phase four of the Irish governments fivestage plan to relax Covid19 restrictions. The plan was announced on 1 May. It says hotels can reopen initially on a limited occupancy basis or number of people per square metre and then increasing over time. Restaurants and cafes in the Republic of Ireland are currently due to reopen on 29 June as part of phase three of the recovery plan but must comply with social distancing and strict cleaning protocols. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52902203 4th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

The Indian Express The governments subsequent attempts to justify the imposition of the lockdown by contending that in the absence of such lockdown the COVID19 cases would have grown exponentially is both misleading and poses a false binary. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-question-about-the-lockdown-india-modi-6441351/ 4th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

The Statesman on MSN.com Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the lockdown in India is the only kind in the world where the disease is increasing after we are opening up. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/draconian-lockdown-exposed-us-to-the-worst-of-both-worlds-rajiv-bajaj-to-rahul-gandhi/ar-BB151m53 4th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

Business Insider India In a conversation with Rahul Gandhi the Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj said that India ended up having the worst of both the Covid19 and the economy as the effect of a draconian lockdown. The lockdown flattened the wrong curve that being the GDP curve. https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/rajiv-bajaj-says-india-should-have-followed-japan-and-korea-calls-the-lockdown-draconian/articleshow/76190642.cms 4th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC Because of lockdown most trials have stopped taking on new patients or have halted completely. If youve got advanced cancer its often a lifeline for you said Lesley. Youre basically taking away a life or death option. What began as a persistent cough for Lesley was eventually diagnosed as metastatic breast cancer. Scans showed the disease had spread to her lungs liver and bones and later to her brain. By October 2015 she was told to put her affairs in order as she had exhausted most forms of NHS treatment. However after being accepted for the last place on a drugs trial Lesley said she felt a difference almost immediately. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-52909557 4th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Manchester Evening News The UKs chief medical officer has explained the UKs multilayered response to coronavirus and why the lockdown is not over yet. Professor Chris Whitty said the nation will have to live alongside COVID19 for many months which is why we need a multilayered defence against it. He went on to set out a number of measures that will remain in place to explain that the lockdown is not over despite an easing in England last Monday June 1. Some schools have reopened many nonessential traders have been allowed to open and up to six people can now meet outdoors. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/chris-whitty-says-lockdown-is-18358972 4th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian The number of suspected modern slavery victims identified in the UK has fallen for the first time in four years due to the coronavirus pandemic the Home Office has said. Officials said the decrease is understood to have been influenced by the effects of restrictions implemented in the UK as part of the response to the Covid19 pandemic. The UKs national referral mechanism NRM the official system through which victims of modern slavery are identified and provided with support received 2871 referrals of potential victims in the first quarter of 2020 a 14 fall from the previous three months. This is the first quarteronquarter fall since 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/04/coronavirus-lockdown-halts-surge-in-uk-slavery 4th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Africa Queues for food banks have swollen in Spain as the coronavirus crisis has left hundreds of thousands of people teetering on the edge of poverty. the coronavirus lockdown now in its 13th week made it impossible for Mediavilla to get a job and with a second newborn boy in tow she and her mother Alicia rely on the help of a group of parishioners called Maria Auxiliadora or Mary of Succour. The volunteers who are associated to Santa Anna church in central Barcelona gathered funds to provide Mediavillas son Julian with special glasses. They also helped her land a job as an admnistrative assistant in a laboratory which she began last week. https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN23B0TW 4th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

FRANCE 24 Chiles government said Wednesday it was prolonging a threeweek shutdown of the countrys capital Santiago as the COVID19 death toll reached a new daily record. Health officials said 87 people had died in the previous 24 hours and nearly 5000 new infections were recorded. The South American copperexporting nation has now registered more than 113000 infections and 1275 deaths. Health Minister Jaime Manalich confirmed the government was extending a threeweek lockdown of the capital for another week. https://www.france24.com/en/20200603-chile-prolongs-santiago-lockdown-as-daily-virus-deaths-rise 4th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC The commissioner for older people has expressed concern about the lack of social contact in care homes. Eddie Lynch told the Stormont health committee that he was worried about the emotional impact on residents. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-52921885 4th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Japan Times When the coronavirus lockdown started in Germany all Marco wanted to do was get drunk. The musician from Berlin 38 was downing roughly a bottle of gin every night. I was like why not come on Its quarantine lets party But as the days went on he started to see things differently. Because of quarantine youre forced to look at yourself and realize wait a second this is not OK. This is actually a problem this is addiction. Marco speaking on condition of anonymity reached out to a local Alcoholics Anonymous group and made the decision to get sober after 20 years of drinking heavily almost every night https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/06/04/world/social-issues-world/lockdown-germany-alcoholism-surge/ 4th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian Britains top officer has said police feared there would be violence if they tried to intervene with protesters in London angered by the brutal death of George Floyd at the hands of an American officer. Demonstrators at protests in London on Sunday and Tuesday flouted coronavirus lockdown rules on how many people can gather together. But the Metropolitan police commissioner Cressida Dick said that with feelings running high over the police brutality case in the US and because of the effects of the coronavirus lockdown officers feared serious and violent disorder if they stepped in to enforce lockdown rules. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/03/met-feared-serious-disorder-if-lockdown-rules-were-enforced-at-racism-protest 3rd Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Conversation Africa When South Africas Covid19 lockdown began on 27 March opposition from some quarters was inevitable. What was not expected was that the most vehement resistance would be aimed at a ban on selling tobacco products. Only around 1 in 5 South Africans smoke and previous government limits on smoking were not controversial. The ban generated such heat because when the government began relaxing the lockdown President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that tobacco sales would be allowed. Then at the apparent prompting of the minister responsible for lockdown rules Nkosazana DlaminiZuma the decision was reversed the ban is still in force. https://theconversation.com/south-africas-lockdown-a-great-start-but-then-a-misreading-of-how-society-works-139789 3rd Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Two million people in the UK with respiratory conditions such as asthma have experienced reduced symptoms during the coronavirus lockdown according to the British Lung Foundation. A survey by the charity of 14000 people with lung conditions found one in six had noticed improvements in their health. Among children the figure was higher with one in five parents saying their childs condition had been alleviated. Asthma sufferers in particular reported benefits with one in four noting relief. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/04/cleaner-air-during-uk-lockdown-relieves-asthma-for-millions-lung-conditions-coronavirus 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! Global outbreaks of coronavirus have forced the closing of schools gyms offices and other buildings at a scale never seen before. Now as countries start reopening after lockdown those previously abandoned buildings could have become a breeding ground for another infection Legionnaires disease. Legionnaires disease is caused by inhaling water droplets that contain the Legionella pneumophilia bacteria. Its quite rare but the long periods of inactivity in buildings during lockdown greatly increases the risk of outbreaks. https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-another-hidden-respiratory-disease-111855285.html?src=rss 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! The UN body also said it would resume trials of hydroxychloroquine a week after halting them following a study in The Lancet medical journal that suggested the drug could harm COVID19 patients. The Uturn came after The Lancet itself cast doubt on the study after it was widely contested by scientists. Another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine Wednesday suggested that taking hydroxychloroquine shortly after being exposed to COVID19 does not help prevent infection in a statistically meaningful way however. The WHO has been holding clinical trials to find a treatment for COVID19 which has killed more than 382000 people and wrought vast economic damage since emerging in China late last year. https://news.yahoo.com/italy-leads-europe-reopening-borders-virus-strikes-latam-160531195.html 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Australian Times Australias response to the coronavirus outbreak so far has been among the most successful in the world. From a peak of more than 400 cases a day the rate has fallen to fewer than 20 new cases a day. https://www.australiantimes.co.uk/news/4-ways-australias-coronavirus-response-was-a-triumph-and-4-ways-it-fell-short/ 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

RACGP Australias response to the coronavirus outbreak so far has been among the most successful in the world. From a peak of more than 400 cases a day the rate has fallen to fewer than 20 new cases a day. Australia has avoided the worst of the pandemic at least for now. Comparable albeit larger and more densely populated countries such as the UK and US are mourning many thousands of lives lost and are still struggling to bring the pandemic under control. The reasons for Australias success story are complex and success may yet be temporary but four factors have been important. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/four-ways-australia-s-coronavirus-response-was-a-t 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Passengers face fines from 15 June for flouting new rule to stop spread of coronavirus https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/04/face-masks-to-be-made-compulsory-on-public-transport-in-england?CMP=share_btn_tw 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The GAVI vaccines alliance said on Thursday it had raised 8.8 billion from international donor governments companies and philanthropic foundations to fund its immunisation programmes through to 2025. At a funding summit in London GAVI said the pledges had exceeded its target of 7.4 billion and would help immunise 300 million more children in the worlds poorest countries against diseases like measles polio and diphtheria. The vaccines alliance also said it had raised 567 million towards an initial goal of 2 billion from international donors for an Advanced Market Commitment to buy future COVID19 vaccines for poor countries. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-vaccines-summit-idUKKBN23B2UV 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News The drug giant AstraZeneca said Thursday that it has found partners to manufacture and distribute 2 billion doses of the experimental Covid19 vaccine created by Oxford University inking a series of deals with nongovernment organizations and another manufacturer. AstraZeneca said that CEPI and Gavi publicprivate partnerships aimed at developing and distributing vaccines would spend 750 million to manufacture and make available 300 million doses of the vaccine to distribute by the end of the year assuming the vaccine is shown to be safe and effective. It also reached a licensing agreement with SII previously known as the Serum Institute of India to supply 1 billion doses of the vaccine to low and middleincome countries. SII committed to provide 400 million doses before the end of 2020. https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/04/astrazeneca-lays-out-plan-for-producing-2-billion-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine-if-it-works/ 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Atlantic The diseases longhaulers have endured relentless waves of debilitating symptomsand disbelief from doctors and friends. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/covid-19-coronavirus-longterm-symptoms-months/612679/ 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian The antiviral drug remdesivir has been recommended for the treatment of Covid19 patients in Australia by the national taskforce bringing together the countrys peak health groups. The National Covid19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce said Australian doctors treating adults with moderate severe or critical Covid19 should consider using the drug to aid recovery times. The antiviral drug is the first medication to be recommended as a considered treatment for patients treated in hospital after contracting coronavirus. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/05/remdesivir-ebola-drug-endorsed-as-a-coronavirus-treatment-in-australia 4th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Science Daily Lockdowns implemented across the world due to the COVID19 pandemic have negatively impacted diet sleep and physical activity among children with obesity according to new research. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603194444.htm 3rd Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Yahoo Canada Finance South Korea has confirmed 39 additional cases of the coronavirus all but three of them reported in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area as authorities are struggling to contain a resurgence of the COVID19. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the newly reported cases raised the countrys total to 11629 with 273 deaths. The agency says 10499 of them have recovered while 857 remains in treatment for the virus. South Korea faces a spike in new infections in recent weeks mostly in the Seoul metropolitan area where about half of the countrys 51 million people reside. Those cases have been linked to nightlife establishments church gatherings and a largescale ecommerce warehouse. https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/latest-wuhan-finishes-mass-testing-065637942.html 4th Jun 2020