COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis

COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis - 7th Apr 2021 7th Apr 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=266 lockdown_exit A biological Fukushima Brazil COVID19 deaths on track to pass worst of U.S. wave

'A biological Fukushima': Brazil COVID-19 deaths on track to pass worst of U.S. wave

Reuters Brazils brutal surge in COVID19 deaths will soon surpass the worst of a record January wave in the United States scientists forecast with fatalities climbing for the first time above 4000 in a day on Tuesday as the outbreak overwhelms hospitals. Brazils overall death toll trails only the U.S. outbreak with nearly 337000 killed according to Health Ministry data compared with more than 555000 dead in the United States. But with Brazils healthcare system at the breaking point the country could exceed total U.S. deaths despite having a population twothirds that of the United States two experts told Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil/a-biological-fukushima-brazil-covid-19-deaths-on-track-to-pass-worst-of-us-wave-idUSKBN2BT30P 6th Apr 2021 Brazils COVID19 death surge set to pass the worst of record U.S. wave

'A biological Fukushima': Brazil COVID-19 deaths on track to pass worst of U.S. wave

MSN Brazils brutal surge in COVID19 deaths will soon surpass the worst of a record January wave in the United States climbing well beyond an average 3000 fatalities per day scientists predict as contagious new variants overwhelm hospitals. Brazils overall death toll trails only the U.S. outbreak with nearly 333000 killed according to Health Ministry data compared with more than 555000 dead in the United States. But with Brazils healthcare system at the breaking point the country could also exceed total U.S. deaths despite having twothirds the population two experts told Reuters. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/brazils-covid-19-death-surge-set-to-pass-the-worst-of-record-us-wave/ar-BB1fm86m 6th Apr 2021 Chile shows quick COVID vaccine rollout does not mean lockdowns end UK official

Chile shows quick COVID vaccine rollout does not mean lockdowns end: UK official

Reuters The experience of Chile shows that a quick COVID19 vaccine rollout is not necessarily enough to avoid lockdowns Englands Chief Medical Officer said on Monday saying a steady and cautious approach to easing restrictions was important. Britain has given a first vaccine dose to over 31.5 million people leading some in Prime Minister Boris Johnsons party to urge him to end Englands lockdown more quickly. But Chile which also has one of the worlds quickest vaccination rates has closed its borders and tightened an already strict lockdown. Chris Whitty said that Chiles experience had contrasted with that of Israel and it was unclear whether it was due to the timings of rollout the vaccines used interactions with coronavirus variants or other factors. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-chile/chile-shows-quick-covid-vaccine-rollout-does-not-mean-lockdowns-end-uk-official-idUSKBN2BS1KX 5th Apr 2021 Lockdown warning after Covid cases rise in Chile despite vaccine rollout

Chile shows quick COVID vaccine rollout does not mean lockdowns end: UK official

The Times Rising cases of Covid19 in Chile despite the country having one of the worlds fastest vaccination programmes has led British experts to warn that a rapid rollout may not be enough to avert more lockdowns. In the past week Chile has recorded 49542 new cases the highest weekly level since the the pandemic began according to analysis by Johns Hopkins University in the United States. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lockdown-warning-after-cases-rise-in-chile-despite-coronavirus-vaccine-rollout-bf20dpbw0 6th Apr 2021 To stem the pandemic the U.S. needs a national Covid19 genomic sequencing effort

To stem the pandemic, the U.S. needs a national Covid-19 genomic sequencing effort

STAT News More than a year into the pandemic the United States is at yet another critical inflection point. The number of Covid19 cases remains high and is on the rise in more than half of states. And though vaccination rates are climbing here topping 4 million shots on April 3 alone we are in a race between vaccinations and the proliferation of viral variants which continue to spread and may be even more dangerous than the coronavirus that triggered the pandemic. The country must drastically improve genomic surveillance of Covid19 cases which is not happening often enough. Viruses mutate as they multiply and spread. Genomic sequencing is an advanced test that determines the precise genetic information a virus carries. It can highlight variant strains that may spread faster evade vaccines or make people sicker by being less responsive to existing treatments. https://www.statnews.com/2021/04/06/stem-the-pandemic-national-covid-19-genomic-sequencing-effort/ 6th Apr 2021 Japan fears COVID19 variants are behind possible fourth wave

Japan fears COVID-19 variants are behind possible fourth wave

Reuters Japanese health authorities are concerned that variants of the coronavirus are driving a nascent fourth wave in the pandemic with just 109 days remaining until the Tokyo Olympics. The variants appear to be more infectious and may be resistant to vaccines which are still not widely available in Japan. The situation is worst in Osaka where infections hit fresh records last week prompting the regional government to start targeted lockdown measures for one month from Monday. A mutant COVID19 variant first discovered in Britain has taken hold in the Osaka region spreading faster and filling up hospital beds with more serious cases than the original virus according to Koji Wada a government adviser on the pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-japan-strain/japan-fears-covid-19-variants-are-behind-possible-fourth-wave-idUSL4N2LY0L6 6th Apr 2021 COVID19 Later stages of PMs roadmap may cause hospital admissions to surge scientists warn

COVID-19: Later stages of PM's roadmap may cause hospital admissions to surge, scientists warn

Sky News The later stages of Boris Johnsons roadmap for ending lockdown restrictions in England could cause coronavirus infection rates to surge the governments scientific advisers have warned. At a Downing Street briefing yesterday the prime minister said he plans to stick like glue to his plans for easing current measures. He confirmed that step two where shops hairdressers and beer gardens can reopen will go ahead on 12 April as planned. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-later-stages-of-pms-roadmap-may-cause-hospital-admissions-to-surge-scientists-warn-12267195 6th Apr 2021 Global rollout of vaccines is no longer a guarantee of victory over Covid19

Global rollout of vaccines is no longer a guarantee of victory over Covid-19

The Guardian At the end of 2020 there was a strong hope that high levels of vaccination would see humanity finally gain the upper hand over SarsCoV2 the virus that causes Covid19. In an ideal scenario the virus would then be contained at very low levels without further societal disruption or significant numbers of deaths. But since then new variants of concern have emerged and spread worldwide putting current pandemic control efforts including vaccination at risk of being derailed. Put simply the game has changed and a successful global rollout of current vaccines by itself is no longer a guarantee of victory. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/06/global-rollout-of-vaccines-is-no-longer-a-guarantee-of-victory-over-covid-19 6th Apr 2021 Brain disorders affect 1 in 3 Covid survivors large UK study shows

Brain disorders affect 1 in 3 Covid survivors, large UK study shows

The Financial Times One in three people who have suffered from Covid19 was diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric condition within six months of infection according to scientists who have carried out the largest study of the mental health effects of coronavirus. They found that Covid19 was 44 per cent more likely to cause neurological and mental problems than a case of influenza of comparable severity. Although the individual risks for most disorders are small the effect across the whole population may be substantial for health and social care systems due to the scale of the pandemic and the fact that many of these conditions are chronic said Paul Harrison professor of psychiatry at Oxford university and project leader. https://www.ft.com/content/beb407c0-03a3-4aae-ba4b-7f66390d7409 6th Apr 2021 Covid Mutants Multiply as Scientists Race to Decode Variations

Covid Mutants Multiply as Scientists Race to Decode Variations

Bloomberg When Bette Korber a biologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory spotted the first significant mutation in the Covid19 virus last spring some scientists were skeptical. They didnt believe it would make the virus more contagious and said its rapid rise might just be coincidence. Now 11 months later the D614G mutation she helped discover is ubiquitous worldwide featured in the genomes of fastspreading variants from the U.K. South Africa and Brazil. Meanwhile new mutations are popping up in increasingly complicated patterns spurring a drive by top biologists to devise new ways to track a fire hose of incoming genomic data. The goal Quickly detect variants that can lessen the effectiveness of vaccines for a pathogen thats unlikely to be eradicated any time soon. The SARSCoV2 virus could settle down and become a mere nuisance like the common cold. Or much like influenza it could retain its ability to cause severe disease in some segments of the population a scenario that could require regular booster shots. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-05/covid-mutants-multiply-as-scientists-race-to-decode-variations 5th Apr 2021 AP Interview India could resume vaccine exports by June

AP Interview: India could resume vaccine exports by June

The Associated Press The worlds largest vaccine maker based in India will be able to restart exports of AstraZeneca doses by June if new coronavirus infections subside in the country its chief executive said Tuesday. But a continued surge could result in more delays because the Serum Institute of India would have to meet domestic needs Adar Poonawalla warned in an interview with The Associated Press. The company is a key supplier for the U.N.backed COVAX program that aims to distribute vaccines equitably in the world. On March 25 COVAX announced a major setback in its vaccine rollout because a surge in infections in India caused the Serum Institute of India to cater to domestic demand resulting in a delay in global shipments of up to 90 million doses. https://apnews.com/article/world-news-india-global-trade-coronavirus-pandemic-dd58b5c596f261f8a5655e8d8b5d6984 6th Apr 2021 Regulators walk fine line assessing AstraZeneca vaccine