7th May 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=3 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Reuters National and local authorities around the world are beginning to wind down restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus gradually lifting the lockdowns that have stunted economies https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-reopening-idUSL1N2CN2O4 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

ITV News Jerseys Chief Minister has said the island will likely move into Level three of lockdown next week. Level three has previously been described as a soft lockdown with the stay at home order being lifted. Whilst there will be no limit to time spent out of the house people will be asked to stay and work from home wherever possible. Currently Jersey remains at Level four where islanders are limited to four hours outside and can meet with two people that do not live in your household so long as you socially distance. https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2020-05-06/jersey-expected-to-ease-lockdown-restrictions-even-further-next-week/ 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Forbes As lockdown begins to ease there should be feelings of relief and hope but the start of Phase 2 in Italy has been tainted by uncertainty and fear. The vague wording of the governments rules and the continued need for a selfcertification form justifying the motive for leaving the house means many Italians are still feeling anxiety about going outside. Those who have been permitted to restart work and reopen businesses have been overwhelmed by stringent safety measures that must be adhered to. Some bookshops that had been allowed to reopen on April 14 chose to keep the shutters down as sanitizing books and maintaining distancing seemed unfeasible as well as expensive. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccahughes/2020/05/06/this-is-freedom-post-lockdown-italy-not-how-we-imagined/ 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Euro Weekly News In the economically disadvantaged south of the country remaining closed for another month will result in the failure of many commercial activities and will aggravate the economic and social emergency that is brewing. Over the next few weeks the government will have to find solutions that will keep at bay a second possibly deadlier wave of coronavirus cases as well as avoiding economic collapse. https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/05/06/how-has-italy-reacted-to-a-cautious-easing-of-lockdown/ 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

MorningAdvertiser.co.uk While the coronavirus pandemic has caused significant headaches for countless businesses across the world in some ways it has brought sectors closer together. With everyone facing the same challenges now is the time to learn the challenges other operators in other countries have encountered and how they have overcome those hurdles. https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2020/05/06/How-are-Spanish-pubs-and-bars-trading-during-coronavirus-lockdown 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

VICE Now that the UK had passed the peak of the pandemic speculation as to how the government will ease the lockdown has begun. Boris Johnson was originally set to review lockdown guidelines this Thursday but the review has now been postponed until Sunday a likely sign that the government is in no rush to get everything back to normal. Indeed a report released this week from the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies SAGE outlines the many considerations for easing a lockdown including the potential economic psychological and social costs and benefits. https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/k7qewy/when-will-lockdown-lift-in-uk 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

ITV News Greeces fate lies instead in the hands of the millions of tourists from the US UK and other European countries tourism accounts for 20 of the Greek economy and one in four jobs according to the countrys national statisticians. Greeks desperately want tourists to return but at the same time they are worried that they will bring the virus with them. The two most important countries for Greek tourism Germany and the UK are both facing severe Covid19 challenges. Germany saw a rise in cases after it begun lifting restrictions the UK is now the worsthit country in Europe. Such is the seriousness of the situation that Dr Tsiodras has mentioned the UK specifically almost every evening during the last few daily briefings. Its a paradox when it comes to pandemics and it is related to the issue of timely adoption of measures the Harvard educated professor told Greeks while trying to explain why fatalities in the UK have surpassed those of tragicallyhit Italy. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-06/greeks-relief-as-coronavirus-lockdown-eased-but-fear-fate-lies-in-hands-of-tourists-from-harder-hit-countries/ 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

YAHOO! Germany will radically loosen its lockdown measures as chancellor Angela Merkel yields to pressure from the leaders of the countrys 16 states to make their own plans for opening up. The draft agreement for the meeting on Wednesday between the chancellor and the state premiers says that schools and shops can all reopen but under strict new hygiene guidelines including the 1.5meter social distancing rules. States can also decide for themselves when they open restaurants pubs clubs and gyms but big events like festivals are banned until 31 August. Already last week churches zoos museums and playgrounds were given the green light. https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19-germany-opens-up-merkel-yields-to-states-103329211.html 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Scotsman As golf courses start to reopen across Europe the consequences of failing to follow strict guidelines aimed at delivering safe golf during the ongoing coronavirus have been highlighted in Germany. https://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/germany-clamping-down-golf-clubs-failing-follow-safety-rules-2844369 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germanys goal of slowing the spread of coronavirus has been achieved so all shops can be reopened as lockdown restrictions are eased. Bundesliga football has been given the green light to resume and schools will gradually reopen in the summer term. Germanys 16 federal states under an agreement with the government will take control of timing the reopening. They will operate an emergency brake if there is a new surge in infections. General contact rules involving will continue for another month. A limited resumption has already begun but this easing of restrictions is far broader. Two households will be able to meet and eat together and elderly people in nursing homes and facilities for the disabled will be able to have visits from one specific person. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52557718 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Independent Germany has begun relaxing the lockdown measures put in place to control the spread of coronavirus as officials say the infection rate has been declining for at least four weeks in a row. Museums galleries and gardens as well as many shops were allowed to reopen this week. Individual states will decide about gradually opening universities bars trade fairs theatres cinemas and more under certain hygiene and distancing rules. A draft document prepared by federal chancellery chief Helge Braun seen by Reuters also said amateur openair sports could restart and schools should gradually reopen from 11 May. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/germany-coronavirus-lockdown-lift-open-museums-galleries-gardens-shops-a9501111.html 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC Germans may be able to have summer holidays abroad the countrys tourism chief said as European nations look at how to handle the summer break. Federal tourism commissioner Thomas Bareiss told Der Tagesspiegel newspaper that if the outbreak stayed under control people might be able to take vacations abroad soon. Germany was in talks with other nations about summer holidays he said. European governments are mulling how to handle the upcoming vacation period. More than 100000 people are confirmed to have died amid the coronavirus pandemic in Europe. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52547403 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

RFI English The numbers of patients in hospital and in intensive care continued to decline. Patients in hospital have declined for three weeks for a total of 24775 down from a peak at 32292 on 14 April. The number of patients in intensive care has dropped below half of what it was at the peak of the epidemic now standing at 3430 down from 7148 on 8 April. Confinement measures imposed as of 17 March were to begin easing on 11 May with officials warning lockdown has to be lifted gradually in order to ward off a second wave of the epidemic. http://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200506-france-health-coronavirus-covid-epidemic-official-figures-slow-decline-end-lockdown-approaches 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK IHS Markits overall PMI index which includes services and already published data from the manufacturing sector fell to 11.1 from 28.9 in March marginally worse than the 11.2 originally reported. The lockdown in place since midMarch is due to be lifted from next Monday but some restrictions will remain in place leaving little prospect for a quick recovery for most firms. Any return to longterm growth rates might be gradual with consumers taking time to overcome hesitancy surrounding public health before they resume their previous spending habits IHS Markit economist Eliot Kerr said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-france-economy-pmi/coronavirus-lockdown-plunges-french-services-into-record-slump-pmi-idUKKBN22I0WJ 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

Foreign Policy Why isnt Slovakia overrun by the coronavirus Experts that I spoke to credit three main factors. The most important was the governments quick decision to institute a national lockdown effective March 16 10 days after the country confirmed its first coronavirus case. The lockdown included the closure of all schools restaurants bars and shops except for grocery stores pharmacies and banksas well as a ban on all public events and gatherings. The lockdown measures have only worked because of the second factor an immediate and universal compliance by the Slovak population. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/06/slovakia-coronavirus-pandemic-public-trust-media/ 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

VOA News Boris Johnson assured members of the House of Commons they would be fully informed and would be given opportunity to question him or members of the government about any decisions. He said it would be an economic disaster for Britain if restrictions were lifted in such a way as to trigger a second spike in COVID19 infections. Johnson said the government would work with the government in Scotland the opposition unions and business to make sure we get the unlockdown plan completely right. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/britains-johnson-says-lockdown-announcement-come-sunday 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

DW (English) Poland will postpone Sundays presidential election the countrys governing parties announced on Wednesday. A new date for the election will be announced as soon as possible ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and coalition partner leader Jaroslaw Gowin said in a statement. Having in mind Poles safety due to the epidemic the elections will be held by postal vote they said. https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-latest-poland-postpones-presidential-election/a-53346123 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

New Zealand Herald No more shared cookie jars fewer meetings staggered start times and temperature checks before you leave the house Aussies may be heading back to work but the office will never be the same. On the plus side hotdesking will likely be a thing of the past as the world makes the transition to postCovid workplaces where hygiene safety social distancing and regular cleaning will take the drivers seat after decades of costcutting measures. And millennials who entered the workforce in the open plan era may soon be getting their first taste of the cubicle. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&ampobjectid=12330089 6th May 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Wall Street Journal Swathes of the country remained under lockdown and tensions escalated in some places over the restrictive policies that are designed to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Publichealth officials have cautioned that lifting restrictions too hastily could lead to a surge in new cases. Before states reopen they say the number of new cases should fall under a certain threshold and state leaders should have a robust testing capacity in place and develop contacttracing teams. Guidelines from the Trump administration recommend governors take steps toward reopening after they see a decline in documented cases or positive tests over a twoweek period. https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-05-01-2020-11588325790 1st May 2020

Exit Strategies

iNews Where were you on the evening of Friday May 1st It is the sort of question one might expect to hear from a hardboiled detective or a prosecutor in a courtroom drama. It is also the kind of question that Britons will have to get used to answering if daily life is to return to anything resembling normal. Much of the focus of the governments test track and trace strategy to reopen Britain and prevent a second lockdown has been on testing and on an app being developed by NHSX the digitalinnovation arm of the health service. https://inews.co.uk/news/health/contact-tracing-sleuths-call-handlers-coronavirus-lockdown-explained-2844716 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

ChronicleLive How people over the age of 70 will have to live once lockdown is lifted has been a big topic of conversation during the coronavirus crisis. Under current Government rules over70s have to abide by the same social distancing measures as the rest of the UK population. The majority of people in this age bracket can still go out for exercise do essential shopping and pick up medicine. However they have to be more careful than everyone else. Campaigners fear that when lockdown is relaxed older people might be kept under the rules for longer than younger people for their own safety. That proposal which has been rumoured but is not in any way confirmed by the Government has sparked a backlash among doctors leaders and campaigners the Mirror reports. Here are the current rules explained and what might or might not happen in the future. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-lockdown-rules-over-70-18206467 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

7NEWS.com.au Experts say that in this time weve been subject to three psychological phases. The first was one of panic and confusion when we were crying out for a sense of control and easily embraced restrictions. Then came the honeymoon phase when lockdown was almost a novelty. There was no more battling morning traffic you could stay in your pyjamas all day some started baking sourdough and others reconnected with nature. Now were in the eerie Third Quarter which has been identified in those stuck in space or submarines. Typically isolated individuals become more irritable you might feel sad or lonely start drinking more alcohol and struggle to get to sleep. Theres a sense of being trapped theres not a lot of new stimulation going on Clinical Psychologist Kimberley Norris told Sunrise. https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/coronavirus-australia-is-in-the-feared-third-quarter-of-lockdown-c-1022264 7th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Sky News Australia Lockdown measures in the UK could start to be lifted from Monday with details set to be outlined at the weekend. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced a new target of 200000 coronavirus tests a day a target he hopes will be met by the end of May. https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6154755168001 7th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters Australias two most populous states on Thursday refused to allow a oneday reprieve from strict limits on personal movement for Mothers Day this weekend even as the countrys rate of new coronavirus cases remains low. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia-idUSKBN22J02X 7th May 2020

Exit Strategies

City A.M. The first phase of relaxation will involve outdoor workplaces and small shops reopening the second will involve large shopping centres reopening and more people being encouraged to return to work the report said. Pubs restaurants hotels and leisure centres will be among the last businesses to reopen the Times said. The UK lockdown was announced by Johnson in a televised speech on 23 March with tough restrictions on movement introduced the next day. Three weeks later on 16 April Dominic Raab standing in for the coronavirusstricken Prime Minister said lockdown would persist for at least another three weeks as the UK was not past the peak of the disease. https://www.cityam.com/uk-draws-up-three-stage-plan-for-easing-coronavirus-lockdown/ 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Telegraph During a Downing Street press conference on 16 April Dominic Raab deputising for Boris Johnson said that the lockdown measures will remain in place for at least three more weeks or up until May 7th. He also set out five tests that must be met before the government would consider lifting measures. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/06/end-when-uk-lockdown-exit-strategy-covid/ 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Wales Online Rural parts of the UK which have seen far fewer cases of coronavirus could come out of lockdown ahead of the rest of the UK Englands chief scientific adviser has said. Places like Devon Cornwall and Somerset as well as other rural locations could see restrictions eased ahead of places such as London and Birmingham. Each nation in the UK will make its own decisions about easing lockdown rules. Sir Patrick Vallance said that while the R number the number of other people infected by each person with coronavirus is below one across the country prevalence of infection will be different depending on region. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/rural-parts-uk-could-come-18207553 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Telegraph The Prime Minister has said we are now past the peak of the pandemic and hinted that lockdown measures could be lifted soon. He said the dates and times of each measure being lifted would come when the Government had more data but the UK is heading towards phase two of its coronavirus response which will involve partially lifting lockdown. Here we analyse when the lockdown could end and what the new normal might look like. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/10/uk-lockdown-extended-coronavirus/ 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC High Street fashion chains and others closed during lockdown are waiting to hear how they might reopen. Changing rooms could be closed and customers encouraged to shop alone the British Retail Consortium suggests. Next says it will prioritise reopening larger outoftown outlets where social distancing is easier. Some DIY stores meanwhile have already reopened but they are accepting card payments only and have shorter trading hours. And BQ has banned under16s. But several retailers will be missing from the High Street altogether the chairman of keycutting company Timpson has warned. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Financial Times The prime minister said on Wednesday he would set out his strategy for the second phase of the UKs fight against coronavirus in a televised address on Sunday adding the government would get going with some measures to revise the shutdown on Monday. The initial relaxation of the lockdown is expected to be limited such as allowing unlimited exercise and sunbathing in parks while allowing some businesses to ramp up operations where social distancing can be observed such as on construction sites. The first wave of tweaks will cover the toughening up of other measures such as the wearing of face masks on public transport and tougher checks at border. https://www.ft.com/content/8ee7e6c7-2af9-4484-9d97-1b48c8a1c1a4 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Sky News Britons could be allowed to reunite with loved ones using bubble arrangements under proposals to ease the lockdown. Ministers are looking at ways of letting people meet up with friends and family when lockdown restrictions are eventually eased. Under the arrangements people will be able choose a small number of friends and family to mix with outdoors for the time being and will be under strict orders not to mix with anybody else. People could also be allowed to leave their homes more often and for longer periods of time. The proposals are being considered by the government to introduce a new normal to the way Britain operates socially. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-how-social-bubbles-could-work-when-uk-lockdown-is-eased-11983924 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Scotsman n Italy the country has entered into phase two of its exit out of lockdown. Italians will now be able to travel within regions in order to visit relatives provided that they wear masks. However schools hairdressers gyms and a variety of other commercial activities will stay closed. Cafes and restaurants will offer takeaways only. In the Czech Republic gyms and fitness centres will be open to the public next week but the showers and dressing rooms will be off limits. https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/outdoors/when-will-gyms-open-uk-if-fitness-centres-could-be-among-first-reopen-when-lockdown-eased-2843157 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Associated Press To compensate losing the backing of the conservative Popular Party and angering Catalonias separatists Snchezs Socialists struck lastminute deals with the centerright Citizens party and Basque regionalists to guarantee the parliamentary endorsement. That gave the government 178 votes in favor to 75 votes against with 97 abstentions. The state of emergency was set to expire on Saturday. The extension will take it through May 24. The government argued the extension is critical to apply its complex rollback plan for the lockdown which will vary by province as they prepare for a possible second wave. https://apnews.com/1767baedf7a5193bc31c482448d93130 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Euro Weekly News The regional minister said it is essential to have welldefined controls at ports and airports to allow all the Balearic Islands to move forward through the different stages of the deescalation. She stressed the island government wants to see checks at travellers place of departure and destination and said Formenteras experience this week with checks on arriving ferry passengers temperatures health questionnaires and antibody tests will make it possible to see exactly what the situation is. Gomez expressed confidence her department has planned resources well to be able to deal with the situation both in terms of hospitals and medicalised hotels on all the islands except Formentera. We can practically duplicate the capacity we have in criteria and hospital beds in approximately a day she maintained. https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/05/06/spains-holiday-islands-mallorca-ibiza-and-menorca-waiting-to-move-into-lockdown-de-escalation-phase-one/ 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Scotsman The First Minister has said that lockdown measures will be lifted when we judge it is safe to make them which I am afraid is not right now https://www.scotsman.com/health/scotland-lockdown-exit-plan-what-nicola-sturgeon-has-said-about-easing-restrictions-and-when-it-could-happen-2549210 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters French president Emmanuel Macron promised guaranteed stipends for outofwork actors and money for filmmakers whose productions have been cancelled as part of a bailout for an arts industry shut down by the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-culture-idUSKBN22I1LV 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

YAHOO! The number of patients in intensive care has dropped below half of what it was at the peak of the epidemic now standing at 3430 down from 7148 on 8 April. Confinement measures imposed as of 17 March were to begin easing on 11 May with officials warning lockdown has to be lifted gradually in order to ward off a second wave of the epidemic. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/france-covid-19-epidemic-continues-065232387.html 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Telegraph It seems plausible that the prime ministers upcoming speech on Sunday night could herald a relaxation of restrictions. France is permitting outdoor recreational tennis from next Monday while most other European countries have already moved to this position. Ireland is working towards the reopening of outdoor tennis clubs and public parks from May 18. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2020/05/06/will-tennis-courts-reopen-lockdown-safe-play/ 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg The Paris public transport system will deploy as many as 2000 police officers to enforce rules on social distancing and the wearing of masks when France starts to ease lockdown measures on May 11. The operator of metros buses and commuter trains in the French capital known as the RATP has also increased its cleaning budget by at least 70 and is testing methods like antiviral sprays in buses according to Chief Executive Officer Catherine Guillouard. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-06/paris-metro-prepares-for-lockdown-easing-with-police-cleaners 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Local France France is less than a week away from beginning to lift its strict nationwide lockdown on May 11th. The government has stressed repeatedly that this easing of restrictions will depend on the development of the epidemic curve and has not excluded postponing the whole process to a later date if necessary. If as we approach May 11th the number of daily new cases is not what we predicted we will pay the consequences Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said as he presented the governments plan to lift the lockdown last week. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200506/france-prepares-plan-to-re-impose-lockdown-if-cases-spike 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the key to keeping the infection rate down lies in tracking the spread of the virus and isolating people who have it as well as those who have been in contact with them. The U.K. has stepped up testing and wants to recruit 18000 contact tracers. The mobile phone app that will keep a record of people the owner has been in contact with wont be ready until midMay. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-06/here-s-how-boris-johnson-is-planning-to-lift-the-u-k-s-lockdown 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

ABC News To speed up the process of contacting people who may have been exposed to coronavirus the Federal Government is asking Australians to download its new COVIDSafe app. The more people use the app the message goes the faster we can slow the spread of the virus and the sooner we can lift restrictions and return to the pub. The first job of the COVIDSafe app is to keep you safe Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a press conference on Tuesday. https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-05-06/coronavirus-contact-tracing-app-covid-safe-lockdown-lift/12217146 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

7NEWS.com.au Two out of five Australians believe its likely they will be infected with COVID19 over the next six months as the nation struggles with the virus pandemic. In a landmark study the Australian National Universitys Centre for Social Research and Methods collected data from 3155 Australians in January and February and again in April. Twothirds of Australians reported they felt anxious or worried for the safety of themselves their family members or friends to the the coronavirus. https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/infection-fears-high-despite-virus-action-c-1021720 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The New European In its latest coronavirus case study the Tony Blair Institute outlined recommendations for pulling the country out of hibernation. They include setting out the levels of easing they will use and what they will mean for people and business and building on the current five tests with triggers hard metrics and thresholds to move between levels. They also urge explaining how expanded containment measures can reduce the risk at each level and tailoring communications to enlist the support of individuals and businesses. The report also suggested the government follow steps taken by New Zealand and Australia where leaders have been able to sketch out a detailed guide to leaving a lockdown. They argued that clear messaging would assist companies to prepare for a new operation environment. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/tony-blair-institute-says-uk-must-follow-australia-and-new-zealand-coronavirus-exit-plans-1-6639324 6th May 2020

Exit Strategies

The Scotsman On Sunday 10 May the Prime Minister will address the nation to outline a road map of how current restrictions will be gradually lifted as part of the second phase of the coronavirus response. https://www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/when-will-uk-lockdown-end-date-restrictions-will-be-reviewed-uk-passes-peak-infections-2658530 1st May 2020

Partisan Exits

RTE Online A Reuters investigation found policies designed to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed pushed a greater burden onto care homes which struggled to get access to tests and protective equipment. Asked by a member of the public during a question session on Sky News whether the government had sacrificed the elderly in residential homes to ensure the health service was not overrun Mr Hancock said No we didnt do this ... we have from the start worked very hard to protect people in care homes. https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0506/1136759-coronavirus-uk/ 6th May 2020

Partisan Exits

Huffington Post UK Boris Johnson has said the government could begin to ease the UKs coronavirus lockdown from Monday. Speaking during prime ministers questions in the Commons the PM said he planned to give a statement on Sunday setting out plans for the next day. He did not specify which measures might be dropped or amended first as ministers were continuously receiving data from health and science experts. We will want if we possibly can to get going with some of those measures on Monday he said in a reply to Labour leader Keir Starmer. I think it would be a good thing ... if people had an idea of whats coming the following day. Thats why I think Sunday the weekend is the best time to do it. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/boris-johnson-hints-lockdown-could-be-eased-as-soon-as-monday_uk_5eb29da1c5b6e376475f3d8d 6th May 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC The debate about easing Northern Irelands pandemic lockdown restrictions is getting ahead of itself the health minister has said. A further 17 Covid19 related deaths in NI were reported by Robin Swanns department bringing its total to 404. The executive is holding talks about whether to relax any measures to curb the spread of the virus. Call it my May Day alert said Mr Swann as he urged people to stay at home this bank holiday weekend. Northern Irelands Executive must review whether to amend the coronavirus regulations by Saturday but some ministers have already said any changes need to be gradual. Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill wants the Executive to publish its plans for emerging from restrictions on Thursday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52549882 6th May 2020

Partisan Exits

AlJazeera Dr Deborah Birx response coordinator for the White House coronavirus taskforce has warned against US citizens gathering in public spaces again as the number of COVID19 infections topped 1.1 million in the country and the death toll rose to more than 67000 on Sunday. Birx said massing on beaches was not safe unless people kept at least two metres six feet apart and weighed in against allowing such businesses as beauty salons and spas to reopen in the first phase. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/birx-warns-gatherings-reopens-lockdowns-200503202054206.html 4th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Daily Mail New South Wales will not relax any coronavirus restrictions until next week but Queensland will allow five household members to visit another family in a home from Sunday. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said no restrictions will be relaxed in his state and told reporters that he will not be visiting his own mother on Mothers Day. On Friday the national cabinet will set out a threestep framework to ease the rules but state and territory leaders will be able to choose when they implement the changes. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said rules in Australias biggest state by population will not be changing until after the weekend. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8294631/Lockdown-continues-Australias-biggest-state-NOT-relax-rules.html 7th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Phil Smith principal economist at IHS Markit said the plunge in services business activity accelerated in April and that the rate of contraction was much worse than seen during the depths of the global financial crisis more than a decade ago. However though manufacturing also suffered a record drop in output in April the PMI surveys confirm that the decline in Germanys economy has been less severe than in France Italy and Spain where lockdowns have been more strict Smith added. Germany took a further step on the long road back to postcoronavirus normality on Monday with museums and hairdressers reopening under strict conditions churches opening their doors for worshippers and more car factories resuming work. But more than a month after all but essential social and commercial life was suspended to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus the countrys politicians are at odds over how far and how fast to move. Despite first steps to ease restrictions there is still a lot of uncertainty among businesses about the timing of further relaxation of measures and the health of demand going forward Smith noted. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-economy-pmi/coronavirus-lockdown-batters-german-services-in-april-pmi-idUKKBN22I0XC 6th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC Scenes of desperate migrant workers particularly dailywage earners fleeing cities on foot to return to their villages filled TV screens and newspapers for most of April. Their informal jobs which employ 90 of the population were the first to be hit as construction stopped and cities suspended public transport. But protracted curfews and the continued closure of businesses and the uncertainty of when the lockdown will end hasnt spared formal permanent jobs either. Large companies across various sectors media aviation retail hospitality automobiles have announced massive layoffs in recent weeks. And experts predict that many small and medium businesses are likely to shut shop altogether. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52559324 6th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

Yahoo! The head of Swedens coronavirus response said in a new interview that the countrys high death toll had come as a surprise and was really something we worry a lot about. The state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell told The Daily Show that the Swedish strategy had still been successful in many ways. But he said the nolockdown strategy was not a conscious decision in favor of more deaths instead he said the outsize toll was not part of the plan. About half of Swedens deaths have been in nursing homes which prohibit visitors. Tegnell said health officials had thought it would be easier to keep the disease away from them. https://news.yahoo.com/head-swedens-no-lockdown-coronavirus-100111923.html 6th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

U.S. News & World Report Birinci is one of thousands of Cypriots caught in limbo since the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government and the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north both imposed stringent lockdowns but without consulting each other. I think what has been lacking since the beginning is cooperation between the two sides said Hakan Karahasan another Turkish Cypriot badly affected by the lockdown. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-05-06/as-coronavirus-lockdown-eases-cypriots-still-in-limbo 6th May 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian The treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the current restrictions Australian governments have adopted to stop the spread of coronavirus restrictions likely to taper down from this Friday are resulting in a reduction in economic activity worth 4bn per week. Frydenberg will use a speech to the National Press Club on Tuesday to warn the economic shock associated with Covid19 will be both profound and prolonged with Treasury estimating a 10 to 12 fall in gross domestic product during the June quarter alone. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/05/australias-coronavirus-lockdown-to-cost-4bn-a-week-in-reduced-economic-activity-treasurer 4th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Hindustan Times DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus listed a series of steps needed before countries lift measures designed to control the spread of the Covid19 respiratory disease https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/who-warns-of-new-lockdowns-if-transition-not-managed-carefully/story-MGYyWuIVkb7IRjFmnauKeK.html 6th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

@UNGeneva 6 criteria for relaxing COVID19 measures recommended by @WHO 1. Strong surveillance system 2. Health system has necessary capacities 3. Minimized outbreak risks 4. Preventive measures in place 5. Importation risks are manageable 6. Communities are educated engaged empowered https://twitter.com/UNGeneva/status/1258057385312243715 6th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Newsweek The doctor who treated the first COVID19 patient in the United States has expressed his concern that a second wave of the disease could emerge as lockdown measures are gradually eased. George Daz infectious diseases chief at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett Washington told journalists on Monday in a video briefing What worries me is that when the economy starts to reopen we are going to see a second outbreak that is perhaps as big as the first and the first one was very difficult for us and for the whole world. And more than anything I am concerned that I dont know if we are going to have the resources to handle a second outbreak he said AFP reported. https://www.newsweek.com/doctors-treated-covid-19-first-us-second-wave-lockdown-lifted-1502042 6th May 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Cell.com VHHs isolated from a llama immunized with prefusionstabilized coronavirus spikes. Structural characterization of VHHs reveals conserved mechanism of neutralization. SARSCoV1 Sdirected VHH crossreacts with SARSCoV2 S. Bivalent VHH neutralizes SARSCoV2 pseudoviruses. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)30494-3 5th May 2020

New Lockdown

The Associated Press As Europe and the U.S. loosen their lockdowns against the coronavirus health experts are expressing growing dread over what they say is an allbutcertain second wave of deaths and infections that could force governments to clamp back down. Were risking a backslide that will be intolerable said Dr. Ian Lipkin of Columbia Universitys Center for Infection and Immunity. Elsewhere around the world German authorities began drawing up plans in case of a resurgence of the virus. Experts in Italy urged intensified efforts to identify new victims and trace their contacts. And France which hasnt yet eased its lockdown has already worked up a reconfinement plan in the event of a new wave. https://apnews.com/bda9923cff8c143084141bc4c097b95c 6th May 2020