15th Jun 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=30 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail France will reopen for business on Monday after President Emmanuel Macron announced a first victory against coronavirus. In an upbeat live TV address on Sunday night the head of state said virtually all lockdown restrictions for bars restaurants and cafes would end at the start of this coming week. Schools colleges and nurseries will then be back with all their pupils in a weeks time. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8419943/France-reopen-business-Emmanuel-Macron-declares-victory-Covid-19.html 14th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

CNA What would you do if you saw someone not wearing a mask in public Mind your own business or perhaps advise the person to wear a mask because it is now required by law and helps reduce the spread of COVID19 Another option might be to report the infringement to the authorities. However some people have decided on a different approach Snap a photo and post it on social media. With numerous Facebook groups and Telegram chats providing a platform for this in Singapore and elsewhere experts CNA interviewed have explained why online vigilantism has appeared to become more prevalent during the pandemic. They said some see it as a social responsibility borne out of genuine concern for public health while others cannot stand seeing others get away with breaking the rules as they themselves are compliant. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-online-social-media-vigilante-expose-viral-covidiot-12814476 13th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Independent The number of people in extreme poverty around the world could rise beyond 1 billion as a result of the Covid19 crisis new analysis has suggested. Figures from the World Bank suggest that 736 million people currently live in destitution surviving on less than 1.90 a day 1.53. But in a study published on Friday researchers at Kings College London and Australian National University have warned that the pandemic could trigger substantial poverty increases and reverse decades worth of progress. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/coronavirus-poverty-pandemic-study-world-bank-covid-19-a9561081.html 13th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters We think next week the city can begin a process of very orderly transition said Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum noting there had been a slight drop in hospital occupancy rates and that the citys contagion alert level was close to coming down a notch. Curbs on vehicle traffic and public transport are due to be eased on Monday and factories will start opening on Tuesday under strict sanitary protections the city government said. On Thursday small shops will have permission to reopen while professional services and scientific workers linked to industry can go back as of Friday it added. If conditions are deemed suitable street markets and the historic center of the city will reopen the week of June 2228. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mexico-city/mexico-city-to-begin-gradual-exit-from-lockdown-on-monday-idUSKBN23K00R 13th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

CNN There is a wide discrepancy in approaches to the coronavirus by the worlds political leaders some countries are lifting lockdowns as Covid19 deaths continue to rise and global health agencies are backtracking on their guidance. Its hardly surprising that the situation might seem unclear. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/13/world/coronavirus-confusion-lockdowns-lifting-gbr-intl/index.html 13th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Medical shortages in the face of the coronavirus pandemic have left many healthcare workers in a desperate hunt for medical supplies. Community clinics nursing homes and independent doctors in particular find themselves on the fringe of the supply chain for masks gowns gloves and ventilators. Desperate administrators wire money to offshore banks to acquire supplies. Most medical supplies from isolation gowns to the filtration components of N95 masks originate in China in factories that manufacture socalled spunbond polypropylene out of toxic chemicals. Decades of honing has turned the supply chain into an efficient https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/12/medical-supplies-coronavirus-outbreak-us 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Xinhua All restrictions on Hungarys health care services will be lifted next Monday while the measures on antiepidemic preparedness remain in force the countrys Minister of Human Capacities Miklos Kasler announced here on Friday. Practically this means that in hospitals 80 percent of the beds previously set aside for the care of coronavirusinfected people can be reused for other treatments but 20 percent should still be reserved for the care of COVID19 patients Kasler said at a press conference. Appointments to seek the help of specialist doctors will still have to be requested by phone patients will be triaged for their appointments and suspected COVID19 patients will be monitored according to the minister. Kasler said that Hungarys health care system will need about two months to catch up on surgeries that had to be postponed during the state of emergency. According to official figures the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 4053 on Friday with 2447 recoveries and 555 fatalities http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/12/c_139134778.htm 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Spains northern region of Galicia will be the first to exit the countrys coronavirus lockdown from Monday Health Minister Salvador Illa said on Friday part of a gradual opening up that Spain hopes can save its summer tourism season. A state of emergency declared countrywide in midMarch will be effectively lifted in Galicia while it remains in force in all the other 16 of Spains regions. The government will lift some restrictions in other regions which have been following a fourphase plan to gradually exit from lockdown as the epidemic ebbs. From Monday as many as 34 million citizens will be in the last phase thats three out of four Spaniards Illa told a news conference. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-spain/spains-galicia-to-be-first-region-to-exit-coronavirus-lockdown-idUKKBN23J2A5 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Norway will allow travel to and from Finland Iceland and the Swedish island of Gotland from Monday but maintain travel restrictions on mainland Sweden due to its higher level of COVID19 cases amid concerns of a second wave of infections. Denmark Finland and Norway have lifted some of the controls on leisure travel they imposed to slow the coronavirus pandemic but have kept most of those imposed on Sweden the richest and most populous of the Nordic countries. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-nordics-travel/norway-snubs-covid-19-hotspot-sweden-in-lifting-travel-curbs-idUKKBN23J249 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Canada will take airline passengers temperatures before they fly and anyone with a fever will not be allowed to travel Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday. Temperature checks will not be detecting people with COVID19 Trudeau said in a news conference. Its an extra layer of safety to encourage people who might feel sick to stay home and not put others at risk. The screening will be phased in with those arriving in Canada being screened by the end of June and then for those leaving the country as well as for domestic travelers at the countrys four biggest airports by the end of July. If a traveler is found to have a fever after two separate measurements 10 minutes apart they will be asked to rebook after 14 days have passed the transport minister said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-canada/canada-to-mandate-temperature-checks-for-airline-passengers-trudeau-says-idUKKBN23J2Q2 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Digital Journal France will gradually reopen its borders to countries outside the Schengen zone from July 1 the interior and foreign ministers said in a joint statement on Friday. The borders were shut in midMarch to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic but the European Union recommended on Thursday that the bloc reopen to some countries in the Balkans from July 1. Foreign Minister JeanYves Le Drian and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said in their statement that Frances reopening would be in harmony with the rest of the EU. This opening will be gradual and will vary according to the health situation in each of the third countries and in accordance with the arrangements that will have been agreed at European level by then the ministers said. http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/france-unveils-plan-to-reopen-non-schengen-borders/article/573130 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Times of India Vietnam has only had 333 Covid cases and zero deaths from the disease. But what is even more interesting is that today the world is bullish on Vietnam from an economic point of view. As multinational firms look to relocate out of China in the wake of Covid Vietnam is fast emerging as the preferred destination of choice. True India too is eyeing these relocating firms. But given that the Covid situation here isnt quite under control India is now in the fourth spot globally in total number of Covid cases firms arent exactly queuing up to set up bases. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/talkingturkey/rising-star-how-vietnams-organisational-skills-during-covid-have-pumped-up-its-economic-profile/ 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Somalias Islamist group al Shabaab said on Friday they had set up a COVID19 treatment centre in the country and said the disease posed a grave threat citing international health authorities. Al Shabaabs coronavirus prevention and treatment committee has opened a COVID19 centre the group said in a broadcast on their radio Andalus adding the centre had been set up in Jilib about 380 kilometres 236 miles south of the capital Mogadishu. International health organisations said COVID19 is terribly spreading in countries of Africa continent. For more than a decade the group has been fighting to topple the Horn of Africas Westernbacked central government and establish its own government based on its own strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-somalia/somalias-islamist-group-al-shabaab-says-sets-up-covid-19-treatment-centre-idUSKBN23J32C 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Brazil has overtaken Britain as the country with the worlds secondhighest Covid19 death toll after a further 843 deaths pushed its total to 41901. The tally was published on Friday night by a coalition of news outlets which has been compiling independent statistics since Brazils health ministry was accused of seeking to conceal the full figures last week. According to the British government 41481 lives have been lost in the UK since late January although the number rises to more than 50000 when suspected cases are included. Brazils death toll is also considered an underestimate. Only in the US where the official death toll stands at more than 116000 have more died. Medical experts have voiced despair at what they call Jair Bolsonaros calamitous response to the pandemic. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/12/brazil-coronavirus-death-toll-second-highest 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Sky News Englands lockdown restrictions should not be eased further until the governments contact tracing system is robust and effective a World Health Organisation WHO official has said. WHOs regional European director Hans Kluge said the UK remains in a very active phase of the pandemic and should be cautious in lifting any restrictions. Contact tracing is key especially as the UK starts to relax the social and physical distancing measures he told The Guardian. There has to be a robust trackandtrace system in place of operation. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-lockdown-shouldnt-be-eased-more-until-effective-contact-tracing-in-place-says-who-official-12007005 15th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Englands coronavirus lockdown should not be further lifted until the governments contacttracing system has proven to be robust and effective the World Health Organization has said after widespread criticism of the first results of the new tracking operation. As shops across England prepared to reopen and people were encouraged by the government to come out of their homes and on to the high street Dr Hans Kluge the WHOs director for Europe cautioned that the UK remained in a very active phase of the pandemic. His remarks came as ministers confirmed a review of the 2metre distancing rule with the government coming under pressure from business leaders Tory backbenchers and rightwing media to further ease the lockdown. Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the falling numbers of coronavirus cases has given the government more margin for manoeuvre in easing the 2metre physical distancing rule. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/14/who-cautions-against-further-lifting-lockdown-england 15th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

HeraldScotland BEFORE Covid19 the Scottish Government was active in fostering existing and new relationships with our Nordic and Baltic neighbours. Now that the world has been turned upside down by the horror of this pandemic connections with these smaller northern nations seem all the more important in terms of what we can learn from their individual responses to the crisis. Estonia is a case in point a small nation state with a population of 1.3million with one of the fastestgrowing economies in the EU and one of the highest standards of living in the world. This success is in no small part due to its digitisation and egovernance revolution since becoming independent in the 1990s adding leading digital nation status to its many accolades. https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/18515370.agenda-follow-estonias-lead-digital-revolution/ 13th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

New Zealand Herald Thailand is considering forming travel bubbles with countries that have comparably low Covid19 rates of infection government officials said this week. The country closed borders at the beginning of April which devastated the tourism industry and led to millions of job losses. The tourism industry alone accounts for 20 per cent of the countrys GDP. Now in an attempt to revive the economy the country is looking at establishing travel bubbles with countries with low rates of coronavirus including China South Korea Vietnam Australia and New Zealand. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&ampobjectid=12339595 13th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters The U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled plans on Friday to send nearly 100 million face coverings to airports transit agencies and U.S. passenger railroad service Amtrak over the coming weeks in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The cloth coverings will be provided as a supplement for passengers DOT said in a statement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces which are reopening after monthslong shutdowns aimed at stemming the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus. Nearly 87 million of the masks procured by the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA will go to airports DOT said. The allotment is in addition to some 15 million committed to critical infrastructure workers in the transportation sector. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-usa-coronavirus-masks-transit/us-government-to-send-nearly-100-million-face-coverings-for-transit-passengers-idUKKBN23J2RP 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

South China Morning Post Tens of thousands of opportunist manufacturers entered Chinas maskmaking industry to capitalise of the boom during the coronavirus pandemic. But the gravy train has ground to a halt for some producers of meltblown and nonwoven fabric who have been forced to shut their factories. https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3088810/coronavirus-wheels-come-chinas-mask-making-gravy-train-low 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Japan aims to launch a smartphone app based on technology from Apple Inc AAPL.O and Alphabet Incs GOOGL.O Google next week to help curb the spread of coronavirus by tracking close contact with those infected the health ministry said on Friday. Smartphones with the app installed can detect each other via Bluetooth shortrange wireless and log those who have come in close contact. If a phone user is found to be infected people who spent more than 15 minutes within a radius of one meter 3.3 feet of that individual sometime over the previous 14 days will be notified that they were in close contact with a coronavirusinfected person and be prompted to seek medical consultation. Such a message will be sent only if the infected individual gives consent and the person with a positive diagnosis will remain anonymous to the receivers of the notification. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan-tech/japan-aims-to-launch-coronavirus-contact-tracking-app-next-week-idUKKBN23J2A0 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

EL PAS in English Now that the coronavirus epidemic is considered to be under control in Spain the next big danger will be the imported cases warn health officials. If everything goes according to plan the first tourists will arrive this coming Monday as part of a pilot project in the Balearic Islands. Then on July 1 Spain will officially lift travel restrictions at the border including the quarantine requirement. Despite the travel ban a total of 33500 people entered Spain during the month of May through air and maritime borders thanks to exceptions made for specific workers residents returning to their homes and certain emergency situations. But this number is expected to soar as soon as the country reopens and authorities are scrambling to get health teams ready in time to detect all incoming cases. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-06-12/thermal-imaging-and-e-forms-how-spain-will-screen-for-covid-19-when-the-travel-ban-is-lifted.html 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Health Secretary Matt Hancock has expressed renewed confidence NHS Test and Trace will become the worldclass system promised by the prime minister although Mr Hancock acknowledged the system needed to get better and better as it developed. But what does an already worldbeating test and trace programme look like There is no need to look as far as Singapore South Korea or even Germany for one an extremely successful example can be found much closer to home. Guernsey has not recorded a new coronavirus case in 43 days and there are no active Covid19 patients in the island. This has led to significant easing of its lockdown rules and the Channel Islands 63000 residents can go shopping get a haircut and meet up with friends and family. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-52904982 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

NBC News Most states are giving the cold shoulder to smartphone apps though some developers think theres still a chance for them to catch on. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/coronavirus-contact-tracing-apps-were-tech-s-chance-step-they-n1230211 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

South China Morning Post Singapore GP organisers said prohibitions imposed on access and construction of the event venue had forced the cancellation of the night race. Formula One had already cancelled four other races including the showcase Monaco Grand Prix in May. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3088806/coronavirus-formula-one-cancels-singapore-japan-and 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

CNN No cases of coronavirus have been linked to two Missouri hairstylists who saw 140 clients last month while symptomatic county health officials said. Both stylists worked at the same Great Clips location in Springfield. The clients and the stylists all wore face coverings and the salon had set up other measures such as social distancing of chairs and staggered appointments the SpringfieldGreene County Health Department said this week. Of the 140 clients and seven coworkers potentially exposed 46 took tests that came back negative. All the others were quarantined for the duration of the coronavirus incubation period. The 14day incubation period has now passed with no coronavirus cases linked to the salon beyond the two stylists county health officials said. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/11/us/missouri-hairstylists-coronavirus-clients-trnd/index.html 11th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

Irish Examiner Boris Johnson has ordered a comprehensive review of the twometre socialdistancing rule amid calls it should be scrapped. Easing the restriction is seen as vital if businesses such a restaurants and pubs are to be able to reopen sustainably. The Mail on Sunday reported the review would effectively take control of socialdistancing guidelines out of the hands of the British Governments scientific advisers who have been deeply reluctant to countenance relaxation. The move comes as thousands of nonessential shops in England are set to reopen on Monday for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown was imposed in March. https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/coronavirus-boris-johnson-orders-review-of-two-metre-social-distancing-rule-in-uk-1005146.html 14th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

NBC News In the battle against COVID19 public health workers make up an invisible army on the front lines. But that army is under assault when its needed most. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/public-health-workers-fighting-covid-19-are-threatened-violence-forced-n1230501 12th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

NBC News Health care workers are still facing major shortages of N95 respirators gowns and other safety gear especially at hospitals in minority communities. Nearly 100 days after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic health care workers across the country are still facing major shortages of personal protective equipment or PPE including crucial equipment such as masks gowns gloves and N95 respirators. Amid an alarming rise in coronavirus cases across the United States the situation is especially dire at hospitals serving communities of color or patients on Medicaid NBC News has found. The issue of PPE for health workers has not gone away Dr. Mike Ryan head of the WHOs Health Emergencies Program said Wednesday at a news briefing. A new study out of Wuhan China is finding that health care workers who were appropriately protected with PPE did not get infected despite being exposed to the virus. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/few-n95-masks-reused-gowns-dire-ppe-shortages-reveal-covid-n1229546 12th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian Fears of a second wave of coronavirus have sparked a global scramble for influenza shots from countries that hope to vaccinate great swathes of the population to reduce pressure on their health services. Health officials in the UK are considering whether to offer flu shots to everyone as part of planning for a resurgence of coronavirus in the autumn but with other countries hitting on the same strategy demand for flu vaccines has soared. Mass immunisation would aim to slash the number of people hospitalised with the flu this winter giving the NHS a better chance of coping with any surge in Covid19 patients that follows the easing of lockdown restrictions. The flu vaccine does not protect against coronavirus infection. One flu vaccine manufacturer Sanofi said it had been approached by the UK and other countries about boosting their orders of flu shots for winter 202021 but warned that it would struggle to ramp up production in time. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/14/countries-scramble-for-flu-vaccines-to-ease-pressure-of-second-coronavirus-19-wave 14th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International As numbers of COVID19 cases rise in Tegucigalpa the capital of Honduras a team from Mdecins Sans Frontires MSF has started caring for patients with severe symptoms of the disease in an annex of the National Autonomous University of Honduras UNAH. Working in coordination with Honduran health and emergency authorities MSF teams aim to prevent the capitals hospitals from becoming overcrowded. In the hospital annex which has been adapted into a specialist 20bed coronavirus ward the MSF medical team is caring for patients who need oxygen support. Patients are transferred there from local hospitals and from two other coronavirus wards set up within the university where mild and asymptomatic patients are being cared for by staff from the Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Department. The MSF team is also providing patients and their families with psychological support over the telephone. As of 11 June a total of 7360 COVID19 cases have been officially confirmed in the country 23 per cent of them in the Francisco Morazan department where Tegucigalpa is located. https://www.msf.org/caring-covid-19-patients-tegucigalpa-honduras 13th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

AlJazeera Supreme Court also expresses concern over handling of bodies as cemeteries and crematoriums hold hurried last rites. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/coronavirus-dead-treated-worse-animals-india-court-200612081132683.html 12th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy cancelled facetoface meetings and visits and will limit his contacts to a close circle after his wife tested positive for coronavirus the presidential press service said on Friday. Facetoface meetings... are excluded in the coming days. Participation in mass events is also excluded working trips outside the capital of Ukraine are cancelled the press service said in a statement. Earlier on Friday Olena Zelenska said she had tested positive for coronavirus but her husband and their two children had tested negative. Today I received a positive test for coronavirus. Unexpected news. Especially considering that I and my family continue to follow all the rules masks gloves a minimum of contacts Zelenska wrote on Facebook. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-ukraine-president/ukraine-leader-cancels-meetings-trips-after-wife-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-idUSKBN23J1UJ 12th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

leta.lv U.S. Ambassador John Carwile presented the Latvian Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health with two tranches of COVID19 testkits and associated lab equipment supporting 4000 tests. The United States contribution approximately 200000 to the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA solidarity fund financed the tests which will bolster Latvias capability to detect isolate and limit the spread of the coronavirus. Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks and Minister of Health Ilze Vinkele accepted the donation on behalf of the Latvian government. Upon presenting the donation Ambassador Carwile said By taking early action Latvia has done an excellent job reducing COVID19 cases and protecting its residents. We are pleased to support the governments continuing work by funding these important test kits and to show our continued commitment to our good friend and ally Latvia. https://www.leta.lv/eng/home/press_release/7F54E56C-2D56-497C-8154-E2B72575C765/ 12th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Mexicos Puebla state where German automaker Volkswagen and its luxury brand unit Audi have major plants said it is not ready to reopen its automotive sector due to ongoing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Pueblas Governor Miguel Barbosa signed a decree on Friday stating that the conditions for return of the automotive and construction sectors are not favourable according to a statement published on the states Twitter account. Barbosa an ally of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said he wants to reopen the states economy but not if that means peoples lives will be at stake. The Mexican unit of Volkswagen AG had previously said it was ready to resume operations in Puebla and the state of Guanajuato on June 15. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mexico-puebla/volkswagen-audi-on-hold-as-mexicos-puebla-state-not-ready-to-reopen-idUKKBN23J2WY 12th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

The New York Times President Jair Bolsonaro hailed hydroxychloroquine as a godsend while he railed against quarantine measures and other best practices undermining the countrys coronavirus response. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/13/world/americas/virus-brazil-bolsonaro-chloroquine.html?smtyp=cur&ampsmid=tw-nytimesworld 13th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Euronews Poland and Sweden are the only EU countries to have not yet passed their COVID19 peak the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC flagged on Thursday. The initial wave of transmission has passed its peak in all countries apart from Poland and Sweden the ECDC wrote in its latest rapid risk assessment. https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/12/poland-and-sweden-are-the-only-eu-countries-who-have-not-passed-covid-19-peak-ecdc 12th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Straits Times As scientists worldwide race to develop vaccines and drugs to prevent and treat Covid19 some members of the public have resorted to remedies they see on social media which have no basis in science. Accidental injuries have been reported in some countries where people consumed methanol or snorted disinfectants in the belief that this could prevent infection. There is an urgent need to develop effective and safe drugs against this virus which has wrought havoc around the world. Several existing drugs are now being repurposed and investigated for their antiviral effects. Doing so significantly shortens the notoriously prolonged drug development process. A number of drugs have recently been authorised by health regulatory agencies for the emergency or compassionate treatment of severely ill Covid19 patients. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/repurposing-drugs-for-treatment-of-covid-19 13th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Boston 25 News South Korea South Korea has reported 49 new coronavirus cases. Most most of them are in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area where health authorities have been struggling to slow transmissions linked to entertainment and leisure activities church gatherings and lowincome workers who cant afford to stay home. The figures released Saturday brought national totals to 12051 cases and 277 death https://www.boston25news.com/news/world/latest-maldives/3VFDSM4B4BB6SJCYU3PWNRRFRE/ 12th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Times The research was able to use the staggered introduction of masks in shops and public transport across Germany as a natural experiment to test how effective they were. By looking at new cases in the days that followed the researchers concluded that there is strong and convincing statistical support that the masks strongly reduced the number of incidences. However other scientists cautioned that the findings were still not robust enough to support the widespread use of masks arguing that too many other factors could explain the results. The study published as a discussion paper for the Institute of Labour Economics addresses one of the most controversial areas of science during the pandemic one that has led to a split in opinion among researchers. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/facemasks-shown-to-cut-spread-of-covid-19-9r92zfpb8 12th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

NPR Right now there is only one drug shown by rigorous scientific testing to be helpful for treating COVID19. That drug is the antiviral medication called remdesivir made by Gilead Sciences. But remdesivirs proven benefits are modest reducing hospital stays from 15 to 11 days. So theres an urgent need for better therapies. The good news is that there are some on the horizon. Some are being tested now some will be begin testing soon and others are in the beginning of the pipeline. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/11/873399184/five-coronavirus-treatments-in-development 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Irish Times The European Union has laid out plans to place advance orders for coronavirus vaccines currently under development to ensure supplies for member states. The blocs executive body has proposed that its 27 member states negotiate as a united bloc with pharmaceutical companies and offer upfront financing to speed development and ensure priority access to any successful vaccine. We pay up front a significant part of the investment needed in exchange for a commitment from the pharmaceutical manufacturer to give us a vaccine when is available an EU official explained https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-sets-out-plans-for-advance-orders-of-coronavirus-vaccines-1.4276885#.XuMjKq3V1gw.twitter 11th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Beast Arizona North Carolina California Florida and Texas hit record daily highs of COVID19 infections this week as state public health leaders pleaded with their communities to take the ongoing crisis seriously. But there are few states whose experience of the coronavirus pandemic has shifted more radically in recent weeks than Arkansas. On Friday the state reported that there were 731 new cases a record increase. Those numbers brought the cumulative total there to 11547 of which 3764 were active. At last count 176 people had died from the virus. Even if Arkansas saw its first COVID19 case in Marchand has had its share of superspreader eventsexperts painted a picture of communities there facing the pandemics full fury for the first time. https://www.thedailybeast.com/arkansas-covid-problem-is-just-getting-started-all-of-a-sudden-it-blows-up 14th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters After weeks with almost no new coronavirus infections Beijing has recorded dozens of new cases in recent days all linked to a major wholesale food market raising concerns about a resurgence of the disease. The capital is taking steps to try to halt the outbreak including ramping up testing. On Sunday night Beijing ordered all companies to supervise 14day home quarantine for employees who have visited the Xinfadi market or been in contact with anyone who has done so. A restaurant chain selling traditional Beijing noodles shut down a few outlets after two employees tested positive. There had been almost no new coronavirus cases in the city for almost two months until an infection was reported on June 12 and since then the total number has climbed to 51 including eight reported in the first seven hours of Sunday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cases/china-reports-57-new-confirmed-9-asymptomatic-covid-19-cases-for-june-13-idUSKBN23L01I 14th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times President Jair Bolsonaro hailed hydroxychloroquine as a godsend while he railed against quarantine measures and other best practices undermining the countrys coronavirus response. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/13/world/americas/virus-brazil-bolsonaro-chloroquine.html?smtyp=cur&ampsmid=tw-nytimesworld 13th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

FRANCE 24 A spike in reported coronavirus cases in Polands coal mines has put the country on edge but residents worried about jobs are playing down the health crisis. The issue is particularly sensitive ahead of a hardfought presidential election on June 28 in Poland where miners are still a powerful voting bloc. Dominik Kolorz head of the Solidarity trade union for the Silesian coal basin told AFP he was concerned the increase in virus cases could serve as a pretext for the definitive closure of some mines. https://www.france24.com/en/20200613-virus-mine-closures-stir-unease-in-poland-s-rust-belt 13th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Corriere della Sera New cases of coronavirus have triggered the lockdown in several neighborhoods today. The Xinfadi market and shops have been closed. There is general alarm after seven new cases have tested positive https://www.corriere.it/esteri/20_giugno_13/coronavirusnuovi-casi-cina-quartieri-pechino-lockdown-20e6d728-ad2d-11ea-84a7-c6d5b5b928b0.shtml?cmpid=tbd_224606fcCR&amprefresh_ce-cp 13th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times Botswana brought back a strict coronavirus lockdown in its capital city Gaborone and surrounding areas after the southern African country recorded 12 new cases of the virus a senior health official said late on Friday. Diamondrich Botswana ended a 48day national coronavirus lockdown late last month allowing businesses and schools to reopen under controls but its borders are still closed apart from for returning citizens and imports of essential goods. But Malaki Tshipayagae the countrys director of health services said in a televised announcement that officials had recorded four new imported cases at its borders and eight at a private hospital in Gaborone bringing cumulative cases to 60. https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/12/world/africa/12reuters-health-coronavirus-botswana.html 12th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

UNIAN Health Minister Maksym Stepanov predicts Ukraine may return to previous stages of the coronavirusrelated quarantine as the country has lately seen a surge in COVID19 cases per day which means the return of the respective restrictions. Main criteria include an incidence and the growth that we see along with the number of confirmed cases with symptoms as well as hospital bed occupancy adequate systemic response and medical assistance he told the TV news service TSN. I will give you an example bed occupancy in Kyivs hospitals designated for COVID19 treatment was 35 as of June 1 but its 46 today. Eleven percentage points in 11 days is a lot. https://www.unian.info/society/coronavirus-crisis-ukraine-may-backtrack-as-cases-grow-in-number-11034620.html 12th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Euro Weekly News According to the Catalan Public Health Agency there is a suspected outbreak of coronavirus in the La Garrotxa region in Girona. Reports suggest that as many 31 people in the area have been infected. 20 of those suspected of having the virus work together in a company local to the area. The remaining 11 are their further contacts. It is believed that the outbreak has been caught early and those affected are observing selfisolation in their respective homes. https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/06/12/spain-coronavirus-outbreak-in-girona-being-investigated-by-catalan-authorities/ 12th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Tico Times Costa Ricas efforts to revitalize its economy through domestic tourism have been hampered as the National Emergency Commission CNE declares orange alerts for parts of the country. The alert was issued last week for the cantons of Pococ and Upala and the districts of Peas Blancas Caas Bebedero Las Juntas Los Chiles and La Fortuna. Wednesday the district of Paquera was added to the evergrowing list. Even as the Costa Rica Tourism Board ICT begins to promote domestic vacations the orange alerts have effectively shut down that sector in several tourismheavy towns. Commercial businesses cant open on weekends evening driving is banned and in perhaps the most impactful change affecting domestic tourism hotels largely cannot operate in locations under orange alerts. We are in a phase in which if we stray we could have widespread community transmission but we can still have control of the situation Claudia Rosales a regional director of the Health Ministry explained to San Carlos Digital. https://ticotimes.net/2020/06/12/outbreaks-halt-economic-reactivation-in-parts-of-costa-rica 12th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Thomson Reuters Foundation News Egypt on Friday confirmed 1577 new coronavirus cases the health ministry said the highest daily increase in almost two weeks. In total the Arab worlds most populous country has registered 41303 cases including 1422 deaths the ministry said in a statement. https://news.trust.org/item/20200612212331-thvv9/ 12th Jun 2020