11th May 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=313 lockdown_exit

WHO names B1617 fourth COVID-19 variant of concern

CIDRAP Top World Health Organization WHO officials today said the agency now classifies the B1617 SARSCoV2 variant first detected in India as a variant of concern following a detailed analysis of early findings by its genetics working group which said the variant is more transmissible. In other key global developments during a Global Citizens Vax Live concert over the weekend countries corporations and charities raised more than 60 million for the COVAX program to ensure more equitable access to COVID19 vaccine while Indias massive surge remained at record high levels. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/05/who-names-b1617-fourth-covid-19-variant-concern 10th May 2021

The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has mutated more than 6600 times

The Straits Times The SarsCoV2 virus that sparked the Covid19 pandemic has undergone more than 6600 unique spike protein mutations said Dr Sebastian MaurerStroh executive director of the Bioinformatics Institute at the Agency for Science Technology and Research AStar. Viruses mutate whenever there is a mistake in the replication process. This could result from an addition a deletion or a change to its genetic code. If that mistake increases its survival prospects more copies of that wrong replication will survive and sometimes overwhelm the original version. For example the D614G mutation which started to rise sharply in February last year is now found in all samples of the virus no matter which variant they are. Because this variant became so pervasive it was given a clade name or family group of its own and is designated as G clade. The World Health Organisation WHO says that while the G clade has increased infectivity and transmission the illness it causes is not more severe nor does it affect diagnostics treatment or vaccines. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/the-coronavirus-that-causes-covid-19-has-mutated-more-than-6600-times 10th May 2021

Argentina confirms first cases of COVID-19 variants from India, South Africa

Reuters Argentinas Health Ministry on Monday confirmed its first cases of the more contagious COVID19 variants discovered in India and South Africa in three travelers returning to the South American country from Europe. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentina-confirms-first-cases-covid-19-variants-india-south-africa-2021-05-10/ 10th May 2021

COVID-19: Experts call on UK to back intellectual property waiver on coronavirus vaccines

Sky News More than 400 academics politicians charities faith leaders and others have called on the British prime minister to waive vaccine patents. The move comes just days after the US announced it is backing the proposed waiver a move described by the World Health Organisations directorgeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as monumental. In an open letter organised by Global Justice Now StopAIDS and Just Treatment the group called on Boris Johnson to stand on the right side of history. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-experts-call-on-uk-to-back-intellectual-property-waiver-on-coronavirus-vaccines-12302294 10th May 2021

Will a waiver work? Don't expect COVID-19 vaccine patents to lift quickly, if ever, analysts say

Fierce Pharma When the Biden administration unveiled its support for waiving patent protections for COVID19 vaccines the tremors were felt worldwide. But less than a week later the shock and awe has subsided and cooler heads are questioning whether the move would have an effect at all. With existing vaccine producers ramping up supplies significantly and tough negotiations ahead to make the World Trade Organization WTO waiver a reality can the initiative reach the finish line in time to make a difference https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/don-t-expect-lifting-covid-19-vaccine-patents-to-happen-quickly-if-at-all-analysts 10th May 2021

What’s behind the disagreement over COVID-19 vaccine waiver?

AlJazeera Almost everyone agrees one way to beat the pandemic is to increase global vaccine production. But world leaders differ on how to give more access to poor nations that lack doses. The United States has supported suspending intellectual property rights on vaccines. That could allow developing nations to acquire the knowledge needed to produce jabs locally. https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2021/5/10/whats-behind-the-disagreement-over-covid-19-vaccine-waiver 10th May 2021

Send coronavirus vaccines abroad now most vulnerable are inoculated, says Professor Andrew Pollard

The Times Countries like the UK which have vaccinated the vast majority of their vulnerable population against the coronavirus should rethink their priorities and send available doses to other parts of the world a vaccination expert said. Professor Andrew Pollard head of the Oxford University vaccine group told the BBC that around 30000 people worldwide would die from Covid19 today with the total by the end of the month set to be just shy of a million deaths. History will not look kindly on us if a million people die this month and we havent acted he said. Countries that have now vaccinated the vast majority of the vulnerable need to be rethinking priorities. We are in a very joined up global community and just cant stand by and see that level of catastrophe happen. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/send-coronavirus-vaccines-abroad-now-most-vulnerable-are-inoculated-says-professor-andrew-pollard-rqv6kt3q9 10th May 2021

In India’s northeast there’s fear of a virus surge to come

The Associated Press With experts saying the coronavirus is likely spreading in Indias northeastern state of Assam faster than anywhere else in the country authorities were preparing Monday for a surge in infections by converting a massive stadium and a university into hospitals. Cases in Assam started ticking upward a month ago and the official sevenday weekly average in the state on May 9 stood at more than 4700 cases. But a model run by the University of Michigan which predicts the current spread of cases before they are actually detected says infections in Assam are likely occurring as fast as any other place in the country. https://apnews.com/article/india-science-coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-a8f84336cc5de2e729ba848f75728837 10th May 2021

France detects 20 cases of Indian COVID variant: Health minister

AlJazeera The coronavirus variant first detected in India appears to be on the rise in France which has now recorded at least 20 cases according to the countrys health minister. On Monday Olivier Veran told French news channel LCI that people affected had been identified in five small clusters local media reported. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/10/france-records-20-cases-of-indian-covid-19-variant 10th May 2021

‘Mumbai model’: Indian city thwarting COVID, slowly but steadily

AlJazeera Till the end of last month 27yearold Ashish Avhad had to field nonstop telephone calls from COVID patients seeking beds ambulances and guidance on home isolation. Avhad works as a telephone operator in one of the 24 COVID response war rooms in Indias financial capital Mumbai home to more than 12.5 million people in the western state of Maharashtra. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/10/mumbai-model-indian-city-thwarting-covid-slowly-but-steadily 10th May 2021

India turns to ex-army medics as COVID surge sparks calls for lockdown

Reuters India India will recruit hundreds of former army medics to support its overwhelmed healthcare system the defence ministry said on Sunday as the country grapples with record COVID19 infections and deaths amid calls for a complete nationwide lockdown. Some 400 medical officers are expected to serve on contract for a maximum of 11 months the ministry said in a press release adding that other defence doctors had also been contacted for online consultations. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-covid-19-cases-rise-by-over-400000-despite-state-lockdowns-2021-05-09/ 10th May 2021

Dr. Fauci urged India to impose a national lockdown as its COVID-19 crisis worsens. So far, Prime Minister Modi has refused.

Business Insider on MSN.com India has been experiencing a surge in COVID19 cases for weeks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refused to put a national lockdown in place. Dr. Anthony Fauci and others have said a lockdown could prevent the spread of the virus. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dr-fauci-urged-india-to-impose-a-national-lockdown-as-its-covid-19-crisis-worsens-so-far-prime-minister-modi-has-refused/ar-BB1gzkwX 10th May 2021

COVID-19: Police raid Indian hospital and accuse doctors of 'false scaremongering' over low oxygen supplies

Sky News A small private hospital in Indias most populous state is being charged under the National Security Act for sounding the alarm over a lack of oxygen. The director of the Sun Hospital in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh told Sky News he faced being arrested at any time and his business seized after the police laid charges against him. Akilesh Pandey who owns and runs the hospital in the states capital said four of his patients died on a single day when oxygen ran out. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-police-raid-indian-hospital-and-accuse-doctors-of-false-scare-mongering-over-low-oxygen-supplies-12301696 10th May 2021

Brazil to spend an extra $1 bln on producing, acquiring COVID-19 vaccines

Reuters Brazils government will direct an extra 5.5 billion reais 1.05 billion of federal spending towards the production supply and distribution of COVID19 vaccines President Jair Bolsonaros office said in a statement on Monday. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-spend-an-extra-1-bln-producing-acquiring-covid-19-vaccines-2021-05-10/ 10th May 2021

Norway advised to drop Oxford/AstraZeneca and J&J from vaccine program

POLITICO Europe Norways expert committee on vaccination advised the government on Monday to use neither the OxfordAstraZeneca nor the Johnson Johnson jab for its immunization drive. The decision is based on the reports of rare blood clots with low platelets but also takes into consideration the stable and low case count in Norway which makes the supply situation less urgent wrote the committee in its report. Separately the Norwegian Institute of Public Health cited similar evidence Monday in its recommendation that also called for the JJ jab to not be administered. The institute previously recommended against including the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine. https://www.politico.eu/article/norway-advised-to-drop-both-oxford-astrazeneca-and-jj-from-vaccine-program/ 10th May 2021

Japan ramps up vaccine distribution amid COVID-19 surge

The Japan Times Japan accelerated on Monday its rollout of coronavirus vaccines with the aim of completely inoculating all people age 65 or older by the end of July amid a fourth wave of infections. Over the next two weeks starting Monday the government will send vaccines to municipalities to administer shots to over 9 million people covering a quarter of the nations population age 65 or over of about 36 million and plans to distribute vaccines for the entire population of such people by the end of June. Japan lags behind other advanced countries in its vaccine rollout with only some 240000 of older people having received the first of two shots as of Thursday https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/10/national/vaccine-rollout/ 10th May 2021

In about a dozen countries, not even health care workers can get COVID-19 vaccines

Yahoo News UK There are nearly a dozen countries that have yet to receive a single COVID19 vaccine dose including Chad Burkina Faso Burundi Eritrea and Tanzania. Delays and shortages of vaccine supplies are driving African countries to slip further behind the rest of the world in the COVID19 vaccine rollout and the continent now accounts for only 1 percent of the vaccines administered worldwide the World Health Organization said last week. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dozen-countries-not-even-health-041500895.html 10th May 2021

Germany to make J&J's COVID-19 vaccine available to all adults

Reuters Germany is to make Johnson Johnsons COVID19 vaccine available to all adults Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Monday adding that they will be able to receive the shot on the advice of a doctor. Europes drug regulator backed JJs vaccine last month after examining cases of a rare blood clotting issue in U.S. adults who received a dose. But it left it up to the European Unions member states to decide how to use it. Germanys move to offer the JJ singledose vaccine widely follows the lifting of restrictions last week on the AstraZeneca vaccine. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-make-jjs-covid-19-vaccine-available-all-adults-2021-05-10/ 10th May 2021

CVS, Walgreens Are America's Epicenters For COVID-19 Vaccine Waste

NPR NPRs Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with reporter Joshua Eaton about the two pharmacy chains accounting for the majority of wasted COVID19 vaccines according to reporting from Kaiser Health News. The findings are based on CDC data and show that those two companies are responsible for more wasted vaccines than federal state and local government agencies combined. https://www.npr.org/2021/05/09/995264941/cvs-walgreens-are-americas-epicenters-for-covid-19-vaccine-waste 10th May 2021

Why the world’s most vaccinated country is seeing a surge in coronavirus cases

The Independent As the Seychelles began to offer free coronavirus vaccinations early this year president Wavel Ramkalawan told reporters that the country was planning to reach herd immunity within weeks. It was an ambitious target for a small geographically isolated island nation in the Indian Ocean. But with its economy heavily reliant on tourism the country called in favors to attain a vaccine supply from regional allies including India and the United Arab Emirates. The effort initially seemed to be a success. The Seychelles stands as the most vaccinated nation on Earth with more than 60 percent of its population fully vaccinated more than other vaccine giants such as Israel and Britain and almost twice the United States rate of vaccination. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/covid-cases-surge-seychelles-vaccine-b1844442.html 10th May 2021

Florida reports more than 10,000 COVID-19 variant cases, surge after spring break

ABC News Variant COVID19 infections skyrocketed following spring break in Florida and there have been more than 10000 variant cases reported throughout the state the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported based on data from the Florida Department of Health. A total of 753 variant cases from three strains the B.1.1.7 the P.1 and the B. 1.3.5.1. were reported on March 14 according to variant infection data shared with ABC News. The Florida Department of Health does not disclose variant cases on its public dashboard. That number swelled to 5177 cases from five types of variants on April 15. Just two weeks later the number of variant infections exploded to 9248 on April 27 according to local ABC affiliate WFTV. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/florida-reports-10000-covid-19-variant-cases-surge/story?id=77553100 10th May 2021

Rise in COVID cases drives Singapore back to stricter measures

AlJazeera Singapore the Asian citystate that has been among the worlds best at containing the Covid19 pandemic is back on the defensive reimposing local restrictions and tightening its borders amid a pop in cases. With infections in the community sometimes reaching double digits among a population of 5.7 million the government last week started limiting social gatherings curbed entry for most foreign workers and ordered mass testing across industries and areas where new cases have arisen. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/10/ba-rise-in-covid-cases-drives-singapore-back-to-stricter-measures 10th May 2021

Malaysia declares nationwide lockdown as COVID-19 cases spike

Reuters Malaysia on Monday imposed a new nationwide lockdown as the country grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases and highly infectious variants that the government said are testing its health system. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said all interstate and interdistrict travel will be banned along with social gatherings. Educational institutions will be shut but economic sectors will be allowed to continue Muhyiddin said without elaborating. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/malaysia-declares-nationwide-lockdown-covid-19-cases-spike-2021-05-10/ 10th May 2021

COVID-19 Lays Bare the Price of Populism

The Atlantic As populism has experienced a resurgence in recent years many have focused on the hazards the ideology poses to democratic systems. But todays complex and highly technical global threatspandemics climate change cyberattacks financial crisesthat demand technocratic solutions have driven home a grim reality Populism can place us all at risk. In 2018 a burst of anger over government corruption propelled a populist politician named Jair Bolsonaro to Brazils presidency. Brazil which is currently suffering from one of the worlds worst coronavirus outbreaks is a prime example of how populist governance in one country can threaten the whole world. If the way out of the pandemic is through science in the form of mass vaccination and other containment measures the corollary is also true The way we remain mired in it is in large part through the kind of antiscience worldview that populists frequently champion. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/05/covid-19-lays-bare-price-populism/618838/ 10th May 2021

US may be turning a corner on Covid-19. Here's when we could see cases and deaths plummet, expert says

CNN While the pace of Covid19 vaccinations may be slowing in the US experts are optimistic about where the country will be in just a matter of weeks. This summer is going to seem so much closer to normal than weve had in a very long time Dr. Jonathan Reiner professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University told CNN on Sunday. The key statistic to think about is ... what percentage of the adult population has received at least one vaccination. Roughly 58 of US adults and nearly 46 of the countrys total population have received at least one Covid19 vaccine dose according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 34 of the US population is fully vaccinated CDC data shows. https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/10/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html 10th May 2021

BioNTech: Covid-19 Vaccine Does Not Need Any Changes To Protect Against Variants

Forbes BioNTech which codeveloped its Covid19 vaccine with Pfizer said on Monday that its shots do not require any new adaptations to protect against new emerging variants of the coronavirus echoing two recently concluded studies showing that the mRNA shot offered robust protection against the more infectious variants that first emerged in the U.K. and Brazil. https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/05/10/biontech-covid-19-vaccine-does-not-need-any-changes-to-protect-against-variants/ 10th May 2021

Novavax combined influenza/COVID-19 vaccine shows promise in animal study

Reuters Novavax Inc said on Monday its combined flu and COVID19 vaccine produced functional antibodies against influenza and the coronavirus in a preclinical study. The company said the NanoFluNVXCoV2373 vaccine elicited robust responses to both influenza A and B and protected against the SARSCoV2 virus. Seasonal influenza and COVID19 combination vaccines will likely be critical to combating emerging COVID19 variants said Russell Wilson the executive vice president and NanoFlu general manager of Novavax. Hamsters that received the combined vaccine had heightened levels of COVID19 antibodies two weeks after the first immunization which increased significantly after a second dose compared to animals that received the COVID19 vaccine NVXCoV2373 alone the company said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-novavax/novavax-combined-influenza-covid-19-vaccine-shows-promise-in-animal-study-idUSKBN2CR1CE 10th May 2021

Inovio to start global late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trial this summer

Reuters Inovio Pharmaceuticals plans to begin a global latestage trial of its COVID19 vaccine candidate this summer the company said on Monday a month after the U.S. government pulled the funding for further studies of the drug. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/inovio-start-global-late-stage-covid-19-vaccine-trial-this-summer-2021-05-10/ 10th May 2021

U.S. authorizes Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine for children 12 to 15

U.S. News & World Report U.S. regulators on Monday authorized Pfizer and BioNTechs COVID19 vaccine for use in children as young as 12 widening the countrys inoculation program as vaccination rates have slowed significantly. https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2021-05-10/us-authorizes-pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-for-children-12-to-15 10th May 2021

Coronavirus: SAGE warns Britain's next 'wave' will start after May 17 rule-change

Daily Mail SAGE files published tonight show that Covid cases will start rising again from next week in England. Scientists are certain this will happen as lockdown rules are loosened but are more optimistic than previously. They firmly believe vaccines will keep rates of severe disease hospital admission and death low. But they warn a new vaccineresistant variant is the number one threat and could lead to another lockdown https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9563215/Coronavirus-SAGE-warns-Britains-wave-start-17-rule-change.html 10th May 2021

BioNTech, Fosun Pharma eye 1B doses of COVID-19 vaccine capacity with new China JV

FiercePharma As BioNTech makes inroads with its COVID19 vaccine in Western countries under a partnership with Pfizer the German biotech is bringing its work in China to the next level as the shot nears a local approval. BioNTech and Fosun Pharma is setting up a 5050 joint venture to make and sell the COVID mRNA shot in China with manufacturing capacity to produce up to 1 billion doses a year Fosun said in a filing PDF to the Hong Kong Exchange on Sunday. The news came as the pair expects a Chinese approval for the vaccine known as BNT162b2 or Comirnaty by July the latest according to BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahins comment a few days ago and as reported by Reuters. https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/biontech-fosun-pharma-eye-1b-doses-covid-19-vaccine-capacity-new-china-jv 10th May 2021

Researchers fear people of color may be disproportionately affected by long Covid

STAT News Its wellknown now that people of color have shouldered a disproportionate burden in the Covid19 pandemic. Now researchers and clinicians are increasingly concerned that history is repeating itself in the case of long Covid. Long Covid one name for the mysterious multitude of problems that persist after Covid19 infections have cleared affects all populations to some degree it also afflicts people regardless of whether they had mild or even no symptoms or needed ICU care to survive. But researchers and health care clinics fear that the same reasons that caused certain racial and ethnic groups to experience higher infection rates and illness severity may be responsible for driving disparities in the treatment of long Covid. Many vulnerable communities lack access to quality care or face heightened burdens to convince providers that their conditions are real. https://www.statnews.com/2021/05/10/with-long-covid-history-may-be-repeating-itself-among-people-of-color/ 10th May 2021

BioNTech committed to deliver 1.8 bln doses of COVID-19 vaccine this year

Reuters BioNTech SE said on Monday that its order backlog for delivery of COVID19 vaccines this year together with partner Pfizer Inc had grown to 1.8 billion doses underscoring its role as a major global supplier of immunization shots. That was up from 1.4 billion doses announced in March. Based on these delivery contracts the company said it expects about 12.4 billion euros 15.1 billion in revenue from the vaccine this year including sales milestone payments from partners and a share of gross profit in the partners territories up from a previous forecast of 9.8 billion euros. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biontech-committed-deliver-18-bln-doses-covid-19-vaccine-this-year-2021-05-10/ 10th May 2021

COVID-19 patients from Australian ICUs still reporting symptoms six months after infection

ABC News Experts have been tracking the longterm health outcomes of Australians recovering from severe COVID19 disease and early results show roughly two in three people have ongoing issues. The study is being conducted across 30 different hospitals in Australia and is a collaboration between researchers physiotherapists doctors and nursing staff who work in intensive care units ICUs. https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2021-05-10/covid-19-what-we-know-about-the-long-term-impacts-on-body-mind/100113934 10th May 2021

Egypt's Eva Pharma to export COVID-19 drug remdesivir to India

YAHOO!News Egypts Eva Pharma on Monday signed an agreement to provide India with 300000 doses of remdesivir used in the treatment of COVID19 the company said in a statement. The agreement which was signed at the Indian embassy in Cairo is aimed at helping India combat a surge in infections which has overwhelmed the health system and held close to record daily highs on Monday. Eva Pharma a generic drugmaker established in 1997 said in June 2020 it had received a licence from Gilead Sciences Inc to make remdesivir in Egypt and distribute it in 127 countries. The drug targets moderate to severe cases of COVID19 in intensive care who require oxygen. https://news.yahoo.com/egypts-eva-pharma-export-covid-135614344.html 10th May 2021

Coronavirus vaccine passports under consideration in Australia amid international travel hopes

9News.com.au Vaccine passports enabling Australians to travel overseas are not a matter of if but when leading industry experts say. As the countrys coronavirus vaccine rollout ramps up to more than two million doses the door to international travel edges a little closer to reopening. With countries and continents like Europe UK and Canada flagging their intention to introduce a digital vaccine passport system experts say Australia is not far from doing the same. https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-vaccine-passports-under-consideration-in-australia-amid-international-travel-hopes/fb08a220-a201-4214-b488-07ad61e86d83 10th May 2021