3rd Jun 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=346 lockdown_exit

Help vaccinate the world or variants will come back to ‘bite us’ – expert

Evening Standard The UK could be slammed by new coronavirus variants unless more is done to help poorer nations vaccinate their populations an expert has warned. Although vaccines have been effective against the Delta variant first identified in India protection against future variants is not guaranteed forever Professor Sir John Bell said. As the disease rages in other parts of the world new variants could emerge which will come back to bite us the regius professor of medicine at Oxford University warned. He said that if the UK scampers down the rabbit hole every time a new variant emerges the nation will be huddled away for a long time. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/help-government-india-delta-bbc-radio-b938376.html 2nd Jun 2021

Japan’s hosting of Olympics amid COVID pandemic ‘not normal’

AlJazeera Hosting the Olympics during the current state of coronavirus infections in Japan was not normal Japans most senior medical adviser has said in one of the strongest warnings yet about risks from the troubled Games. Doctors have said the Olympics due to start on July 23 after a postponement from last year would strain a healthcare system already seeing record numbers in critical conditions. https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/6/2/japans-hosting-of-olympics-in-pandemic-not-normal-adviser-says 2nd Jun 2021

COVID: Thousands of Indian children orphaned by pandemic

Deutsche Welle The COVID19 pandemic which has devastated families across India has left thousands of children orphaned or without one parent. Since the start of the pandemic more than 1700 children have lost both parents while 140 have been abandoned and more than 7400 have lost one of their parents to the virus according to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights NCPCR. The NCPCR submitted the report to the Supreme Court on Monday detailing the problems of children orphaned during the pandemic and the need to provide them with food shelter and clothing. The northern state of Uttar Pradesh reported 2110 children who were orphaned lost one parent or were abandoned followed by Bihar at 1327 and Kerala at 952 according to government data. Child rights activists believe that this number is likely a significant underestimate. In response Prime Minister Narendra Modis government last week announced measures to help orphaned children with around 1 million rupees 11220 13700 set aside to be given to each child as a stipend from the ages of 18 to 23. The funds would be offered from the PMCARES scheme. https://www.dw.com/en/covid-thousands-of-indian-children-orphaned-by-pandemic/a-57742069 2nd Jun 2021

Amazon starts testing UK staff for coronavirus variants

Reuters UK Amazon is testing its frontline staff in Britain for coronavirus variants and feeding the data to public health officials including in hotspots where a strain first found in India is spreading fast. The retail giant opened COVID19 testing labs in the UK and the United States last year to provide voluntary testing for staff and can now also test for variants in Britain where scientists have pioneered sequencing coronavirus genomes. Aided by a rapid vaccine rollout Britain is on the verge of reopening its economy after months of lockdowns but the Delta variant first found in India has spread including in areas where Amazon has its lab and some fulfilment centres. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/exclusive-amazon-starts-testing-uk-staff-coronavirus-variants-2021-06-02/ 2nd Jun 2021

U.S. global vaccine distribution plan could be announced Thursday -Blinken

Reuters U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that President Joe Biden could announce as early as Thursday details of Washingtons plan for distributing 80 million doses of coronavirus vaccine globally. I want you to know as well that in a few short days ... possibly as early as tomorrow the president is going to announce in more detail the plan that hes put together to push out 80 million vaccines around the world said Blinken at a gathering at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica. Blinken reiterated that the U.S. distribution plan would be coordinated with the COVAX vaccine sharing facility and based on need without any political strings attached. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-global-vaccine-distribution-plan-could-be-announced-thursday-blinken-2021-06-02/ 3rd Jun 2021

Recession and violence among COVID side effects in Africa, report finds

Reuters Much of Africa may have been spared the death toll that COVID19 brought to other regions but it now faces recession growing violence and higher unempoyment because of the pandemic a report said on Wednesday. The global economic shutdown has driven Africa into recession for the first time in 30 years with severe repercussions for unemployment poverty inequalities and food insecurity said the 2021 Ibrahim Forum Report. It was released ahead of the annual conference this weekend of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation which promotes good governance in Africa. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/recession-violence-among-covid-side-effects-africa-report-finds-2021-06-02/ 2nd Jun 2021

Brazil registers almost 100000 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday

Reuters Brazil registered 2507 COVID19 deaths on Wednesday and 95601 additional cases according to data released by the nations Health Ministry. The South American country has now registered 467706 total coronavirus deaths and 16720081 total confirmed cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-registers-almost-100000-new-covid-19-cases-wednesday-2021-05-31/ 2nd Jun 2021

‘A fantastic success’: Vaccines have broken link between Covid infections and hospitalisations, says NHS chief

Evening Standard Britains worldleading vaccine rollout has broken the link between Covid19 infections and deaths an NHS chief has said. Chris Hopson chief executive of NHS Providers stressed that many coronavirus patients needing hospital treatment were now younger so did not need critical care. He told ITVs Good Morning Britain Its all down to vaccines and its a fantastic success story. The NHS has been delighted to play a part linking up with the scientists who developed the vaccines and then ensuring that we get millions of those vaccinations into everybodys arms. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/covid-vaccine-link-cases-and-hospitalisations-nhs-providers-b938337.html?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1622614468-1 2nd Jun 2021

Free beer, other new incentives for Biden’s ‘vaccine sprint’

Associated Press Dangling everything from sports tickets to a free beer President Joe Biden is looking for that extra something anything that will get people to roll up their sleeves for COVID19 shots when the promise of a lifesaving vaccine by itself hasnt been enough. Biden on Wednesday announced a month of action to urge more Americans to get vaccinated before the July 4 holiday including an early summer sprint of incentives and a slew of new steps to ease barriers and make getting shots more appealing to those who havent received them. He is closing in on his goal of getting 70 of adults at least partially vaccinated by Independence Day essential to his aim of returning the nation to something approaching a prepandemic sense of normalcy this summer. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-government-and-politics-health-8168ae1c68ca955b620082d862c911ad 2nd Jun 2021

Biden announces month-long COVID-19 vaccine push

CIDRAP Today President Joe Biden announced a monthlong vaccine push aimed at Americans under the age of 40 in an effort to vaccinate 70 of American adults with at least one dose of COVID19 vaccine by Jul 4. If you get a shot this week you can be fully vaccinated by July 4 and celebrate independence from the virus Biden said today during a news conference. We need everyone to pull together to get us over the finish line. Getting to the finish line will protect Americans from another wave of illness and death in the fall Biden said while announcing five initiatives the federal government is taking in June to increase vaccine uptake amount young Americans and minorities. Among the initiatives is Shots in Shops which will turn barber and beauty shops in predominantly Black neighborhoods into vaccine sites. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/06/biden-announces-month-long-covid-19-vaccine-push 2nd Jun 2021

Too risky to lift French COVID restrictions more quickly than planned - government spokesman

Reuters It is too risky to lift Frances COVID19 restrictions more quickly than planned since some regions are showing a big jump in COVID cases said French government spokesman Gabriel Attal. Attal said that even though the national picture showed a steady decline in Frances overall COVID cases and deaths regions such as the PyreneesAtlantique area close to Spain and the NouvelleAquitaine area which houses the major city of Bordeaux were showing a weekly increase in COVID numbers. The pressure on Frances hospital system has been gradually easing over the last two months after France ended its third national lockdown in May. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-covid-cases-up-sharply-several-local-areas-government-spokesman-2021-06-02/ 2nd Jun 2021

A COVID-19 Vaccine Could Get West Virginians Cash, Guns Or Trips

NPR West Virginia is giving its vaccine incentive program a boost to get more residents immunized from the coronavirus Gov. Jim Justice announced on Tuesday. All residents who get a COVID19 vaccine will be enrolled in the chance to win a college scholarship a trickedout truck or hunting rifles in addition to a 1.588 million grand prize. The program which will run from June 20 through Aug. 4 will be paid for through federal pandemic relief funds. The faster we get people across the finish line the more lives we save. Thats all there is to it Justice said. If the tab just keeps running the cost is enormous. The hospitalizations are enormous. We have to get all of our folks across the finish line. https://www.npr.org/2021/06/02/1002345101/guns-trucks-and-trips-west-virginia-expands-prizes-for-vaccinated-residents 2nd Jun 2021

Japan gives $800M to UN-backed COVID-19 vaccine program

The Independent Japans prime minister announced Wednesday an additional 800 million contribution to the U.N.backed initiative to provide COVID19 vaccines to poor countries a fourfold increase of Japanese funding for the COVAX program. The pledge by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga comes as his government attempts to accelerate vaccinations in Japan one of the worlds least inoculated countries only about 50 days before it hosts the Olympics amid a continuing surge in infections. He spoke as Japan cosponsored a fundraising event for COVAX with Gavi the Vaccine Alliance which helps run the program. The program managers are seeking about 2 billion more to reach a target of 8.3 billion for its effort to fund free vaccines for low and middleincome countries around the world. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/japan-gives-800m-to-unbacked-covid19-vaccine-program-japan-tokyo-scott-morrison-kamala-harris-antonio-guterres-b1858310.html 2nd Jun 2021

Nepal receives 800,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine from China

Business Standard Nepal on Tuesday received a consignment of 800000 doses of COVID19 vaccines from China on grant basis as per the commitment made during talks between Presidents of the two nations. As conveyed by Xi Jinping President of the Peoples Republic of China during the telephone conversation with President Bidya Devi Bhandari on May 26 2021 a consignment of 800000 doses of COVID19 vaccine arrived in Kathmandu today Nepals Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release. China on May 26 announced a grant of 1 million doses of COVID19 vaccines for Nepal. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/nepal-receives-800-000-doses-of-coronavirus-vaccine-from-china-121060200071_1.html 2nd Jun 2021

New Mexico Announces $5 Million Award for Vaccination

The New York Times When the book is written about how states across the country tried to persuade people to get coronavirus vaccines it will not accuse New Mexico of being subtle. On Tuesday Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a lottery program through which the state will award cash prizes totaling 10 million including a 5 million grand prize among the largest single cash awards being offered by any state with a similar program. New Mexicos program is called Vax to the Max. And its website does not downplay the programs key enticement Get Vaccinated for Your Chance to Win the Grand Prize of 5000000 a headline blares. Further down on the website is a large pile of 100 bills. As Governor Grisham wrote on Twitter Register to win And lets keep N.M. safe and healthy https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/01/us/new-Mexico-vaccine-prizes.html 2nd Jun 2021

UK set to buy new Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine designed to protect against South African variant of Covid-19

i on MSN.com Britain is set to buy a new version of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine specifically tailored against the South African variant of coronavirus as local areas step up efforts to protect their population amid a rise in cases. Matt Hancock is planning to announce that the Government is helping to fund clinical trials of a tweaked version of the OxfordAstraZeneca jab which is designed to protect against the South African strain i understands. Although less transmissible than the Indian variant this strain recently renamed Delta is thought to be significantly resistant to the current vaccines. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/uk-set-to-buy-new-oxfordastrazeneca-vaccine-designed-to-protect-against-south-african-variant-of-covid-19/ar-AAKBNtd 2nd Jun 2021

Covid-19: Cummings, Johnson, Hancock, and a maelstrom of avoidable harm

The BMJ Boris Johnsons announcement of a public inquiry into his governments handling of covid19 followed hard on the heels of the news that his former special adviser Dominic Cummings would give evidence against him to the health and science all party select committees.1 The prime minister it seemed was more concerned about how Cummings might damage his reputation than the health of his electorate. Cummings promised a series of revelations damning enough to embarrass any leadership.2 He didnt disappoint and he did more than simply hold court at the hearing where he was an oracle a one man systematic review on every pandemic question the all seeing Eye of Sauron. Whether Cummingss many allegations are correct or not the inescapable conclusion is that the disastrous manner in which the government is run is a major contributor to excess deaths in the UK although Johnson persists with his denials. The public inquiry that was needed a year agoand could be quick and forward looking3is still promised for next year but it is a matter of urgency now https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1404 2nd Jun 2021

Britain hosts G7 health summit amid pressure to broaden COVID vaccine access

Reuters UK Britain will host health ministers from the Group of Seven G7 rich countries in Oxford on Thursday for a twoday summit as pressure intensifies to do more to broaden access to COVID19 vaccines across the world. British foreign minister Dominic Raab has said that equitable access to coronavirus vaccines will be at the top of the agenda when G7 leaders meet next week. But as health ministers gather at the University of Oxford where AstraZenecas COVID19 vaccine was invented charities stressed Britain could do more by supporting a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights of pharmaceutical firms. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-hosts-g7-health-summit-amid-pressure-broaden-covid-vaccine-access-2021-06-02/ 3rd Jun 2021

Australia's Victoria state extends COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne

Reuters Australias Victoria state on Wednesday extended a COVID19 lockdown in state capital Melbourne for another week in a bid to contain the latest virus outbreak but eased restrictions in other regions. The lockdown imposed on May 27 after the state reported its first locally acquired coronavirus cases had been scheduled to end Thursday night. It will now end on June 10. The state reported six new locally acquired cases on Wednesday versus nine a day earlier taking the total infections in the latest outbreak to 60. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/australias-victoria-state-extends-covid-19-lockdown-melbourne-2021-06-02/ 2nd Jun 2021

AstraZeneca starts deliveries of Thailand-made vaccines

The Associated Press AstraZenecas partner in Thailand on Wednesday began its first deliveries of COVID19 vaccines after concerns they were behind on their production schedules for the country and parts of Southeast Asia. Siam Bioscience said the first locally produced AstraZeneca doses were delivered to Thailands Ministry of Health ahead of the June 7 start of the countrys official mass vaccination program. It did not say how many were delivered. AstraZeneca signed with Siam Bioscience last year to be its vaccine production and distribution center in Southeast Asia. It said that the vaccines would be ready for export to other Southeast Asian countries in July. As part of the plan AstraZeneca has to deliver 6 million doses to Thailand in June and 10 million doses monthly from July to November with a final 5 million doses in December. https://apnews.com/article/thailand-coronavirus-vaccine-coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-2bf0cf9f527908b214d32db3092edf89 2nd Jun 2021

Donor summit boosts COVAX funds; nations share doses

CIDRAP The global effort to boost doses of COVID19 vaccine for low and middleincome countries got a major shot in the arm today at a Gavi donor conference netting new pledges totaling 2.4 billion from nearly 40 groups including governments private companies and foundations. In other developments the World Health Organization WHO said yesterday in its weekly snapshot of the pandemic that although cases have dropped for the fifth week in a row some countries across all of its regions are experiencing significant rises. And five nations announced plans to share vaccine doses. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/06/donor-summit-boosts-covax-funds-nations-share-doses 2nd Jun 2021

What makes some COVID-19 variants more contagious than others?

ABC.Net.au The virus that causes COVID19 is evolving with new and more infectious variants taking hold. Last week Victoria entered a sevenday lockdown due to another COVID19 outbreak. That has now been extended for at least another seven days in Melbourne. But what makes this outbreak different from others is the spread of a highly infectious variant that was first detected in India in October last year. https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2021-06-02/what-makes-some-covid-variants-more-contagious-than-others/100179418 2nd Jun 2021

Israel reports link between rare cases of heart inflammation and COVID-19 vaccination in young men

Science Magazine The COVID19 vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech appears to put young men at elevated risk of developing a heart muscle inflammation called myocarditis researchers in Israel say. In a report submitted today to the Israeli Ministry of Health they conclude that between one in 3000 and one in 6000 men ages 16 to 24 who received the vaccine developed the rare condition. But most cases were mild and resolved within a few weeks which is typical for myocarditis. I cant imagine its going to be anything that would cause medical people to say we shouldnt vaccinate kids says Douglas Diekema a pediatrician and bioethicist at Seattle Childrens Hospital. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/06/israel-reports-link-between-rare-cases-heart-inflammation-and-covid-19-vaccination 1st Jun 2021

Moderna to double EU vaccine manufacturing with new Dutch site

POLITICO Europe Moderna will start producing a retooled version of its coronavirus vaccine in the Netherlands doubling the companys expected EU production the company announced today. The new contract inked with the subcontractor Lonza will allow Moderna to make approximately 300 million doses a year starting at the end of 2021. The Dutch site in addition to a drugsubstance site run by Rovi in Spain will allow Moderna to make 600 million doses a year in the EU. Currently the American company doesnt make any drug substance in the EU. Instead it has outsourced its vaccine substance production to Lonzas site in Switzerland to supply the EU U.K. and Canada. But production issues there forced the company to cut projected deliveries to the U.K. and Canada earlier this year. https://www.politico.eu/article/moderna-to-double-eu-vaccine-manufacturing-with-new-dutch-site/ 2nd Jun 2021

Millions of vaccines to be produced at major new Liverpool site

Liverpool Echo The national effort to get flu shots in the arms of vulnerable Brits has received a massive boost after the largest vaccine manufacturing site of its type in the UK started work in Liverpool. Although there has understandably been intense focus on the roll out of the coronavirus vaccine the annual flu vaccination programme is also vitally important to easing winter pressures on the NHS. The highspeed syringe filling and packing facility in Renaissance Way Speke operated by pharmaceutical firm Seqirus will produce more than 50 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine each year with the ability to increase production to 200 million doses in the event of an influenza pandemic. The site now has a highspeed fillandfinish facility which enables starttofinish onshore manufacturing where previously the vaccine would be sent abroad to be put into syringes and packed reports Business Live. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/millions-vaccines-produced-major-new-20723935 2nd Jun 2021

‘Black fungus’ is creating a whole other health emergency for Covid-stricken India

The Guardian Covid19 has killed millions around the world but for some who are lucky enough to survive the infection the nightmare is not over adding insult to injury are deadly fungal infections that follow in the wake of the virus. Making matters worse inequities that long predated the pandemic have left some countries without the capacity to combat these serious infections. In India a fungal infection called mucormycosis has emerged in patients with Covid19. This infection is caused by a group of fungi that are everywhere on the planet. In fact all of us are probably inhaling spores of these fungi every day but these are rapidly controlled by our immune systems. Rarely our defences are breached and the fungus takes hold with devastating consequences. After establishing itself in the nose and sinuses it begins to invade the tissue of the face the jaw the eyes and brain blocking blood flow and causing tissue death. It is the black discoloration of dead tissue that conferred upon this mould its fearsome moniker in the Indian media the black fungus. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/02/black-fungus-covid-india-mucormycosis?utm_term=Autofeed&ampCMP=twt_gu&amputm_medium&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1622615709 2nd Jun 2021

UK reports no new COVID-19 deaths for first time since March 2020

AlJazeera The United Kingdom which has recorded Europes highest coronavirus death toll has announced no new daily COVID19 deaths for the first time since March last year. The milestone reached on Tuesday spurred hope that the impact of the pandemic was easing but concerns simmered over a rise in cases linked to the Delta variant first identified in India. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/2/uk-reports-no-new-covid-19-deaths-for-first-time-since-march-2020 2nd Jun 2021

China's Guangdong tightens coronavirus measures as cases persist

Reuters Cities in Chinas most populous province of Guangdong have locked down compounds and streets and ordered some travellers to furnish negative COVID19 test results as health officials battle to control outbreaks. All 10 of Chinas locally confirmed mainland cases on June 1 were in southern Guangdong the National Health Commission said on Wednesday seven in the provincial capital of Guangzhou and three in the nearby city of Foshan. Chinas manufacturing and export hub and its biggest province by economic output Guangzhou has stepped up coronavirus prevention and control efforts since the latest wave of cases struck in late May. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-24-new-covid-19-cases-cluster-grows-guangzhou-2021-06-02/ 2nd Jun 2021

COVID-19: Ryanair boss calls for holiday travel to EU and US to open up and hits out over coronavirus 'scariants'

Sky News Michael OLeary the outspoken chief executive of Ryanair has said it is absolutely imperative that big tourist destinations such as Greece and Spain be added to the UKs green list at the end of this week. The restrictions should be lifted we should be allowing British families to travel to the US and Europe and also to return without having to complete useless PCR forms for people whove already been vaccinated Mr OLeary told Sky News. But scientists have warned that any increase in international travel could put Britains recovery from COVID19 at risk with the potential for new variants to enter the country as tourists return from less vaccinated countries. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-ryanair-boss-hits-out-over-coronavirus-scariants-and-calls-for-travel-to-eu-and-us-to-be-opened-up-12323072 2nd Jun 2021

Russia's Sputnik Light vaccine approved for use in Mauritius - RDIF

Reuters Russias singledose Sputnik Light vaccine against COVID19 has been approved for use in Mauritius Russias RDIF sovereign wealth fund which markets the shot internationally said on Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/russias-sputnik-light-vaccine-approved-use-mauritius-rdif-2021-06-02/ 2nd Jun 2021