1st Jul 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=385 lockdown_exit

COVID-19: Nearly 2,000 cases linked to Scotland fans watching Euro 2020 games

Sky News Nearly 2000 COVID cases in Scotland have been linked to football fans watching Euro 2020 fixtures. Of the 1991 cases registered by Public Health Scotland PHS twothirds said they had travelled to London to watch England v Scotland on 18 June. The report states that it is working to ensure all public health actions are taken in the close contacts of these Euro 2020 cases. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-nearly-2-000-cases-linked-to-scotland-fans-watching-euro-2020-games-12345619 30th Jun 2021

Virus infections surging in Africa’s vulnerable rural areas

Associated Press Africa has recorded over 5.3 million cases and is experiencing the worst of a wave driven by more contagious and deadlier variants. The continent recorded a 39 increase in new cases in the week from June 1420 according to the World Health Organization. With homesteads spaced far apart few visitors and rare public gatherings rural areas appeared so insulated that they drew some people from cities to escape both infection and economic hardship. It was a dangerous false sense of security. Now a tragedy is unfolding said Dr. Johannes Marisa president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association in Harare. https://apnews.com/article/africa-coronavirus-pandemic-health-666ee34c3587164f76a0bd1262572aea 30th Jun 2021

Indonesia considers broader curbs as coronavirus crisis deepens

Reuters Indonesia is finalising emergency measures aimed at controlling Southeast Asias worst coronavirus epidemic its president said on Wednesday as the country reported record COVID19 cases for the second day this week. President Joko Widodo said authorities were mulling whether to tighten restrictions for one week or two weeks and urged the public to remain vigilant and focus less on the health of the economy. Today it will be finalised because the spike is very high the president better known as Jokowi told a business event referring to the emergency protocols. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesian-president-says-emergency-social-restrictions-be-finalised-wednesday-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

Cambodia sees COVID-19 records as government warns of stricter curbs

Reuters Cambodia on Wednesday reported record daily rises in coronavirus deaths and cases reaching what its government called the red line in its biggest outbreak so far. The Southeast Asian nation reported 27 deaths from COVID19 and 1130 cases on Wednesday. Cambodia successfully contained its outbreaks throughout last year and had among the worlds smallest caseloads but it has been battling to control the spread since its detection of a highly transmissible variant late in February. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/cambodia-sees-covid-19-records-government-warns-stricter-curbs-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

France delays some regional unwinding of COVID restrictions over fourth wave concerns

Reuters Warnings of 4th COVID wave in France by September or October. Unwinding of restrictions delayed in Les Landes. Presence of Delta variant growing in France Average number of new cases up for third consecutive day. France has worlds 9th highest COVID death toll https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-likely-have-fourth-wave-covid-government-adviser-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

North Korea Covid-19 outbreak fears after Kim Jong-un warns of ‘huge crisis’ in ‘antivirus fight’

The Guardian The North Korean leader Kim Jongun has sacked several senior party officials over a grave coronavirus incident that had threatened public safety fuelling speculation that the coronavirus has breached the countrys defences. In neglecting important decisions by the party that called for organisational material and science and technological measures to support prolonged antiepidemic work in face of a global health crisis the officials in charge have caused a grave incident that created a huge crisis for the safety of the country and its people the staterun KCNA news agency quoted Kim as telling a meeting of the ruling partys politburo. KCNA did not explain the nature of the transgressions but analysts believe Kims outburst indicate North Korea is no longer free of Covid19. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/30/north-korea-covid-outbreak-fears-after-kim-jong-un-warns-of-huge-crisis-in-antivirus-fight 30th Jun 2021

COVID-19 rising among children as Indonesia crisis grows

Reuters The number of Indonesian children contracting the coronavirus has almost tripled since May with infant deaths from COVID19 rising sharply as the country suffers its most severe wave of infections so far a senior paediatrician said on Wednesday. Indonesia has been hit by a surge in cases this month with new records on six days since June 21 including a daily high of over 21807 on Wednesday putting pressure on the government to impose tighter measures. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/covid-19-rising-among-children-indonesia-crisis-grows-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

COVID scare reaches Alice Springs, deep in Australia's outback

Reuters The town of Alice Springs in the middle of Australias vast outback wilderness and gateway to UNESCO World Heritagelisted Uluru on Wednesday joined four major cities by locking down to prevent a potential outbreak of the Delta coronavirus variant. In the past few days Sydney Perth Brisbane and Darwin imposed lockdowns though the number of cases recorded daily nationwide were still being counted in tens rather than hundreds. Around one in two Australians are now under stayathome orders with millions of others subjected to movement curbs and mandatory maskwearing amid flareups of the highly contagious strain in several locations. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sydneys-covid-19-cases-rise-four-australian-cities-lockdown-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

Zimbabwe imposes dusk to dawn curfew in new COVID-19 restrictions

Reuters Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday imposed a dusk to dawn curfew banned intercity travel and cut business hours with immediate effect in response to increasing coronavirus infections. The southern Africa nation which has recorded more than 47000 cases since the outbreak last year has seen its 7day average infection rate increasing five times to 727 compared to two weeks ago. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zimbabwe-imposes-dusk-dawn-curfew-new-covid-19-restrictions-2021-06-29/ 30th Jun 2021

COVID-19 cases worsen in Latin America, no end in sight - health agency

Reuters Cases of COVID19 may be declining in North America but in most of Latin America and the Caribbean the end to the coronavirus pandemic remains a distant future the Pan American Health Organization PAHO said on Wednesday. While infections in the United States Canada and Mexico are falling in Latin America and the Caribbean cases are rising and vaccination is lagging badly. Only one in ten people have been fully vaccinated which PAHO director Carissa Etienne called an unacceptable situation. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/covid-19-cases-worsen-latin-america-no-end-sight-says-health-agency-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

U.S. to ship 2.5 million doses of J&J vaccine to Colombia

Reuters The U.S. plans to ship 2.5 million doses of Johnson Johnsons COVID19 vaccine to Colombia the White House said Wednesday. The Colombian presidents office said Monday that U.S. President Joe Biden told President Ivan Duque of the donation in a call during which they also discussed reactivating the economy jobs climate change and shared democratic values and human rights. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-ship-25-million-doses-jj-vaccine-columbia-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

World Bank says will boost financing for COVID-19 vaccines to $20 billion

Reuters The World Bank on Wednesday pledged to boost available funding for COVID19 vaccine purchases and deployment to 20 billion from a previous target of 12 billion citing a sharp increase in overall financing demand from developing countries. World Bank President David Malpass said the global development bank had already provided more than 4 billion to 51 developing countries for the purchase and deployment of COVID19 vaccines and would add billions for 25 more countries soon. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/world-bank-says-will-boost-financing-covid-19-vaccines-20-billion-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

Virus infections surging in Africa's vulnerable rural areas

The Associated Press For Pelagia Bvukura who lives in a rural part of northcentral Zimbabwe COVID19 had always been a city disease affecting those in the capital Harare or other distant big towns. There was no virus for us. We only used to hear it was in Harare or other towns or when city people died and we buried them here she said recently referring to the custom in Zimbabwe where those who move to the city often are buried at their familys rural home. https://apnews.com/article/africa-coronavirus-pandemic-health-666ee34c3587164f76a0bd1262572aea 30th Jun 2021

Britain starts planning for vaccine booster shots from September

Reuters UK Britain is starting to plan for a COVID19 vaccine booster campaign starting later this year after top vaccine advisers said it might be necessary to give third shots to the elderly and most vulnerable from September. The government said that a final decision on whether a vaccine booster campaign was needed had not been made but officials had advised that preparations should begin on a precautionary basis. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-starts-planning-vaccine-booster-shots-september-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

Australia Covid: Queensland says Pfizer vaccine supply will run out in days

The Guardian The Australian state of Queensland has just eight days of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine left authorities warned on Wednesday as confusion over who should receive the AstraZeneca jab continued and outbreaks across the country grew. The states health minister Dr Yvette Dath said the federal government had denied Queenslands request for more doses of the Pfizer vaccine despite having given another state Victoria 100000 doses three weeks ago. So we are getting to that point that well have to start prioritising only second doses if the commonwealth do not have any vaccine left she said. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/30/australia-covid-queensland-says-pfizer-vaccine-supply-will-run-out-in-days 30th Jun 2021

Thailand buys 5 mln doses of Moderna coronavirus vaccine

Reuters Thailand said on Wednesday it would import nearly four million doses of Modernas mRNA coronavirus vaccine towards the end of this year and a further one million in early 2022 for use by private hospitals. Thailands vaccinations strategy so far has relied heavily on the viral vector vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca and Sinovac Biotechs inactivated COVID19 vaccine. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization in a statement said 3.9 million doses of the Moderna vaccine would be delivered in the fourth quarter and 1.1 million doses in the first quarter of 2022. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-thailand/update-1-thailand-buys-5-mln-doses-of-moderna-coronavirus-vaccine-idUSL2N2OC0OO 30th Jun 2021

Jabs stockpiled for ‘mix and match’ vaccine boosters later this year to help UK live with Covid-19

iNews.co.uk Ministers and the NHS are ramping up preparations for a potential mix and match booster vaccination programme in the autumn following growing evidence that giving people a new vaccine may produce extra protection against Covid19. Research published this week suggested that mixing doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines may be more effective than sticking to just AstraZeneca. However the scientist leading the study said it was too early to decide the optimal future strategy and the new Health Secretary Sajid Javid is awaiting more evidence before he makes a decision. https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/uk-ramps-up-preparations-for-mix-and-match-vaccine-boosters-later-this-year-after-promising-data-1077939?ito=social_itw_theipaper 30th Jun 2021

Vaccine Mandates Are Coming. Good

The New York Times Today vaccination rates are stalling in many areas of the United States and now nearly all Covid19 deaths are among the unvaccinated. In Indiana where I live only half of people 18 or older are fully vaccinated. Some states including neighboring Ohio have engaged in lotteries or prize giveaways in an attempt to entice people to get vaccinated. Those are carrots or positive behavioral nudges. When it comes to incentives most people like carrots. Sometimes though people need sticks. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/28/opinion/covid-vaccine-mandate.html?smid=tw-share 28th Jun 2021

Covid-19 passports to go live in Northern Ireland 'from next week'

Digital Health Covid19 vaccination passports could be available in Northern Ireland from as early as next week. Northern Irelands Department of Health announced the passes could be live by Monday July 5 ahead of the previously expected July 19 date. The Covid passport allows people to prove theyve had both jabs when travelling abroad. The passports are planned to go live by next week providing cyber security checks are cleared successfully according to a statement from the NI government. https://www.digitalhealth.net/2021/06/covid-19-passports-to-go-live-in-northern-ireland-from-next-week/ 30th Jun 2021

S.Korean capital delays relaxation of social distancing as COVID-19 cases surge

Reuters South Koreas capital Seoul and its neighbouring regions will delay by a week the relaxation of social distancing rules due to a sudden increase in COVID19 cases authorities said. The government had said it would relax social distancing and allow private gatherings of up to six people in the greater Seoul area from the current four starting July 1 as the countrys inoculation drive has been picking up speed https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorean-capital-delays-relaxation-social-distancing-covid-19-cases-surge-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

Brazil suspends Covid-19 vaccine deal with Indian firm amid allegations of contract irregularities

CNN Despite a desperate need for Covid19 vaccines Brazil is suspending a deal to purchase 20 million doses of the Indianmade Covaxin vaccines the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday after questions were raised about a pricing increase. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/30/americas/brazil-india-covid-vaccines-deal-intl/index.html 30th Jun 2021

Tuskegee relatives promote COVID-19 vaccines in ad campaign

Associated Press Tuskegee is the oneword answer some people give as a reason theyre avoiding COVID19 vaccines. A new ad campaign launched Wednesday with relatives of men who unwittingly became part of the infamous experiment wants to change minds. Omar Neal 63 a former mayor of the Alabama town said he was hesitant at first about the shots. Neal is a nephew of Freddie Lee Tyson a family man who was among several hundred Black men who decades ago became involved without their consent in the federally backed syphilis study. Neal said he agreed to appear in the national campaign after doing research to gain confidence in the vaccines. https://apnews.com/article/business-race-and-ethnicity-coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-ad199c154848ad253d144d68128905b9 30th Jun 2021

As Covid Rages, Putin Pushes Russians to Get a (Russian) Vaccine

The New York Times President Vladimir V. Putin urged Russians to get vaccinated against the coronavirus on Wednesday his most extensive comments on the matter yet as his country scrambles to contain a vicious new wave of the illness. Speaking at his annual televised callin show Mr. Putin spent the opening halfhour trying to convince Russians to get one of the countrys four domestically produced shots. It was the latest instance of a marked change in tone about the pandemic from Russian officials who for months did little to push a vaccinewary public to get immunized but are now starting to make vaccination mandatory for some groups. Its dangerous dangerous to your life Mr. Putin said of Covid19. The vaccine is not dangerous. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/30/world/europe/coronavirus-putin-russia-vaccine.html 30th Jun 2021

Covid-19: GP staff have faced threats and abuse during vaccination programme, poll finds

The BMJ Over half 52 of GP practice staff have received threats of physical abuse while working on the covid19 vaccination programme a survey has found. The poll of 222 GP practice staff by the Medical Protection Society MPS also found that over half 53 of staff said that their surgery or vaccination centre had been defaced by antivaccination material. The survey included GPs nurses and practice managers at surgeries in the UK. One respondent said Staff of all disciplines are leaving the profession in droves because of the behaviour of the public creating unbearable working situations. Morale is the lowest I have ever known anyone near retirement is retiring early. Another said Abuseespecially written and posted in the prescription box on the gatehas resulted in staff being very concerned for their safety at the surgery. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1665 30th Jun 2021

Variant surge at border forces Bangladesh into new lockdown

The Associated Press In a staterun hospital near Bangladeshs border with India Shahinul Islam prays his father does not become one of the facilitys more than 300 patients whove died this month from the coronavirus. Hundreds like his father are struggling to breathe in the COVID19 treatment unit while Islam waits in an emergency room packed with people. Relatives rush in and out desperately trying to find oxygen cylinders for their loved ones. The crowds of COVID19 patients and worried kin are new scenes for the 1200bed Rajshahi Medical College Hospital which serves border communities being overrun by the more infectious delta variant first detected in neighboring India. https://apnews.com/article/bangladesh-coronavirus-pandemic-health-952f4e0a5e769cc331daaf25d0c3d767 30th Jun 2021

Bangladesh to deploy army in lockdown to curb COVID-19 surge

Reuters Bangladesh is deploying army troops from Thursday to enforce a strict lockdown amid a record spike in coronavirus cases driven by the Delta variant first detected in India the government said on Wednesday. Most restrictions imposed as part of a strict lockdown introduced in April have since been lifted but a record spike in cases this week of the highly contagious Delta variant has prompted the government to order a week of tight controls. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-deploy-army-lockdown-curb-covid-19-surge-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

Heart inflammation after COVID-19 shots higher than expected in study of U.S. military

Reuters Members of the U.S. military who were vaccinated against COVID19 showed higherthanexpected rates of heart inflammation although the condition was still extremely rare according to a study released on Tuesday. The study found that 23 previously healthy males with an average age of 25 complained of chest pain within four days of receiving a COVID19 shot. The incident rate was higher than some previous estimates would have anticipated it said. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/heart-inflammation-after-covid-19-shots-higher-than-expected-study-us-military-2021-06-29/ 30th Jun 2021

Iran launches 2nd domestic COVID-19 vaccine

Xinhua Iranian Health Ministry has authorized the emergency use of the second domestic COVID19 vaccine the Pasteur Vaccine semiofficial Tasnim News Agency reported Wednesday quoting Health Minister Saeed Namaki. Iran on Wednesday reported 11748 new COVID19 cases raising the countrys total infections to 3204557. The pandemic has so far claimed 84264 lives in Iran up by 137 in the past 24 hours the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education said. A total of 2876828 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country while 3183 remain in intensive care units according to the ministry. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-06/30/c_1310036523.htm 30th Jun 2021

Coronavirus vaccines are widely available in the U.S. So why are scientists working on new ones?

The Washington Post As the United States begins to relax and revert to normal this summer Izabela Ragan wont stop working. For the next seven months the scientist will drive from her home in the Rocky Mountains to a warren of secure biocontainment laboratories nestled next to the foothills to test an experimental coronavirus vaccine. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/06/30/new-coronavirus-vaccines/ 30th Jun 2021

CureVac COVID-19 vaccine records only 48% efficacy in final trial readout

Reuters CureVac said its COVID19 vaccine was 48 effective in the final analysis of its pivotal mass trial only marginally better than the 47 reported after an initial readout two weeks ago. The German biotech firm said that efficacy measured by preventing symptomatic disease was slightly better at 53 when excluding trial participants older than 60 years an age group that is by far the most severely affected. CureVac said on June 16 its COVID19 vaccine known as CVnCoV proved only 47 effective in an initial trial readout and that new variants had proved a headwind denting investor confidence in its ability to take on rival shots. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/curevac-covid-19-vaccine-records-only-48-efficacy-final-trial-readout-2021-06-30/ 30th Jun 2021

C.D.C. Director Reaffirms the Vaccinated Don’t Need Masks Most of Time

New York Times The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday stood by advice that people fully vaccinated against the coronavirus do not need to wear masks in most situations but added that there are instances where local authorities might impose more stringent measures to protect the unvaccinated. The comments came after the World Health Organization recently reiterated longstanding guidance that everyone vaccinated or not wear masks and take other precautions following a global surge in infections of the highly contagious Delta variant. On Monday Los Angeles County recommended that even fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/30/world/cdc-mask-guidance.html 30th Jun 2021

Australian Officials Split Over AstraZeneca Vaccine Advice

The New York Times A rift has emerged between Australias federal government state leaders and medical groups over vaccination advice with several officials issuing public objections to Prime Minister Scott Morrisons decision to make the AstraZeneca vaccine available to those under 40. Australias vaccine advisory body has recommended that people under 60 should be vaccinated with the Pfizer shot because the AstraZeneca vaccine is associated with a very small risk of a serious bloodclotting disorder. But the countrys vaccination campaign was initially planned around AstraZeneca and supplies of other shots are so far relatively constrained with Pfizer appointments not yet open to most people under 40. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/30/world/australia/australia-astrazeneca-vaccine.html 30th Jun 2021

Delta Variant’s Spread Prompts Reconsideration of Mask Guidance

The New York Times Throughout the pandemic masks have ranked among the most contentious public health measures in the United States symbolizing a bitter partisan divide over the role of government and individual liberties. Now with a new variant of the coronavirus rapidly spreading across the globe masks are again the focus of conflicting views and fears about the course of pandemic and the restrictions required to manage it. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/29/health/coronavirus-delta-variant-masks.html 30th Jun 2021

CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine safe for children as young as three

HealthEuropa A clinical trial has proven that the CoronaVac COVID19 vaccine is safe for children and adolescents aged between three to 17. The CoronaVac vaccine which is manufactured by Sinovac has recently been approved for emergency use in China for children over the age of three. In a randomised controlled trial of the vaccine researchers concluded that two doses of the vaccine are safe and generate a strong antibody response. The findings have been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. https://www.healtheuropa.eu/coronavac-covid-19-vaccine-safe-for-children-as-young-as-three/109559/ 30th Jun 2021