12th Jul 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=399 lockdown_exit

Creator of Oxford vaccine Sarah Gilbert warns vulnerable will have to shield as Covid-19 cases rise

iNews The most vulnerable in the population may have no choice but to restart shielding after the remaining lockdown rules are removed in England on 19 July the creator of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine has warned. The Government has not yet issued updated guidance for how 3.8 million people classed as clinically extremely vulnerable should protect themselves from Covid19 as social distancing and compulsory mask wearing comes to an end. Dame Sarah Gilbert who led the Oxford vaccine team told i In people who have been vaccinated and have had the two doses they will be well protected against disease that is severe enough to put them in hospital and against death. But thats only about half the country have had their two doses so that leaves about half the country I think that havent. https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/creator-oxford-vaccine-sarah-gilbert-warns-vulnerable-will-have-shield-covid-19-cases-rise-1096315 9th Jul 2021

G20 warns of risk to global recovery from virus variants

Reuters Variants vaccine shortfalls raise risksG20. Global tax deal on course for October signing. But US EU hurdles could complicate things. Call for financial stability to be ensured https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/g20-signs-off-tax-crackdown-warns-virus-variants-2021-07-10/ 10th Jul 2021

Opinion | Uganda Did Everything Right on Covid. And the Worst Is Still Here.

The New York Times Early in the pandemic Uganda bought itself precious time at great economic cost to protect its people from Covid19. There were lockdowns international travel was restricted and border screenings were introduced to prevent entry of the coronavirus. Cases of Covid19 identified at borders or in communities were isolated and people who had been in contact with those infected were quarantined and checked on by public health authorities. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/09/opinion/uganda-covid-vaccines.html 10th Jul 2021

Students don't need masks at school if they are fully vaccinated, CDC says

NBC News Fully vaccinated students do not need to wear masks in classrooms this fall the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. The guidance which goes beyond maskwearing is aimed at kindergartners through high school seniors and is meant to help keep kids in classrooms as well as participating in any sports or extracurricular activities said Erin SauberSchatz who heads the CDCs Community Interventions and Critical Populations Task Force. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/students-don-t-need-masks-school-if-they-are-fully-n1273454 9th Jul 2021

U.S. CDC updates school guidance to emphasize in-person learning

Reuters The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC on Friday updated its guidance for U.S. schools reopening in the fall recommending masking indoors for everyone who is not fully vaccinated against COVID19 and three feet of distance within classrooms. The agency said school administrators can require indoor mask use even for students and educators who are vaccinated depending on the needs of the community. Reasons would include schools with children under age 12 who are not currently authorized to receive COVID19 vaccines or high rates of COVID19 transmission in the region. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/cdc-recommends-masking-indoors-unvaccinated-students-teachers-us-schools-2021-07-09/ 10th Jul 2021

All children ‘to be offered flu jab’ amid fears of horror winter

Evening Standard All children in Britain could be offered flu jabs this autumn amid fears that the UK could be facing one of its worst flu seasons in history. Those under the age of 16 as well as over 50s will be included in the rollout alongside millions of others with common health conditions according to the Telegraph. Sources told the paper that vaccinations will be expanded this year to cover all pupils at secondary school making it the biggest immunisation programme on record. Jabs are usually only granted to underfives primary school pupils and those in the first year of secondary school. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/children-flu-jab-season-b944904.html 9th Jul 2021

Native Americans continue to boast highest vaccination rates in the US

The Hill Native Americans have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic dying at higher rates than other populations. Now Native Americans have the highest COVID19 vaccination rate in the United States. After successfully vaccinating much of their own population the Indian Health Service has even begun offering doses to visitors. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/562270-native-americans-continue-to-boast-highest 9th Jul 2021

Oxford told to reduce travel with mass testing for under 30s to slow Covid surge

The Mirror People living in Oxford are being urged to reduce their travel and surge testing is being brought into the city to tackle soaring Covid cases. Mass testing for people under 30s is also being rolled out. As part of the new measures which will come into place on Monday people living in Oxford will also be urged to get the Covid jab. Similar measures have already been introduced across the North West and Bedford and Birmingham. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-oxford-told-reduce-travel-24502245 9th Jul 2021

Covid ‘immunity debt’ sees influx of sick children in New Zealand hospitals

The Independent Immunity debt from Covid19 lockdown is causing an influx of babies with a severe respiratory virus into hospitals in New Zealand it is reported. The phenomenon occurs where people who have not been exposed to normal levels of viruses and bacteria experience a surge in infections as normal life resumes. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/nz-children-covid-immunity-debt-b1880753.html 9th Jul 2021

Public alarm grows at Boris Johnson’s plan for Covid ‘freedom day’

The Guardian Boris Johnson faces a growing revolt over plans to end most Covid restrictions on 19 July including the mandatory wearing of face masks on public transport and in hospitals as half of the public now say they want freedom day to be delayed. Last night as doctors and other NHS workers demanded that maskwearing continue in hospitals regional political leaders broke ranks saying they would override the national government on the issue and strongly advise people to continue wearing masks on public transport. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/10/public-alarm-grows-at-boris-johnsons-plan-for-covid-freedom-day 10th Jul 2021

As the Delta variant spreads, Republican reluctance will mean thousands more deaths

Salon Unfortunately millions of Trumps followers were convinced by his behavior during his last year in office that COVID was not a crisis. No matter what he says today they remain convinced that the virus was a political attack a hoax or simply overblown regardless of the monumental body count. And then theres the relentless disinformation campaign coming from rightwing media. Heres a little taste https://www.salon.com/2021/07/09/as-the-delta-variant-spreads-republican-reluctance-will-mean-thousands-more-deaths/ 9th Jul 2021

Covid passports 'WILL be compulsory in pubs, clubs and restaurants' to prevent fourth wave

Daily Mail The government hopes Covid passports will encourage vaccineshy young people to get jabbed. By September all adults over 18 should have been offered both vaccine doses allowing for the passports. Patrons will need to show proof of either two vaccine doses or a recent negative test under the proposals https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9774653/Covid-passports-compulsory-pubs-clubs-restaurants-prevent-fourth-wave.html 10th Jul 2021

South Africa extends tight COVID-19 restrictions for another 14 days

Reuters South Africa extended tight COVID19 rules on Sunday for another 14 days maintaining restrictions that include a ban on gatherings a curfew from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. and a prohibition on the sale of alcohol. The country the worsthit on the African continent in terms of recorded cases and deaths is in the grip of a third wave of infections driven by the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-extends-tight-covid-19-restrictions-another-14-days-2021-07-11/ 11th Jul 2021

Sydney faces COVID-19 lockdown extension amid record 2021 cases

Reuters Australia Australias New South Wales flags lockdown extension after record casesReutersLockeddown Sydney warned worse may be ahead COVID19 cases at 2021 highswissinfo.chSydney to face prolonged COVID19 lockdown amid record casesNasdaqSydney COVID19 Lockdown Extended For Another Week Due to Rise in Coronavirus CasesLatestLYView Full coverage on Google News https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/australia-says-pfizer-expand-covid-19-vaccine-supply-amid-sydney-outbreak-2021-07-08/ 10th Jul 2021

Woman infected with two different Covid variants at the same time, researchers find

The Independent A 90yearold woman in Belgium was infected with two different variants of the Covid19 virus at the same time researchers have found in what is one of the first documented cases of its kind. The unvaccinated woman was admitted to hospital in the Belgian city of Aalst on 3 March of this year following a number of falls and was confirmed as being Covid positive on the same day. Despite showing no initial signs of respiratory distress she soon deteriorated and died five days after her admission. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-variant-cases-infection-mutation-b1881309.html 11th Jul 2021

Pfizer to Request FDA Authorization for Covid Vaccine Booster Shot in August

Bloomberg Pfizer plans to request U.S. emergency authorization in August for a third booster dose of its Covid19 vaccine based on early data showing that it can sharply increase immune protection against the coronavirus. At the same time however federal health officials signaled that they would take a cautious approach to potential booster shots and underlined that the currently available vaccines are effective at keeping people from being sickened by the coronavirus. Pfizer has received initial data from an early human study showing that a third dose of its existing coronavirus vaccine is safe and can raise neutralizing antibody levels by 5 to 10 fold compared with the original vaccine the companys research head Mikael Dolsten said https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-08/pfizer-plans-to-request-fda-nod-for-covid-booster-in-august 10th Jul 2021

Sinovac's Vaccine Found Inferior to Pfizer Shot in Chile Study

Bloomberg Sinovacs vaccine was less potent than Pfizers at stopping Covid19 in Chile where the two shots were used simultaneously allowing the first realworld comparison of the two inoculations. Chinas CoronaVac was 66 effective in preventing Covid among fully vaccinated adults compared with 93 or the jab made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech. The research shows both shots protect against severe disease. Sinovacs inactivated inoculation given to more than 10 million Chileans was slightly less effective in preventing hospitalization and deaths than Pfizers messenger RNA vaccine which was administered to fewer than half a million people according to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-08/china-made-vaccine-found-inferior-to-pfizer-shot-in-chile-study 10th Jul 2021

Pfizer, U.S. health officials to discuss COVID boosters on Monday -company

Reuters COVID19 vaccine maker Pfizer Inc will meet with federal health officials as soon as Monday to discuss the need for a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine as it prepares to seek authorization the company said on Sunday. The meeting comes days after the drugmaker and its partner BioNTech SE announced plans to seek U.S. and European regulatory approval for a third dose of their COVID19 shot amid the spread of variants and data they said showed heightened risk of infection six months after initial inoculation. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pfizer-us-health-officials-discuss-covid-boosters-monday-company-2021-07-11/ 12th Jul 2021

Saudi Arabia approves Moderna's COVID vaccine -state news agency

Reuters Saudi Arabias Food and Drug Authority on Friday approved Modernas COVID19 vaccine for use in the kingdom the state news agency SPA said. The authority added that after this approval authorities will start procedures to import the twodose vaccine the news agency said. Saudi Arabia had earlier approved the use of the Pfizer AstraZeneca and the Johnson Johnson vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/saudi-arabia-approves-modernas-covid-vaccine-state-news-agency-2021-07-09/ 10th Jul 2021

Benefits of mRNA COVID vaccines outweigh rare heart risks, says WHO

Reuters The benefits of mRNA COVID19 vaccines outweigh the very small risk they might cause heart inflammation as the jabs reduce hospitalisations and deaths an advisory panel of the World Health Organization said on Friday. In a statement the WHO said that reports of two rare conditions myocarditis an inflammation of the heart and of its lining called pericarditis had typically occurred within days of vaccination mainly among younger males after the second dose. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/benefits-mrna-covid-vaccines-outweigh-rare-heart-risks-says-who-2021-07-09/ 10th Jul 2021

COVID and the brain: researchers zero in on how damage occurs

Nature.com How COVID19 damages the brain is becoming clearer. New evidence suggests that the coronaviruss assault on the brain could be multipronged it might attack certain brain cells directly reduce blood flow to brain tissue or trigger production of immune molecules that can harm brain cells. Infection with the coronavirus SARSCoV2 can cause memory loss strokes and other effects on the brain. The question says Serena Spudich a neurologist at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut is Can we intervene early to address these abnormalities so that people dont have longterm problems https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01693-6 10th Jul 2021

Scotland's Covid case surge drops off after the football team's exit from Euro 2020, expert claims

Daily Mail Professor Paul Hunter claims Scotlands casess rounding off was caused by the teams exit from Euro 2020. Cases in Scotland skyrocketed last month up from less than 500 on June 1 to more than 4000 on July 1. Researchers blamed the sudden surge on people meeting up in pubs and homes to watch matches https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9771957/Scotlands-Covid-case-surge-drops-football-teams-exit-Euro-2020-expert-claims.html 10th Jul 2021

Inhaled COVID-19 vaccine prevents disease and transmission in animals

Science Daily In a new study assessing the potential of a singledose intranasal COVID19 vaccine a team from the University of Iowa and the University of Georgia found that the vaccine fully protects mice against lethal COVID19 infection. The vaccine also blocks animaltoanimal transmission of the virus. The findings were published July 2 in the journal Science Advances. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210708135321.htm 10th Jul 2021

Health Ministry experts vote to vaccinate under-12s in exceptional cases

Ynetnews Decision coincides with Pfizer clinical trials on safety and efficacy of vaccine among children aged six months to 12 years will be administered to those considered high risk team for handling epidemics also okays third shot for residents of nursing homes as national infection rate hits 0.9 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bj11jtn00po 11th Jul 2021

Very Few Kids Need to Shield From Covid, Large U.K. Study Finds

Bloomberg Most young people face an extremely low risk of illness and death from Covid19 and have no need to shield from the virus according to researchers behind a large U.K. study. The analysis which its authors say is the most comprehensive on the topic to date backs up clinical reports that show children and teens are less likely to be hospitalized or face severe effects from the virus. Covid19 does increase the chance of serious illness in the most vulnerable children those with complex disabilities and severe existing medical conditions but even in those cases the risks are smaller compared with adults. www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-08/very-few-kids-need-to-shield-from-covid-large-u-k-study-finds?srnd=premium-europe 9th Jul 2021

Pfizer to Ask Regulators to Authorize Covid-19 Vaccine Booster

The Wall Street Journal Pfizer Inc.will seek clearance from U.S. regulators in coming weeks to distribute a booster shot of its Covid19 vaccine to heighten protection against infections as new virus strains rise. The company also said it plans to start clinical trials in August of an updated version of its vaccine that would better protect against the Delta variant. Pfizer and partner BioNTech said Thursday that they will seek authorization for the third shot based on encouraging initial study data. The companies said the data showed that a booster shot given at least six months after the second dose produced antibodies protective against the original strain of the virus and a more recent strain Beta. https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-to-ask-regulators-to-authorize-covid-19-vaccine-booster-11625784072 8th Jul 2021

In Children, Risk of Covid-19 Death or Serious Illness Remains Extremely Low, New Studies Find

The Wall Street Journal Children are at extremely slim risk of dying from Covid19 according to some of the most comprehensive studies to date which indicate the threat might be even lower than previously thought. Some 99.995 of the 469982 children in England who were infected during the year examined by researchers survived one study found. In fact there were fewer deaths among children due to the virus than initially suspected. Among the 61 child deaths linked to a positive Covid19 test in England 25 were actually caused by the illness the study found. The three studies by researchers in the U.K. reviewing its national health systems medical records or pulling together data from other countries were published on preprint servers Thursday. The studies havent yet been reviewed by independent experts and are preliminary. https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-children-risk-of-covid-19-death-or-serious-illness-remain-extremely-low-new-studies-find-11625785260 8th Jul 2021

Children face risk of long Covid as Delta dominates

irish Independent An infectious diseases expert has warned Ireland needs a plan for treating long Covid as the Delta variant rips through the countrys young people. Jack Lambert professor of clinical medicine at University College Dublin said young people are already being treated for the debilitating symptoms that can linger for months after infection. Children were at risk he said. We have treated teenagers with chronic fatigue syndrome following a viral illness even before Covid19 existed. We know it is going to happen he added https://www.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/children-face-risk-of-long-covid-as-delta-dominates-40639042.html 11th Jul 2021

Arab countries pledge aid as Tunisia struggles with COVID pandemic

Reuters Several countries promised to help Tunisia fight the coronavirus on Friday as the north African country recorded its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began putting its health care system under severe stress and depleting oxygen supplies. President Kais Saied said in a statement that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had pledged to send vaccinations and whatever medical equipment Tunisia needed. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/arab-countries-pledge-aid-tunisia-struggles-with-covid-pandemic-2021-07-09/ 10th Jul 2021

Tunisia: healthcare sector on verge of collapse

Middle East Monitor A spokeswoman for the Tunisian Ministry of Health said on Thursday that the countrys healthcare sector is on the verge of collapse with intensive care units full and medical staff exhausted as the coronavirus continues to spread. We are witnessing a catastrophic situation Nissaf Ben Alaya told Mosaique FM. It requires a lot of effort to find a spare hospital bed We are struggling to secure oxygen Doctors are suffering from exhaustion to an unprecedented extent. Tunisia recorded approximately 10000 new coronavirus cases and 134 deaths on Wednesday. That is a daily record for the pandemic in the country amid growing fears that it will be unable to cope. The boat is sinking added Ben Alaya. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210709-tunisia-healthcare-sector-on-verge-of-collapse/ 9th Jul 2021

COVID cases climb as Southeast Asia feels force of Delta variant

Reuters Having escaped the worst when the coronavirus pandemic erupted last year Southeast Asia is now suffering dramatic rises in deaths and cases while vaccination shortfalls and highly contagious variants derail containment efforts. As countries like Britain Germany and France prepare to remove most remaining restrictions after devastating outbreaks governments in Southeast Asia are tightening measures hoping targeted lockdowns will act as circuitbreakers in arresting record jumps in cases and deaths that started rising in May. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/caseloads-climb-southeast-asia-feels-force-delta-variant-2021-07-09/ 9th Jul 2021

Libya closes borders with Tunisia for a week due to rise in coronavirus cases

Reuters Libyas new unity government on Thursday announced it was closing its borders with Tunisia for a week due to the rise in coronavirus cases in the neighboring country a government spokesman said. The decision came as a precautionary step to what the government described as worsening situation and collapsed health system as well as the increasing number of cases with coronavirus delta variant in Tunisia. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/libya-closes-borders-with-tunisia-week-due-rise-coronavirus-cases-2021-07-08/ 9th Jul 2021

Locked-down Sydney warned worse may be ahead, COVID-19 cases at 2021 high

Reuters Australias New South Wales state reported its biggest daily rise in locally acquired coronavirus infections this year on Saturday with authorities warning that worse may yet to come for Sydney which is in a threeweek hard lockdown. There were 50 new cases of community transmission in the countrys most populous state up from 44 a day earlier the previous 2021 record high. This brings the outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant to 489 cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-new-south-wales-reports-2021-record-daily-rise-covid-19-cases-2021-07-10/ 10th Jul 2021

The Irish vaccine developer who says we were ‘lucky’ with Covid-19

The Irish Times Its the icing on the cake after a very busy year he says while acknowledging the efforts of the whole Oxfordbased team including Irish professor Teresa Lambe and many other scientists who worked tirelessly to create a vaccine against Covid19. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/the-irish-vaccine-developer-who-says-we-were-lucky-with-covid-19-1.4613033 9th Jul 2021

Indonesia to widen coronavirus curbs to 15 locations

Reuters Malls to close restaurant dining halted. Moderna vaccines to be used as boosters for health workers. Indonesia reports 38124 new cases 871 deaths https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-widen-emergency-covid-19-curbs-15-cities-2021-07-09/ 9th Jul 2021

Dutch reimpose COVID curbs as cases jump in young adults

Reuters The Dutch government reimposed COVID19 curbs on nightclubs music festivals and restaurants on Friday in an effort to halt a surge in COVID19 infections among young adults. The Netherlands lifted most lockdown measures on June 26 as cases were falling. Roughly twothirds of the population has had at least one vaccination shot. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-netherlands/dutch-to-reimpose-some-covid-19-curbs-as-cases-rise-anp-idUSKCN2EF10K 10th Jul 2021

Unvaccinated hospitalized patients say they regret not getting the shot

NBC News It is heartwrenching to see unvaccinated individuals come into the hospital with regret said Dare an infectious diseases physician. They are patients who if they could do it all over again would have had the vaccine in a second. Arkansas has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country with less than 35 percent of adults having been fully vaccinated. Now the states low vaccine uptake has crashed headlong into the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus leaving some hospital systems once again teetering on the brink of collapse more than a year into the pandemic. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/unvaccinated-hospitalized-patients-say-they-regret-not-getting-shot-n1273342 9th Jul 2021