13th Jul 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=401 lockdown_exit

Israel offers Covid vaccine booster shots to at-risk adults

The Guardian Israel is offering a booster shot of Pfizers coronavirus vaccine to adults with weak immune systems but says it is still weighing up whether they should be given to the general public. The rapid spread of the Delta variant has fuelled a rise in the number of new infections from single digits a month ago to around 450 a day and the country has moved to fasttrack its next Pfizer shipment. The health minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Sunday that adults with impaired immune systems who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine could get an immediate booster shot with a decision pending on wider distribution. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/11/israel-offers-covid-vaccine-booster-shots-to-at-risk-adults 12th Jul 2021

Dirty air makes COVID worse, beta variant deadlier than original

Reuters Air pollution makes severe COVID worse. Dirty air contributes to COVID19 severity according to a study from one of Americas most polluted cities. Researchers who studied 2038 adults hospitalized with COVID19 in the Detroit area found those who needed intensive care and machines to help them breathe were more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher levels of air pollution and lead paint https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/dirty-air-makes-covid-worse-beta-variant-deadlier-than-original-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

WHO says countries should not order COVID-19 boosters while others still need vaccines

Reuters Rich countries should not be ordering booster shots for their vaccinated populations while other countries have yet to receive COVID19 vaccines the World Health Organization said on Monday. WHO DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said deaths were again rising from the COVID19 pandemic the Delta variant was becoming dominant and many countries had yet to receive enough vaccine doses to protect their health workers. The Delta variant is ripping around the world at a scorching pace driving a new spike in COVID19 cases and death Tedros told a briefing noting that the highly contagious variant first detected in India had now been found in more than 104 countries. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-says-countries-should-not-order-covid-19-boosters-while-others-still-need-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

Spain's coronavirus infections keep rising, regions impose restrictions

Reuters Spains twoweek COVID19 contagion rate kept rising on Monday reaching 368 cases per 100000 inhabitants officials said more than tripling in two weeks as infections have soared especially among young people. Health emergency chief Fernando Simon said the pace of increase had reduced in recent days as officials believe the latest wave is nearing its peak. He praised new restrictions announced in the hardhit Mediterranean regions of Catalonia and Valencia. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dozens-towns-spains-valencia-reimpose-curfews-curb-covid-19-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

WHO warns against mixing and matching COVID vaccines

Reuters The World Health Organizations chief scientist on Monday advised against people mixing and matching COVID19 vaccines from different manufacturers calling it a dangerous trend since there was little data available about the health impact. Its a little bit of a dangerous trend here. We are in a datafree evidencefree zone as far as mix and match Soumya Swaminathan told an online briefing. It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when and who will be taking a second a third and a fourth dose. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-warns-against-mixing-matching-covid-vaccines-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

Macron announces vaccination passes and warns the country's fourth wave has ALREADY begun

Daily Mail President Macron introduced new coronavirus measures on Monday night. Covid19 vaccinations will be mandatory for those working with the vulnerable Care workers have until September 15 to get vaccinated after then checks will be made and sanctions applied Macron said in a televised address on Monday Vaccine passports will also be required from August 1 for anyone wanting to go out to eat or drink at a bar caf or restaurant or travel on planes. Passengers on longdistance bus or train rides will also require a pass. Just three days ago France reopened its nightclubs as restrictions began to ease. It comes as the delta variant has started driving infection rates up across Europe. Macron is set to announce a new law requiring health workers to get vaccinated https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9780733/Covid-France-Three-days-opening-nightclubs-President-Macron-announce-new-rules.html 12th Jul 2021

World hunger, malnutrition soared last year mostly due to COVID-19 - U.N. agencies

Reuters World hunger and malnutrition levels worsened dramatically last year with most of the increase likely due to the COVID19 pandemic according to a multiagency United Nations U.N. report published on Monday. After remaining virtually unchanged for five years the number of undernourished people rose to around 768 million last year equivalent to 10 of the worlds population and an increase of around 118 million versus 2019 the report said. https://www.reuters.com/world/world-hunger-malnutrition-soared-last-year-mostly-due-covid-19-un-agencies-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

Spain's coronavirus infections keep rising, regions impose restrictions

Reuters Spains twoweek COVID19 contagion rate kept rising on Monday reaching 368 cases per 100000 inhabitants officials said more than tripling in two weeks as infections have soared especially among young people. Health emergency chief Fernando Simon said the pace of increase had reduced in recent days as officials believe the latest wave is nearing its peak. He praised new restrictions announced in the hardhit Mediterranean regions of Catalonia and Valencia. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dozens-towns-spains-valencia-reimpose-curfews-curb-covid-19-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

Taiwan finally getting BioNTech COVID vaccines in $350 mln deal

Reuters Taiwans Foxconn and TSMC said on Monday they had reached deals to buy 10 million doses of Germanys BioNTech SEs COVID19 vaccine putting the total cost of the highly politicised deal at around 350 million. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwans-foxconn-tsmc-confirm-350-mln-covid-19-vaccine-deal-2021-07-11/ 12th Jul 2021

Canada to reach 55M vaccine doses by week's end, catching up to U.S. on second doses

CTV News Canada is expecting vaccine shipments to keep rolling in this week as the country inches closer to matching the percentage of people in the United States fully vaccinated against COVID19. The federal government expects another 1.4 million doses of the shot from PfizerBioNTech to arrive in the next seven days. It also plans to distribute the 1.5 million doses from Moderna that came in last Friday. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/canada-to-reach-55m-vaccine-doses-by-week-s-end-catching-up-to-u-s-on-second-doses-1.5505478 12th Jul 2021

Europe is racing to vaccinate residents. But in some countries, undocumented immigrants have been left out.

The Washington Post As Europe races to vaccinate its residents against covid19 and outpace the highly infectious delta variant efforts to inoculate the continent face a major gap undocumented immigrants. An estimated 4.8 million unauthorized immigrants lived in 32 European countries as of 2017 according to the Pew Research Center. Studies show they are more vulnerable to the coronavirus than European populations at large. But many countries have excluded them from vaccination drives in policy or in practice and deep distrust among some immigrant populations toward authorities has caused complications for more inclusive campaigns. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/11/virus-europe-immigrants/ 12th Jul 2021

Ugandan minister blames west for Covid vaccine shortage

The Guardian A Ugandan government minister has blamed the west for his countrys inability to secure more Covid19 vaccines as the WHO warned Africa urgently needed hundreds millions more jabs to fend off a surging third wave of infections. Chris Baryomunsi said Uganda had been able to vaccinate more than a million people but was unable to obtain further shots. The problem has been the supply side said Baryomunsi who is also an epidemiologist. We have the money but we simply cant get the vaccine. This is a challenge of access and equity. We have to rely on the western world and the western world has focused on its population. The impression is that people there dont care about Africans. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/11/ugandan-minister-blames-west-for-countrys-covid-vaccine-shortage 12th Jul 2021

Greek PM Makes Vaccine Mandatory for Healthcare Workers

Greek Reporter The coronavirus vaccine will now be mandatory for all Greek healthcare workers according to an announcement on Monday by Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The statement was part of a series of new measures regarding Covid19 and the countrys continuing plan for vaccinations on Monday. Although he admitted that Greece would likely be hit hard by the fastspreading Delta variant Mitsotakis affirmed that he would not place the country under strict lockdown measures again. https://greekreporter.com/2021/07/12/greek-pm-healthcare-workers-vaccine/ 12th Jul 2021

Latin America urgently needs vaccines from west, top official warns

Financial Times Wealthy nations have three times the coronavirus vaccine stocks they need for their own populations and should donate the surplus now to Latin America the region worst hit by the pandemic and where the death toll is catastrophic a top official has said. In an interview with the Financial Times Rebeca Grynspan who heads the IberoAmerican General Secretariat that groups Spain Portugal and Latin America said other countries should follow the example of Spain. The countrys prime minister Pedro Snchez has pledged to donate surplus vaccines to Latin America via the WHOled Covax facility once half of the Spanish population has been vaccinated. As of July 8 some 57.5 per cent had received a first dose according to Madrid. Its very important to follow the Spanish example because that would start to give us the vaccines from the second half of this year Grynspan said. If Spains example was not followed the suffering will be prolonged and it will keep costing many lives. https://www.ft.com/content/dea05435-fc62-48d0-9257-d84cebf69084 12th Jul 2021

Coronavirus in Australia: AstraZeneca vaccine offered to over-40s in New South Wales

The Times Sydney contradicted previous official health advice today by saying they would offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to younger people as new daily cases of the highly infectious Delta variant soared to more than 100. While the national government continues to recommend that the locallyproduced AstraZeneca vaccine be restricted to people aged over 60 because of blood clotting fears health chiefs in New South Wales said its mass vaccination centres would offer it to anybody over 40. It is a departure from national health guidelines which have recommended heavy restrictions on the use of AstraZeneca despite severe shortages of alternative vaccines such as Pfizer. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-in-australia-astrazeneca-vaccine-offered-to-over-40s-in-new-south-wales-l3v86xp3f 12th Jul 2021

Cuban Protests Demand Freedom, Food, Covid-19 Vaccines

The Wall Street Journal Thousands of Cubans took to the streets in a wave of demonstrations in Havana and at least 14 other cities throughout the Communist island demanding an end to the 62year dictatorship and protesting the lack of food and Covid19 vaccines. We are not afraid We are not afraid people shouted as they marched through the streets on Sunday videos posted on social media showed. Freedom Freedom The protests are unprecedented in a country with tight police control and surveillance on dissidents analysts say. In a televised address on Sunday President Miguel DazCanel blamed the protests on the U.S. which he said seeks to economically strangle Cuba and bring about a social explosion https://www.wsj.com/articles/cuban-protests-demand-freedom-food-covid-19-vaccines-11626045095 12th Jul 2021

Rudd says letter to Pfizer not part of 'botched' vaccine program

9News Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said he would never associate himself with the governments comprehensively botched COVID19 vaccine program. His latest statement comes after reports he intervened to speed the delivery of Pfizer vaccines to Australia were denied by the Federal Government. Health Minister Greg Hunt earlier rubbished suggestions an intervention from former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had any impact on the delivery of COVID19 vaccines from manufacturer Pfizer. Pfizer has also denied any third party had been involved in their negotiations with the Federal Government. https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-vaccine-updates-greg-hunt-denies-kevin-rudd-letter-to-pfizer-affected-vaccine-delivery/75e2fca7-4ac1-489e-95ae-8d0ffa7cdd2c 12th Jul 2021

Brazil's federal police open probe into Bolsonaro over vaccine deal - source

Reuters At the request of the Supreme Court Brazils federal police has formally opened a probe into President Jair Bolsonaro related to alleged irregularities in the purchase of an Indian vaccine and could now question him a source with knowledge of the matter said on Monday. The president has been caught up in allegations of irregularities surrounding the 1.6 billion reais 316 million contract signed in February for 20 million doses with a Brazilian intermediary for the vaccines maker Bharat Biotech. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-federal-police-open-probe-into-bolsonaro-over-vaccine-deal-source-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

Sydney braces for extended lockdown amid COVID-19 outbreak

Reuters Australia The prospect of an extended lockdown in Sydney loomed on Monday as Australian health officials reported yet another record daily rise in COVID19 cases for the year fuelled by the highly infectious Delta variant. New South Wales state reported 112 new locally transmitted COVID19 cases almost all in Sydney despite the countrys biggest city entering its third week of lockdown. Case numbers have been at record levels for at least three days. There was however a glimmer of light as the number of newlyinfected people who were out in the community while infectious dropped to 34 from 45 on Sunday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia/sydney-braces-for-extended-lockdown-amid-covid-19-outbreak-idUSKBN2EI006 12th Jul 2021

Flu jab may reduce severe effects of Covid, suggests study

The Guardian People who are vaccinated against influenza may be partly protected against some of the severe effects of coronavirus and be less likely to need emergency care according to a major study. The analysis of nearly 75000 Covid patients found significant reductions in stroke deep vein thrombosis DVT and sepsis and fewer admissions to emergency departments and intensive care units among those who had been given the flu jab. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/12/flu-jab-may-reduce-severe-effects-of-covid-suggests-study 12th Jul 2021

Covid-19 at the Euros: WHO official says lack of restrictions at Wembley for Euro 2020 final ‘devastating’

iNews A leading World Health Organisation WHO epidemiologist has said it was devastating to see unmasked crowds crammed together at the Euro 2020 final. Maria Van Kerkhove expressed concerns during Sunday nights match between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium that it would spur transmission of Covid19. Am I supposed to be enjoying watching transmission happening in front of my eyes tweeted the WHOs Covid19 technical lead as more than 60000 fans packed the stadium. https://inews.co.uk/news/world/covid-euros-final-wembley-measures-euro-2020-restrictions-who-official-1099657 12th Jul 2021

WHO director-general slams notion of Covid-19 vaccine booster doses…

STAT News The directorgeneral of the World Health Organization on Monday issued a stinging rebuke to Pfizer and other vaccine manufacturers focused on developing and selling Covid19 vaccine booster shots to highincome countries saying they should focus instead on providing vaccine to nations that have had little access to first doses. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus statement came four days after Pfizer said it has data to support its repeated claim that a third dose of its vaccine will be needed to keep protection levels high. He also singled out Moderna which like Pfizer is developing updated vaccines targeted at variants. https://www.statnews.com/2021/07/12/who-director-general-slams-notion-of-covid-19-vaccine-booster-doses-given-global-health-needs/ 12th Jul 2021

Hospital admissions will soar if we rush to lift Covid-19 restrictions, say scientists

The Times Covidrelated hospital admissions could surpass those seen last winter if Britain rushes back to normality government scientists warned today as Boris Johnson approved lifting the last remaining https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hospital-admissions-will-soar-if-we-rush-to-lift-covid-19-restrictions-say-scientists-kvndjhwxl 12th Jul 2021

China's Sinovac, Sinopharm ink COVAX supply deal for up to 550M coronavirus vaccine doses

FiercePharma COVAX the global COVID19 vaccine sharing program has fallen behind in its pursuit to provide poorer nations with billions of doses by years end. But now the program is getting a muchneeded boost from Chinese vaccine developers Sinovac and Sinopharm. In a boon to poorer countries with lagging vaccine rollouts Gavi the vaccine alliance inked supply agreements with the two drugmakers worth up to 550 million doses. Since the shots have already scored the WHOs emergency use backing theyll be able to ship out immediately Gavi said. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/china-s-sinovac-sinopharm-ink-covax-supply-deal-for-up-to-550m-doses-covid-19-vaccines 12th Jul 2021

FDA To Warn About Post-COVID Vax Guillain-Barré Syndrome

MedPage Today The FDA will issue a warning that Johnson Johnsons COVID19 vaccine may trigger GuillainBarr syndrome GBS in a small number of people an agency spokesperson told MedPage Today on Monday. Of the 12.5 million Americans who received this vaccine about 100 people reported having GBS in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System VAERS. Of these reports 95 of them were serious and required hospitalization and there was one reported death an FDA official said. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19vaccine/93537 12th Jul 2021

Moderna to supply 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Argentina

Yahoo Moderna Inc said on Monday it had signed a supply agreement with the government of Argentina for 20 million doses of its COVID19 vaccine or its updated variant booster vaccine candidate. The company said delivery was expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022. Last week the Latin American country said it was looking to sign a supply deal with the U.S. vaccine maker in an attempt to speed up the inoculation of its population and sidestep a possible third wave of the coronavirus. https://www.yahoo.com/news/moderna-signs-covid-19-vaccine-140355338.html 12th Jul 2021

Thailand is considering Western booster shots after 600 healthcare workers given Chinese vaccines caught COVID-19

Yahoo Thailand is considering switching from a Chinese to Western vaccine to protect healthcare staff. The country is considering giving AstraZeneca doses to those already vaccinated with Sinovac. It came after 600 vaccinated staff caught COVID19 adding to questions surrounding Chinese jabs. https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailand-considering-western-booster-shots-101948060.html 12th Jul 2021

In first, Thailand to mix Sinovac, AstraZeneca vaccine doses

Reuters Thailand used Sinovac vaccine for frontliners. AstraZeneca vaccine available since June. Delta variant on increase in Thailand. New curbs imposed around capital. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-starts-tighter-coronavirus-lockdown-around-capital-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

COVID-19: Hospital admissions could peak at 1,000 to 2,000 a day in England during third wave, scientists believe

Sky News Between 1000 and 2000 COVID19 patients a day could be admitted to hospital in England at the peak of the third wave and there may be 100 to 200 daily deaths government scientists believe. The number of daily infections in this latest wave is not expected to peak before midAugust according to papers newly released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies SAGE. Experts are urging the public to go slow once most restrictions lift on 19 July in order to curb infections and cut the number of people who will die from COVID19. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-hospital-admissions-could-peak-at-1-000-to-2-000-a-day-in-england-during-third-wave-scientists-believe-12354470 12th Jul 2021

Desperate Myanmar residents queue for oxygen as COVID-19 cases surge

Reuters There is enough oxygen army chief. Myanmar sees record deaths cases Suu Kyi worried about outbreak. Myanmars military authorities pledged on Monday to ramp up oxygen supplies to help treat COVID19 patients as residents described their struggle to secure supplies to save lovedones from a recordsetting wave of infections. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-military-says-ramp-up-oxygen-supply-covid-19-cases-surge-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

'Surprising amount of death' will soon occur in these US regions from increased Covid-19 cases, expert says

CNN As the Delta variant rapidly spreads US hot spots have seen climbing case numbers and an expert warns a surprising amount of death from Covid19 could soon follow. The United States is averaging about 19455 new cases over the past seven days a 47 increase from the week prior according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And a third of those CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner said come from five hot spots Florida Louisiana Arkansas Missouri and Nevada https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/12/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html 12th Jul 2021

Germany seeks to know more than just COVID-19 case numbers

The Independent With coronavirus cases edging up again German officials said Monday that a broader focus is needed to fully understand the impact the pandemic is having on the countrys health care system. For much of the past year the incidence rate how many COVID19 cases are confirmed per 100000 people each week has been key to the governments decisions over what restrictive measures to impose. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/germany-seeks-to-know-more-than-just-covid19-case-numbers-germany-covid-berlin-jens-spahn-steffen-seibert-b1882661.html 12th Jul 2021

Macron’s plan to beat back vaccine hesitancy

POLITICO Europe The French government is doubling down on efforts to boost COVID19 vaccinations as a fourth wave of infections threatens to hit earlier than expected. Emmanuel Macron is expected to agree Monday to make COVID19 vaccinations mandatory for health and care home workers. He could go further and impose the use of the socalled COVID19 green pass more widely bring in travel restrictions or charge for COVID19 tests linked to leisure purposes. The moves come as authorities stare down the barrel of another deadly outbreak of infections just as the rate of people getting a first jab has reached a new low. From a peak of over 400000 per day at the end of May its dropped to 200000 per day according to health ministry figures. https://www.politico.eu/article/france-covid-19-vaccination-vaccine-hesitancy-macron/ 12th Jul 2021

Desperate Myanmar residents queue for oxygen as COVID-19 cases surge

Reuters There is enough oxygen army chief. Myanmar sees record deaths cases Suu Kyi worried about outbreak. Myanmars military authorities pledged on Monday to ramp up oxygen supplies to help treat COVID19 patients as residents described their struggle to secure supplies to save lovedones from a recordsetting wave of infections. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-military-says-ramp-up-oxygen-supply-covid-19-cases-surge-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

In first, Thailand to mix Sinovac, AstraZeneca vaccine doses

Reuters Thailand used Sinovac vaccine for frontliners. AstraZeneca vaccine available since June. Delta variant on increase in Thailand. New curbs imposed around capital. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-starts-tighter-coronavirus-lockdown-around-capital-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021

Saudi Arabia to send one million doses of vaccine to Tunisia

Reuters Saudi Arabia will send a medical aid package to Tunisia that includes one million doses of vaccine to help the North Africa country control the rapid spread of the COVID pandemic. Saudi Arabia joins other Arab countries in helping Tunisia which is facing the collapse of its health care system including Egypt Algeria UAE Kuwait Turkey and Qatar. The Saudi Press Agency said on Monday the aid also includes 190 respirators and other equipment. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-send-one-million-doses-vaccine-tunisia-2021-07-12/ 12th Jul 2021