15th Jul 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=405 lockdown_exit

'We are seeing people passing quicker than before': What hospitals look like in US Covid hot spots

CNN The hospitals Covid19 patient numbers have more than tripled and staff are now treating more than 70 people an exponential growth he said that they were not expecting. To accommodate the climbing patient numbers the hospital recently reopened two units that were previously shut down. The overwhelming majority of those coming in sick with Covid are unvaccinated Segarra said. Many are young people in their 20s and 30s who are getting extremely extremely sick and some of whom are dying. Roughly 45 of people in Florida are fully vaccinated according to state data. The low vaccination rates along with a dangerous coronavirus variant thats now the dominant strain in the United States and the relaxed Covid19 guidelines are what Segarra said he thinks have led to the increase. https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/13/us/us-covid-hot-spots-hospitals/index.html 14th Jul 2021

Olympics COVID cluster at Olympic hotel as Tokyo cases surge

Reuters New COVID19 cases at Brazil delegations hotel. Russia womens rugby team isolating after masseur infected. Host city records most daily cases in nearly six months. Global public interest in Games at low level poll https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/olympics-global-interest-tokyo-games-muted-ipsos-poll-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

Delta lockdown will shrink GDP, cost thousands of jobs

The Australian Financial Review Sydneys prolonged lockdown for an anticipated two months will cause the national economy to shrink in the current quarter and cost thousands of jobs according to economists stalling momentum in Australias bounceback from the virus recession. The 5 billion in government support payments to businesses and households however will cushion the blow and help the economy to follow past lockdown and reopening trends by swiftly rebounding once restrictions are eased market economists said. https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/delta-lockdown-to-shrink-gdp-20210714-p589m0 14th Jul 2021

Mandatory face masks to remain in string of English cities as mayors stage mass revolt

Mirror.co.uk Face masks will remain mandatory in certain transport settings in a string of English cities after mayors staged a revolt. The mayors of Greater Manchester Liverpool City Region South Yorkshire West Yorkshire North of Tyne and West of England all blasted Boris Johnsons decision to axe compulsory face coverings from Monday.In a damning joint press conference they announced face masks will remain compulsory in the parts of the transport network that they have control over despite the Prime Ministers Freedom Day on July 19. That means the coverings will be a condition of carriage on the London Underground and buses all Metrolink trams in Greater Manchester and the Tyne and Wear Metro. They will also be mandatory in bus stations and terminals in South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-mandatory-face-masks-remain-24536532 14th Jul 2021

French rush to get vaccinated after president's warning

The Associated Press More than 1 million people in France made vaccine appointments in less than a day according to figures released Tuesday after the president cranked up pressure on everyone to get vaccinated to save the summer vacation season and the French economy. Some bristled at President Emmanuel Macrons admonition to get vaccinated immediately but many people signed up for shots accepting that getting injected was the only way to return to some semblance of prepandemic life. https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-lifestyle-health-travel-1d10271c4f1617521892d49d83b773ad 13th Jul 2021

South Africa violence: Troop numbers on streets double to 5,000 amid looting - and more could be deployed

Sky News The number of soldiers deployed on the streets of South Africa has doubled to 5000 as the army and police struggle to quell days of looting and violence. President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering boosting troop numbers even more as at least 72 people have been killed in the worst unrest in the country for years. And some citizens are arming themselves to protect their property and businesses from the rampage which has hit two of South Africas nine provinces KwaZuluNatal where Durban is located and Gauteng which includes Johannesburg. https://news.sky.com/story/south-africa-violence-troop-numbers-on-streets-double-to-5-000-amid-looting-and-more-could-be-deployed-12355785 14th Jul 2021

Coup, COVID fuelling 'perfect storm' in Myanmar, UN expert warns

UN News Surging COVID19 cases as the Delta variant spreads a collapsed health system and deep mistrust of the military junta are a perfect storm of factors that could lead to further major loss of life in Myanmar the UN independent expert on the human rights situation in the country warned on Wednesday. In a statement Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews said emergency assistance for Myanmar was desperately needed to save lives. The highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being and that right is being denied to most within Myanmar. The international community must act. https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/07/1095822 14th Jul 2021

Cuban protests risk exacerbating COVID-19 spike - PAHO

Reuters Protests in Cuba will increase the risk of COVID19 transmission because of an already high level of cases and the more contagious Delta variant health officials said on Wednesday. The Pan American Health Organization PAHO urged Cubans and tourists visiting the Caribbean nation to avoid crowds wear masks and frequently wash hands. The gathering of individuals for protests... increases the risk of transmission in particular in cases such as Cuba where you have active transmission in many areas over the last week and 34244 new cases reported said Dr. Ciro Ugarte PAHOs director of health emergencies. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuban-protests-risk-exacerbating-covid-19-spike-paho-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

Risk of 'catastrophic' coronavirus surge in Middle East- WHO

Reuters A surge of coronavirus cases in several Middle Eastern countries could have dire consequences aggravated by the spread of the Delta variant and low vaccine availability the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday. After a decline in cases and deaths in the WHOs Eastern Mediterranean region for eight weeks the agency said there had been significant increases in cases in Libya Iran Iraq and Tunisia with sharp rises expected in Lebanon and Morocco https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/risk-catastrophic-coronavirus-surge-middle-east-who-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

EU regulator weighing mixing COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses

Reuters Says not in position to advise on use of different doses. Says countries may adapt strategies based on available evidence. Finds no clear link between Moderna shot new blood condition. EC says it follows science but needs to be prepared https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-says-90-virus-circulation-be-delta-variant-by-end-august-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

Covid: Low uptake of jab causing 'crisis' at NHS trust

BBC News A health boss says his hospitals are in the teeth of a growing local crisis over low uptake of the Covid jab. Richard Beeken chief executive at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust said it had 60 coronavirus inpatients eight of whom were critically unwell. In a letter to staff he said it was vital people had the vaccination to boost their protection. But following 600 calls to under40s to encourage jabs he said fewer than 10 agreed to appointments. Mr Beeken wrote that intensive care units were full and urgent cancer surgery was under threat due to Covid pressures faced by the trust. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-57826141 14th Jul 2021

COVID-19: SAGE scientists urge government to put contingency plans in place for rising hospital admissions

Sky News Scientists have urged the government to put contingency plans in place ready for surging hospital admissions as COVID cases are set to remain high until the end of August. Members of the government scientific advisory committee SAGE summarised the latest modelling from Warwick Imperial LSHTM and Juniper for easing restrictions during a 7 July meeting and have issued their latest COVID19 advice. Scientists approved the delayed lifting of coronavirus restrictions on 19 July which they said has allowed more people to get vaccinated and would prevent the next wave being pushed further towards the autumn and winter. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-sage-scientists-urge-government-to-put-contingency-plans-in-place-for-rising-hospital-admissions-12354839 13th Jul 2021

China to start giving COVID-19 shots to teenagers this month

Reuters Several areas in China will start vaccinating teenagers this month against COVID19 state media and local authorities said as the country steps up its inoculation campaign. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-start-giving-covid-19-shots-teenagers-this-month-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

Covid-19 Vaccines Are Becoming Mandatory in Parts of China

The Wall Street Journal Several local governments in China are planning to bar residents who havent been vaccinated against Covid19 from accessing public venues stirring controversy as the country makes a push for herd immunity. In recent days a dozen counties and cities in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang Fujian and Jiangxi set lateAugust deadlines for people 18 years or older to complete a twoshot vaccine regimen according to similarly worded online statements. Many of them also set dates in late July by which unvaccinated people would be barred from entering schools libraries prisons nursing homes and inpatient facilities at hospitals without a valid medical exemption. Some of the localities attributed their new policies to national provincial and municipal arrangements without explaining whether they received a decree from the central government. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-are-becoming-mandatory-in-parts-of-china-11626259091 14th Jul 2021

German retailers support face masks, fear new lockdown

Reuters German retailers still support the wearing of face masks in stores as they worry about another wave of the coronavirus pandemic possibly leading to new restrictions an industry association said on Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/german-retailers-support-face-masks-fear-new-lockdown-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

Zimbabwe targets 1 million people in COVID-19 vaccine blitz

Reuters Zimbabwe is aiming to vaccinate 1 million people against COVID19 in the next two weeks President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Tuesday as he extended tough lockdown measures by another 14 days. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zimbabwe-targets-1-million-people-covid-19-vaccine-blitz-2021-07-13/ 14th Jul 2021

Politics is causing needless deaths in the fight against Covid-19

CNN In what is now a pandemic of the unvaccinated almost every adult American can make a choice not to die a needless death from Covid19. But the task of persuading holdouts skeptics and the merely disinterested to get their shots is being complicated by the further politicization of the pandemic a trend that will cost lives and exacerbate an already stark tragedy that has deepened the nations ideological estrangement. https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/14/politics/politics-needless-covid-deaths/index.html 14th Jul 2021

COVID-19: Parliament staff 'incredulous and angry' at MPs not having to wear masks from Monday

Sky News Trade unions representing workers in parliament have expressed incredulity anger and concern at a decision not to make MPs continue to wear face masks from next week. Following confirmation that England will move to step four of the governments roadmap for lifting COVID restrictions from 19 July the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle this week set out how rules will be relaxed in parliament. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-parliament-staff-incredulous-and-angry-at-mps-not-having-to-wear-masks-from-monday-12355765 14th Jul 2021

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings sues Florida over prohibition on vaccine requirements.

The New York Times The fight over requiring vaccinations for travel is heating up. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings sued Floridas surgeon general on Tuesday accusing the state of preventing it from safely and soundly resuming trips by barring it from requiring customers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The filing represents the latest twist in a monthslong fight over the resumption of cruises from Florida a hub for the industry. Under Gov. Ron DeSantis the state has fought vaccine requirements by cruises and other businesses claiming that such policies are discriminatory. Supporters of vaccine requirements have argued that requiring vaccines is necessary to protect public health. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/business/norwegian-cruise-florida-vaccine-requirement.html 13th Jul 2021

French police quell protest against COVID health passport rules

Reuters on MSN.com Dozens of French police used tear gas to disperse a protest against President Emmanuel Macrons plan to require a COVID19 vaccine certificate or negative PCR test to gain entry to bars restaurants and cinemas from next month. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/french-police-quell-protest-against-covid-health-passport-rules/ar-AAM9u8w 14th Jul 2021

Australia extends Sydney lockdown as COVID-19 outbreak nears 900 infections

Investing.com Australian authorities extended a lockdown in Sydney on Wednesday by at least 14 days after three weeks of initial restrictions failed to stamp out the biggest outbreak of COVID19 this year in the countrys largest city. New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said restrictions would remain in place until at least July 30 after reporting 97 new locally transmitted cases a slight increase from a day earlier. It always hurts to say this but we need to extend the lockdown at least a further two weeks Berejiklian said in Sydney on Wednesday. https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/australia-extends-sydney-lockdown-as-covid19-outbreak-nears-900-infections-2557292 14th Jul 2021

Netherlands sees Covid cases rise 500% in a week

Irish Times There was a 500 per cent increase in new coronavirus cases in the Netherlands in the week to Tuesday and the reproduction rate or R number now stands at 2.17 and rising its highest since the pandemic began. Days after acting prime minister Mark Rutte apologised for relaxing restrictions too quickly the head of the Centre for Infectious Disease Control Dr Aura Timen briefed MPs that the current wave was directly linked to the most recent easing on June 26th. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/netherlands-sees-covid-cases-rise-500-in-a-week-1.4620537 14th Jul 2021

Young children will pay the price if enough US adults don't get vaccinated against Covid-19, expert says

CNN Children will likely pay the price for adults in the US not getting vaccinated at high enough rates to slow or stop the spread of Covid19 which has been surging in most states a vaccine expert said. If vaccination rates among adults and kids 12 and older keep lagging amid increased spread of the Delta variant the youngest members of the population will be most affected said Dr. Peter Hotez a vaccinologist and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/14/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html 14th Jul 2021

Scientists could create a single vaccine that fights multiple coronaviruses within 5 years, potentially preventing the next pandemic, an expert says

Yahoo Twenty groups of scientists are trying to create a single vaccine that fights multiple coronaviruses. Coronavirus is the virus family that SARSCoV2 which caused the COVID19 pandemic belongs to. An expert said scientists could make the vaccine within five years preventing future pandemics. https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-could-create-single-vaccine-090053773.html 14th Jul 2021

'We're drowning': Argentines struggle under COVID-19 as death toll nears 100000

Reuters In the San Vicente cemetery in the central Argentine city of Cordoba Sandra del Valle Pereyra 50 has come to visit the graves of her parents who both died from COVID19 that has ripped through the South American nation. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/were-drowning-argentines-struggle-under-covid-19-death-toll-nears-100000-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

Aid offers hope as Tunisia struggles to cope with COVID-19 surge

Reuters After successfully containing the initial wave of the COVID19 pandemic last year Tunisia is struggling to cope with a resurgence of the virus with intensive care wards full and doctors overburdened by a rapid rise in cases and deaths. Doctors are exhausted as the number of patients exceeded the capacity of the hospital Ahmed Ghoul a nurse at Charles Nicolle told Reuters. Even the mortuary was full and we could no longer find a place for them. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/aid-offers-hope-tunisia-struggles-cope-with-covid-19-surge-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

Victoria reintroduces masks in outdoor and indoor settings amid new COVID-19 outbreak

ABC News Masks will be mandatory indoors for Victorians aged 12 and above from Thursday as the state deals with another COVID outbreak which includes 11 new confirmed cases. The new rules announced by the Victorian Department of Health state that masks must be worn in all workplaces and secondary schools. They must also be worn outdoors when you cannot remain socially distanced from those who are not from your household. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-14/face-mask-rules-reintroduced-victoria-covid-health-department/100294588 14th Jul 2021

Covid-19 cases rise in US hotspots

Daily Mail Daily COVID19 cases in the U.S. have doubled in the last three weeks from an average of 11400 on June 23 to an average of 23600 new cases per day All but two states Maine and South Dakota reported that case numbers have increased the past two weeks. Coronavirus daily deaths have only slightly risen from in the last two weeks from 257 per day to 265 per day with about 99.5 of the 3165 deaths in July occurring among unvaccinated people. Health experts blame the rise in cases on the spread of the Indian Delta variant lagging vaccination rates in several counties and Fourth of July gatherings. In Missouri which has the highest prevalence of the Delta variant infections have risen 38 from an average of 938 cases per day two weeks ago to 1298 per day as of Tuesday. Louisiana which has the second lowest vaccination rate only to Mississippi has seen cases rise 92 in two weeks from an average of 434 per day to 836 per day https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9785151/US-COVID-19-case-rising-doubling-three-weeks.html 14th Jul 2021

Bangladesh's COVID-19 death toll exceeds 17,000

Xinhua Bangladesh reported 12383 new COVID19 cases and 210 more deaths on Wednesday making the tally at 1059538 and the death toll at 17052 the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS said. The official data showed that 42490 samples were tested in the last 24 hours as of 800 a.m. local time Wednesday across Bangladesh. The total number of recovered patients in the country stood at 897412 including 8245 new recoveries said the DGHS. According to the official data the COVID19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is 1.61 percent and the current recovery rate stands at 84.70 percent. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-07/14/c_1310061496.htm 14th Jul 2021

Feature: Third COVID-19 wave triggers demand for vaccines in Zimbabwe

Xinhua At Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Zimbabwes largest referral hospital and one of the countrys vaccination centers scores of people could not wait to receive their lifesaving jabs. The countrys vaccination drive had been marred by vaccine hesitancy since its launch in February but the third pandemic wave that hits Zimbabwe has triggered the demand for vaccines. Sekesai Kazangarara who had come to receive her first shot said while she was hesitant to receive the jab when the vaccination was opened to the general public the fear of getting sick if infected drove her to get the vaccine as soon as she could. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2021-07/14/c_1310061485.htm 14th Jul 2021

Dutch COVID-19 cases jump in short-lived reopening of nightlife

Reuters New coronavirus cases in the Netherlands have jumped more than sixfold in the past week mainly among young adults following a decision to largely scrap restrictions. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/dutch-coronavirus-reproduction-rate-jumps-mostly-young-adults-infected-2021-07-13/ 13th Jul 2021

Nearly 3000 confined to cabins after COVID-19 case on Singapore cruise

Reuters Infection confirmed in a passenger on cruise to nowhere. Nearly 3000 passengers crew on Genting Cruise Lines ship. Ashore Singapore marks highest new COVID tally in months https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapore-tourism-board-says-cruise-ship-returns-after-suspected-covid-19-case-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021

Vietnam says Pfizer to provide additional 20 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses

Reuters Vietnam on Wednesday said U.S. vaccine maker Pfizer would provide an additional 20 million doses of its COVID19 mRNA shot as the country tries to shore up supplies at a time of record number of new infections. The additional PfizerBioNTech vaccines would be used for 1218 year olds its health ministry said in a statement. It comes a day after Vietnam said it would offer the vaccine as a second dose option for people inoculated with one shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-says-pfizer-provide-additional-20-mln-covid-19-vaccine-doses-2021-07-14/ 14th Jul 2021