23rd Aug 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=459 lockdown_exit

9,000 Covid cases linked to Euro 2020 games in mass events scheme

The Guardian More than 9000 Covid infections were linked to Euro 2020 football games monitored for the governments mass events test scheme and scientists have said the tournament generated a significant risk to public health. An analysis of the third and final stage of the research programme released on Friday found that more than 85 of all the infections connected to the 49 days of various outdoor sport music and entertainment events came from the eight Euros games involved and mainly the semifinal and final. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/20/9000-covid-cases-linked-to-euro-2020-games-in-mass-events-scheme?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other 20th Aug 2021

FDA Issues ‘You Are Not a Cow’ Warning After Livestock Drug Use

Bloomberg The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a strong and unusual warning on Saturday You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously yall. Stop it. The FDA was reacting to alarms from Mississippi the state with the worst outbreak in the U.S. that people have been taking ivermectin to treat or prevent Covid19. The drug is often used against parasites in livestock. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-21/fda-issues-you-are-not-a-cow-warning-after-livestock-drug-use?utm_source=twitter&amputm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amputm_medium=social&amputm_content=business&ampcmpid=socialflow-twitter-business 21st Aug 2021

India gives emergency approval for world’s first COVID-19 DNA jab

Al Jazeera English The vaccine ZyCoVD uses a section of genetic material from the virus that gives instructions as either DNA or RNA to make the protein that the immune system responds to. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/20/india-gives-emergency-approval-for-worlds-first-covid-19-dna-jab 22nd Aug 2021

As Covid-19 hospitalizations increase, a greater number of Americans are deciding to get vaccinated

CNN With an alarming rise in Covid19 cases and hospitalizations more Americans have recently made the decision to get vaccinated than in the last six weeks. More than 1 million doses of the vaccine were reported administered Thursday new US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showed marking the first time since early July for the singleday change in reported doses. The average pace of those initiating vaccination is more than 70 higher than one month ago. https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/20/health/us-coronavirus-friday/index.html 20th Aug 2021

COVID-19 vaccine trial volunteers say they're being punished by coronavirus passport schemes

Sky News People taking part in coronavirus vaccine trials tell Sky News they have been unable to get COVID passes and face difficulties travelling in Europe because the jabs they received are not recognised. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-vaccine-trial-volunteers-say-theyre-being-punished-by-coronavirus-passport-schemes-12386155 22nd Aug 2021

Coronavirus Australia: Vaccinated Australians to be allowed back into pubs, restaurants and gyms

Daily Mail Fully vaccinated NSW residents could soon be able to get the jump on lockdown. NSW preparing to introduce vaccine passport system when jab targets reached. Gladys Berejiklian is expected to unveil her socalled Freedom Plan next week. The proposal could see outdoor dining gyms and beer gardens open back up. But the jab passport plan is not likely to come into effect until early October https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9908619/Coronavirus-Australia-Vaccinated-Australians-allowed-pubs-restaurants-gyms.html 20th Aug 2021

Classrooms in England to get air quality monitors to help combat Covid

The Guardian Classrooms in England are to be fitted with air quality monitors when state schools and colleges reopen after the summer holidays in an effort improve ventilation and combat the spread of Covid. The decision announced by the education secretary Gavin Williamson comes after a vociferous campaign by school staff unions for better ventilation with research suggesting that the Covid virus mainly transmits via airborne particles making enclosed spaces likely breeding grounds for infection. Starting in September the Department for Education DfE will spend 25m on providing 300000 CO2 monitors to alert staff and students if CO2 levels rise meaning that fresh air is failing to circulate. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/aug/21/classrooms-england-monitor-air-quality-effort-combat-covid-better-ventilation 21st Aug 2021

San Francisco's new rule: Proof of vaccine or no dining in

ABC News San Francisco became the first major city in the nation to require proof of full vaccination against COVID19 on Friday for people dining inside restaurants working out in gyms or attending indoor concerts https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/vaccine-checks-beginning-san-francisco-eateries-bars-79554364 22nd Aug 2021

South Korea to get more Moderna COVID shots in boost to vaccination effort

Reuters South Koreas health ministry said on Sunday that Moderna Inc will supply the country with 7.01 million doses of coronavirus vaccines by the first week of September following a government request to speed up delivery. Some 1.01 million doses are expected to arrive on Monday the ministry said with another 6 million to be supplied sequentially. Moderna delivered 1.3 million doses earlier this month. It had at the time informed South Korea that it would only be able to deliver less than half the 8.5 million doses it had been due to ship in August. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-get-more-moderna-covid-shots-boost-vaccination-effort-2021-08-22/ 22nd Aug 2021

UK travel restrictions for Covid-19 should be tougher, most voters think as 38% back fourth lockdown in future

iNews Most Britons want the Government to impose tougher restrictions at the UKs border to stop Covid19 cases and new variants being imported from abroad a new survey has revealed. The poll for i by Redfield Wilton Strategies suggests that fewer that one in 10 people have travelled abroad for a summer holiday this year. It also shows that nearly 38 per cent of people would be prepared to support a fourth nationwide lockdown if the pressure on hospital from coronavirus cases reaches similar levels to the previous peaks. https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/uk-travel-restrictions-covid-19-should-be-tougher-most-voters-back-fourth-lockdown-1160712 22nd Aug 2021

UK scientists look at reducing boosters to save vaccine for rest of the world

The Guardian Scientists in Britain are examining whether smaller doses of Covid vaccine could be used as part of booster programmes amid hopes that the approach could also increase the supply of jabs across the world. The use of socalled fractional doses has been proposed as a way of ensuring that precious supplies can immunise as many people as possible in parts of the world where there are shortages while still providing high levels of protection from the virus. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/22/uk-scientists-look-at-halving-boosters-to-save-vaccine-for-rest-of-the-world 22nd Aug 2021

Coronavirus Australia: Scott Morrison backs NSW plan to end lockdown at 70- 80 per cent vaccination

Daily Mail NSW Premiers plans to end lockdown at 80 per cent vaccination backed by PM State could reopen when it reaches magic milestone even if cases remain high New modelling suggests lifting lockdown with high cases wont make difference Mr Morrison says its inevitable cases will rise once Australia starts to reopen https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9915609/Coronavirus-Australia-Scott-Morrison-backs-NSW-plan-end-lockdown-70-80-cent-vaccination.html 22nd Aug 2021

Lockdowns or vaccines? 3 Pacific nations try diverging paths

The Associated Press Cheryl Simpson was supposed to be celebrating her 60th birthday over lunch with friends but instead found herself confined to her Auckland home. The discovery of a single local COVID19 case in New Zealand was enough for the government to put the entire country into strict lockdown this past week. While others might see that as draconian New Zealanders generally support such measures because they worked so well in the past. Im happy to go into lockdown even though I dont like it said Simpson owner of a day care center for dogs that is now closed because of the precautions. She said she wants the country to crush the latest outbreak Id like to knock the bloody thing on the head. https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-b85fc82e35f50fbe0bb8283f45a30de0 22nd Aug 2021

South Africans form long queues as COVID-19 jabs opened to all adults

Reuters South Africans formed queues hundreds of metres long to get their COVID19 shots on Friday after the government made vaccinations available to all adults in order to hasten a rollout beset by challenges and delays. South Africa has been battered by three coronavirus waves infecting at least 2.65 million people killing 78000 by far the continents worst toll and pummelling an already struggling economy with lockdowns and travel restrictions. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africans-form-long-queues-covid-19-jabs-opened-all-adults-2021-08-20/ 20th Aug 2021

Police arrest hundreds of protesters as Australia reports record COVID-19 cases

Reuters Australian police arrested hundreds of antilockdown protesters in Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday and seven officers were hospitalised as a result of clashes as the country saw its highest ever singleday rise in COVID19 cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sydney-police-crack-down-planned-anti-lockdown-protest-2021-08-21/ 22nd Aug 2021

Vaccine resistance in the military remains strong, a dilemma for Pentagon as mandate looms

The Washington Post The Pentagons effort to mandate coronavirus vaccination for all 1.3 million activeduty service members will continue to face resistance from a segment of the force troops and observers say until military leaders devise an effective strategy for countering pervasive doubt about the pandemics seriousness and widespread misinformation about the shots designed to bring it under control. When Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced earlier this month that he would seek to require inoculation no later than midSeptember Pentagon data showed that thousands of personnel about onethird of the force remained unvaccinated. President Biden quickly endorsed the move. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/08/21/vaccine-mandate-pentagon/ 22nd Aug 2021

‘Unmute us’: Marchers demand return of Dutch music festivals

The Associated Press Dutch music fans have been banned for months from going to largescale festivals due to coronavirus restrictions. On Saturday the festivals came to them. Hundreds of performers and festival organizers held marches through six Dutch cities on Saturday to protest what they argue are unfair restrictions that have forced the cancellation of summer music festivals and other events. Thousands of people attended one of the Unmute Us marches in Amsterdam walking and dancing behind a convoy of trucks carrying DJs and sound systems pumping out music. https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-music-health-arts-and-entertainment-a49e01561edc13641b1079dd2145fda6 21st Aug 2021

French protesters rally against COVID health pass

AlJazeera Thousands of people have marched in cities across France to protest the COVID19 health pass that is now required to access restaurants and cafes cultural venues sports arenas and longdistance travel. For a sixth straight weekend opponents on Saturday denounced what they see as a restriction of their freedom. Many criticised the measure claiming the French government was implicitly making vaccines obligatory and unfairly restricting the rights of the unvaccinated. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/21/french-virus-health-pass-in-full-use-but-protests-continue 21st Aug 2021

The Big-Government-Conservative War on Masks

The Atlantic Crises have the power to expose tensions within ideologies and the current pandemic has made some of those in contemporary American conservatism vividly apparent. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/08/big-government-conservative-vaccines-masks/619792/ 20th Aug 2021

New Zealand PM Ardern extends nationwide COVID-19 lockdown

Reuters Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended New Zealands strict nationwide coronavirus lockdown on Friday saying the full extent of the Delta outbreak was still unknown. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-pm-ardern-extends-nationwide-covid-19-lockdown-2021-08-20/ 20th Aug 2021

Australian PM Morrison defends lockdown strategy as daily cases hit record

Reuters Australia will stick to its lockdown strategy against the coronavirus until at least 70 of its population is fully vaccinated but after that it will have to start living with the virus Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-pm-morrison-defends-lockdown-strategy-until-majority-vaccinated-2021-08-21/ 22nd Aug 2021

UK regulator approves ‘first of its kind’ Covid antibody treatment

The Guardian The antibody cocktail used to treat Donald Trump for Covid has been approved by the UKs medicines regulator becoming the first treatment in Britain using artificial antibodies to tackle the virus. The drug developed by the US biotech company Regeneron has received the backing of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA. Clinical trials showed it helped to prevent Covid infection as well as to reduce the risk of hospitalisation or symptoms in severe cases when given soon after exposure. Known as Ronapreve it is the first artificial antibody drug of its type to be approved in the UK which was hailed by the health secretary Sajid Javid as fantastic news. Javid said he hoped it could be available for NHS patients as soon as possible. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/20/uk-approves-rollout-covid-antibody-treatment-ronapreve-clinical-trials 20th Aug 2021

J&J applies for COVID-19 vaccine study in Indian adolescents

Reuters Johnson Johnson has sought approval from Indian drug regulators to conduct a study of its COVID19 vaccine among 12 to 17yearolds the company said on Friday. Conducting vaccine clinical trials among adolescents is imperative to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus JJ said in an emailed statement. The U.S. pharma giant had received emergency use https://www.reuters.com/world/india/jj-applies-covid-19-vaccine-study-indian-adolescents-2021-08-20/ 20th Aug 2021

COVID-19: Antibody testing programme to be rolled out across the UK for COVID positive people

Sky News An antibody testing programme for people who have tested positive for COVID19 is to be launched across the UK. The governments new programme is intended to produce data on antibody protections for people following infection by different coronavirus variants. From Tuesday anyone aged 18 or over in England Wales Northern Ireland and Scotland will be able to opt in to the programme when receiving a PCR test. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-antibody-testing-programme-to-be-launched-uk-wide-12387201 22nd Aug 2021

Russian developer ready to launch clinical trials of nasal spray coronavirus vaccine

TASS Researchers at Russias Gamaleya Center have completed preclinical trials of a nasal spray coronavirus vaccine and are ready to launch clinical trials the centers Director Alexander Gintsburg told TASS. There has been serious progress made in terms of the nasal spray vaccine preclinical trials are over. We are ready to move on to clinical trials he said. According to Gintsburg the nasal spray vaccine consists of the second component of the Sputnik V vaccine. The Gamaleya Centers director said earlier that clinical trials could begin in late 2021 or early 2022 and the vaccine was expected to be approved in 2022. https://tass.com/society/1328565 22nd Aug 2021

US officials reviewing possibility Moderna vaccine is linked to higher risk of uncommon side effect than previously thought

The Washington Post Modernas coronavirus vaccine for adolescents has yet to be authorized by federal health officials in part because they are investigating emerging reports that the shots may be associated with a higher risk of a heart condition in younger adults than previously believed according to two people familiar with the review who emphasized the side effect still probably remains very uncommon. The investigation which involves the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is focusing on Canadian data that suggests the Moderna vaccine may carry a higher risk of myocarditis for young people than the PfizerBioNTech vaccine especially for males below the age of 30 or so. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/19/moderna-vaccine-myocarditis/ 22nd Aug 2021

Why the Philippines' long lockdowns couldn't contain covid-19

The BMJ The Philippines has been under some form of lockdown or strict quarantine for 17 continuous months yet it finds itself with thousands of cases a day. Patricia Denise M Chiu asks why. In August 2020 the Philippines already under quarantine measures involving shuttered businesses enforced curfew hours and limited access to basic supplies was at a crossroads. Overwhelmed by quickly filling intensive care units amid rising cases of covid19 the countrys healthcare workforce had had enough. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2063 20th Aug 2021

AstraZeneca says prospect of COVID-19 drug success underscores value of vaccine ops

Reuters An AstraZeneca executive said the prospect of offering a new treatment to prevent COVID19 could position the British drugmaker as a supplier of both vaccines and drugs which guard against the infectious disease. The remarks by executive Mene Pangalos on Friday after antibody drug AZD7442 was shown to prevent COVID19 in a trial came after another leading executive Ruud Dobber said last month that different options were being explored for the vaccine operations which stem from a collaboration with Oxford University https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/astrazeneca-says-prospect-covid-19-drug-success-underscores-value-vaccine-ops-2021-08-20/ 20th Aug 2021

'We mustn't take our eye off the ball': Scientist warns Covid could come 'roaring back' as he calls for 'strategic' booster jabs

The Guardian Virologist Dr Chris Smith has warned Britain not to take its eye off the ball. The lecturer said that any decision made on booster jabs should not be rushed. So far the UKs vaccination drive has seen around 34 adults receive two doses https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9914327/We-not-eye-ball-Covid-roar-warns-expert.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailUK 21st Aug 2021

S.Korea says Russia's CoviVac COVID-19 vaccine seeks regulatory approval -drug safety ministry

Reuters South Korea on Friday said Russias COVID19 vaccine CoviVac has applied for preliminary regulatory approval the countrys drug safety ministry said in a statement. South Korea has not yet announced plans to make any purchases of CoviVac the ministry said. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-says-russias-covivac-covid-19-vaccine-seeks-regulatory-approval-drug-2021-08-20/ 20th Aug 2021

England’s Covid R rate jumps to a high of 1.2

Evening Standard Englands coronavirus reproduction number has risen to between 0.9 and 1.2 in the latest Government figures. R represents the average number of people each Covid19 positive person goes onto infect with the virus. Every 10 people who have coronavirus will infect between 9 and 12 others when the R number is between 0.9 and 1.2. The R value has begun to climb in England as Mondays saw selfisolation rules for doublejabbed Britons relaxed. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/covid-r-rate-england-coronavirus-b951633.html?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1629468209-2 20th Aug 2021

English schools told to delay seeking help with small Covid outbreaks

The Guardian Universities schools and nurseries in England have been advised to delay seeking help in dealing with Covid19 outbreaks until a cluster involving as many as 10 of staff students or children have contracted the virus. A new contingency framework issued by the Department for Education DfE to all education settings in England ranging from universities and colleges to afterschool tuition and youth clubs advises that preventive measures such as wearing masks or remote learning should be used only after discussion with public health officers once a threshold of infections has been reached. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/aug/19/english-schools-told-to-delay-seeking-help-with-small-covid-outbreaks 20th Aug 2021

Rev Jesse Jackson in hospital with Covid-19

The Guardian The Rev Jesse Jackson the civil rights leader and twotime presidential candidate and his wife have been hospitalised after testing positive for Covid19 according to a statement.He and his wife 77 were being treated at Northwestern memorial hospital in Chicago said his nonprofit RainbowPush Coalition. Jesse Jackson 79 is vaccinated against the virus and received his first dose in January during a publicised event as he urged others to do so as soon as possible. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/22/rev-jesse-jackson-in-hospital-with-covid-19 22nd Aug 2021

Louisiana sees 'astronomical' number of new Covid-19 cases, governor says

CNN With the continued spread of the more infectious Delta variant health and elected officials warned that hospitals across the country are reaching critical levels of Covid19 patients especially in areas with lower vaccination rates. Overall hospitalizations are continuing to increase across Alabama as the pandemic of unvaccinated people continues state health officer Dr. Scott Harris said on Friday. Alabama hospitals have a negative capacity of ICU beds available he said and the state is seeing the highest number of Covid19 cases among children than at any other time during the pandemic. https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/21/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html 22nd Aug 2021

Child Covid-19 hospitalizations soar, filling pediatric wings, data show

NBC News Two weeks ago only two or three children a day would come into Dr. Nick Hysmiths hospital in Memphis Tennessee with Covid19 usually ones who were admitted for other reasons like broken bones. This week he is seeing as many as 28 children under 18 a day some of them landing in the intensive care unit. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/child-covid-19-hospitalizations-new-high-august-2021-n1277119 20th Aug 2021

Thailand reaches 1 million COVID-19 cases, plans vaccine boosters

Reuters Thailands passed the 1 million mark in coronavirus cases on Friday 97 of which were recorded in the past five months as the country struggles to boost vaccinations and get on top of one of Asias most severe COVID19 outbreaks. Authorities on Friday reported 19851 cases and 240 fatalities taking total confirmed infections past 1 million and deaths to 8826 a death ratio of 0.87 of confirmed cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-reaches-1-million-covid-19-cases-2021-08-20/ 20th Aug 2021

Panic buying in Vietnam's largest city before tighter COVID-19 lockdown

Reuters Vietnams plan to prohibit residents of Ho Chi Minh City from leaving their homes from Monday has triggered panic buying in the epicentre of its worst coronavirus outbreak. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/panic-buying-vietnams-largest-city-before-tighter-covid-19-lockdown-2021-08-21/ 22nd Aug 2021

Jamaica to have days of lockdown to tame coronavirus spread

Reuters Jamaica will prohibit residents from leaving their homes for seven days spread over three weekends to contain an upsurge in coronavirus infections and shield its healthcare system Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. The Caribbean nation has been battling a third wave of infections with the presence of the highly contagious Delta variant confirmed on the island. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/jamaica-have-days-lockdown-tame-coronavirus-spread-2021-08-20/ 20th Aug 2021

Sri Lanka announces lockdown as coronavirus cases surge; president to address nation

Reuters Sri Lanka announced a 10day lockdown starting on Friday night in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus as surging infections and deaths overwhelm the islands health system. The Indian Ocean nation recorded its highest singleday death toll of 187 and 3793 cases on Wednesday. Nationwide Lockdown in effect from 10pm today 2008 to Monday 3008. All essential services will function as normal Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said on Twitter. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lankans-seek-full-covid-lockdown-ahead-presidents-address-2021-08-20/ 20th Aug 2021