16th Nov 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=540 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Ministers are set to require three vaccinations from those eligible for booster jabs in order to qualify as being fully vaccinated in areas where people must prove their status such as travel or avoiding mandatory isolation. Downing Street sources said the intention was to end up in a place where three jabs rather than two was the requirement to obtain a Covid pass showing full vaccination though currently only over40s are eligible for the booster. If the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI continues to recommend boosters for all adults six months after their second jab then the requirement could be in place in England by the early spring. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/15/no-10-plans-booster-jab-requirement-for-people-to-obtain-covid-pass 16th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times As temperatures drop and coronavirus infections spike across Europe some countries are introducing increasingly targeted restrictions against the unvaccinated who are driving another wave of contagion and putting economic recoveries public health and an eventual return to prepandemic freedoms at risk. On Monday Austria set a new bar for such measures in the West. Facing a 134 percent increase in cases in the last two weeks the Austrian government cracked down on its unvaccinated population over the age of 12 restricting their movement to traveling for work school buying groceries and medical care. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/15/world/europe/europe-austria-covid-lockdown-unvaccinated-restrictions.html 16th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC advised against travel to the Czech Republic Hungary and Iceland because of a rising number of COVID19 cases in those countries. The CDC raised its travel recommendation to Level Four Very High for the three countries telling Americans they should avoid travel there. The CDC separately lowered its COVID19 travel advisory to Level One Low for Japan India Pakistan Liberia Gambia and Mozambique. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-cdc-raises-covid-19-travel-warnings-czech-republic-hungary-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson left the door open to another coronavirus lockdown this winter warning that people must get their Covid19 vaccinations and booster doses to avoid fresh restrictions. A new wave of Covid19 is spreading across Europe and forcing governments to reimpose tougher rules Johnson said at a televised press conference on Monday. History shows we cannot afford to be complacent. Asked directly about the possibility of another lockdown this Christmas Johnson replied that there is nothing in the current data that signaled the need for restrictions but warned clearly we cannot rule anything out. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-15/johnson-warns-new-u-k-lockdown-not-ruled-out-as-nhs-struggles 15th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Associated Press The rollout of COVID19 shots for elementaryage children has exposed another blind spot in the nations efforts to address pandemic inequalities Health systems have released little data on the racial breakdown of youth vaccinations and community leaders fear that Black and Latino kids are falling behind. Only a handful of states have made public data on COVID19 vaccinations by race and age and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not compile racial breakdowns either. Despite the lack of hard data public health officials and medical professionals are mindful of disparities and have been reaching out to communities of color to overcome vaccine hesitancy. That includes going into schools messaging in other languages deploying mobile vaccine units and emphasizing to skeptical parents that the shots are safe and powerfully effective. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-race-and-ethnicity-pandemics-public-health-health-2c74b6c279d1ebd505446c6c78176ac5 15th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Sky News People in Wales will now have to prove they are fully vaccinated or have had a negative lateral flow test to visit theatres cinemas and concert halls after the existing NHS COVID Pass scheme was widened. Proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID19 test in the previous 48 hours has been a requirement to enter nightclubs and similar venues in the nation since 11 October. But the Welsh Parliament has now extended the rules to cover cinemas theatres and concert halls in response to a high level of COVID19 cases across the country. The guidance on selfisolation had also changed and people are being encouraged to work from home to help bring the coronavirus under control. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-vaccine-certificates-now-needed-to-visit-theatres-cinemas-and-concert-halls-in-wales-12468983 15th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Thousands of children in the Philippines returned to school on Monday for the first time in nearly two years kicking off a pilot scheme to resume facetoface learning after the pandemic disrupted the education of 27 million students. A hundred public schools in lowerrisk areas are holding classes in person for a twomonth pilot run with the reopening of more dependent on vaccination rates and a sustained decline in COVID19 cases. The Philippines which had imposed some of the worlds longest lockdowns is among the last countries to reopen schools in stark contrast to many western countries. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-starts-reopen-schools-after-20-month-coronavirus-closure-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera India began allowing fully vaccinated foreign tourists to enter the country on regular commercial flights in the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions as infections fall and vaccinations rise. Tourists entering India starting on Monday must be fully vaccinated follow all COVID19 protocols and test negative for the virus within 72 hours of their flight according to the health ministry. Many will also need to undergo a postarrival COVID19 test at the airport. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/11/15/india-opens-to-fully-vaccinated-foreign-tourists 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

BBC News The Irish government is said to be moving towards a recommendation that digital Covid certificates will be required in gyms and hairdressers. A decision on the issue is likely at the cabinets ongoing Covid19 subcommittee meeting. If agreed it would then go to Cabinet for approval on Tuesday. There is also set to be an antigen testing system introduced in schools and a subsidy provided to encourage people to use the tests generally. Mask wearing in both indoor and outdoor crowded areas is also likely to be recommended according to RT. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59288449 16th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal Freight transportation companies are cautiously stepping around a Covid19 vaccination requirement while trade groups fight the federal mandate in court. Companies including United Parcel Service Inc. Amazon.com Inc. and others that manage warehouse staffers truck drivers and other employees across logistics networks in general arent requiring employees outside of some office workers to get vaccinated against Covid19. Many firms say they are encouraging staffers to get vaccinated while mandating protection measures in workplaces. The federal mandate which is slated to go into effect Jan. 4 exempts workers who are exclusively outdoors and dont report to a workplace where they interact with others. So it may leave out many truck drivers but not the office and warehouse workers who help move goods from factories to stores and residences. https://www.wsj.com/articles/many-logistics-firms-are-avoiding-covid-19-vaccine-requirements-amid-u-s-mandate-debate-11636583182 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

South China Morning Post Advisory panel on Covid19 vaccines says three to 17yearolds can receive Sinovac shot. Local health authorities also suspect three Cathay Pacific pilots in Delta Plus cluster were infected during their stay in a German hotel https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3156072/coronavirus-parents-should-have-biontech-option 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

The Times of Israel The Tourism Ministry announced Monday that it was holding off on allowing in tourists inoculated with Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. Originally Israel said that it would start allowing visitors who received the Russiadeveloped shot starting November 15 but that move will now be postponed until December 1. Those inoculated with Sputnik V will be required to take a serological test to show the presence of antibodies as per the original decision. Israel began readmitting vaccinated tourists on November 1 but only those who had received vaccines approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. They are not required to undergo a serological test. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-delays-entry-of-tourists-vaccinated-with-russias-sputnik-v/ 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Sky News The possible introduction of further coronavirus restrictions this winter is in our hands Oliver Dowden has said. The Conservative Party cochairman told Skys Kay Burley that there are no plans or anything else to stop Christmas happening this year as the situation is different compared to 2020 because of the success of the vaccination rollout. But Mr Dowden warned that people must take up the offer of a booster jab when invited for one in order to keep the chances of further rules being introduced as low as possible. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-in-our-hands-whether-on-not-coronavirus-restrictions-will-return-over-winter-says-tory-party-co-chair-12469095 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Israel said on Sunday that children aged five to 11 would be eligible for vaccination against COVID19 and that a starting date for the campaign would be made public within days. The decision announced by the Health Ministry followed approval by its expert panel on vaccinations last week after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use of Pfizers PFE.N and BioNTechs vaccine for the age group at a 10microgram dose. The original shot given to those aged 12 and older is 30 micrograms. Pfizer and BioNTech have said their vaccine showed 90.7 efficacy against the coronavirus in a clinical trial of children aged five to 11. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-announces-5-11-year-olds-now-eligible-covid-19-vaccination-2021-11-14/ 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Already a favourite with summer holidaymakers Croatia is now seeing a surge in visitors from Russia seeking COVID19 shots. The number of flights from Russia has increased in recent weeks and its not unusual to hear Russian spoken at vaccination centres in the capital Zagreb. Foreigners like locals can get vaccines for free in Croatia. Just this month weve had about 1000 Russians who received vaccines. So far we have had altogether 4908 foreign citizens here most of whom are Russians said Neda Ferencic Vrban who heads Zagrebs biggest vaccination centre. https://www.reuters.com/world/russians-flock-croatia-search-eu-covid-shot-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he saw no need at the moment to move to a Plan B of mask mandates vaccine passes and work from home orders even though he was cautious of rising coronavirus cases in parts of Europe. read more. We dont see anything in the data at the moment to suggest that we need to go to Plan B Johnson said in a broadcast clip on Monday. Were sticking with Plan A. But what we certainly have got to recognise is there is a storm of infection out there in parts of Europe. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-johnson-says-no-need-move-covid-plan-b-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Australia Australia quickly becoming one of mostvaccinated nations against COVID19 will likely start administering the shots for children under the age of 12 in January officials said on Sunday. Health Minister Greg Hunt said medical regulators are still reviewing the health and safety data for the vaccinations to be administered for children between the ages of five and 11 and are unlikely to decide this year. The expectation that they have set is the first part of January hopefully early January Hunt told the Australian Broadcast Corps Insiders programme. But theyre going as quickly as possible. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/australia-aims-vaccinate-children-under-12-against-covid-19-january-2021-11-14/ 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Britains COVID19 booster vaccine rollout is to be extended to people aged between 40 and 49 officials said on Monday in a bid to boost waning immunity in the population ahead of the colder winter months. Currently all people aged 50 and above those who are clinically vulnerable and frontline health workers are eligible for boosters and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI said that the rollout would be extended. The advice comes as the UK Health Security Agency released data from a realworld study which found the booster gave over 90 protection against symptomatic COVID19 for people aged 50 and above. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-extend-covid-booster-rollout-over-40s-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Norway will offer a third COVID19 vaccine dose to everyone aged 18 and older and will give municipalities the option of using digital corona passes as a way to beat back a surge in COVID19 infections the government said on Friday. Norway has so far only given a third dose to those aged 65 and older. Everyone aged 18 and older will be offered a third dose next year Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a news conference. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/norway-plans-third-covid-19-vaccine-dose-all-adults-2021-11-12/ 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg Ngati Toa an indigenous tribe in New Zealand denounced a group of antivaccine protesters for performing a ceremonial Maori dance known as the Ka Mate haka during a demonstration in Wellington on November 9th. As the descendants of Te Rauparaha we insist that protesters stop using our taonga immediately said senior member of Ngati Toa Taku Parai in a statement on Radio Waatea this week. We do not support their position. Last week thousands gathered across New Zealand to protest Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns vaccine mandate which requires all healthcare and education workers be fully vaccinated. An estimated 3000 marched to the Wellington parliament building last Tuesday demanding an end to vaccine mandates and Covid 19 lockdowns. During those demonstrations some performed the Ka Mate haka a dance used before some rugby games. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-15/new-zealand-s-maori-ask-anti-vaccine-protesters-to-stop-using-ceremonial-dance 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Associated Press Federal workplace safety regulators announced Monday that they have reached an agreement with Smithfield Foods to settle a contested citation of the companys coronavirus safety measures during a massive outbreak last year at a South Dakota pork processing plant. Under the agreement Virginiabased Smithfield Foods will develop a plan to prevent infectious diseases at meatpacking plants nationwide and pay a 13500 fine. Smithfields Sioux Falls plant was one the nations worst COVID19 hotspots during the early days of the pandemic. By June 16 2020 four workers were dead and nearly 1300 had tested positive for the virus according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. After an investigation the federal agency said Smithfield did not do enough to space workers out or provide other safety measures such as face coverings or physical barriers. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-south-dakota-workplace-safety-sioux-falls-f89d2b552529fb9f97edc263d532257a 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Associated Press on MSN.com Alaska doctors plan to ask the State Medical Board to investigate concerns about the spread of misinformation about COVID19 vaccines and treatments by other physicians. Merijeanne Moore a private practice psychiatrist said she drafted the letter out of concern over an event about COVID19 treatments that featured prominent vaccine skeptics in Anchorage last month the Anchorage Daily News reported. Moore said Saturday that nearly 100 doctors had signed the letter and more could before she plans to submit the letter on Tuesday. We are writing out of concern that medical misinformation about the COVID19 vaccine and treatment is being spread in Alaska including by physicians the letter stated. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/alaska-doctors-seek-covid-19-misinformation-investigation/ar-AAQJyJP 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Washington Post With Thanksgiving approaching infections high or on the rise in many parts of the country and the vaccines now widely available to children family breaches over immunization status are reaching new levels of rancor and intensity. Summer is over and fall is ending seasons when many gatherings could be held outdoors. Now American families must simultaneously confront the time of year when all respiratory viruses spread most easily and the challenge posed by loved ones who have rejected the best way to protect themselves and others from a respiratory virus that has claimed more than 750000 lives in the United States. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/11/15/families-covid-vaccines-thanksgiving-fights/ 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Antivaccine protesters in New Zealand have been told to stop using the ka mate haka by the tribe who have ownership of it. The haka a Mori war dance made internationally famous by its performance by the All Blacks at rugby matches is considered a cultural treasure or taonga in New Zealand. It was performed last week by antivaccination and freedom protesters who marched in their thousands to parliament. Ngti Toa the tribe that has legal guardianship of the ka mate haka said on Monday that it condemns the use of the Ka Mate haka to push and promote antiCovid19vaccination messages and request that antivaccination and antimandate protesters cease the use of Ka Mate at their protests immediately. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/15/maori-tribe-tells-anti-covid-vaccine-protesters-to-stop-using-its-haka 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Medical experts are speaking out against Covid19 vaccine detoxes that some inaccurately claim can remove the effects of vaccinations received under mandates and other public health rulings. In one TikTok video that has received hundreds of thousands of views Carrie Madej an osteopath based in Georgia falsely claims a bath containing baking soda epsom salts and the cleaning agent borax will detox the vaxx from anyone who has received a jab. Experts say such a bath could irritate the skin and eyes but will not remove the effects of a Covid vaccine. In Kansas Dana Hawkinson medical director of infection prevention and control for the state university health system told the Kansas City Star borax was potentially caustic and harmful. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/14/covid-vaccine-mandate-detox-borax-bath 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters A Mori tribe that claims New Zealands most famous haka as its heritage on Monday told antivaccine protesters to stop using the traditional performance to promote their message. Vaccine protesters have performed the Ka Mate a Mori haka composed in about 1820 by Te Rauparaha war leader of the Ngti Toa tribe at their rallies over the past few weeks against vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions. We do not support their position and we do not want our tupuna or our iwi associated with their messages the Ngati Toa tribe or iwi in Mori said in a statement referring to the tribes ancestry or tupuna. Our message to protesters who wish to use Ka Mate is to use a different haka. We do not endorse the use of Ka Mate for this purpose. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealands-mori-ask-anti-vaccine-protesters-stop-using-haka-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters Florida lawmakers will meet in a special legislative session Monday called by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis with the goal of thwarting coronavirus vaccine mandates. In a weeklong session the lawmakers largely dominated by the Republican party are slated to consider four bills that would impose new penalties on businesses and local governments that require workers to get vaccinated against COVID19 according to the agenda released last week by the governors office. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/florida-lawmakers-meet-special-session-over-vaccine-mandates-2021-11-14/ 15th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters Several thousand people rallied in Melbourne against new vaccination mandates on Saturday with a few comparing the state government to Nazis and calling for violence against politicians local media said. In Australia where 83 of people aged 16 and above have been fully inoculated against the coronavirus nationwide vaccinations are voluntary. But states and territories have mandated vaccinations for many occupations and barred the unvaccinated from activities such as dining out and concerts. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-vaccine-mandate-protesters-compare-state-govt-nazis-media-2021-11-13/ 15th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg The U.K. is expanding its Covid19 booster program to younger people as the country seeks to head off another wave of infections this winter. A third vaccine dose will be available to people aged 40 to 49 starting six months after their second shot the government said Monday. Previously only those over 50 and other vulnerable groups were eligible. So far more than 12 million people have received a booster. The government is also recommending a second shot of the Pfizer Inc.BioNTech SE vaccine for 16 and 17yearolds. That inoculation will be given at least 12 weeks after the initial dose or a Covid infection whichever is later. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-15/u-k-expands-covid-19-booster-program-to-people-in-their-40s?utm_source=google&amputm_medium=bd&ampcmpId=google 15th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Business Insider Novavax Inc. NVAX said that SK bioscience has summited a biologics license application for NVXCoV2373 the first proteinbased COVID19 vaccine candidate to South Koreas Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. NVXCoV2373 is Novavax recombinant nanoparticle COVID19 vaccine with MatrixM adjuvant. In collaboration with Novavax SK bioscience initiated the rolling submission process for NVXCoV2373 to South Koreas Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in April of this year. The completion of a BLA submission to the agency marks the final review stage for authorization of NVXCoV2373 in Korea. https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/novavax-sk-bioscience-submits-bla-for-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-nvx-cov2373-to-south-korea-mfds-1030976761 15th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Spains medicines agency has authorised Cataloniabased pharmaceutical group Hipra to test a COVID19 vaccine it is developing on more than 1000 volunteers Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday. Hipra will carry out the socalled Phase II trial the second stage of a threeround trial process on volunteers at 10 hospitals around Spain Sanchez said. Speaking at an event to present how European Union recovery funds will be channelled into health investments Sanchez described the vaccine development as extraordinary news. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/spains-regulator-authorises-phase-ii-trial-spanish-covid-19-vaccine-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News Cue the collective sigh of relief from many parents across the country. While the PfizerBioNTech Covid19 vaccine has been available for children ages 12 and up since midSeptember as of now 28 million even younger schoolage children between the ages of 5 and 11 are eligible to receive it. As an emergency medicine physician and a parent that reassures me. As a member of the global community it gives me hope well soon return to some level of normalcy. I acknowledge the personal decision of some parents who dont want their kids to be vaccinated. Yet as someone whose own children were part of the vaccines clinical trials I feel compelled to share the story of why my wife and I felt confident making that decision with them and what vaccinating younger children will mean for the fate of the pandemic. https://www.statnews.com/2021/11/15/two-emergency-physicians-kids-took-part-in-pfizer-covid-vaccine-trials/ 15th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News The past two months have brought extremely good news in the fight against Covid19. Two different oral treatments have proved effective at both preventing people newly diagnosed with Covid19 from entering the hospital and from dying. Were accelerating our path out of this pandemic President Biden said after data on the second Covid pill became available. The wide availability of oral drugs could make Covid19 less lethal making it less risky for people to return to inperson work and to their normal lives. The first results from Merck and Ridgeback Therapeutics were released in October and will be considered by an advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration in December. That could lead to an emergency use authorization in the U.S. by the end of the year. That drug molnupiravir reduced hospitalizations by 50 and prevented deaths entirely a large randomized clinical trial when it was given within five days of when symptoms began. The pill is given as a fiveday course during which patients take a total of 40 pills. https://www.statnews.com/2021/11/15/8-lingering-questions-about-the-new-covid-pills-from-merck-and-pfizer/ 15th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP A US metaanalysis and systematic review of data on 4.3 million patients analyzed in 68 cohort and crosssectional studies shows that relative to White people Black Hispanic and Asian populations were at higher risk for COVID19 infection and admission to an intensive care unit ICU but were less likely to die of the disease. The study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open was designed to uncover the link between socioeconomic determinants of health and racial disparities in COVID19 outcomes. A team led by University of California at San Diego researchers searched for COVID19 studies that included data on race and rates of infection disease severity and socioeconomic status published from Jan 1 2020 to Jan 6 2021 well before the more transmissible Delta B1617.2 variant was predominant in the United States. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/11/non-white-race-tied-higher-risk-covid-infection-severity 12th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnologys COVID19 antibody drug sotrovimab already bears an FDA emergency use authorization EUA as an infusion. Now the pair hopes to win the same status for an intramuscular formulation. The latest plan comes as a phase 3 trial showed sotrovimab also known as Xevudy delivered similar efficacy between intramuscular and intravenous administration routes in nonhospitalized mild to moderate COVID patients who are at high risk of disease progression. The IM administration group recorded a 2.7 rate of progression to hospitalization for over 24 hours or death through Day 29 of the trial versus 1.3 in the IV arm the two companies reported Friday from the COMETTAIL study. The adjusted difference of 1.07 falls within the noninferiority bar GSK and Vir previously set with the FDA. https://www.fiercepharma.com/drug-delivery/glaxosmithkline-vir-target-emergency-authorization-for-intramuscular-covid-19 12th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma Nearly a full year after the U.S. gave Regenerons antibody cocktail for COVID19 patients emergency authorization Europe is on the verge of approving the monoclonal antibody duo. The European Medicines Agencys EMAs committee for human medicines also has recommended another antibody treatment for approval Celltrions regdanvimab. The EMAs Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has passed the recommendations to the European Commission for approval. The Regeneron cocktail of casirivimab and imdevimab which is marketed outside of the U.S. by Roche and known commercially as Ronapreve is recommended for COVID19 patients who do not require supplemental oxygen and are at risk to progress to a severe form of the disease. It also is recommended for use as postexposure prophylaxis. While the recommendations cover all adults they also include adolescents 12 years or older weighing at least 40 kilograms or roughly 88 pounds. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/late-to-party-europe-finally-verge-approving-antibodies-for-covid-19 12th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Washington Post The three big cats delighted visitors to the Nebraska zoo for years pouncing on pumpkins during Halloween preening for pictures and lounging on rocks in their enclosure. The Lincoln Childrens Zoo has described the snow leopards as silly bubbly and handsome. They were one of the zoos main attractions delivering a dose of mountain majesty to the Great Plains. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2021/11/14/snow-leopard-death-covid/ 15th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters China is battling the spread of its biggest COVID19 outbreak caused by the Delta variant according to numbers announced on Monday with travellers from a city where infections have grown faster than elsewhere in the country subject to tough quarantine rules in nearby areas. Chinese authorities said 32 new domestically transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms have been reported for Nov. 14 most of which were in northeastern Dalian city. That brings the tally of local cases since Oct. 17 to 1308 Reuters calculations based on official data showed surpassing the 1280 local cases from a summer Delta outbreak. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-faces-biggest-delta-outbreak-infections-grow-northeastern-city-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Russia on Monday reported 1211 deaths from COVID19 in the last 24 hours close to an alltime high of 1241 reported last week as well as 38420 new coronavirus cases. Most of Russias 80plus regions lifted a weeklong workplace shutdown at the beginning of last week that was designed to curb a surge in case numbers. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/russias-daily-covid-19-deaths-close-record-high-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Dutch hospitals are feeling the strain from a surge in COVID19 patients but the worst has yet to come the head of the countrys hospital association said on Monday. The number of COVID19 patients in Dutch hospitals increased to around 2000 on Monday including almost 400 in intensive care reaching the highest level since May. With almost 250 new admissions every day the hospitals are set to pass last winters peak of around 2800 coronavirus patients in little over a week the LNAZ associations head Ernst Kuipers told lawmakers. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pressure-dutch-hospitals-mounts-covid-cases-break-records-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Germanys coronavirus infection rate has risen to its highest level since the start of the pandemic public health figures showed on Monday as the three parties in talks to form a new government plan an expansion of measures to tackle the pandemic. The sevenday incidence rate the number of people per 100000 to be infected over the last week rose to 303 from 289 the previous day figures from the Robert Koch Institute showed on Monday. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-coronavirus-infections-hit-new-high-tighter-measures-planned-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Associated Press The Navajo Nation has reported 89 more confirmed cases of COVID19 and one additional death. The tribe released its latest coronavirusrelated figures Sunday. Due to a technical issue Navajo health officials did not have a new total for the number of cases. But at last count there have been 38479 new cases. The known death toll is now 1514. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez visited the Indian Health Service COVID19 vaccination site in Chinle Arizona on Sunday. He thanked health care workers who administered vaccines and booster shots to adults and children. The tribe has maintained a mask mandate through most of the pandemic. Other vaccination opportunities are available at health care facilities on the reservation that covers 27000 square miles 70000 square kilometers and also stretches into southern Utah. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-arizona-health-fa6b9e9c2527baa9d1cab6f138378fd6 15th Nov 2021

New Lockdown

Daily Mail Streets of Rotterdam were quiet and empty tonight following introduction of rules closing nightlife by 8pm. Around 200 protestors clashed with riot police and were blasted with a water cannon in The Hague on Friday. It comes as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the return of a partial Covid lockdown in the country. Bars restaurants shops will close from 8pm and social distancing measures are set to be reimposed https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10199603/Streets-Netherlands-deserted-curfew-comes-in.html 15th Nov 2021

New Lockdown

Reuters Austria imposed a lockdown on people unvaccinated against the coronavirus on Monday as winter approaches and infections rise across Europe with Germany considering tighter curbs and Britain expanding its booster programme to younger adults. Europe has again become the epicentre of the pandemic prompting some countries to consider reintroducing restrictions in the runup to Christmas and stirring debate over whether vaccines alone are enough to tame COVID19. The disease spreads more easily in the winter months when people gather inside. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austria-locks-down-unvaccinated-covid-cases-rise-across-europe-2021-11-15/ 15th Nov 2021

New Lockdown

The Associated Press Austria took what its leader called the dramatic step Monday of implementing a nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated people who havent recently had COVID19 perhaps the most drastic of a string of measures being taken by European governments to get a massive regional resurgence of the virus under control. The move which took effect at midnight prohibits people 12 and older who havent been vaccinated or recently recovered from leaving their homes except for basic activities such as working grocery shopping going to school or university or for a walk or getting vaccinated. The lockdown is initially being imposed until Nov. 24 in the Alpine country of 8.9 million. It doesnt apply to children under 12 because they cannot yet officially get vaccinated though the capital Vienna on Monday opened up vaccinations for under12s as part of a pilot project and reported high demand. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-europe-austria-health-328073e5652a6b639123db72e985a201 15th Nov 2021