16th Feb 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=601 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg President Xi Jinping called for all necessary measures to get Hong Kongs virus outbreak under control an unusually direct intervention that leaves the citys leaders even less room to deviate from Chinas Covid Zero policy. The Chinese leader said Chief Executive Carrie Lams government should make stabilizing the Covid19 situation its top priority the staterun Wen Wei Po newspaper reported Wednesday without saying where it got the information. The message came a day after Lam said she had no plans for a citywide lock down while acknowledging the omicron outbreak had overwhelmed officials capacity to respond. Hong Kongs government must take up the main responsibility to stabilize and control the pandemic as soon as possible as a mission that overrides everything mobilize all available forces and resource and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and health of Hong Kongs citizens and the stability of Hong Kongs society Xi said according to Wen Wei Po. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-16/xi-says-hong-kong-should-tackle-covid-by-all-means-report-says 15th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Belgian employees will be able to work a fourday week after the government on Tuesday agreed a new labour accord aimed at bringing flexibility to an otherwise rigid labour market. Speaking after his sevenparty coalition federal government reached a deal overnight Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the coronavirus pandemic had forced people to work more flexibly and combine their private and working lives. This has led to new ways of working he told a press conference. Employees who request it will be able to work up to 10 hours per day if trade unions agree instead of the maximum 8 now in order to work one day less per week for the same pay. https://www.reuters.com/business/belgium-permits-four-day-week-boost-work-flexibility-post-covid-2022-02-15/ 16th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Washington Post D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser is dropping the citys requirement that people show proof of coronavirus vaccination before entering many businesses in the city as coronavirus transmission continues to trend downward throughout the region. The Districts requirement for residents to show proof of vaccination to enter most businesses announced in December will cease Tuesday said Bowser D. She also said shes allowing the citys mandate to wear masks in all indoor public spaces to be lifted starting March 1. Bowser had rescinded the indoor masking mandate in November before the surging omicron variant spurred her to bring it back. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/02/14/dc-covid-restrictions-lifted/ 15th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

BBC News From mask wearing to Covid certificates restrictions have been a part of life in Northern Ireland for nearly two years. But Health Minister Robin Swann advised people to be vigilant and warned that coronavirus remains a threat to public health. BBC News NI spoke to people in Belfast and Londonderry who expressed a mixture of relief and concern. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60386305?at_medium=RSS&ampat_campaign=KARANGA 15th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Washington D.C. will no longer require people show proof of COVID19 vaccination to enter many businesses beginning on Tuesday its mayor said joining a slew of local leaders who are dialing back pandemic restrictions as the Omicron wave ebbs. Mayor Muriel Bowser also announced on Monday that the city will no longer make masks mandatory in many indoor settings including restaurants bars gyms and houses of worship starting on March 1. Masks will still be required in schools libraries nursing homes public transit and healthcare facilities among other settings. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/dc-maryland-join-others-easing-covid-restrictions-2022-02-14/ 15th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The U.S. government said it faces significant harm if an a appeals court fails to reverse an injunction barring enforcement of President Joe Bidens COVID19 vaccine mandate for government workers and that testing unvaccinated employees could cost up to 22 million a month. White House Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director Jason Miller disclosed in an declaration cited late on Monday by the Justice Department that the government would be hurt on several fronts if it cannot enforce the vaccine requirements. While most federal civilian employees are fully vaccinated hundreds of thousands of them are not vaccinated Miller said in the Jan. 28 declaration. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-says-it-could-spend-22-mln-month-testing-unvaccinated-federal-employees-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Canada will ease entry for fully vaccinated international travelers starting on Feb. 28 as COVID19 cases decline allowing a rapid antigen test for travelers instead of a molecular one officials said on Tuesday. Antigen tests are cheaper than a molecular test and can provide results within minutes. The new measures which include random testing for vaccinated travelers entering Canada were announced by federal government ministers at a briefing. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/exclusive-canada-ease-travel-requirements-covid-cases-decline-govt-source-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Associated Press South Korea reported its highest number of COVID19 deaths in a month Tuesday as U.S. health authorities advised Americans to avoid traveling to the country grappling with a fastdeveloping omicron surge. The 61 deaths reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Tuesday was the highest daily tally since the 74 reported on Jan. 19 when the country was emerging from an outbreak driven by the delta variant. While omicron so far seems less likely to cause serious illness or death the greater scale of the outbreak is fueling concerns that hospitalizations and fatalities could spike in coming weeks. The 57177 new cases reported by the KDCA was another oneday record and more than a 12fold increase from the levels seen in midJanuary when omicron became the dominant strain. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-south-korea-18b8dc349cb751f21b19cde7067481d8 15th Feb 2022

Lockdown Exit

Al Jazeera English A new wave of COVID infections from the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus is heading towards Eastern Europe the World Health Organization WHO has warned. The WHOs European office on Monday called for authorities to boost vaccination efforts in the region warning that a tidal wave of infections was approaching. WHO Europe director Hans Kluge said the number of new daily COVID19 cases had more than doubled in six countries in the region in the past two weeks. Kluge said the 53country region has tallied more than 165 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 1.8 million deaths linked to the pandemic including 25000 in the last week alone. Today our focus is towards the east of the WHO European region Kluge said in Russian at a media briefing pointing to a surge of Omicron cases. Over the past two weeks cases of COVID19 have more than doubled in six countries in this part of the region Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia the Russian Federation and Ukraine the director said. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/15/who-calls-for-increased-vaccination-efforts-in-eastern-europe 15th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal The Biden administration told Congress it needs an additional 30 billion in coronavirus response aid according to people familiar with the matter. Health and Human Services Department officials outlined the request for additional aid in a briefing with congressional staff on Tuesday the people said. The request includes 17.9 billion for medical countermeasures like antivirals 4.9 billion for testing capacity and 2.7 billion to combat future variants the people said. Some Republican lawmakers have expressed skepticism about approving additional money to combat the coronavirus arguing that the administration should first spend all of the money included in the 1.9 trillion pandemic response legislation signed into law last year. https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-seeking-additional-30-billion-for-covid-19-response-11644963914 16th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

South China Morning Post Covid19 vaccinations for children have risen sharply amid Hong Kongs worsening fifth wave of coronavirus cases with bookings boosted by an earlier government decision to lower the eligibility age for Sinovac shots to three years from Tuesday. Family doctors and paediatric experts have reported a surge in vaccinations for children with one medical professional suggesting the recent coronavirusrelated death of a fouryearold boy could have been a contributing factor. Paediatrician Dr Alvin Chan Yeeshing cochairman of the Medical Associations advisory committee on communicable diseases said parents had gone into panic mode. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3167132/hong-kong-doctors-report-rapid-uptake-coronavirus 15th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

iNews Finland is the latest country to scrap testing for fully vaccinated travellers from the UK. From Tuesday the requirement to present a PCR or antigen test upon arrival is to be dropped for those with either with proof of vaccination proof of a recent infection or a combination of both. https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/finland-entry-requirements-new-travel-rules-covid-tests-scrapped-fully-vaccinated-recent-infection-1461363 15th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

CNN The pace of people getting Covid19 vaccine booster shots in the United States has dropped to the lowest it has ever been and many public health experts are concerned. As of Monday about 64 of the US population is fully vaccinated against Covid19 with at least their initial twodose series and 28 have received a booster shot. But the pace of booster doses going into arms is the lowest it has been in months since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first recommended boosters for seniors and other atrisk adults in September according to a CNN analysis of CDC data. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/15/health/covid-19-booster-dose-slow-uptake-us/index.html 15th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

The Independent Cyprus is lifting COVID19 restrictions on access for the unvaccinated to bars restaurants and other venues following a leveling off of new coronavirus cases in recent days that has eased the pressure on the health care system. Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela said Tuesday that unvaccinated people can enter nightclubs soccer stadiums theaters hotels and cinemas starting Feb. 21 as long as they show a valid COVID19 rapid test taken within the previous 24 hours. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/cyprus-covid-nicosia-b2015494.html 15th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

Sky News The government has said it is keeping its provision of free lateral flow tests under review as reports say they are due to end. It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to announce the end of all coronavirus restrictions in England. Ministers hope plans to wind down COVID testing and payments for isolation will save more than 10bn according to reports in The Guardian and The Times. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-provision-of-free-lateral-flow-tests-under-review-as-reports-say-they-are-due-to-end-12542437 15th Feb 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters The Dutch government will lift most of its coronavirus restrictions as of Friday as the record levels of infections triggered by the Omicron variant have not translated in a peak of hospitalisations health minister Ernst Kuipers said on Tuesday. The country will open up again ... happily we are in a different phase now Kuipers said during a press conference. Bars and restaurants will be allowed to stay open until 1 a.m. midnight GMT as of Friday instead of 10 p.m. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/netherlands-drop-most-covid-measures-starting-friday-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters Novak Djokovic is prepared to miss the French Open and Wimbledon rather than have a COVID19 vaccination but denies being an antivaxxer the world number one said in his first interview since his failed attempt to play at the Australian Open. After an 11day rollercoaster involving two visa cancellations two court challenges and five nights in two stints at an immigration detention hotel the unvaccinated Djokovic was deported. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/not-anti-vax-wont-be-forced-take-covid-19-jab-says-djokovic-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters Hundreds of vehicles drove along the main highway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Monday and converged on parliament to protest against COVID19 curbs in a convoy inspired by demonstrations in Canada. Other protesters stood on overpasses and at junctions as the socalled Freedom Convoy passed by withbanners and Israeli and Canadian flags flying from the vehicles. Freedom doesnt look like this read one sign showing a picture of a girl in a mask. Outside parliament protesters sounded horns and beat drums and called for pandemic restrictions to be lifted. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israelis-mount-their-own-covid-freedom-convoy-2022-02-14/ 15th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters The leak website Distributed Denial of Secrets on Tuesday said it has posted more donor files from the fundraising platform GiveSendGo relating to the Canadian movement of people opposed to pandemic health measures including COVID19 vaccine mandates. On Sunday the DDoS website which is devoted to disseminating leaked data said it was releasing donor information relating to the Freedom Convoy 2022 campaign which raised more than 2 million in donations. It includes funds raised from several Canadian business owners. Tuesdays leak contains donor information about a similar AdoptaTrucker campaign which says it is operating in partnership with the Freedom Convoy. The AdoptaTrucker effort appeared to raise less money and involved fewer donors. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/more-data-canada-truck-convoy-donors-leaked-website-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Partisan Exits

Associated Press In the US religious exemptions are increasingly becoming a workaround for unvaccinated hospital and nursing home workers who want to keep their jobs in the face of federal mandates that are going into effect nationwide this week. In some institutions religious exemptions are being invoked by staff and approved by managers in large numbers. Its a tricky issue for hospital administrators who are struggling to maintain adequate staff levels and are often reticent to question the legitimacy of the requests. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-religion-montana-7e16ed524ad17d42f8a7ccd19cca5f64 14th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

News Medical A recent survey conducted on the adult population in the United States has identified the most common predictive reasons behind coronavirus disease 2019 COVID19 vaccine hesitancy. The findings indicate that most of the individuals with chronic health conditions express hesitancy towards the vaccine because of safety and sideeffectrelated concerns. The study has been published in the journal Health Science Reports. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220215/Scientists-identify-potential-reasons-for-COVID-19-vaccine-hesitancy-in-US-among-individuals-with-chronic-health-conditions.aspx 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Pharmaceutical Technology Novavax has received interim authorisation from the Singapore Health Sciences Authority HSA for its recombinant adjuvanted Covid19 vaccine Nuvaxovid NVXCoV2373. The vaccine is intended for active immunisation to prevent the disease in people aged 18 years and above. A proteinbased vaccine NVXCoV2373 is made from the genetic sequence of the first SARSCoV2 viral strain. The vaccine is formulated with the companys MatrixM a saponinbased adjuvant to boost immune response and elicit greater neutralising antibody levels. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/novavax-singapore-covid-vaccine/ 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Independent About 90 minutes of light to moderateintensity exercise directly after a flu or Covid shot could provide an extra immune boost suggests a new study. Researchers at Iowa State University found participants who cycled on a stationary bike or took a brisk walk for an hourandahalf after getting a jab produced more antibodies in the following four weeks compared to those who sat or continued with their daily routine postvaccination. The study published last week in the journal Brain Behavior and Immunity found similar results after an experiment with mice and treadmills. Our preliminary results are the first to demonstrate a specific amount of time can enhance the bodys antibody response to the PfizerBioNtech Covid19 vaccine and two vaccines for influenza Marian Kohut lead author of the study said in a statement. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/covid-flu-vaccine-exercise-immunity-b2015238.html 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Washington Post The disconnect highlights the exhausting scientific chase of the last year and the one that lies ahead. And it underscores a more pressing overarching conundrum Is chasing the latest variant a viable strategy Instead of testing and potentially deploying a new shot when a new variant pops up what if a single vaccine could thwart all iterations of this coronavirus and the next ones too https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/14/universal-covid-vaccine/ 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News People who have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus are less likely to have long COVID the UK Health Security Agency has found. Its review looked at 15 national and international studies that were undertaken up until January 2022. The UKHSA found an estimated 2 of the UK population had reported symptoms of long COVID which can last for more than four weeks after their initial infection. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-long-covid-less-common-in-fully-vaccinated-uk-health-agency-says-12542755 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News Two years into the Covid19 pandemic its easy to lament all that has come to pass. The devastating losses. The upending of what we regarded as normal ways of life. The sheer relentlessness of it all. But lets stop for a moment and consider something else that may have escaped you You have witnessed and you are a beneficiary of a freaking miracle. That miracle is the development testing manufacturing and global distribution of Covid vaccines. https://www.statnews.com/2022/02/14/why-covid-19-vaccines-are-a-freaking-miracle/ 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The BMJ Doctors and scientists have warned the prime minister that SARSCoV2 and not politics should dictate the pace at which the UK lifts measures to contain the pandemic. They expressed their concern after Boris Johnsons announcement during prime ministers questions in parliament on 9 February that he intended to end all remaining restrictions four weeks early if encouraging trends continued. The move would see the restrictions including the current legal requirement to selfisolate after a positive test result ending as early as 24 February. The BMA responded by calling for the government to provide evidence for its position. Penelope Toff chair of the associations public health medicine committee said With case rates still incredibly high and hundreds of deaths each day the suggestion that selfisolation may be removed this month runs contrary to good public health practice. We must question on what scientific basis this decision is being made and the government needs to show the evidence behind its proposals. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o383 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Israel will start offering AstraZenecas AZN.L antibody cocktail Evusheld which is used to prevent COVID19 to people with compromised immune systems who did not get a sufficient antibody boost from vaccines. Evusheld has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has proven to be 83 effective in preventing serious illness and death from COVID19 the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. It is not a treatment for those already sick or a prevention for those already exposed to the virus it said. Evusheld will be made available for people 12 and older who weigh more than 40 kg 88 lb according to a Health Ministry statement. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/israel-offer-astrazenecas-evusheld-immunocompromised-people-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review. Previous COVID19 less protective against Omicron variant. The immune response to COVID19 helps protect against reinfection but that protection is weaker against Omicron than it was against earlier variants of the coronavirus according to new data. A previous SARSCoV2 infection protects against Omicron reinfection only 56 of the time researchers found in a review of national data in Qatar. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/prior-covid-offers-less-protection-vs-omicron-mrna-booster-shot-efficacy-2022-02-14/ 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Oxford University scientists said on Tuesday they would evaluate the effects of new coronavirus variants on pregnant women and newborns as well as COVID19 vaccination effects on complications during pregnancy and after birth. The study comes less than a year after the university found that pregnant women with COVID19 and their newborn children faced higher risks of complications such as premature birth and organ failure risk than was previously known. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/uk-scientists-study-effects-covid-variants-pregnancy-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters A Chinese mRNA vaccine candidate showed a sharper drop in neutralizing antibody activity against Omicron than against the nonmutated coronavirus in a small study but a booster readily induced antibody production in animal tests a research paper said. The ARCoV vaccine jointly developed by the Academy of Military Medical Sciences AMMS Suzhou Abogen Biosciences and Walvax Biotechnology is currently being tested in an international Phase III clinical trial. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/chinas-potential-mrna-covid-vaccine-weaker-against-omicron-study-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Two studies to be presented at upcoming professional society meetings suggest that some long COVID19 symptoms may be related to the effect of SARSCoV2 on the vagus nerve and that the use of enhanced external counterpulsation EECPwhich increases blood flowcan improve some of those symptoms respectively. Long COVID may affect up to 15 of those who survive their infections causing symptoms such as fatigue muscle pain and cognitive problems that linger for months. Neither study has been peerreviewed and the second one comes with the added caveat that it was conducted by an EECP provider. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/02/scientists-propose-cause-symptoms-treatment-long-covid-19 14th Feb 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News Uncertainty about the effect of Covid19 on children is gradually being replaced by reassuring news. First severe complications from Covid19 are extremely rare in those under age 18. In Connecticut and Massachusetts the states where we practice medicine far fewer than 1 of those under age 18 diagnosed Covid have needed to be hospitalized and that number is declining. Vaccines have proven immensely effective against the virus in children and teens as well as in adults. This is grounds for relief and even celebration. https://www.statnews.com/2022/02/14/controlled-studies-ease-worries-widespread-long-covid-kids/ 14th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

iNews Article reports that Coronavirus deaths in England have fallen for the second week in a row suggesting the peak in deaths may have passed. A total of 1242 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending February 4 mentioned Covid19 on the death certificate according to the Office for National Statistics ONS. This is down 10 per cent on the previous seven days and is the second consecutive weekonweek fall. Around one in 10 10.5 per cent deaths registered in England and Wales in the week to February 4 mentioned Covid19 on the death certificate. Deaths involving coronavirus fell in all regions in England except for the South West and North East and they rose in Wales. https://inews.co.uk/news/health/covid-19-deaths-fall-for-second-week-in-a-row-strengthening-hopes-omicron-peak-has-passed-1461307 15th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters A new wave of infections from the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is moving towards the east of Europe the World Health Organization said on Tuesday urging authorities to improve vaccination and other measures. Over the past two weeks cases of COVID19 have more than doubled in Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia Russia and Ukraine WHOs Europe regional director Hans Kluge said in a statement. The comments come at a time when several European countries including the Czech Republic and Poland have hinted at easing of COVID19 restrictions next month if daily infection numbers kept falling. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/omicron-threat-remains-high-east-europe-who-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Daily infections have surged by about 20 times over the past two weeks. Health authorities reported 1619 infections on Tuesday a new daily record with around 5400 preliminary positive cases. There are no plans for a widespread city lockdown Lam told a news conference. We cannot surrender to the virus. This is not an option she said doubling down on her dynamic zero coronavirus strategy similar to mainland China which seeks to curb outbreaks as soon as they occur. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-leader-says-govt-covid-19-response-not-satisfactory-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Associated Press South Korea reported its highest number of COVID19 deaths in a month Tuesday as U.S. health authorities advised Americans to avoid traveling to the country grappling with a fastdeveloping omicron surge. The 61 deaths reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Tuesday was the highest daily tally since the 74 reported on Jan. 19 when the country was emerging from an outbreak driven by the delta variant. While omicron so far seems less likely to cause serious illness or death the greater scale of the outbreak is fueling concerns that hospitalizations and fatalities could spike in coming weeks. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-south-korea-18b8dc349cb751f21b19cde7067481d8 15th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Associate Press The head of the World Health Organizations Europe office said Tuesday that health officials are turning their attention to growing rates of COVID19 infection in Eastern Europe where six countries including Russia and Ukraine have seen a doubling in case counts over the last two weeks. Dr. Hans Kluge said the 53country region which stretches to former Soviet republics into central Asia has now tallied more than 165 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 1.8 million deaths linked to the pandemic including 25000 in the last week alone. Today our focus is towards the east of the WHO European region Kluge said in Russian at a media briefing pointing to a surge in the highly transmissible omicron variant. Over the past two weeks cases of COVID19 have more than doubled in six countries in this part of the region Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia the Russian Federation and Ukraine. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-pandemics-454b6b5519ffaa2441ffe2de9bb2a201 15th Feb 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP The COVID19 surge caused by the Omicron variant continues to recede in the United States with the nation reporting a 7day average of 175492 new daily cases with 2458 daily deaths according to the Washington Post tracker. New daily cases fell 42 in the past week deaths fell 6 and hospitalizations fell 19. The United States reported 32531 new COVID19 cases yesterday and 441 deaths according to the Johns Hopkins COVID19 tracker. The drop in casesalmost 2 years into the pandemichas caused lawmakers across both sides of the ails to dismantle pandemic restrictions in states and cities. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/02/covid-19-cases-drop-40-us 14th Feb 2022

New Lockdown

Reuters A major Chinese hightech industry centre limited some highway access on Tuesday after detecting new COVID19 cases while epidemic control measures including mass testing affected the local operations of overseas firms such as Robert Bosch GmbH. The city of Suzhou a trading commercial and industrial hub in the eastern province of Jiangsu reported eight domestically transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms for Monday the National Health Commission NHC said on Tuesday. The highly transmissible Omicron variant was detected among the cases a Suzhou official said on Monday without specifying the number of Omicron cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/major-chinese-industrial-city-steps-up-covid-control-bosch-affected-2022-02-15/ 15th Feb 2022