30th Jul 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=63 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Brazil set daily records on Wednesday for new COVID19 cases and related fatalities as the worlds secondworst outbreak hurtles toward the milestone of 100000 dead amid easing lockdowns. Brazil is the country worst hit by COVID19 outside of the United States in both its death toll and case count. The 69074 new confirmed cases and 1595 additional deaths reported by the Health Ministry pushed the country past 2.5 million infections and 90000 killed. President Jair Bolsonaro has fought against restrictions on economic activity and the disease has advanced as governors and mayors have yielded to the pressure. In some cases Brazilians have packed into bars and crowded public squares without masks often in defiance of local rules. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-brazil/brazil-hits-record-69000-daily-coronavirus-cases-as-restrictions-eased-idUKKCN24U39C 29th Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Thomson Reuters Foundation News One person in the United States died about every minute from COVID19 on Wednesday as the national death toll surpassed 150000 the highest in the world The United States recorded 1461 new deaths on Wednesday the highest oneday increase since 1484 on May 27 according to a Reuters tally. U.S. coronavirus deaths are rising at their fastest rate in two months and have increased by 10000 in the past 11 days. https://news.trust.org/item/20200730001802-03zgs/ 29th Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Stuff.co.nz A Rotorua managed isolation centre went into lockdown on Wednesday after a potential new Covid19 case was detected. Government officials confirmed restrictions were imposed at Rydges Rotorua. Standard procedures were followed after the detection a Managed Isolation and Quarantine spokesman told Stuff. In such cases when regional isolation and quarantine teams are notified by health staff of a potential or confirmed case the person is isolated to their room and all relevant staff are informed he added. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300068895/coronavirus-rotorua-hotel-in-lockdown-after-potential-covid19-result 29th Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

SwissInfo Berlins Tegel airport began large scale coronavirus testing on Wednesday as airports across Germany prepared for the advent of free compulsory testing for many passengers from next week. Two rooms were set aside for tests but an airport spokeswoman said a larger space was being prepared indicating that authorities are preparing for testing to remain a fixture for a long time to come. These rooms are of course a bit small as you can see said spokeswoman Sabine Deckwerth. That is why the large Terminal D in Tegel is being prepared to host a bigger one. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/germany-begins-mass-coronavirus-testing-at-airports/45935032 29th Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Italy was the first European nation to be engulfed by coronavirus but as the prospect of another lockdown looms in some of its neighbours the country has managed to avoid a resurgence of infections. At least so far. Three experts who spoke to the Guardian put this down to good surveillance and contacttracing as well as most of the population diligently following safety rules with many people wearing face masks outside even though it is not mandatory. On 4 May when Italy began easing lockdown restrictions more than 1200 new cases were reported in a day. Since 1 July the daily increase has been relatively static reaching a high of 306 on 23 July and falling to 181 on Tuesday. Several coronavirus clusters have emerged across the country but this has mostly been due to infections imported from abroad. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/italy-walking-a-fine-line-on-coronavirus-infections 29th Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Lothar Wieler of the Robert Koch Institute RKI the governments main advisory body on public health called the partygoers irresponsible. It is reckless and careless to take part in wild parties he said during his latest update of the viruss progress. Young people can carry the illness back to their families especially their grandparents. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/germany-covid-19-fears-grow-over-reckless-partygoers 29th Jul 2020

Exit Strategies

YAHOO! Ireland looks set to enter the fourth and final phase of its COVID19 lockdown next week which will allow all bars and nightclubs to open and gatherings of up to 100 people indoors Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday. There has been an uptick in the number of new COVID cases in the last week or two ... but I dont think that the increase has been so enormous that at this stage it should prevent us moving to stage 4 Varadkar said. He said he was hopeful that nonessential office workers who have been working from home since March might begin to return to their workplaces on a parttime basis in the coming weeks. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ireland-likely-move-final-phase-170214741.html 29th Jul 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Travellers returning to England from Belgium and Luxembourg could have quarantine restrictions reimposed in the next two days as ministers grapple to contain any fresh threat from a potential second wave of coronavirus in some European countries. Ministers are understood to be closely monitoring spikes in the number of cases in Belgium and Luxembourg as well as in Croatia a more popular holiday destination for British tourists. The Covid19 rate has almost tripled in Belgium this month from 5.3 to 15.1 per 100000 of the population with the number of cases up from 615 to 1751 leading to a crackdown on numbers of people allowed to socialise. Luxembourgs rate of infection is 15 times higher per capita than in the UK. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/belgium-luxembourg-and-croatia-may-join-spain-on-englands-covid-19-quarantine-list 29th Jul 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Pub customers are being urged to get tested for Covid19 after 10 cases of coronavirus were confirmed at a bar. Health officials said anyone who was at the Crown and Anchor in Stone Staffordshire between 1618 July should get tested. One person who tested positive after being at the pub also held a private gathering causing a further spread Staffordshire County Council said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-53577728 30th Jul 2020

Exit Strategies

Financial Times Prime minister Boris Johnson promised a worldbeating test and trace programme to stop the spread of coronavirus by June. Carlisle and the rest of England is still waiting. Public health officials in the northern city have been fighting a rise in cases for four weeks. But efforts to manage the outbreak have been hampered by incomplete data overstretched local officials and a lack of testing facilities. https://www.ft.com/content/f0be6eaa-c512-4006-b4dd-e5e0ed2c0ce1 30th Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

Science Magazine The coronavirus pandemic has thrust virologist Shi Zhengli into a fierce spotlight. Shi whos been nicknamed Bat Woman heads a group that studies bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology WIV in the city in China where the pandemic began and many have speculated that the virus that causes COVID19 accidentally escaped from her laba theory promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Some have even suggested it could have been engineered there. China has forcefully rejected such claims but Shi pronounced SHIH herself has said very little publicly. Now Shi has broken her silence about the details of her work. On 15 July she emailed Science answers to a series of written questions about the virus origin and the research at her institute. In them Shi hit back at speculation that the virus leaked from WIV. She and her colleagues discovered the virus in late 2019 she says in samples from patients who had a pneumonia of unknown origin. Before that we had never been in contact with or studied this virus nor did we know of its existence Shi wrote. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/trump-owes-us-apology-chinese-scientist-center-covid-19-origin-theories-speaks-out 24th Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

The Conversation AU The costs of preventing the spread of COVID19 must always be compared to the health social and economic costs of viable alternatives. Countries across the globe have dealt with this balancing act differently. One country in particular that has attracted attention for its lighter approach to lockdown is Sweden. Some people have regarded Sweden as an example for Australia to follow. But Sweden shouldnt be seen as a model for Australia when it comes to COVID19. The virus has spread rapidly theyve had more deaths and the economy is suffering just as badly as their neighbours with heavier lockdowns. https://theconversation.com/no-australia-should-not-follow-swedens-approach-to-coronavirus-143540 29th Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian People returning to the UK from Spain have spoken out about how they are facing a shortfall in income after the government introduced a 14day quarantine period as they cannot work and do not receive occupational sick pay. The governments decision is ridiculously unfair said Alejandro Castrillo 29 who works at a hotel in London and had been visiting family in Asturias northern Spain. I dont have the option to work from home and having to quarantine will mean unpaid leave or enforced holiday. Quarantine is not remunerated and I do not get sick pay. This is only generating higher levels of uncertainty. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/28/uk-holidaymakers-returning-from-spain-decry-unfair-coronavirus-quarantine 29th Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

RNZ The Minister in charge of isolation facilities Megan Woods says another person managed to escape from the Crowne Plaza in Auckland after tailgating a staff member. She said the man was apprehended by police after only making it 50 metres from the hotel. They didnt even make 50 metres. Security and the police were on to it and it really does show the work of having the police on site. They could be immediately brought back into the facility. This is an example of the systems working as they should. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/422374/another-escape-from-managed-isolation-in-auckland 30th Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Following the announcement that North Korea is investigating its first possible coronavirus case authorities reminded foreigners living in Pyongyang to abide by anticoronavirus measures the Russian embassy there said on Wednesday. North Koreas foreign ministry circulated a notice on Tuesday telling foreigners not to leave the city hold large meetings and to wear masks among other rules the embassy said in a post on its Facebook page. North Korea declared a state of emergency and introduced tougher curbs against the coronavirus state media reported after it locked down the town of Kaesong on the border with the South to tackle what could be its first publicly confirmed infection. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-northkorea/north-korea-tells-foreigners-in-capital-to-follow-rules-amid-coronavirus-crackdown-idUKKCN24U0W6?il=0 29th Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

BBC Hundreds of international students in the UK have turned to food banks after parttime work and funding from families dried up during lockdown. Some have been unable to pay their course fees and have been threatened with suspension by their universities which would result in their visas being cancelled. The Newham Community Project in east London volunteers are feeding up to 600 students most in their early 20s. Theyre going through a lot of hardship says organiser Elyas Ismail. This is their first time abroad he adds. Theyre in a bad way. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53552831 29th Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Kazakhstan has extended its lockdown over the novel coronavirus for two more weeks until midAugust and the restrictions will then be eased gradually President KassymJomart Tokayev said on Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-kazakhstan-quarant/kazakhstan-extends-coronavirus-lockdown-until-mid-august-idUSKCN24U0O9 29th Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Colombias national lockdown to curb infections of the new coronavirus will be extended by one month until the end of August President Ivan Duque said on Tuesday. The Andean country has reported more than 267300 coronavirus cases and 9074 deaths. Obligatory preventative isolation as the general concept will continue until August 30 Duque said in his nightly broadcast. This is the eighth time the lockdown has been extended. Duque declared a national lockdown in late March to slow the spread of coronavirus across the Andean country. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-colombia/colombia-coronavirus-quarantine-to-be-extended-until-aug-30-idUKKCN24U019 29th Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

RNZ The 723 cases mark the highest daily tally of the pandemic in the Australian state shattering the previous singleday total by almost 200 cases. Today 13 new deaths were announced another daily high. They were three men and three women in their 70s three men and two women in their 80s and two men in their 90s. From midnight Sunday face coverings will be mandatory throughout Victoria. The government will also impose restrictions on facetoface gatherings in some regional local government areas from midnight tonight. Its inconvenient its challenging but its essentially stage four for Melbourne and its something we can do in regional Victoria without causing significant economic cost but getting a really significant public health benefit Premier Daniel Andrews said at a media briefing. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/422363/victoria-announces-more-than-700-new-covid-19-cases-13-deaths 29th Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

Radio New Zealand The 723 cases mark the highest daily tally of the pandemic in the Australian state shattering the previous singleday total by almost 200 cases. Today 13 new deaths were announced another daily high. They were three men and three women in their 70s three men and two women in their 80s and two men in their 90s. From midnight Sunday face coverings will be mandatory throughout Victoria. The government will also impose restrictions on facetoface gatherings in some regional local government areas from midnight tonight. Its inconvenient its challenging but its essentially stage four for Melbourne and its something we can do in regional Victoria without causing significant economic cost but getting a really significant public health benefit Premier Daniel Andrews said at a media briefing. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/422279/covid-19-new-victoria-cases-to-be-doorknocked-by-military-premier 29th Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

Leicestershire Live The deadline for a decision to be made on future of the Leicester lockdown has been moved forward to July 30. The original date the Government said it would review restrictions in the city and Oadby and Wigston by was Saturday August 1. The last review also took place on a Thursday which could explain why the date has been changed. https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicester-lockdown-decision-deadline-changed-4372763 28th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times Kodak which is based in Rochester New York and the US International Development Finance Corporation announced on Tuesday that the company had secured a 765m loan to produce drug ingredients under the Defense Production Act. Kodak shares began climbing on Monday. On that day a Rochester television station published and then deleted a report saying an announcement was forthcoming from the company on Tuesday news anchor Adam Chodak of CBSaffiliate WROC told the Financial Times. The WROC report did not include details on what the two organisations would reveal beyond a manufacturing agreement related to Covid19. https://www.ft.com/content/4f36c65c-64e6-4b14-871d-df7fb95c435e 30th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! The European Union has made available up to 45 million euros 53 million40 million to increase the collection of plasma from COVID19 survivors for the treatment of people who contract the disease a spokesman told Reuters. The move confirms the EUs growing confidence in experimental therapies based on socalled convalescent plasma which is currently used in hospitals for direct transfusions to critically ill patients and is being tested to develop possible medicines against COVID19. Money is coming from an emergency fund that the European Union has so far used only for highly sensitive issues throughout the pandemic including the purchase of another COVID19 treatment and potential vaccines. Grants will be distributed to blood collection centres to help them buy new equipment such as testing kits and machines that separate plasma from blood the EU spokesman said. https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/eu-readies-53-million-boost-133728785.html 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress People of color are far more likely to worry about their ability to pay for healthcare if diagnosed with COVID19 than their White counterparts according to a new survey from nonprofit West Health and Gallup. By a margin of almost two to one 58 vs. 32 nonWhite adults report that they are either extremely concerned or concerned about the potential cost of care. That concern is three times higher among lowerincome versus higherincome households 60 vs. 20. The data come from the West HealthGallup U.S. Healthcare Study an ongoing survey about Americans experiences with and attitudes about the healthcare system. The latest findings are based on a nationally representative sample of 1017 U.S. adults interviewed between June 8 and June 30. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-survey-large-racial-ability-covid-.html 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! Russias first potential COVID19 vaccine will win local regulatory approval in the first half of August and be administered to frontline health workers soon afterwards a development source close to the matter told Reuters. A state research facility in Moscow the Gamaleya Institute completed early human trials of the adenovirusbased vaccine this month and expects to begin largescale trials in August. The vaccine will win regulatory approval from authorities in Russia while that largescale trial continues the source said highlighting Moscows determination to be the first country in the world to approve a vaccine. The speed at which Russia is moving to roll out the vaccine has prompted some Western media to question whether Moscow is putting national prestige before solid science and safety. Regulatory approval will be in the first two weeks of August the development source said. August 10 is the expected date but it will definitely be before August 15. All trial results so far are highly positive. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/russian-covid-19-vaccine-approval-121634415.html 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

PR Newswire.com Intravacc a global leader in translational research and development of viral and bacterial vaccines and Celonic Group a premium biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization CDMO specialized in development and production of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products ATMP and mammalian cell lines expressed biotherapeutics today announced that they have signed a research agreement to further design develop and produce a Covid19 vaccine based on an immunogenic Spike S protein of SARSCoV2 combined with Intravaccs prorietary Outer Membrane Vesicle OMV technology. https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/intravacc-and-celonic-to-develop-and-produce-a-novel-covid-19-vaccine-802118262.html 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian The Covid19 pandemic is currently unfolding in one big wave with no evidence that it follows seasonal variations common to influenza and other coronaviruses such as the common cold the World Health Organization has warned. Amid continued debates over what constitutes a second wave a resurgence or seasonal return of the disease Margaret Harris a WHO spokesperson insisted that these discussions are not a helpful way to understand the spread of the disease. People are still thinking about seasons. What we all need to get our heads around is this is a new virus and this one is behaving differently Harris told a virtual briefing in Geneva urging vigilance in applying measures to slow transmission that appears to be accelerated by mass gatherings https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/one-big-wave-why-the-covid-19-second-wave-may-not-exist-coronavirus 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Specially tailored public health messaging the impact of structural racism and whether healthcare workers should be redeployed are among research projects that have been given funding to explore the link between Covid19 and ethnicity. More than 4m has been awarded to six projects that will help researchers explain and mitigate the disproportionate death rates from coronavirus among people from black Asian and minority ethnic BAME backgrounds. The grants are from UK Research and Innovation UKRI and the National Institute for Health Research NIHR. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/uk-grants-totalling-4m-coronavirus-studies-covid-19-link-to-ethnicity 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC US President Donald Trump has again defended the use of hydroxychloroquine to ward off coronavirus contradicting his own public health officials. He said the malaria medication was only rejected as a Covid19 treatment because he had recommended its use. His remarks come after Twitter banned his eldest son for posting a clip promoting hydroxychloroquine. There is no evidence the drug can fight the virus and regulators warn it may cause heart problems. On Wednesday Dr Anthony Fauci a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force told the BBC that hydroxychloroquine was not effective against the virus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53575964 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian People of south Asian heritage admitted to hospital with coronavirus are on average 31 years younger than white British Covid19 patients according to a study of inpatients in a town with one of Englands highest infection rates. Doctors at the Royal Oldham hospital in Greater Manchester found that black and minority ethnic coronavirus patients were mostly far younger than their white counterparts. The average age of those being treated was 71. The research which was published this week but has not yet been peerreviewed also found that more than twothirds of the 470 patients with Covid19 lived in the most deprived parts of Oldham. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/29/average-bame-covid-19-patient-decades-younger-than-white-britons-oldham-study 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC More than half the residents of slums in three areas in Indias commercial capital Mumbai tested positive for antibodies to the coronavirus a new survey has found. Only 16 of people living outside slums in the same areas were found to be exposed to the infection. The results are from random testing of some 7000 people in three denselypacked areas in early July. Mumbai has reported more than 110000 cases and 6187 deaths as of 28 July. The survey was carried out by the citys municipality the government thinktank Niti Aayog and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. It found that 57 of the people tested in slum areas of Chembur Matunga and Dahisar had been exposed to the novel coronavirus. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-53576653 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress Spain and Germany were among the countries tightening restrictions on Tuesday in a bid to cool coronavirus hotspots that have sparked fears of a second wave. The World Health Organization warned that the virus did not appear to be affected by seasonality as the global death toll from the pandemic passed 654000 Tuesdaynearly a third of the dead in Europe according to an AFP tally. More than 100000 deaths have been recorded since July 9 and the global toll has doubled in just over two months. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-virus-curbs-tightened.html 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Lancet In the German healthcare system in which hospital capacities have not been overwhelmed by the COVID19 pandemic mortality has been high for patients receiving mechanical ventilation particularly for patients aged 80 years or older and those requiring dialysis and has been considerably lower for patients younger than 60 years. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30316-7/fulltext 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters German Research Minister Anja Karliczek said on Wednesday that a coronavirus vaccine was unlikely to be widely available before the middle of next year. We must continue to assume that vaccines for the broader population will only be available from the middle of next year at the earliest she told a news conference. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-germany-vaccine/germany-coronavirus-vaccine-unlikely-to-be-widely-available-before-mid-2021-idUSS8N2EO01K 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Germany will not be able to avoid a second lockdown if it is hit by a second wave of coronavirus cases a leading virologist has warned. Jonas SchmidtChanasit said drastic measures would be back on the table if Germanys health system is overwhelmed by virus cases a nightmare scenario which Germany has so far avoided. Fears of a second wave are mounting in Germany after an increase of 4127 new cases in the last week up from 2385 two weeks ago. Experts are worried because the virus is spreading across the country and is not confined to a handful of local clusters with the R rate now regularly above 1.0. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8571669/Germany-impose-second-lockdown-faces-second-wave.html 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg on MSN.com Russia plans to register a coronavirus vaccine by Aug. 1012 clearing the way for what its backers say would be the worlds first official approval of an inoculation against the epidemic. The drug developed by Moscows Gamaleya Institute and the Russian Direct Investment Fund may be approved for civilian use within three to seven days of registration by regulators according to a person familiar with the process who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/russia-plans-to-register-first-covid-19-vaccine-by-aug-12/ar-BB17jUJY 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg on MSN.com Japan avoided a surge in overall fatalities during its deadliest month of the coronavirus pandemic suggesting the governments testing methods arent resulting in a large number of uncounted deaths linked to Covid19. Mortality across the nation dropped by 3.5 in May from a year earlier with Japan recording a total of 108380 deaths from any cause data released Tuesday by the nations Health Ministry show. The month during which much of the country was under a state of emergency saw the most confirmed deaths so far from Covid19. Japan officially recorded 468 coronavirusrelated fatalities in May almost half its total to date of 1001. https://www.msn.com/en-us/finance/other/japan-shows-it-e2-80-99s-defying-covid-19-damage-with-falling-death-rate/ar-BB17iG1r 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

New Scientist Rising coronavirus infections among young people could be driving recent spikes in cases across Europe said Hans Kluge the World Health Organizations Europe regional director in a BBC report today. Kluge said he has two daughters and understands that young people do not want to miss a summer but added that they have a responsibility toward themselves their family members and their communities. The Netherlands is among countries which have reported higher infection rates among younger people with about a quarter of people who tested positive there last week aged 20 to 29. Earlier this week officials in Brittany France ordered curfews on beaches parks and gardens in an attempt to prevent large gatherings of young people in particular according to local leaders. Officials in Spain have also imposed similar curfews with bars and nightclubs in Catalonia required to close by midnight since Friday. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-young-people-may-be-driving-spikes-in-cases-says-who/ 29th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Science Magazine To avoid such a scenario the World Health Organization and other international organizations have set up a system to accelerate and equitably distribute vaccines the COVID19 Vaccines Global Access COVAX Facility which seeks to entice rich countries to sign on by reducing their own risk that theyre betting on the wrong vaccine candidates. But the idea has been put together on the fly and its unclear how many rich countries will join. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/vaccine-nationalism-threatens-global-plan-distribute-covid-19-shots-fairly 28th Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Coronavirus is able to travel more than 26 feet eight metres in cold environments with moving air according to a study that recreated an outbreak in a food factory. Researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research focused on an outbreak of Covid19 at a slaughterhouse in RhedaWiedenbrueck Germany that infected 1500 workers. They found a single person in the plant appeared to have infected several others within a 26 feet radius made possible because of the cold conditions and the constantly circulating air inside the plant. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8555963/Coronavirus-infect-people-26-FEET-away-cold-moving-air-finds-study.html 24th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Dr. Joseph Varon the chief medical officer of United Memorial Medical Center UMMC said he is afraid he will soon face a dilemma many doctors elsewhere said they confronted earlier in the pandemic deciding who to save. Im afraid that at some point in time Im going to have to make some very serious decisions he told Reuters in an interview. Im starting to get the idea that I cannot save everybody. Varon 58 is overseeing the hospitals unit dedicated to COVID19 patients where he said he tends to an average of 40 people a day. He said he signed more death certificates in the last week than at any point in his career. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-usa-texas-widerima/i-cannot-save-everybody-houston-doctor-fights-newest-covid-19-surge-idUKKCN24U29V 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News Every province and city in Vietnam is at risk of a new wave of COVID19 its prime minister has warned as territories across Asia suffer a spike in new infections. Vietnam had been coronavirusfree for months before the recent outbreak in Da Nang a city in the centre of the country. Cases have now also been reported in other cities including Ho Chi Minh city and the capital Hanoi. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that this coronavirus strain had not been seen in the country before and some local media reported that the new strain was more contagious than previous ones. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-vietnam-battles-covid-19-strain-not-seen-in-country-before-12038457 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

UPI.com Nursing homes reporting cases of COVID19 had nearly 1.5times as many substantiated complaints about the care services they provide than those without confirmed infections according to an analysis in JAMA Network Open. https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2020/07/29/Study-COVID-19-outbreaks-worse-at-nursing-homes-with-more-complaints/4101596028131/ 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Florida and Texas reported a record increase in COVID19 deaths for a second day in a row on Wednesday as total deaths surpassed 150000 according to a Reuters tally. Florida had 217 fatalities in the last 24 hours and Texas had at least 302 with some counties yet to report. Only two other states New York and New Jersey have ever reported more than 300 deaths in a single day. Florida also reported 9446 new cases bringing its total infections to over 451000 the second highest in the country behind California. Floridas total death toll rose to 6457 eighth highest in the nation according to a Reuters tally. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-florida/florida-reports-record-increase-in-covid-19-deaths-for-second-day-in-a-row-idUKKCN24U2CL 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Manchester Evening News This graph charts the steep rise in Covid19 cases in Oldham over the last week. In the week leading up to July 25 confirmed incidences of the virus increased dramatically with 119 new positive cases being recorded across the borough. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/covid-19-cases-oldham-graph-18680063 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Oldham has overtaken Leicester to have the second highest Covid19 infection rate in England official figures revealed today. NHS statistics today showed Oldham recorded 54.3 coronavirus cases for every 100000 people between July 20 and 26. The weekly infection rate for the Greater Manchester town has risen by 191 per cent. In comparison Leicesters outbreak has dropped slightly to 53.2. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8571695/Oldham-overtakes-lockdown-Leicester-highest-second-coronavirus-infection-rate-England.html 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Financial Times Public health officials are sounding the alarm over a resurgence of coronavirus cases in Europe as countries ease lockdowns and international travel ramps up with some experts warning citizens have become too complacent. The increase is marked in countries such as Spain while eastern Europe and the Balkans which were largely spared the worst of the early pandemic are seeing a steep increase in recorded cases. Boris Johnson Britains prime minister warned of a looming second wave of Covid19 across Europe on Tuesday while the head of Germanys public health authority said Weve let our guard down. Some governments are already taking measures to slow the spread. The UK has imposed quarantine on people returning from Spain while Germany and France have ordered mandatory testing for travellers from highrisk areas. https://www.ft.com/content/bcddc297-b7f2-444d-908f-54e8ce6f4f98 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Scotsman Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed concerns that Europe is showing signs of a second wave of coronavirus following a recent spike in cases in Spain. Mr Johnson defended the governments decision to impose a 14day quarantine restriction on travellers who return from Spain including the Balearics and Canary Islands and warned the UK must be vigilant over the threat of a second wave here. https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/europe-seeing-second-wave-what-who-says-about-spike-covid-19-cases-spain-and-other-countries-and-where-cases-are-rising-fastest-2927227 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

FRANCE 24 English France reported 14 new deaths from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday a figure twice as high as the daily average increase of seven seen over the previous week. A total of 30223 people have now died of COVID19 in France health authorities said. We are not facing a second wave the epidemic is continuing... Some people do not respect the rules. We must not let down our guard Health Minister Olivier Vran told LCI television. https://www.france24.com/en/20200729-french-health-minister-says-observing-social-distancing-vital-to-avoid-new-lockdown 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

NHK WORLD Vietnams prime minister has ordered officials across the country to ramp up efforts to curb coronavirus infections. Staterun media say Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the remarks at a meeting on Wednesday. His intervention comes as the central city of Da Nang has been hit by a surge in infections. He said I repeat all provinces are facing high risks all provinces should raise their alert level. The top officials in each province should take action as well as those at every level of government. The public should be careful and alert and follow the instructions given to them. The prime minister also said authorities have not yet identified the source of infection in Da Nang saying route of transmission is complicated. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200729_42/ 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Japan Times Once a coronavirus success story Hong Kong is facing its worst outbreak yet and policymakers are realizing how little they can do without making a bad situation worse. New infections have broken records on nine of the last 20 days. But unlike other global cities Hong Kong has been reluctant to impose stayathome restrictions or close nonessential businesses. Instead the rules have gotten incrementally tighter changing by the week. Public gatherings were limited to four people then two. Diningin was banned for dinner then lunch. Masks were required on public transport then all indoor public spaces now everywhere outdoors as well. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/29/asia-pacific/hong-kong-cant-lock-down/ 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Wall Street Journal Well flareups are now occurring in several countries that recently eased their lockdowns and travel restrictions. Victory declarations anywhere are premature. New cases doubled in Spain over the weekend and are up sixfold in a month. Government officials have tied cases to migrant farm workers tourists family gatherings and young people partying. Catalonia a tourist region known for vineyards and beaches this weekend ordered the closure of night clubs and latenight bars. Certain generations havent remained vigilant Spain Ministry of Health emergency director Fernando Simn said. Governors Doug Ducey of Arizona and Greg Abbott of Texas can sympathize. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-worlds-covid-resurgence-11595978652 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Japan Times Last weeks 750 billion 877 billion COVID19 rescue fund marked a high point in the European Unions plan to tackle the economic fallout of the virus. But a new flareup in infections on the continent is a grim reminder of the more immediate epidemiological threat. While its not a second wave yet its a serious test of government strategies intended to avoid one. Cases are rising across the region at the highest pace since tough lockdown measures were lifted although overall infections remain much lower than the outbreaks April peak. In Spain new daily cases hit almost 1000 last week driven by local spikes in areas such as Aragon and Catalonia where nightclubs are now being closed and curfews applied on bars. In Belgium an increase in infections has forced the government to roll out tougher socialdistancing measures such as limiting facetoface interactions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/07/29/commentary/world-commentary/spain-telling-us-coronavirus-second-wave/ 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Financial Times A record number of coronavirus infections in Xinjiang the Chinese region where authorities have been accused of widespread human rights abuses has prompted concerns the country faces another wave of the pandemic. Chinas National Health Commission on Tuesday announced 64 locally transmitted Covid19 cases marking the countrys biggest oneday rise since March. Of those 57 were found in Urumqi Xinjiangs capital. In the past two weeks 280 cases have been confirmed nationwide. The latest outbreak in China where Covid19 was first reported earlier this year comes as countries across the region suffer resurgences in infections. https://www.ft.com/content/7370497b-03df-45ba-9cc1-c50fa8070ecb 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

NEWS.com.au The Committee for Sydney has called on the NSW government to introduce mandatory mask wearing in the metropolitan area. The group said following Victorias lead and making masks mandatory in Sydney was our best chance to avoid a second lockdown. People in Sydney are still not wearing masks the committee wrote in a statement. Even as COVID19 cases in Melbourne remain intractably high and even as we see the increase in community transmission in Sydney that may foretell a true second wave a deeply ingrained cultural resistance to maskwearing has not budged. The recent advice from NSW health authorities is to wear a mask if you are in a situation where you cant practice social distancing like on busy public transport. https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/coronavirus-australia-sydneys-best-chance-to-avoid-lockdown/news-story/68558662d91ed2412e63dae7c45c59b9 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Jakarta Post Papua New Guinea ramped up coronavirus testing and rushed to build field hospitals on Wednesday after an outbreak was found to have spread beyond its lockeddown capital. More than 70 people have been isolated and contact tracing was underway at four hotels in the second city of Lae after a health conference attendee tested positive for COVID19 the provincial health authority said. It was the first infection detected in the city. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/07/29/papua-new-guinea-outbreak-spreads-beyond-capital.html 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

9News Queensland Health has confirmed a third positive case of COVID19 has been recorded in the states southeast. This morning health authorities revealed two 19yearold women who returned to Queensland from Melbourne via Sydney and failed to selfisolate tested positive to COVID19. Health Minister Steven Miles said the womens close contacts were now being thoroughly traced and the women would be facing a criminal investigation. https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-australia-infected-brisbane-women-didnt-self-isolate-after-returning-from-melbourne/e8abe540-526d-4c49-82d6-e53da1d5f06a 29th Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Frances health minister urged the country on Wednesday not to drop its guard against COVID19 saying it faced a long battle and that observing social distancing rules was vital to avoiding a new national lockdown. France reported 14 new deaths from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday a figure twice as high as the daily average increase of seven seen over the previous week. A total of 30223 have now died of COVID19 in France health authorities said. We are not facing a second wave the epidemic is continuing... Some people do not respect the rules. We must not let down our guard Health Minister Olivier Veran told LCI television. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france/french-health-minister-we-want-to-avoid-another-coronavirus-lockdown-idUKKCN24U0XD?il=0 29th Jul 2020

New Lockdown

Yahoo! News Authorities also recommended that people stay at home in a suburb of Barcelona capital of the northeastern region of 7.5 million people where there has been an acrimonious push for independence in recent years. Having suffered more than 28400 deaths tourismdependent Spain brought the epidemic largely under control through a tough national lockdown that was lifted on June 21. However since then more than 170 local outbreaks have been detected with 120 still active including a worrying one around the Catalan city of Lleida. The order for residents of Lleida and seven nearby towns to stay at home still needs to be approved by a judge amid tensions over how to handle local outbreaks. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/catalan-authorities-order-home-confinement-115958179.html 29th Jul 2020

New Lockdown

BBC Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Tuesday evening. Well have another update for you tomorrow morning. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53567925 29th Jul 2020

New Lockdown

New Zealand Herald An expert says there is no way Victorias lockdown will end within three weeks as initially announced. Victorians were expected to emerge from a sixweek lockdown on August 16 but Melbourne University epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely believes authorities will need at least two extra weeks beyond that to get coronavirus cases down. Blakely told news.com.au that outbreaks in the agedcare sector have contributed to continuing high numbers and said there was no way lockdown would end within three weeks. Things have not gone the way we hoped he said. Numbers are still high because of essential workers. It will take longer to pull the numbers back because there are cases in so many different segments. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&ampobjectid=12352141 29th Jul 2020