29th Apr 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=650 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Li Qiang 62 once served as a top aide to Xi and has long been included among the most likely contenders to join him on the sevenmember Politburo Standing Committee after a party congress planned for later this year perhaps even as premier. All but one Shanghai party secretary has made it to the top body since 1987 with former Premier Zhu Rongji and Xi himself among those who have advanced. The outbreak in Shanghai however has raised the price of elevating Li. The financial hub has seen food shortages overwhelmed quarantine facilities and clashes between citizens and health workers generating an unusual outpouring of antigovernment posts on social media. Some residents have dismissed his public visits during the lockdown as choreographed. In one exception he was intercepted by a woman in a wheelchair who scolded the government for failing to provide enough food. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-28/xi-in-a-bind-over-who-to-blame-for-shanghai-s-covid-outbreak 29th Apr 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters South Korea said on Friday it will lift an outdoor face mask mandate next week in the countrys latest step to ease COVID19 restrictions despite opposition from the incoming government which labelled the decision premature. Prime Minister Kim Bookyum said the decision was made as the government could no longer look away from the inconveniences experienced by its citizens when the countrys virus situation was stabilising. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-lift-outdoor-mask-mandate-starting-next-week-yonhap-2022-04-28/ 29th Apr 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Face masks will remain compulsory in Italy on public transport and in some indoor venues until June 15 the health minister said on Thursday as one of the countrys hardest hit by COVID delayed an end to pandemic restrictions. Masks will still be required to access cinemas theatres indoor events and to enter hospitals Health Minister Roberto Speranza said adding that the government intends to be cautious in lifting the remaining measures. We have decided to keep in place for a while at least until June 15 an element of caution that I believe is necessary Speranza said at an event organised by a medical doctors union. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-orders-mask-wearing-some-indoor-venues-until-mid-june-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Washington Post More than 2000 journalists celebrities and politicians including President Biden are set to descend on the White House Correspondents Association dinner this weekend in what is shaping up to be a major test of whether large gatherings can be safely held at this stage of the pandemic. Organizers say they are committed to holding an event that significantly reduces the risk of coronavirus infections pointing to vaccine and testing requirements that were strengthened after a dinner hosted by Washingtons Gridiron Club this month was linked to at least 85 infections that sickened Cabinet members reporters and other guests. Yet some White House officials and experts worry that those measures are insufficient and that this weekends events may become another highprofile superspreader event said three administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue. Behind the scenes one prominent coronavirus expert is scrapping with party organizers hesitant to install devices that disinfect the air using ultraviolet light because of concerns the devices might interfere with the program. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/04/27/white-house-correspondents-dinner-covid-safety/ 28th Apr 2022

Lockdown Exit

Sky News Health chiefs have said Denmark is in a good position after all remaining COVID restrictions were lifted two months ago. It is believed to be the first country in the world to pause the vaccine rollout. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-denmark-suspends-covid-vaccination-programme-with-health-chiefs-saying-virus-under-control-12600593 28th Apr 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Independent Dr. Anthony Fauci has given an upbeat assessment of the current state of the coronavirus in the United States saying the country is out of the pandemic phase when it comes to new infections hospitalizations and deaths but that it appears to be making a transition to COVID19 becoming an endemic disease occurring regularly in certain areas. Fauci the nations top infectious disease expert said on the PBS NewsHour on Tuesday that the coronavirus remains a pandemic for much of the world but the threat is not over for the United States adding that he was speaking about the worst phase of the pandemic. Namely we dont have 900000 new infections a day and tens and tens and tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths. We are at a low level right now he said. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ap-covid-biden-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-b2066878.html 28th Apr 2022

Lockdown Exit

CNBC Denmark has become the first country to halt its Covid vaccination program saying it is doing so because the virus has been brought under control. Spring has arrived vaccine coverage in the Danish population is high and the epidemic has reversed Danish Health Authority said in a statement Wednesday announcing the move. Far from scrapping its vaccination program altogether however the Danish Health and Medicines Authority said there will probably be a need to vaccinate against Covid19 again in the fall. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/28/denmark-the-first-country-to-halt-its-covid-vaccination-program.html 28th Apr 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Hungary sees no obstacles to the European Union releasing billions in economic stimulus funds to Budapest Prime Minister Viktor Orbans top aide said on Thursday but the blocs executive disagreed quoting corruption and antiLGBT policies. The executive European Commission has been withholding its approval to pay out money meant to help lift economies from the COVID19 malaise to Poland and Hungary accusing them of undermining the rule of law. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-says-no-obstacles-signing-agreement-eu-recovery-funds-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Lockdown Exit

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. Pandemic linked with mental health issues in kids. The COVID19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the mental health of children and adolescents researchers say based on their analysis of findings from 17 earlier studies. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/mental-health-issues-kids-rose-during-pandemic-awareness-use-covid-treatments-is-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters As regional peers have eased entry requirements Thailand has clung to a cumbersome process. Whichever country offers easy smooth less complicated procedures wins my heart said Johansen. Tourism professionals say Thailands complicated entry rules are now holding back recovery in an industry that contributed 12 of GDP before the pandemic. Forward bookings for 2022 show Thailand reaching 25 of prepandemic levels behind levels of 72 and 65 each for Singapore and the Philippines. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tourist-favourite-thailands-recovery-lags-covid-rule-changes-2022-04-28/ 29th Apr 2022

Exit Strategies

The Jakarta Post The Health Ministry in Jakarta has announced that it will add one of the more widely available COVID19 vaccines with halal certification to the stateled booster jab rollout in an effort to assuage the concerns of the countrys Muslim majority. A ministry official confirmed on Tuesday that it would add the CoronaVac vaccine comanufactured by staterun pharmaceuticals company BioFarma and Chinas Sinovac Biotech to its current roster of booster shot offerings. http://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2022/04/27/govt-promises-to-add-halal-vaccine-to-booster-program.html 28th Apr 2022

Exit Strategies

Focus Taiwan News Channel People in Taiwan listed as contacts of confirmed COVID19 patients will now be given three free rapid tests instead of five during their sevenday isolation and selfinitiated epidemic prevention period the Central Epidemic Command Center CECC said Thursday. Under the CECCs new 34 quarantine policy that took effect Tuesday contacts of COVID19 cases were being given five free rapid tests by the government during their three days of home quarantine and four days of selfinitiated epidemic prevention. https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202204280021 28th Apr 2022

Exit Strategies

Focus Taiwan News Channel Nearly 60000 COVID19 rapid test kits were sold in two hours across Taiwan as the government launched its rapid test kit rationing scheme on Thursday. As of 9 a.m. on Thursday 59214 test kits had been sold at 2323 stores and health centers DirectorGeneral of the National Health Insurance Administration NHIA Lee Pochang said. https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202204280012 28th Apr 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters The COVIDhit city of Shanghai is making more resources available to improve vaccination rates among the elderly as daily case numbers decline and it looks for a way out of four weeks of stringent lockdown restrictions. The city battling Chinas biggest ever coronavirus outbreak saw new asymptomatic cases fall to 9330 on April 27 down 22 from a day earlier and its lowest rate in 24 days with symptomatic infections also down by almost a fifth. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghais-focus-shifts-vaccination-elderly-new-cases-decline-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Exit Strategies

Associated Press Colombians will soon be going to movie theaters without having to wear face masks. Chile opens its borders next week for the first time in two years. Mexicos president has declared the pandemic over. And in Rio de Janeiro tens of thousands attended Carnival parades just two months after the worldfamous spectacle was postponed to prevent COVID19 infections. Even as coronavirus cases rise half a world away in China and authorities there impose new lockdowns plummeting infection rates in Latin America have countries eliminating restrictions on mass gatherings lifting some travel requirements and scrapping mask mandates that have been in place for two years. https://apnews.com/article/covid-travel-health-colombia-china-57fedcf60784554447b41060d398e32d 28th Apr 2022

Exit Strategies

Associated Press Shanghai authorities said new COVID19 testing over the next few days will determine which neighborhoods can safely start reopening as residents in Beijing watched carefully for word for whether the capital will lock down. On Wednesday China reported 14222 new cases of coronavirus infection the vast majority in people not showing symptoms. Shanghai residents will begin another round of testing over the next few days and areas that have achieved societal zero COVID could see some measure of limited freedom the vice head of the city health committee Zhao Dandan said. https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-business-shanghai-wuhan-469235110d103463dd9479a3161a7eb1 28th Apr 2022

Exit Strategies

Fierce Pharma As the world struggles with COVID19 more than two years after the virus first broke out vaccine disparities continue to undermine the global response in some regions. During the annual meetings for three major vaccine players access advocates are asking investors to step in. While 65.1 of the world population has received at least one COVID19 vaccine dose only 15.2 of people in lowincome countries can say the same according to Our World In Data. Vaccine inequity could cost the global economy more than 2 trillion by 2025 and spur bouts of social unrest according to a CNBC report last summer. Oxfam has a goal for everyone everywhere to have access to COVID19 vaccines. The group says three major vaccine players shoulder much of the blame for vaccine disparities. During their annual meetings its renewing calls more transparency and access. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/these-lives-matter-oxfam-urges-jj-pfizer-and-moderna-investors-press-companies-vaccine 28th Apr 2022

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg President Joe Biden has broad support in Congress for a massive 33 billion Ukraine aid package but the proposal risks getting tangled in a longsimmering partisan dispute over immigration and Covid19 funding. The Senate could vote on the emergency spending package next week but the House will be on recess. Congress could finish by the week of May 9 and send it to Biden for his signature. But if Democrats insist on attaching longstalled funding for coronavirus vaccinations and treatment to the package action could be delayed indefinitely. Thats not going to happen. Thats an awful way to do business Senator Jim Risch of Idaho the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee said about combining the two spending requests. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-28/republicans-warn-against-combining-ukraine-aid-with-covid-bill 29th Apr 2022

Partisan Exits

Sky News New Zealanders overseas have won a high court victory over border restrictions that left many of them unable to return home during the coronavirus pandemic. New Zealands COVID19 policies allowed the country to escape the worst of the virus keeping cases and deaths relatively low compared to many other countries. But the New Zealand High Court ruled that the system used to allocate places in border quarantine facilities infringed on the rights of some citizens to return home. For most of the period between 10 April 2020 until 28 February 2022 returning citizens had to get a place in hotel isolation MIQ managed isolation and quarantine before they could board a plane home. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-court-finds-new-zealands-quarantine-allocation-system-infringed-on-rights-12599856 28th Apr 2022

Partisan Exits

Sky News It was the Easter weekend in April 2020 and a clear blue sky and a warm breeze disguised the fact that the nation was in lockdown. A new disease called COVID19 was spreading fast. Cameraman Andy and I were about to step into a residential nursing home that was in the grip of this virus. I didnt know it at the time but what I was about to witness what would set the tone for a yearlong investigation into how COVID killed thousands of elderly care home residents. That weekend we witnessed staff struggling to find the right personal protective equipment PPE like masks gloves and aprons. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-what-it-was-really-like-in-care-homes-as-govt-found-guilty-of-breaking-law-during-early-stages-of-pandemic-12600323 28th Apr 2022

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg In the early hours of April 14 the Chinese Communist Partys social media strategy went off the rails. It began when state media accounts on Weibo Chinas Twitter equivalent promoted the hashtag The U.S. is the country with the largest humanrights deficit. Tens of thousands of Chinese internet users turned the accusation around onto Beijing. They criticized not only Chinas Covid response of strict stayathome orders and minimal financial support for households but also wider social problems long working hours high property prices violence against women and censorship itself. Our doors are locked down. Our pets are killed. Our medical resources are wasted so that people with acute illness cant be treated wrote one poster. The American government is so horrible Im so lucky to be born in China read a typically ironic post. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-27/covid-zero-criticism-is-new-test-for-china-censorship?srnd=premium-europe 27th Apr 2022

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Chinas policymakers are struggling to find ways to ward off an economic slowdown that threatens job losses in a politically sensitive year as COVID19 lockdowns disrupt supply chains and jolt businesses. Beijing is sticking with an economic growth target of around 5.5 this year and plans to create more than 11 million new urban jobs policy insiders say. However analysts say that goal will become harder to achieve unless China eases its zeroCOVID policy which it has shown few signs of doing. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-struggles-options-covid-threatens-economic-goals-2022-04-28/ 29th Apr 2022

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Analysts at Nomura estimate 46 cities are currently in full or partial lockdowns involving strict mobility restrictions on local residents affecting the lives of 343 million people. Border towns such as Yanjiao have grown at a dizzying rate over the past decade as office workers in Beijing looked for affordable housing nearby with hundreds of thousands crossing the HebeiBeijing border on a daily basis before COVID. Even after the lockdown for Yanjiao residents was lifted on April 4 border checkpoints were clogged in the early hours of the morning and resentment at COVID curbs was palpable. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/covid-lockdowns-upset-rice-bowls-chinas-commuter-workers-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Continued Lockdown

The Associated Press Beijing is closing all city schools in a further tightening of COVID19 restrictions as Chinas capital seeks to prevent a wider outbreak. The city of 21 million has already ordered three rounds of mass testing this week with the third coming Friday. On Thursday the citys Education Bureau ordered all schools to end classes from Friday and said it hadnt determined when they would resume. It also wasnt clear whether schools would be able to offer classes online or allow students facing crucial exams to return to class. Beijing announced 50 new cases on Thursday two of them asymptomatic bringing its total in the latest wave of infections to around 150. Students make up more than 30 of total cases with clusters linked to six schools and two kindergartens in Chaoyang. https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-china-beijing-31ceb93765be067616bb287b5cfaf5e6 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters on MSN.com Merck Co posted betterthanexpected firstquarter earnings and raised its fullyear sales estimate on strength from its topselling cancer drug Keytruda human papillomavirus HPV vaccine Gardasil and its COVID19 antiviral pill molnupiravir. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/finance/topstories/merck-quarterly-profit-tops-expectations-on-demand-for-covid-pill-cancer-drugs/ar-AAWGSou 29th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Biopharma-Reporter Valneva remains optimistic that its COVID19 vaccine could get the green light in the EU in the near future. On Monday the French vaccine company announced that the European Medicine Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use CHMP has asked for additional data and further justification for a Conditional Marketing Authorization for the vaccine. https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2022/04/28/valneva-awaits-eu-covid-19-vaccine-decision?aca_news_section=Global+Industry+News 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

News-Medical.Net A large US study published by The BMJ today finds that fewer people die from covid19 in better vaccinated communities. The findings based on data across 2558 counties in 48 US states show that counties with high vaccine coverage had a more than 80 reduction in death rates compared with largely unvaccinated counties. This large benefit complements the growing body of evidence indicating individual level benefits of covid19 vaccination. A linked editorial also proposes that encouraging people to keep up to date with vaccination saves lives. As of 11 April 2022 more than 11 billion covid19 vaccine doses have been administered globally and the World Health Organizations target is to vaccinate 70 of the worlds population by mid2022. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220428/Study-shows-public-health-impact-of-covid-19-vaccines-in-the-US.aspx 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Stuff.co.nz High vaccination rates reduced Covid19 deaths by more than 80 compared with places with low vaccine uptake according to a major study of cases in the United States. The researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC looked at infections of the Alpha and Delta strains and deaths from these strains across more than 2500 US counties during 2021. They compared places where the number of adults who had received at least one dose of a Covid19 vaccine was very low 10 low 1039 medium 4069 and high 70 and found as vaccine rate increased death rates and infections from the virus fell away dramatically. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/128471218/covid19-highly-vaccinated-communities-see-far-fewer-deaths--study 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian In the short term if the goal is to stop transmission when cases are rising and enhance societys transition to more normal activities boosters could conceivably help. If you can quickly boost a bunch of people at the cusp of a surge you might be able to flatten that curve Swift says. She notes however that boosters only temporarily slow the spread of infection. Adding to the publics risk calculation fatigue many airlines lifted mask requirements last week after a federal judge ruled that a mask mandate on public transportation is unlawful. The Department of Justice has since appealed that ruling. It feels like a mixed message to people to say Get your booster but stop wearing masks Swift says. Its been such a quagmire. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/28/measles-cases-surge-nearly-80-in-wake-of-covid-chaos-with-fears-other-diseases-could-follow 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Scientific American Although the consensus remains that getting the initial fullseries vaccination offers a clear benefit scientists today disagree on the value of a fourth mRNA vaccine dose. Some say a second booster is essential for protecting highly vulnerable peopleand that it should also be available to their families and other close contacts. Others note that the FDAs decision about a fourth dose was based on limited evidenceprimarily one study in Israeland that the original twoshot series still provides durable protection against the most severe outcomes in adults with a healthy immune system. For its part guidance published on April 6 by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agencys COVID19 Emergency Task Force states that a fourth mRNA COVID vaccine dose can be given to adults age 80 and older but that it is too early to consider that booster for the general population. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-who-should-get-a-second-covid-booster/ 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

European Pharmaceutical Review The global effort to produce a vaccine for COVID19 has rightly been lauded as one of the greatest scientific achievements of the past century. The sheer speed at which the process moved from producing the first viral genetic sequence to global rollout of effective vaccines was all the more impressive when remembering that the fastest any vaccine had previously been developed was around four years for mumps in the 1960s and most vaccine production timescales had been a decade or more. A number of factors including a wealth of funding regulatory flexibility and scientific expertise were on our side which is unsurprising given the matter that needed addressing was the worst global health crisis for a generation. https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/article/170768/the-future-of-vaccine-research-and-learning-the-lessons-of-covid-19/ 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Merck Co. reported strongerthanexpected firstquarter profit and revenue and raised its full year outlook Thursday buoyed by sales of its Covid19 antiviral following the winter omicron wave. Merck reported 3.2 billion in revenue from its Covid antiviral known as Lagevrio or molnupiravir compared with Wall Street expectations of 2.72 billion. The drug was cleared by regulators in late 2021 so the first quarter is its first full quarter of sales. The company now expects overall fullyear sales of 56.9 billion to 58.1 billion up from a prior forecast that topped out at 57.6 billion. Adjusted 2022 earnings will be 7.24 to 7.36 a share Merck said up from a range of 7.12 to 7.27. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-28/merck-increases-full-year-guidance-as-new-covid-pill-beats-views 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The BMJ New evidence confirms that fewer people die in better vaccinated communities The first covid19 vaccines were administered under emergency use authorisation in December 2020 just one year into the pandemic a miracle of pharmaceutical innovation that has saved an estimated million lives or more in the US alone.12 The authorisation was given on the basis of safety and efficacy in randomised controlled trials which found that immunisation with PfizerBioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines protected a remarkably high percentage 90 of recipients from developing symptomatic infection and to a lesser extent from asymptomatic infection too. In other words when tested against the SARSCoV2 variants prevailing in 2020 and early 2021 these novel covid19 vaccines could stop the great majority of infections from causing illness and help to prevent transmission of SARSCoV2. But could vaccination prevent infection and illness on a large scale outside the controlled environment of clinical trials A linked study by Suthar and colleagues doi10.1136bmj2021069317 adds to the evidence that it can across the US https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o867 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters A shareholder proposal calling on Moderna Inc to study transferring production of COVID19 vaccines to lessdeveloped countries won 24 support from investors on Thursday after it received a rare endorsement from the World Health Organization. Proponents say production shifts could help combat the global pandemic. Moderna of Cambridge Mass. opposed the measure saying among other things it already maximized its manufacturing capacity with partners and that poorer countries have declined millions of doses that Moderna was prepared to deliver. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-says-pandemic-justifies-leaders-pitch-moderna-meeting-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Moderna Inc said it asked U.S. regulators to authorize its COVID19 vaccine for children under the age of 6 which would make it the first shot against the coronavirus available for those under 5yearsold. The COVID19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE is authorized for children 5 and older. But their trial results for 2 to 4yearolds showed a weaker immune response than in adults forcing the study to be extended to test a third dose. Pfizer has said that data would come in April. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/moderna-files-us-authorization-covid-shot-kids-under-6-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP A trio of new observational studies from Europe describes long COVID prevalence in Luxembourg the effect of initial infection severity on risk in Sweden and an occupational therapy program to ease symptoms in Ireland. The research was presented at the annual congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases ESCMID in Portugal which ended yesterday. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/04/european-studies-shed-light-long-covid-risk-and-recovery 28th Apr 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Africa is seeing an uptick in COVID19 infections largely driven by a doubling in cases reported in South Africa the World Health Organization said on Thursday urging people across the continent to continue to get vaccinated. Africa had been experiencing a lull in COVID cases with the WHO earlier this month pointing to the longestrunning decline in weekly infections on the continent since the start of the pandemic. But last week cases started to pick up in South Africa the country that has recorded the most infections and deaths in Africa to date and health authorities there are monitoring for signs of a fifth infection wave. This week new COVID19 cases and deaths on the continent increased for the first time after a decline of more than two months for cases and one month for deaths Benido Impouma director for communicable and noncommunicable diseases at the WHOs Africa office told an online news conference. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africa-seeing-uptick-covid-19-cases-who-says-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Taiwan reported on Thursday that the daily number of confirmed domestic COVID19 cases had topped 10000 for the first time in line with predictions and the health minister said infections would continue to rise. Taiwan population 23 million has reported a spike in cases since the start of the year 51504 so far after having previously well controlled the pandemic with tight border controls and tough quarantines. With a wellvaccinated population more than 99 of those infected in the current wave are either asymptomatic or have not fallen seriously ill. Only seven people have died since Jan. 1. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwans-daily-covid-cases-top-10000-first-time-2022-04-28/ 28th Apr 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Associated Press Taiwan which had been living mostly free of COVID19 is now facing its worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic with over 11000 new cases reported Thursday. Cases have been on the upswing since late March. In April the islands central authorities announced that they would no longer maintain a zeroCOVID policy like the Chinese governments in which they would centrally quarantine positive cases. Instead the government is asking people to quarantine at home if they test positive unless they show moderate to severe symptoms. Chen Shihchung the islands health minister announced Thursday they had found 11353 new cases along with two deaths. During the daily press briefing held by the Central Epidemic Command Center he said 99.7 of the cases in the current outbreak either had no symptoms or had mild symptoms. https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-asia-taiwan-f46f2cff5593fcbbc0ce9923b0e62fe8 28th Apr 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

CIDRAP Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus PhD said cases and deaths continue to drop with just over 15000 deaths reported to the WHO last week which he said is the lowest weekly total since March 2020. He said the welcome news comes with the caveat that countries are reducing their testing and the WHO is receiving less information on transmission and evolution. But this virus wont go away just because countries stop looking for it Tedros said. Its still spreading its still changing and its still killing. The threat of new variants is still very real and scientists still dont understand the longterm consequences of infection he said repeating the WHOs call for countries to maintain their surveillance activities. In China Beijing has completed its first round of mass testing which targeted 20 million people and yielded 12 cases. Cases in the city have been slowly rising prompting mass testing and fears that residents of the countrys capital could face a lockdown similar to Shanghaiswhich has been in effect for about a month. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/04/global-covid-deaths-drop-lowest-early-pandemic-months 27th Apr 2022