14th Jul 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=702 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Britains Covid death toll topped 200000 and could rise further as a new wave of infections driven by highlycontagious omicron subvariants sweeps across Europe. Just over 3 of all deaths last week were linked to Covid19 pushing the total number of deaths to 200247 up to July 1 according to the Office for National Statistics. The UK has been hit hard by the pandemic with one of the highest fatality rates globally and concern rising again as omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 drive a new wave of cases. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-13/britain-s-covid-death-toll-passes-200-000-as-new-cases-soar 14th Jul 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg The UK government is trying to block disclosures to the inquiry investigating its handling of the Covid19 pandemic according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Officials have asked the governments top lawyer Sir James Eadie QC to assess how much information the administration has to provide to the inquiry about its policy discussions during the pandemic the people said. Eadie who is responsible for advising the government on issues of the highest national importance has advised the Cabinet to limit the scope of information provided to the inquiry and warned ministers they are likely to face vast claims for damages from families of Covid victims. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-13/uk-government-seeks-to-block-disclosures-to-the-covid-inquiry 14th Jul 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of Novavax Incs COVID19 vaccine on Wednesday clearing the way for a shot whose more traditional technology has raised hopes of wider acceptance among vaccine skeptics. Shares of Novavax rose 1.3 to 70.89 after its twodose vaccine became the fourth COVID shot to be authorized for use in adults in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC still needs to sign off on the use of the vaccine before it can be made available to people. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-fda-authorizes-novavax-covid-vaccine-adults-2022-07-13/ 14th Jul 2022

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail Dr Anthony Fauci says that the BA.5 variant should not disrupt the lives of Americans if they get vaccinated boosted and use a mask. He also recommends that Americans once again maskup in indoor crowded places but does not see mandates coming soon. The BA.5 variant now makes up 65 of active cases in the U.S. making it the dominant strain only weeks after first appearing on CDC surveillance reports. The new strain is likely responsible for recent upticks in Covid cases in deaths with daily infections jumping 15 and deaths by 50 over the past week https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11009933/Fauci-says-Americans-not-allow-BA-5-COVID-19-variant-disrupt-lives.html 13th Jul 2022

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail The BA.2.75 subvariant nicknamed Centaurus first emerged in India in May. It has since spread to around 10 countries including the US UK and Germany. Now it has also now been identified in the Netherlands the Dutch National Institute of Public Health said in a statement on Wednesday. The substrain appears to be outcompeting all other variants in India. Experts say there is no evidence it causes more serious disease than Omicron https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11011209/Netherlands-detects-Centaurus-Covid-subvariant.html 13th Jul 2022

Lockdown Exit

PMLiVE The NHS has been awarded the George Cross by Her Majesty The Queen in recognition of the dedicated service of healthcare workers that includes their courage compassion and dedication during the COVID19 pandemic. The George Cross which is given in recognition of acts of the greatest heroism or of the most courage in circumstances of extreme danger has only been bestowed to a collective group of people twice before most recently in 1999. May Parsons the nurse who administered the first COVID19 vaccination in the world joined NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard to attend the presentation on 12 July exactly one week after the NHSs birthday. The pair were joined by Pritchards counterparts Caroline Lamb from NHS Scotland and Judith Paget from NHS Wales along with Peter May permanent secretary at the Department of Health and chief executive of Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. https://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/nhs_awarded_george_cross_for_efforts_shown_during_the_covid-19_pandemic_1452197 13th Jul 2022

Lockdown Exit

City A.M. The government is bracing to fund a substantial number of liabilities relating to negative impacts from Covid19 jabs having spent more than 34bn on the vaccine rollout so far. The Department of Health and Social Care told vaccine manufacturers at the start of the programme that it would cover future claims against producers for any adverse effects of their vaccines which may add to the cost of the programme in the long term according to a Public Account Committee report today. As of the beginning of the month 1984 vaccinerelated damages claims have been received by the NHS Business Services Authority which describes itself as an arms length body of the Department of Health and Social Care managing over 35bn of NHS spend annually https://www.cityam.com/government-braces-to-fund-substantial-number-of-covid-19-vaccine-liabilities/ 13th Jul 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that COVID19 remains a global emergency nearly 212 years after it was first declared. The Emergency Committee made up of independent experts said in a statement that rising cases ongoing viral evolution and pressure on health services in a number of countries meant that the situation was still an emergency. Cases reported to WHO had risen by 30 in the last fortnight although increased population immunity largely from vaccines had seen a decoupling of cases from hospitalisations and deaths the committees statement said. https://www.reuters.com/world/who-says-covid-19-remains-global-health-emergency-2022-07-12/ 13th Jul 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Covid vaccines from AstraZeneca Plc and Pfizer Inc. had the biggest impact in preventing deaths in the first year of the global rollout saving an estimated 12 million lives. Thats the upshot of a new analysis from Airfinity Ltd. a Londonbased data firm. The AstraZeneca vaccine developed with the University of Oxford saved 6.3 million lives Airfinity said Wednesday. The estimate for the PfizerBioNTech SE shot was 5.9 million. The companies swiftly scaled up production and delivered doses before other manufacturers according to the report. The findings build on a study last month estimating that vaccines saved about 20 million lives in the first year of the campaign more than half of them in wealthier countries. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-13/astra-s-covid-vaccine-saved-over-six-million-lives-in-first-year 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

Business Standard People in the 1859 age group can get free precaution doses of the Covid vaccine at government vaccination centres under a 75day special drive likely to begin from July 15 the government said on Wednesday. The drive aimed at boosting the administration of Covid precaution doses will be held as part of the governments Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Indias Independence it said. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to mark the 75th anniversary of Indias Independence. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/free-covid-booster-doses-for-18-59-age-group-from-july-15-at-govt-centres-122071300671_1.html 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

POLITICO Europe Countries should start boosting older people a second time with COVID19 shots the head of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC said on Wednesday stressing that waiting for new variant vaccines in the fall could be too late. The risk for people is now said Andrea Ammon director of the ECDC referencing the sharp rise in COVID19 cases in the European Union driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 strains. If I get offered this vaccine now I will take it now she told members of the European Parliaments special committee on COVID19. She underlined that the existing vaccines continue to offer protection against severe disease and death against these variants. https://www.politico.eu/article/andrea-ammon-coronavirus-europe-covid-19-booster-now-if-eligible-ecdc-boss-urges/ 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

ABC Health officials in South Korea are expanding their booster shot programme to adults 50 and over as COVID19 cases creep up again across the country. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/korea-expands-booster-shots-covid-19-cases-creep-86723293 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

Stuff The Government is expected to make it easier to get free masks and rapid antigen tests RATs with concerns many cases of Covid19 are going untested and unreported. Covid19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall is set to announce an update to the Governments Covid19 plan and guidelines on Thursday afternoon. Stuff understands Verrall will outline plans for the Government to provide free masks and Covid19 tests. Verrall had already outlined plans to deliver 50 free masks to every school child in years 47. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300636560/covid19-free-masks-and-rats-but-traffic-light-setting-expected-to-stay-orange 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

Focus Taiwan News Channel Taiwan will start offering on Thursday a new format of its digital COVID19 vaccination certificate which can be used in countries including the United States Canada Japan and Australia the Central Epidemic Command Center CECC said Wednesday. The new format follows the SMART Health Cards framework launched by the Vaccination Credential Initiative VCI which Taiwan joined on May 20 CECC official Pang Yiming said at a press briefing. According to the VCI website SMART Health Cards are issued by the governments of 24 U.S. states and territories Canada Japan and Sydney Australia among others. https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202207130014 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

The Independent Health officials in South Korea are expanding booster shots to adults 50 and over as COVID19 cases creep up again across the country. The 40226 new cases reported Wednesday marked the countrys highest daily jump in more than two months although hospitalizations and deaths remain stable. Baek Gyeongran South Koreas top infectious disease expert attributed the rising case counts to peoples waning immunities following vaccinations and prior infections and a major removal of social distancing measures since April as the nation wiggled out of an omicron surge. Health workers are also witnessing a rapid spread of BA.5 which is seen as the most transmissible variant of omicron yet Baek said. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ap-covid-seoul-b2121930.html 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Australian athletes will be banned from supporting their team mates at other Commonwealth Games events at Birmingham due to the risk of COVID19 transmission team chef de mission Petria Thomas said. They will also have to wear face masks when not in their rooms or exercising at the July 28 Aug. 8 Games as part of team health protocols. Our primary focus is that we can get our athletes to the starting line and they are performance ready Thomas told News Corp media on Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/australia-athletes-barred-other-commonwealth-games-venues-over-covid-risk-2022-07-13/ 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

The Associated Press With new omicron variants again driving COVID19 hospital admissions and deaths higher in recent weeks states and cities are rethinking their responses and the White House is stepping up efforts to alert the public. Some experts said the warnings are too little too late. The highly transmissible BA.5 variant now accounts for 65 of cases with its cousin BA.4 contributing another 16. The variants have shown a remarkable ability to get around the protection offered by infection and vaccination. Its well past the time when the warning could have been put out there said Dr. Eric Topol head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute who has has called BA.5 the worst variant yet. https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-government-and-politics-56da29e416cd40d1c29f99e929c14312 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

The Associated Press The White House said President Joe Biden would try to limit physical contact during his Middle East trip because of concern about rising COVID19 cases but the president swiftly reverted to his oldschool backslapping ways after landing in Israel on Wednesday. He doled out a few fist bumps after stepping off the plane but then threw an arm around Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and shook hands with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The issue of contact is arising amid intense speculation about Bidens upcoming meeting with leaders in Saudi Arabia and whether he will shake hands with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who U.S. intelligence officials said probably sanctioned the killing of a critic. The ostensible COVID19 rule could give Biden cover to avoid a potentially problematic image with the crown prince. https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-israel-middle-east-bf3bb2dd71f4b83f261336b8f68cd604 13th Jul 2022

Exit Strategies

CIDRAP At a briefing today Ashish Jha MD the White House committees coordinator said officials have been closely tracking the rapidly evolving BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants which are the most transmissible forms of Omicron and can evade protection from earlier infection and vaccines. He and his team however emphasized that the vaccination can still protect against severe outcomes. Jha said if people havent gotten a vaccine dose in 2022 its time to get one now. It could save your life he said. He acknowledged that some people may be holding off on getting boosted anticipating a rise in COVID activity in the fall while others might be waiting for an Omicronspecific booster. Jha said getting boosted now wont preclude people from getting another dose in the fall or winter when the Omicronspecific version is expected to be available. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Director Rochelle Walensky MD MPH said proportions of BA.4 and BA.5 are increasing especially with the two related subvariants making up about 81 of circulating viruses up significantly from about 70 last week https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/07/white-house-officials-push-boosters-ba5-surge-intensifies 12th Jul 2022

Partisan Exits

The Independent Three million people remain unvaccinated against Covid as MPs call for renewed push on vaccine roll out. The Public Accounts Committee warned on Wednesday many of the unvaccinated individuals are young citydwellers with just five cities accounting for a quarter of those not jabbed. MPs warned people remain at risk of death and hospitalisation calling for the NHS and public health authorities to redouble efforts on vaccinations. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/millions-unvaccinated-covid-jab-b2122105.html 13th Jul 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal U.S. health regulators have authorized the use of Novavax Inc.s Covid19 vaccine providing a new option that works differently than the two leading vaccines but at a time when overall demand for vaccines and boosters is low. The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that adults 18 years and older may receive Novavaxs vaccine. The Novavax vaccine given as two doses three weeks apart could become available soon if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signs off in the coming days. The authorization gives adults another option that meets the FDAs rigorous standards for safety effectiveness and manufacturing quality needed to support emergencyuse authorization FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf said. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-authorizes-novavaxs-covid-19-vaccine-11657743595 14th Jul 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

PMLiVE AstraZenecas AZ COVID19 vaccine Vaxzevria and the available mRNA COVID19 vaccines provide equally effective protection against hospitalisation and death an expert review of data from 79 realworld studies has revealed. Infectious disease experts from Asia reviewed data from the VIEWhub database on vaccine use and impact developed by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the International Vaccine Access Center. The findings from the study were reported by Expert Review of Vaccines. The findings shows that Vaxzevria and the BNT162b2 and mRNA1273 mRNA COVID19 vaccines offer an equivalent degree of protection against hospitalisation 9193 and death 9193 following two doses regardless of age. https://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/expert_review_shows_astrazenecas_covid-19_vaccine_is_equally_effective_as_mrna_vaccines_1452198 13th Jul 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

iNews Covid cases have hit record levels in the UK yet the vaccine is less effective at preventing infection than at any time since it was introduced according to a leading virus modeller. The degree of protection a jab gives against getting a Covid infection has tumbled from about 30 per cent two months ago to about 10 per cent today according to Professor Karl Friston of University College London. This is largely because the new dominant Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are much better at evading immunity built up by vaccinations than their predecessor BA.2 he says. https://inews.co.uk/news/science/covid-vaccine-less-effective-preventing-infection-1739071 13th Jul 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian People may become reinfected with Covid19 as early as 28 days after recovering from the virus according to the latest advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. Previously reinfection was defined as a case occurring more than 12 weeks after an initial infection. The committee said the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are associated with increased immune escape and we are likely to see rates of reinfection rise among those who have previously been infected with an earlier Covid19 variant and those who are up to date with their vaccinations. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/13/how-long-after-catching-covid-can-you-become-reinfected-and-when-should-you-get-your-booster 13th Jul 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The BMJ Independent researchers looking to obtain patient level data from the Pfizer and Moderna covid19 vaccine trials may have to wait longer. In status reports filed recently with the US federal trials registry clinicaltrials.gov between February and May both companies extended the dates by which the trials will be completed Pfizer by nine months from 15 May 2023 to 8 February 2024. Modernas expected completion date is delayed from 27 October to 29 December 2022. Pfizer indicated in its trial protocol that individual participant data would be made available two years after study completion.1 Now that the date has been pushed back Pfizer will entertain and review requests when the study is complete and all planned analyses have been performed said the companys senior director of global media relations Jerica Pitts. Luis Carlos Saiz a researcher at the Innovation and Organisation Unit of the Navarre Regional Health Service Spain said that access to raw patient data was important for researchers because it is key to build trust in health policies and to protect citizens from potential vested interests. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1731 13th Jul 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc escalated its patent fight with Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc over their COVID19 vaccines on Tuesday accusing the companies in Delaware federal court of infringing a newly obtained patent. The lawsuits said the vaccines messengerRNA delivery systems violate an Alnylam patent on lipid nanoparticle LNP technology for delivering genetic material into human cells. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued the patent the same day Alnylam filed the complaints. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/pfizer-moderna-covid-19-vaccines-infringe-new-alnylam-patent-lawsuits-say-2022-07-12/ 13th Jul 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Adapted versions of established mRNA COVID19 vaccines that address two variants in one shot will soon offer people better protection than vaccines that are now available a European health official said on Wednesday. Moderna and the BioNTechPfizer alliance are working on vaccines based on a combination of the original Wuhan virus and an Omicron subvariant. Referred to as bivalent shots these are planned for use in the autumn vaccination campaign. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/adapted-two-strain-vaccines-lift-covid-protection-eu-official-2022-07-13/ 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Washington Post The virus is running freely the World Health Organization warns as the latest omicron offshoots drive up coronavirus infections around the world. Many countries have lifted restrictions and reduced coronavirus tracking as they grapple with pandemic fatigue. But new waves of the virus demonstrate again that covid19 is nowhere near over according to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He appealed to governments Tuesday to pour efforts back into testing and improving vaccine deployment and said rising cases were straining medical systems already stretched by the pandemic. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/07/13/covid-pandemic-wave-who-ba5-variants/ 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Virologists have voiced concerns about the emergence of another fastspreading Omicron variant which is rapidly gaining ground in India and has already arrived in the UK. The warning came as MPs called for redoubled efforts to persuade the nearly 3 million adults in England who have not yet received a single dose of Covid vaccine to take up the offer of vaccination. The BA.2.75 variant nicknamed Centaurus was first detected in India in early May. Cases in the UK have since risen steeply and apparently faster than those of the extremely transmissible BA.5 variant which is also present in India and is rapidly displacing the previously dominant BA.2 variant in many countries. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/12/centaurus-virologists-express-concern-at-new-covid-subvariant-omicron 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

ABC News During Western Australias most significant wave of COVID infections almost two months ago there was a peak of more than 90000 active cases recorded in the state. Around that time on May 18 there were 327 people with COVID in hospital the states highest figure yet and medical groups warned of a system collapse if that trajectory continued. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-13/mark-mcgowan-concerned-by-rising-number-covid-cases-in-hospital/101234672 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Kyodo News Plus Japans new COVID19 cases topped 90000 for the first time since Feb. 17 on Wednesday official data showed as public health experts said the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant of Omicron is fueling a seventh wave of infections. The 94493 cases come close to the peak number of cases of some 104000 that the country saw in February. The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 16878 coronavirus cases surpassing the 10000 mark for a second straight day and more than doubling from the level a week earlier. Osaka Prefecture also logged 10452 cases topping 10000 for the first time since Feb. 26. Health minister Shigeyuki Goto said in a meeting of a panel of experts that the government forecasts new infections will continue to increase in many areas of the country. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/07/4f54af2fe118-urgent-japans-new-covid-19-cases-top-90000-1st-time-since-feb-17.html 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

CBC.ca An infectious disease expert says Nova Scotia is now in the midst of its seventh wave of COVID19. Tara Moriarty an infectious diseases researcher at the University of Toronto says eased restrictions and Omicrons increased spread has caused an increase in hospitalizations. The provinces current situation marks a turnaround from the beginning of the pandemic when Nova Scotia as a part of the Atlantic Bubble was considered an example of how to best deal with the public health crisis. Moriarty talked to reporter Danielle Edwards about how events are changing in the province during this emerging wave of the disease. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-seventh-wave-covid-response-1.6518456 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News The UK has surpassed 200000 deaths involving coronavirus according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. Up to the start of July a total of 200247 COVID deaths were registered the ONS said on Wednesday. The 200000 milestone was reached on 25 June but not revealed until today due to a delay in registration. In the week ending 1 July 11828 deaths were registered nationwide with 412 3.48 involving coronavirus. COVID deaths were up 65 on the previous week. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-uk-deaths-pass-200-000-ons-says-12651128 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Doctors and people bereaved by Covid have described the 200000th death from the virus in the UK as a tragic milestone and called for the return of infection control measures including mask wearing and better sick pay amid concern about rising cases and new variants. Prof Philip Banfield council chair of the British Medical Association said This terrible loss of life must serve as an important reminder that Covid19 has not gone away and remains a serious threat to public health. Care home residents representatives said reaching the landmark death toll was heartbreaking. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/13/calls-for-more-covid-control-measures-after-uk-death-toll-passes-200000 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News The head of the World Health Organisaton WHO has urged governments across the world to deploy measures like masking and improved ventilation amid unacceptably high numbers of deaths. While many governments of wealthier countries have all but abandoned coronavirus restrictions following successful vaccine rollouts the organisations directorgeneral emphasised that the pandemic is nowhere near over. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said subvariants of Omicron continue to drive new waves of cases hospitalisations and deaths around the world. https://news.sky.com/story/world-health-organization-warns-covid-19-is-running-freely-and-global-deaths-are-unacceptably-high-12650851 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Daily COVID19 infections in South Korea have jumped above 40000 for the first time in two months with the government warning of a potential fivefold surge in the coming months. Daily infections could soar to as many as 200000 between midAugust and late September Prime Minister Han Ducksoo told a government COVID response meeting citing the view of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency KDCA and experts. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-pm-warns-big-covid-surge-cases-hit-two-month-high-2022-07-13/ 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The fastspreading BA.5 sublineage of Omicron is estimated to make up 65 of the coronavirus variants in the United States as of last week U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday. The BA.5 and BA.4 variants together accounted for more than 80 of circulating variants last week with BA.4 making up 16 Walensky told reporters at a White House briefing adding that the sevenday average of COVID19 hospital admissions has doubled since early May. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-cdc-director-ba5-estimated-represent-65-circulating-covid-19-variants-2022-07-12/ 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Anxiety levels rose along with temperatures in Shanghai on Wednesday as medical workers sweated beneath their hazmat suits while administering compulsory mass testing for COVID19 in a city that recently emerged from a painful twomonth lockdown. Chinas commercial hub is battling an outbreak that has seen dozens of new infections recorded daily for the past week and though the numbers are relatively low it has unnerved many among the citys 25 million people after their ordeal in April and May. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-sweats-over-small-nagging-covid-outbreak-already-damaging-economy-2022-07-13/ 13th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg The World Health Organization urged governments and health care systems to take steps to curb Covid19 transmission as a fresh wave of infections moves across Europe and the US. Subvariants of the omicron strain are lifting case numbers and leading to further fatalities Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday. Tedros as the head of the WHO is known recommended the revival of protocols like maskwearing to stop the spread. New waves of the virus demonstrate that Covid19 is nowhere near over Tedros said adding that he is concerned about a rising trend of deaths. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-12/who-chief-warns-of-rising-infections-deaths-from-new-covid-wave?srnd=premium-uk 12th Jul 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg One in four inmates at Wyomings most populous prison has tested positive for Covid19 as cases rise again across the US. The Wyoming Medium Correctional Facility in Torrington houses about 645 inmates and tests last week resulted in 162 positive readings the Casper StarTribune reports. Twenty staff members also tested positive and the prison is on lockdown the newspaper said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-12/covid-19-strikes-wyoming-s-most-populous-prison-as-us-cases-rise 12th Jul 2022