12th Aug 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=721 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Hungary Today Those who want to get a Moderna vaccine against the coronavirus should hurry because the last batches are being used at vaccination centers and GPs according to the official government coronavirus website koronavirus.gov.hu. Hungary has received 1.7 million doses of the Moderna vaccine under the EU procurement of which the last doses are now being used for vaccination. https://hungarytoday.hu/moderna-vaccine-to-run-out-of-stock-in-hungary/ 12th Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

ABC News Health authorities say Australia may have hit its winter COVID19 peak earlier than predicted. But they warn the virus has repeatedly mutated and different strains still pose a real risk. On August 10 there were 133 deaths and 27263 new cases recorded nationwide https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-12/covid-pandemic-emma-mcbryde-interview/101320990 12th Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Striking decreases in the stress hormone cortisol were the strongest predictor for who develops long Covid in new research that identified several potential drivers of the lingering symptoms afflicting millions of survivors. Levels of cortisol in the blood of those with the socalled post Covid19 condition were roughly half those found in healthy uninfected people or individuals who fully recovered from the pandemic disease researchers at Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York found. No one knows yet what causes the constellation of symptoms often termed long Covid that afflict some 10 to 20 of people after the acute phase of infection from SARSCoV2 the virus that causes Covid19. The US government is spending more than 1 billion to learn why it occurs and to devise strategies to treat and prevent the condition. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-11/striking-drop-in-stress-hormone-predicts-long-covid-in-study 11th Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Time North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared victory over COVID19 and ordered preventive measures eased just three months after acknowledging an outbreak claiming the countrys widely disputed success would be recognized as a global health miracle. https://time.com/6205310/north-korea-covid/ 11th Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg The Covid19 pandemic created deeper social divisions compared to the beginning of the outbreak exposing weaknesses in political systems according to findings of a survey conducted in 19 upper and middleincome countries. Overall 61 of respondents said their countries became more divided during the pandemic according to the recent Pew Research Center survey. The perception of increased social friction was highest in the US where 81 of those surveyed held that view and twothirds said the countrys pandemic response revealed political frailty. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-11/covid-19-and-politics-pandemic-deepened-countries-divisions-survey-says 11th Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared victory over COVID19 and his sister indicated that he too caught the virus while vowing deadly retaliation against South Korea which the North blames for causing the outbreak. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkoreas-kim-declares-victory-battle-against-covid-19-kcna-2022-08-10/ 11th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

South China Morning Post About 2200 children have received Sinovac shots in past week since vaccination extended to those as young as six months. Health experts urge government to purchase BioNTech formula for toddlers to encourage vaccination of youngest residents. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3188497/coronavirus-more-vaccination-venues-be-opened 11th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

1News Under 9000 doses of the nonmRNA vaccine have been administered out of the 120000 doses the country received for domestic use. Last week health authorities updated their advice for people seeking AstraZeneca vaccines with the doses available until September 4. The remaining unused doses will reach their expiry date the following day according to a spokesperson for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ though doses administered the day prior will remain effective. In a statement the agencys national immunisation programme operations manager Rachel MacKay said there were efforts to get people who chose AstraZeneca to get uptodate with their vaccines. https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/11/final-call-for-astrazeneca-covid-19-jab-only-8-of-supply-used/ 11th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

CNN Theres been a lot of talk about Covid19 booster shots in recent weeks. It makes sense with colder months just around the corner in the northern hemisphere public health authorities across the world are getting ready for a potential spike in coronavirus cases. Getting people at risk of severe disease boosted is a big part of the plan. But guidance on who when and how depends largely on who you ask. Lets start with the basics All adults should have had their first booster by now. The data shows clearly that an extra shot of an mRNA vaccine increases protection including against severe disease. If you are 18 and older and have not yet had any vaccines beyond your primary vaccination you should get your booster now said CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/10/world/coronavirus-newsletter-intl-08-10-22/index.html 11th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

The Independent The Indian capital reintroduced public mask mandates on Thursday as COVID19 cases continue to rise across the country. The New Delhi government reinstituted a fine of 500 rupees 6 for anyone caught not wearing a mask or face covering in public. Indias Health Ministry said 16299 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours nationwide with a positivity rate of 4.58. Nearly 2150 infections were reported in New Delhi. On Wednesday New Delhi reported eight deaths due to the coronavirus the highest in nearly six months. People in most parts of the country began discarding face masks as infections dropped following two devastating earlier waves of COVID19. New Delhis top elected official Arvind Kejriwal said that COVID19 cases were on the rise but there was no need to panic because most of the new cases were mild. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/new-delhi-ap-indian-people-covid-b2143031.html 11th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

iNews Nextgeneration Covid vaccines are in doubt for the autumn boosters campaign as ministers and the NHS wait for regulators to sign off on new jabs targeted at the Omicron variant. Studies suggest that the new versions of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may reduce transmission of Covid19 and prove more effective in preventing hospitalisation. But the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency MHRA is still considering whether to approve jabs and some insiders fear it may be too slow for the autumn vaccine rollout. https://inews.co.uk/news/health/new-covid-vaccines-omicron-not-ready-autumn-boosters-nhs-winter-wave-1789089 11th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters New Delhi will enforce a mask mandate again after COVID19 infections rose in the past fortnight a government order showed on Thursday though a similar order in April failed to improve compliance. People caught without masks in public in the Indian capital will have to pay a fine of 500 rupees 6 the order dated Aug. 8 and shared with reporters on Thursday said. Presently maskwearing is uncommon even in shopping malls and crowded markets. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/delhi-enforce-mask-mandate-again-after-spurt-covid-cases-2022-08-11/ 11th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

EU Reporter The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the 2030 Policy Programme Path to the Digital Decade. The programme sets up a monitoring and cooperation mechanism to achieve the common objectives and targets for Europes digital transformation set out in the 2030 Digital Compass. This concerns the area of skills and infrastructure including connectivity the digitalisation of businesses and online public services as well as the respect of the EUs Digital rights and principles in achieving the general objectives. A Europe Fit for the Digital Age Executive VicePresident Margrethe Vestager said The Digital Decade is about making digital technology work for people and businesses. It is about enabling everyone to have the skills to participate in the digital society. To be empowered. It is about empowering businesses. It is about the infrastructure that keeps us connected. It is about bringing government services closer to citizens. Europes digital transformation will give opportunities for everyone. https://www.eureporter.co/health/personalised-medicine/european-alliance-for-personalised-medicine-personalised-medicine/2022/08/11/update-all-go-in-health-concerns-as-eu-pushes-for-covid-and-monkeypox-vaccines-and-welcomes-digital-decade-policy-programme/ 11th Aug 2022

Partisan Exits

Thai PBS World Beginning September 1st all hotelbased COVID19 isolation services will be phased out and private and state hospitals will get direct access to supplies of antiviral medication as the country is transitioning into a postpandemic period. Prof. Dr. Udom Kachinthorn chairman of the national reform committee on public health said today Thursday that both private and state hospitals can claim refunds from the government for the drugs prescribed to COVID 19 patients. He said that as COVID19 is to be reclassified as an infectious disease under watch instead of a dangerous infectious disease on October 1st pharmacies should have access to antiviral drugs as well pending an announcement to be issued by the Thai Food and Drug Administration TFDA adding that drug stores can dispense the medications to patients but they need a doctors prescription to prevent misuse. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-hotel-based-covid-19-isolation-facilities-to-be-phased-out-from-september/ 12th Aug 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters President Joe Biden plans to travel across the United States in the coming weeks to tout a series of legislative wins on climate change gun control and drug pricing in a bid to boost his partys chances in the looming midterm elections White House officials said on Thursday. His Democrats face an uphill battle to retain their narrow control of the House of Representatives and Senate in the Nov. 8 elections. Biden whose public approval rating rose this week to its highest since early June plans to use the recent victories in Congress to rally support for Democratic candidates White House officials Kate Bedingfield and Anita Dunn wrote in a memo distributed to allies in the party and shared with reporters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-tout-recent-legislative-wins-ahead-us-midterm-vote-2022-08-11/ 11th Aug 2022

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Several COVIDhit Chinese cities from the countrys east to west imposed fresh restrictions and lockdowns on their populations on Thursday to contain flareups that are again threatening to disrupt local economies. Reducing peoples unnecessary movement for a few days a softer type of lockdown as soon as dozens of new cases emerge is a key practice of Chinas dynamic COVIDzero strategy. The aim is to avoid turning efforts to halt an outbreak into the extended nightmares seen in Shanghai and Wuhan https://www.reuters.com/world/china/several-cities-china-adds-covid-curbs-millions-still-under-lockdown-2022-08-11/ 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal Federal health officials scaled back guidance for quarantining and testing to screen for Covid19 in settings including schools a relaxation of pandemic precautions that reflects higher protection from vaccines treatments and prior infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday said it no longer recommends that people quarantine after being exposed to the virus as long as they dont feel sick get tested after five days and wear a highquality mask around others for 10 days. People should still isolate from others for at least five days if they test positive the CDC said. https://www.wsj.com/articles/cdc-drops-quarantine-recommendation-following-covid-19-exposure-11660244410 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer recommend quarantines or testtostay programs at schools or daycare centers for people exposed to COVID19 the agency said in updated guidelines on Thursday. The agency also said it was no longer recommending unvaccinated people quarantine after exposure as around 95 of the U.S. population has either been vaccinated had COVID19 already or both. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-cdc-no-longer-recommends-students-quarantine-covid-19-exposure-2022-08-11/ 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

INQUIRER.net Hundreds of vials were lined up on the belt of a packaging machine at L House SK Biosciences vaccine manufacturing facility in Andong North Gyeongsang Province on Wednesday afternoon as the developer of South Koreas first homegrown COVID19 vaccine SKYCovione is poised to roll out the vaccines first batch by the end of August. A few researchers who were covered from head to toe with sterilized gear protective shoes clothing and hair caps oversaw the automatic process while others put finishing touches on the packages. On the surface of the packaged products which were stacked one by one in a yellow plastic box it read SKYCovione MultiInj. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1645079/south-koreas-1st-domestic-covid-19-vaccine-ready 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Independent A universal Covid jab is urgently needed scientists have warned after a study confirmed prior infection or vaccination offers only limited protection against new variants. https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/universal-covid-vaccine-study-b2143034.html 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN Forget taking two to three Covid shots a year. Moderna hopes to roll out a singledose annual booster to cover the coronavirus the flu and another common respiratory virus within the next five years. As Covid19 continues to mutate Moderna will need to keep updating the vaccines that turned it into a global household name while trying to make it more convenient for consumers CEO Stphane Bancel said in an interview with CNN Business Wednesday. He estimated a timeline of three to five years for the new combined product and likened the development of the lifesaving jab to that of a smartphone. You dont get the amazing camera amazing everything the first time you get an iPhone but you get a lot of things he said. A lot of us buy a new iPhone every September and you get new apps and you get refreshed apps. And thats exactly the same idea which is youll get Covid and flu and RSV respiratory syncytial virus in your single dose. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/11/business/moderna-covid-vaccines-annual-booster-intl-hnk/index.html 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Scientists fear the omicron shots coming this fall wont be much better at keeping people from getting Covid19 than whats come before. Thats pushing drugmakers to start working on nextgeneration vaccines that dont have to be updated that often if at all. Testing shows that omicronspecific vaccines under development at Moderna Inc. and the partnership of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE will be little or no better than the currently available boosters according to John Moore a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College. The benefit of switching composition is barely detectable Moore said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-10/pfizer-pfe-biontech-bntx-aim-to-preserve-immunity-with-pan-coronavirus-shot 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Nature.com After the gamechanging COVID19 antiviral Paxlovid began to be used in late 2021 researchers noticed a perplexing trend. In some people taking the drug symptoms and detectable virus vanish only to mysteriously return days later. After months of grasping at straws scientists are beginning to make some headway in understanding Paxlovid rebound. Two recent studies suggest that it is surprisingly common for SARSCoV2 to return in untreated cases of COVID191 while hinting that the viruss comeback is fiercer and more common in people who take Paxlovid https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02121-z 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Hospital Healthcare Europe A trial of a novel designed ankyrin repeat protein ensovibep for the treatment of patients hospitalised with COVID19 proved no better than placebo. Ensovibep treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID19 was no better than placebo and in fact the trial was terminated early because of futility according to the findings of randomised trial by researchers from the ACTIV3TICO group. The early treatment of patients infected with COVID19 using antivirals such as molnupiravir reduces the risk of hospitalisation or death in atrisk unvaccinated adults. However to date there are no effective antiviral agents for those who have been hospitalised due to virus. One new class of treatment is designed ankyrin repeat proteins DARPins which represent a novel class of specific binding molecules that can recognise targets with specificities and affinities that equal or surpass those of antibodies. https://hospitalhealthcare.com/covid-19/ensovibep-no-better-than-placebo-for-hospitalised-covid-19-patients/ 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

News-Medical.Net COVID19 infection in pregnant women is associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes compared to women who are not pregnant according to a review published in JACC Advances from the American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Disease in Women Committee. Cardiovascular complications include heart attack arrythmias heart failure and longhaul symptoms that may be difficult to distinguish from other cardiac complications of pregnancy and require the cardiovascular care team to be vigilant when assessing pregnant women with COVID19. As COVID19 cases increased globally awareness of cardiovascular complications also increased especially in certain highrisk populations. Heart attacks is estimated in up to 12 of patients. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220811/COVID-19-infection-in-pregnant-women-linked-to-increased-risk-of-adverse-outcomes.aspx 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

PharmaTimes University of Aberdeen team suggest results indicate that protein PAI1 could be an early indicator of severe COVID19 A protein that could be an early indicator of severe COVID19 has been identified by scientists at the University of Aberdeen. Patients who get seriously ill following a COVID19 infection frequently show evidence of a severe form of lung disease and in around 30 of patients blood clots are evident. Blood clots arise due to deposits of fibrin within the lung contributing to pneumonia and respiratory distress. These fibrin deposits restrict the amount of oxygen absorbed into the lung. https://www.pharmatimes.com/news/key_blood_clotting_protein_could_be_warning_light_for_covid-19_cases_1453229 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters French vaccine developer Valneva on Thursday cut its fullyear revenue outlook citing lower demand for its antiCOVID shot from European Union member states. The European Commission in July slashed its order for VLA2001 to just 1.25 million doses from a previously targeted 60 million pointing to European countries being well supplied with other vaccines and a slowdown in vaccination programmes. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/valneva-cuts-full-year-outlook-lower-covid-19-vaccine-sales-2022-08-11/ 11th Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Africas top public health body said on Thursday it was hopeful South African pharmaceutical firm Aspen Pharmacare would get orders for its own brand COVID19 vaccine. Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC said last month that it is in detailed discussions with buyers to generate demand for Aspens COVID19 vaccine Aspenovax. Just one fifth of adults in Africa are fully vaccinated against COVID19 but demand has fallen across the continent which already receives donated vaccines from Western countries and has supplies to hand from earlier purchases. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africa-cdc-hopeful-aspen-will-get-covid-vaccine-orders-2022-08-11/ 11th Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Xinhua Singapore reported 7776 new cases of COVID19 on Thursday bringing the total tally to 1781162. Of the new cases 537 cases were detected through PCR polymerase chain reaction tests and 7239 through ART antigen rapid test tests according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health. Among the PCR cases 506 were local transmissions and 31 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk there were 6756 local transmissions and 483 imported cases respectively. A total of 686 cases are currently warded in hospitals with 22 cases in intensive care units. https://english.news.cn/20220811/e090196001264fd8b02d08502fa04a44/c.html 12th Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Independent The number of coronavirus deaths fell by 9 in the last week while new cases remained relatively stable according to the latest weekly pandemic report released by the World Health Organization Wednesday. The U.N. health agency said there were more than 14000 COVID19 deaths in the last week and nearly 7 million new infections. The Western Pacific reported a 30 jump in cases while Africa reported a 46 drop. Cases also fell by more than 20 in the Americas and the Middle East. The number of new deaths rose by 19 in the Middle East while dropping by more than 70 in Africa 15 in Europe and 10 in the Americas. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/who-ap-london-chinese-africa-b2142419.html 11th Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Belfast Telegraph The rate of Covid19 admissions to hospitals in England has fallen for the third week in a row in fresh evidence the current wave of infections is receding. The overall number of patients testing positive for the virus is also continuing to drop and is down 40 from the recent peak. Infection levels rose from the end of May to midJuly driven by the spread of the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. But data in the last few weeks has suggested the virus is now becoming less prevalent across the country. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/hospital-admissions-continue-to-fall-as-covid-19-wave-recedes-41905683.html 11th Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Hindu It is time to deal with COVID19 just like any other health condition and integrate COVID19 interventions in general health service. The infectious disease outbreaks or epidemics or pandemics share a fate there is a day when the majority of them run their course and fade away. However a small proportion of epidemics or pandemics transitions to the stage of endemicity i.e. a level of transmission which is not considered to be a broad threat. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/covid-19-arguably-has-become-endemic-in-india/article65755040.ece 11th Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Global News The number of people in Alberta hospitals with COVID19 continues to rise. New numbers released by the Alberta government on Wednesday revealed there were 748 patients in hospitals with COVID19 on Aug. 8 up from 702 a week earlier. Of those patients 28 are being treated in intensivecare units. https://globalnews.ca/news/9052233/alberta-covid-hospital-numbers-august-10/ 11th Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Japan Times A health ministry advisory board has issued a warning over the coronavirus situation saying that new infection cases remain at the highest level. The medical system has been under heavy strain and the situation could become even more severe the panel of experts said. The situation needs to be watched with the utmost caution as close contact opportunities are expected to increase amid the summer holiday season it said. New infection cases are starting to decrease in some areas but we cannot be optimistic National Institute of Infectious Diseases chief Takaji Wakita who heads the advisory board told a news conference after the panels meeting on Wednesday. We are concerned about future developments in the situation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/08/11/national/science-health/covid-panel-warning/ 11th Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Mint As India is seeing a rise in Covid19 cases especially in the national capital ahead of the festival season experts feel that the infections are mild but are underreported. According to Dr S Chatterjee Senior Consultant Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital it seems as if the coronavirus next wave has already started as a huge number of cases are coming and most of them are underreported. The number of cases are huge at this moment in the city. I think it has been underreported because quite a few people not even getting themselves tested. The doctors also not advising and the patients are also not getting tested Dr Chatterjee. He further said that if the testing is increased then the daily number of cases will also increase. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/covid19-cases-mild-but-underreported-says-health-experts-amid-rise-in-infection-11660175026034.html 11th Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Russia reported 25815 new coronavirus cases on Thursday authorities said the highest such figure since March 23. Fiftytwo people in Russia died of coronavirus over the last day the countrys taskforce against COVID19 said. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-daily-coronavirus-cases-jump-25815-2022-08-11/ 11th Aug 2022

New Lockdown

Reuters Ferry services between Macau and the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen will be suspended from Aug. 12 Macaus government said on Thursday due to measures to curb COVID19 infections just days after it had been relaxed. Ferry services had resumed on Aug. 8. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/macau-suspend-ferry-services-with-shenzhen-china-2022-08-11/ 11th Aug 2022