1st Sep 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=735 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

South China Morning Post Tibet had seen only one imported Covid19 case since 2020 until an outbreak earlier this month. Heads roll also in hardhit tourist hub Hainan with provinces keen to show total commitment to zeroCovid ahead of key party congress analyst notes. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3190457/coronavirus-china-tibet-punishes-more-100-officials-over-zero 1st Sep 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Independent on MSN.com Millions of Chinese citizens were placed under a new lockdown on Tuesday following a fresh outbreak of coronavirus as the government remains committed to its zero Covid policy. The tougher curbs on activities have sparked concerns over the health of the barelygrowing economy https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/china-places-millions-in-new-covid-lockdown-after-fresh-outbreaks/ar-AA11j0a2 1st Sep 2022

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg The US government anticipates that it will stop purchasing and providing Covid19 shots as soon as January due to a lack of funds leaving Americans to obtain vaccines through insurers or pay for them outofpocket. US health officials convened a meeting of more than 100 representatives from drugmakers state and local health departments health providers and insurers on Tuesday to discuss the governments plans to transition sales of Covid vaccines and therapeutics to the commercial market according to Dawn OConnell who heads the Health and Human Services Departments Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-30/us-to-transition-covid-shots-to-commercial-sales-next-year?srnd=premium-uk 1st Sep 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized updated COVID19 booster shots from PfizerBioNTech and Moderna that target the dominant BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants as the government prepares for a broad fall vaccination campaign that could begin within days. The new vaccines also include the original version of the virus targeted by all the previous COVID shots. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-authorizes-moderna-pfizerbiontech-vaccine-boosters-retooled-omicron-2022-08-31/ 31st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

The Washington Post New coronavirus boosters are just around the corner following authorization Wednesday by federal regulators. The updated shots are designed to provide a stronger shield against the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants still causing tens of thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths every day in the United States. The boosters will be part of a campaign by the federal government to be kicked off within days to persuade Americans to bolster their immune defenses before a potential surge in covid19 cases as cooler weather arrives in the fall. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/08/31/fall-booster-shots-2/ 31st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

ABC The U.S. on Wednesday authorized its first update to COVID19 vaccines booster doses that target todays most common omicron strain. Shots could begin within days. The move by the Food and Drug Administration tweaks the recipe of shots made by Pfizer and rival Moderna that already have saved millions of lives. The hope is that the modified boosters will blunt yet another winter surge and help tamp down the BA.5 omicron relative that continues to spread widely. These updated boosters present us with an opportunity to get ahead of the next COVID19 wave said FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/us-clears-updated-covid-boosters-targeting-newest-variants-89103650 31st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Article reports that Cyprus on Wednesday said it would end all restrictions on gatherings and the mandatory use of face masks in most areas after cases of COVID19 were declining. Effective Wednesday all restrictions on public or private gatherings would be eased while wearing face masks would only be compulsory in areas such as hospitals care homes and on public transport Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela said. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/cyprus-ends-mandatory-mask-wearing-covid-19-measures-eased-2022-08-31/ 31st Aug 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters South Korea will from Saturday no longer require travellers to the country to test for COVID19 before departure although they will still need to take a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival. The latest relaxing of rules comes amid an easing in case numbers with daily COVID infections hovering around 100000 in recent weeks compared with more than 180000 in midAugust. The weekly number of infections have declined for the first time in nine weeks and the virus is showing signs of slowing down Lee Kiil the countrys second vice health minister told reporters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-end-pre-departure-covid-test-rule-international-arrivals-2022-08-30/ 30th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

South China Morning Post Scientia Secondary School head says race to fulfil criteria in two months is tight and switching teaching models again will adversely affect learning. Head of the Subsidised Primary Schools Council Vu Imfan echoes views on time frame calls for more vaccination outreach services to boost rates https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3190810/coronavirus-vaccine-hong-kong-school-heads-voice 31st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

CBC.ca on MSN.com Saskatchewan children from five to 11 years old are now eligible to receive their third dose of a COVID19 vaccine as long at least four months has passed since their previous shot but with the school year about to start some parents say the shots should have been made available sooner. Too little too late said Carolyn Brost Strom. Her eightyearold daughter was excited to start Grade 3 at her Prince Albert school but now has a fever sore throat and fatigue after testing positive for COVID19. Its disappointing to start the school year like this. We got the backpacks and everything done a few weeks ago but its all sitting there Strom said. She put her head under the pillow and started crying. The provincial government announced on Tuesday that booster appointments for five to 11yearolds would be available as of Wednesday. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/health/other/covid-19-vaccine-booster-now-available-for-sask-kids-5-11-but-some-parents-say-it-comes-too-late/ar-AA11jne0 31st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

The National Japans ancient temples tranquil hot springs cherry blossoms and futuristic skyscrapers could soon be open for more people to enjoy again as the country has further eased Covid19 restrictions. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that nonescorted visitors on package tours will be able to travel to Japan from next Wednesday. Speaking at an online press conference he also said the daily arrival cap on visitor numbers would increase to 50000 from the same date. Thats an increase from the existing 20000 policy. https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/covid-19-travel/2022/08/31/is-japan-gearing-up-for-a-full-reopening-after-covid-19/ 31st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

ABC News National Cabinet has agreed to shorten COVID19 isolation requirements by two days for most workers. The AMA fears the reduced period could worsen workforce shortages. Pandemic payments will be reduced and mask rules for domestic flights dropped https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-31/covid-isolation-requirements-shortened-to-five-days/101389766 31st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg The US government anticipates that it will stop purchasing and providing Covid19 shots as soon as January due to a lack of funds leaving Americans to obtain vaccines through insurers or pay for them outofpocket. US health officials convened a meeting of more than 100 representatives from drugmakers state and local health departments health providers and insurers on Tuesday to discuss the governments plans to transition sales of Covid vaccines and therapeutics to the commercial market according to Dawn OConnell who heads the Health and Human Services Departments Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-30/us-to-transition-covid-shots-to-commercial-sales-next-year 31st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

CNBC Goldman Sachs said Tuesday it will lift all its Covid19 requirements in most offices beginning Sept. 6 in response to new guidance from federal health officials. According to a memo obtained by CNBC the bank will no longer require its workers to be vaccinated to enter its offices or to test and wear face coverings except those in Lima and New York City. Unvaccinated employees in New York City will still need an approved religious or medical exemption to enter the banks office spaces according to the memo. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/30/goldman-sachs-to-lift-vaccination-covid-19-requirements-in-most-offices-next-month.html 31st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

Travel Weekly Antigua and Barbuda is the latest Caribbean nation to remove all Covid19related entry restrictions. Arriving travellers by air no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or testing. All Covidrelated curbs are also lifted for passengers arriving by yacht or ferry. Passengers arriving by cruise ship remain subject to the protocols placed on board by their cruise company according to updated Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office FCDO travel advice. https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/antigua-and-barbuda-removes-covid-19-travel-restrictions 31st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

ITV News Islanders in Jersey who are eligible for a Covid19 booster jab will be able to book another vaccination from tomorrow Thursday 1 September. The extra dose of the vaccine is intended to protect the most vulnerable islanders during the autumn and winter months. The governments Autumn Booster programme is open to Care home residents and staff Health and social workers All adults over the age of 50 Anyone aged under 50 who is clinically at risk lives in the same home as someone whos immunosuppressed or is a carer https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2022-08-31/autumn-covid-19-booster-jabs-available-in-jersey-from-september 31st Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Hungary must take action on changing its rule of law before it can receive any European Union recovery funds the EU affairs chief of the Czech government which holds the blocs rotating presidency said in an interview on Tuesday. Hungary and Poland both have yet to receive billions of euros of postCOVID EU recovery funds as the governments have not met Brussels demands on respecting the rule of law. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-must-act-get-eu-covid-19-funds-says-czech-minister-2022-08-30/ 30th Aug 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Hungary must take action on changing its rule of law before it can receive any European Union recovery funds the EU affairs chief of the Czech government which holds the blocs rotating presidency said in an interview on Tuesday. Hungary and Poland both have yet to receive billions of euros of postCOVID EU recovery funds as the governments have not met Brussels demands on respecting the rule of law. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-koreas-covid-restrictions-intensify-human-rights-violations-un-2022-08-31/ 30th Aug 2022

Partisan Exits

7NEWS In dismissing the case in June Justice Debra Mortimer said it had many flaws. Their case is a general attack on the government response across Australia to the COVID19 pandemic through the use of a vaccination program she said. In a likely complex and resourceintensive case such as this the court must be able to identify the material facts pleaded to support the allegation or some probative basis in the primary material for the contentions. Counsel for the applicants did not even attempt to point the court towards one. https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/covid-19-vaccine-opponents-slapped-with-214000-in-legal-costs-after-failed-lawsuit-c-8065857 31st Aug 2022

Partisan Exits

BBC News Article reports that the UK Covid19 Inquiry has begun examining the Northern Ireland Executives decisionmaking in response to the Covid19 pandemic between early January 2020 and May 2022. It will examine the decisionmaking of key groups and individuals within the government in Northern Ireland. This will include the first and deputy first ministers and other ministers. Particular attention will be paid to early January 2020 and the start of the first national lockdown in March A preliminary hearing will be held in the autumn. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-62736691.amp 31st Aug 2022

Partisan Exits

Reuters Chinas factory activity extended declines in August as new COVID infections the worst heatwaves in decades and an embattled property sector weighed on production suggesting the economy will struggle to sustain momentum. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index PMI rose to 49.4 in August from 49.0 in July the National Bureau of Statistics NBS said on Wednesday. While the PMI slightly beat expectations for 49.2 in a Reuters poll of analysts it remained below the 50point mark that separates contraction from growth for the second straight month suggesting protracted weakness in the sector. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-aug-factory-activity-extends-declines-risks-grow-2022-08-31/ 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal U.S. health regulators cleared use of retooled Covid19 vaccines that target the latest versions of Omicron in preparation for a fall booster campaign that could start within days. The action by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday permits people 12 years and older to receive an additional shot of the vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE and people 18 and older to receive a Moderna Inc. booster at least two months after their most recent dose. The clearance marks the first changes to the composition of the Covid19 vaccines since their distribution began in the U.S. in December 2020. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-booster-shots-targeting-omicron-authorized-likely-to-be-offered-soon-11661953759?mod=flipboard 1st Sep 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Covid19 boosters from Moderna Inc. and the partnership of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE that are tailored to the latest omicron variants got US regulatory clearance a move toward additional protection as concern grows about potential new waves in the fall and winter. The emergency use authorization is for use of a dose of Modernas shot in adults 18 and older while Pfizers can be used in people 12 and older the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday in a statement. The booster must be given at least two months after recipients latest Covid shot. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-31/fda-clears-way-for-boosters-targeted-at-latest-covid-variants 1st Sep 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Hill The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized updated COVID19 booster shots specifically targeting a subvariant of omicron. The move comes ahead of a fall campaign to give Americans additional booster jabs to protect them against variants. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3622371-fda-clears-updated-covid-19-vaccines-ahead-of-fall-booster-campaign/ 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized updated Covid19 vaccine booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer. This is the first time updated Covid19 vaccines have received emergency use authorization in the United States. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/31/health/fda-covid-vaccine-updated-booster-authorized/index.html 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

News-Medical.Net In the present study researchers performed a metaanalysis using currently available data on neutralization titers obtained from clinical studies that compared the booster COVID19 vaccination with the currently available SARSCoV2 ancestral strain or variantbased vaccines. The team compared the average extent of boosting between vaccines based on the ancestral strain and those modified as per the variant by comparing the increase in neutralization titers noted before and after booster dose administration. Furthermore the study compared the magnitude of boosting against the homologous strains wherein the variants used in the vaccine and the neutralization assay are the same versus nonhomologous strains wherein the variants used in the vaccine and the neutralization assay are different. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220830/Study-explores-differences-in-the-efficiency-of-COVID-19-vaccine-boosters.aspx 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian There is also some indication we may be getting closer to more precisely defining and treating long Covid. Many studies around the world have been set up to recruit groups with long Covid to compare them with rapid recovery cases people who recovered quickly and fully from Covid to try to find differences in levels of antibodies hormones immune cells or other things that can be measured with a blood test. These socalled defining biomarkers can be gamechangers. They can help health services define and refer cases provide more extensive evidence for employers and tribunals and also point towards identification of therapies and treatments. One of the first such studies was reported this month in a preprint from Akiko Iwasaki David Putrino and colleagues at Yale. They report a clear biomarker delineating differences in the long Covid group with signals including low serum cortisol a hormone involved in control of the stress response and evidence of reactivation of latent EpsteinBarr virus. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/31/good-news-long-covid-uk-cases-scientists 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

SciTechDaily Ironically some vaccines need their own boosters. An ingredient called an adjuvant can be added to vaccines to help elicit a more robust immune response better training the body to fight a pathogen. Scientists report a substance that boosted the immune response to an experimental COVID19 shot in mice by 25 times compared to injection with the vaccine alone. Details of the research are described in a new paper published today August 31 2022 in the journal ACS Infectious Diseases. https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-boost-immune-response-to-covid-19-vaccine-by-25-times/ 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Chemical & Engineering News One patent in question has to do with a modification to the mRNA delivered in the vaccine. A big hurdle in creating mRNA medicines was that the immune system would destroy the mRNA before it could act Moderna describes in the complaint. The structure of 1Methylpseudouridine. Four different units called nucleosides make up mRNA. Moderna says it discovered that swapping out one of them uridine with 1methylpseudouridine resulted in better protein production than previous modification attempts and diminished the problematic immune response. Moderna says it patented this research and that Pfizer and BioNTech used the same modification. https://cen.acs.org/policy/intellectual-property/Moderna-sues-Pfizer-BioNTech-over/100/web/2022/08?utm_source=LatestNews&amputm_medium=LatestNews&amputm_campaign=CENRSS 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Hospital Healthcare Europe Greater regular physical activity reduces the risk of infection hospitalisation severe illness and death from COVID19 in comparison to those who are inactive according to the findings of a systematic review and metaanalysis by a team of Spanish researchers. Some degree of physical activity is better than none but greater regular physical activity is best for optimal health outcomes according to a World Health Organisation guideline from 2020. Physical activity has a beneficial impact on the immune system and also appears to have protective associations against infectious disease mortality. Moreover it also appears that the converse is true particular in relation to COVID19. For example in a study of over 48440 adult patients with a COVID19 those who were physically inactive had a higher risk of hospitalisation admission to intensive care and death compared to those who were consistently meeting physical activity guidelines. https://hospitalhealthcare.com/covid-19/greater-regular-physical-activity-reduces-risk-of-adverse-covid-19-outcomes/ 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Healthcare IT News The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is receiving A2.9 million 2 million from the federal government for its COVID19 linked data project. The agency is one of the 14 research groups being funded a total of A31.5 million 22 million by the governments Medical Research Future Fund to help improve Australias understanding of COVID19. https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/australian-institute-health-and-welfare-gets-2m-covid-19-linked-data-project 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

News-Medical.Net The global outbreak of the highly infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARSCOV2 resulted in the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 COVID19 which has claimed over 6.4 million lives worldwide to date. Several types of COVID19 vaccines have been developed many of which have received approval from global regulatory bodies. However genomic mutations have led to the emergence of new SARSCoV2 variants which have reduced the effectiveness of these vaccines. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220830/Vitamin-D-mediates-crosstalk-between-COVID-19-and-osteoporosis.aspx 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma SaNOtize has raised a 24 million series B round giving it the cash to fund its ongoing phase 3 COVID19 prevention trial and other research into its nitric oxide nasal spray NONS. The Vancouverbased company set up shop in 2017 to unlock the antimicrobial properties of nitric oxide. Using its nitric oxide releasing solution platform SaNOtize sought to enable the use of the molecule in sprays baths lavages gels and creams. Interest in the platform went up a gear in 2020 when COVID19 created a pressing need for interventions capable of treating and preventing SARSCoV2 infection. While drugs and vaccines have blunted the impact of COVID19 SaNOtize sees a continued need for new tools for managing the coronavirusand has persuaded investors to bankroll its pursuit of the perceived opportunity. Horizons Ventures and OurCrowd coled the series B round. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/sanotize-bags-24m-fund-phase-3-trial-covid-19-nasal-spray 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC will meet on Thursday to vote on whether to recommend the use of two COVID19 vaccine boosters tailored against the Omicron variant. A recommendation in favor of the modified vaccines by Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE as well as Moderna Inc is expected to pave the way for a rollout next week. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/cdc-advisers-decide-omicron-retooled-boosters-sept-1-2022-08-30/ 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Life expectancy fell in the United States in 2021 to its lowest since 1996 the second year of a historic retreat due to COVID19 deaths provisional government data showed on Wednesday. The nearly oneyear decline from 2020 to 76.1 years marked the largest twoyear drop in life expectancy at birth in close to a century the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC found. Disparity in life expectancy between men and women also widened last year to the highest in more than two decades with men now expected to live 73.2 years nearly six fewer years than women. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-drives-down-us-life-expectancy-second-straight-year-cdc-data-2022-08-31/ 31st Aug 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times Melbourne will bid to become a global centre for the development of new antiviral therapies to deal with future pandemics after receiving the largest donation in Australian medical history. Geoff Cumming a Canadian who lives in the city has pledged at least A250mn 172mn towards creating The Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics based in Parkville adjacent to the University of Melbourne. https://www.ft.com/content/dac280d2-8ce7-4fbf-b296-7bfd8c5b1916 31st Aug 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

South China Morning Post Hospital Authority Chief Manager Dr Lau Kahin says 2100 of the coronavirus patients sent to public facilities were aged 60 and above. But former authority chief executive calls for clearer guidelines on types of chronic illnesses that require patient observation to help ease demand for hospital beds https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190751/elderly-residents-make-four-fifths-hong-kongs-hospitalised?module=live&amppgtype=homepage 30th Aug 2022