21st Nov 2022 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=748 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

MSNNow Covid levels have fallen in all four UK nations for the second week in a row with infections in England dropping below one million for the first time since midSeptember. Hospital numbers are also continuing to decrease in fresh evidence the latest wave of the virus has peaked. Health experts hailed the autumn booster vaccine programme as helping drive down infections though nearly a quarter of over70s have yet to receive a fresh jab. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/covid-cases-fall-across-the-uk-for-second-week-in-a-row-with-less-than-a-million-infections-in-england/ar-AA14gAiU?ocid=Peregrine 20th Nov 2022

Lockdown Exit

South China Morning Post Hong Kongs Hospital Authority chief has warned that a rapid rise in Covid19 cases has put the city on the verge of cutting nonemergency services to meet increasing demand from patients infected with the virus. Dr Tony Ko Patsing on Saturday said public hospitals were also treating more elderly patients suffering from longCovid symptoms urging older residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible. We observed that in the last two weeks there has been a significant increase in the number of patients diagnosed with Covid19 Ko said adding the surge was more rapid than what was recorded in September. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3200232/coronavirus-hong-kong-close-cutting-non-emergency-services-public-hospitals-again-covid-cases-rise?module=live&amppgtype=homepage 20th Nov 2022

Lockdown Exit

Focus Taiwan Taiwans Central Epidemic Command Center CECC reported 16571 new COVID19 infections on Saturday all but 57 of which were locally transmitted and 59 deaths from the disease. The deceased ranged in age from their 50s to their 90s and all of them had underlying health issues while 29 were unvaccinated against COVID19 the CECC said. Meanwhile the CECC also reported 82 new cases classified as moderate and 56 as severe. https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202211190006 20th Nov 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Beijings biggest district urged people to stay home during the weekend and COVID19 outbreaks grew in numerous Chinese cities on Friday even as China further finetuned its COVID rules by removing capacity limits at entertainment venues. Under a series of measures unveiled last week authorities have sought to be more targeted in applying COVID19 curbs that are taking a heavy toll on the economy and fuelling public frustration and anger sparking investor hopes this week for more significant easing. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/china-revises-covid-prevention-guidelines-entertainment-venues-events-2022-11-18/ 18th Nov 2022

Lockdown Exit

Reuters China reported 14878 new COVID19 infections for Nov. 12 including a record number of new daily cases in capital city Beijing as well as in manufacturing hubs Guangzhou and Zhengzhou. The new cases come as industrial activity in Guangzhou and Zhengzhou has been disrupted by restrictions aimed at controlling outbreaks. The number of daily cases in China rose from 11950 on Nov. 11 the National Health Commission NHC said on Sunday. Excluding imported infections China reported 14761 new local cases up from 11803 a day earlier. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-covid-cases-rise-record-daily-numbers-seen-beijing-other-cities-2022-11-13/ 13th Nov 2022

Exit Strategies

ITV News Eligible islanders in Guernsey have until 21 December to have their Covid autumn booster. Those entitled to a vaccine include people over 50 frontline health workers and anyone who is clinically at risk. Anyone eligible but yet to receive an invite will be sent a letter between now and the end of the month. This gives them around four weeks to make an appointment before the programme ends. If Covid or another illness stops someone from getting the jab before that date temporary clinics will cater for them in the new year. https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2022-11-19/guernseys-covid-autumn-booster-programme-ends-in-december 20th Nov 2022

Exit Strategies

The Washington Post Lockdown arrived in Shijiazhuang with little warning this month. At the time the northern Chinese city had only a handful of covid cases. Then 12 days later just as abruptly even as infections continued to rise the restrictions were lifted. The reaction to Chinas most significant easing of coronavirus controls has been a jumble of conflicted priorities and public sentiment since Beijing announced the changes a week ago. City governments are facing renewed demands that they not respond in ways that disrupt daily life. At the same time months of official warnings about disastrous consequences should the virus run wild have many people fearful of the countrys soaring case numbers. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/19/china-zero-covid-policy-restrictions-protests/ 20th Nov 2022

Exit Strategies

The Guardian The Majestic Princess cruise ship carrying about 800 Covid19 positive passengers has docked in Sydney and passengers have disembarked in the city. The ship docked at Circular Quay early Saturday morning having sailed from New Zealand. It will depart Sydney for Melbourne on Saturday afternoon. The docking of the ship has raised the spectre of the arrival in Sydney of the Ruby Princess in March 2020 early in Australias pandemic which was ultimately linked to 28 deaths and more than 600 infections sparking a NSW government special commission of inquiry and a class action case against the operator. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/11/cruise-ship-majestic-princess-to-dock-in-sydney-with-800-covid-cases-on-board?ref=upstract.com 20th Nov 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters Pharmaceutical companies could be made to disclose prices and deals agreed for any products they make to fight future global health emergencies under new rules that would govern a World Health Organizationbacked pandemic accord reviewed by Reuters. A draft version of the WHO accord which is being negotiated by the U.N. health agencys 194 member countries calls for it to be compulsory for companies to reveal the terms of any public procurement contracts. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/big-pharma-may-have-reveal-government-deals-whos-draft-pandemic-rules-2022-11-17/ 18th Nov 2022

Exit Strategies

Reuters The blistering relief rally underway in Chinese equities is understandable. President Xi Jinping had implemented a mixture of harsh policies targeting Covid19 technology entrepreneurs and real estate developers that kept equity indexes in the basement and aggravated capital flight roughly 101 billion was pulled out the country reading between the lines of official balance of payments data for the first six months of the year. Tentative relaxations on all the main fronts have investors cheering the Golden Dragon index .HXC of New Yorklisted Chinese companies is up 37 since late October. Yet biology could ruin this party yet. https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/investors-ignore-china-covid-spike-their-peril-2022-11-18/ 18th Nov 2022

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal Flu activity continued to rise across the U.S. in the past week adding to a crunch on emergency departments and pediatric hospitals from an early surge in respiratory viruses. Flu has caused an estimated 4.4 million illnesses 38000 hospitalizations and 2100 deaths so far this season including seven pediatric deaths the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. The highest flu hospitalization rates are among adults ages 65 and older followed by children under the age of 5 the CDC said. Pediatric hospitals across the U.S. have been under strain for weeks from a rush of patients with RSV and other respiratory viruses. RSV amounts to a cold in most people but the virus can be dangerous for younger children and older adults especially those with other healthconcerns. https://www.wsj.com/articles/flu-rsv-and-covid-19-add-to-crunch-on-pediatric-hospitals-11668803178 18th Nov 2022

Partisan Exits

The Guardian A couple of months into the Covid lockdown in South Africa Dimakatso 25 resorted to sleeping with an older married man for 1000 rand 50. It was the first time she had had sex for money. She did it because she needed to feed her two children aged five and eight she was unemployed and her mother the sole earner in the household had lost her job. I was desperate and thought I was safe even though its super risky says Dimakatso. It was because of Covid. There were no jobs. If you didnt do it you would starve with your children. Dimakatso is not alone. The latest UN Aids report which surveyed 2812 South African women who are either HIV positive or live in highrisk areas found that since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 15 more women reported using sex work or transactional sex where money gifts or services are given in exchange for sex to sustain their livelihoods. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/18/theres-no-protection-south-africa-faces-covid-legacy-of-sex-for-money 20th Nov 2022

Partisan Exits

Sydney Criminal Lawyers While the details are scant at this stage the statement says this will be done under the framework of the International Health Regulations to facilitate seamless international travel interoperability and recognizing digital solutions and nondigital solutions including proof of vaccinations. Indonesias Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that a Digital Health Certificate using World Health Organization standards would be introduced during the next World Health Assembly in Geneva in May next year. If you have been vaccinated or tested properly you can move around. So for the next pandemic instead of stopping the movement of people 100 you can still provide some movement of the people Mr Sadikin said. Surprisingly this news has not really grabbed the attention of mainstream media despite its very serious implications for freedom of personal choice and freedom of movement. https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/world-leaders-sign-declaration-to-introduce-covid-vaccine-passports/ 20th Nov 2022

Partisan Exits

Stars and Stripes FEMA will grant the Massachusetts National Guard more than 5 million for the cost of providing medical staff and setting up temporary hospitals to handle COVID patients between March and September 2020. That includes according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency news release Friday the Guards response to the Holyoke Soldiers Home where a COVID outbreak in early 2020 cost 84 elderly veterans their lives. It was the largest outbreak of its kind in the country. The guard also planned coordinated and performed large scale mobile COVID19 sample collection and to provide care at longterm care facilities rest homes and assisted living facilities and warehoused and distributed personal protective equipment. https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2022-11-19/fema-5million-grant-national-guard-covid-holyoke-soldiers-home-8115005.html 19th Nov 2022

Partisan Exits

Yahoo! News Florida saw a slight decline in COVID19 cases last week though the positivity rate for new cases rose slightly state data showed Friday. Between Nov. 11 through Nov. 17 there were 11632 new cases of COVID19 throughout the state according to Florida Department of Health statistics. Thats a small drop from the previous week when there were 11783 cases statewide. Despite the small drop in cases the new case positivity rate rose slightly going from 7.8 the previous week to 8 this week the department reported. https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-cases-drop-slightly-180059260.html 19th Nov 2022

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry is isolating in Egypt after testing positive for Covid19 complicating efforts by nearly 200 nations to reach a new international agreement on global warming. Kerrys positive test was disclosed late Friday which was meant to be the official end date for two weeks of UN negotiations in Sharm ElSheikh over how to mitigate climate change and compensate countries bearing the brunt. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-18/john-kerry-sidelined-by-positive-covid-test-at-climate-summit 18th Nov 2022

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg As Hong Kong lifts most pandemic curbs officials are maintaining a web of confusing rules. Take trail running. The government just removed a ban on race organizers providing food to competitors. Yet the easing came with a strict provision at a race last weekend Only bananas could be served and runners had to eat them on their own in silence away from checkpoints. Participants also needed to put on a mask two minutes after crossing the finish line. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-16/hong-kong-s-bananas-only-rule-shows-struggle-to-exit-covid-curbs?srnd=premium-uk 18th Nov 2022

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg Chinas ongoing Covid lockdowns are fueling increasing public anger with some residents in Guangzhou one of the countrys biggest cities staging rare protests against the stringent rules.In videos circulating on social media hundreds of people can be seen marching in the streets and pushing over police barriers in Guangzhous Haizhu district which has been in lockdown since late last month. The demonstrations took place in several urban villages mainly poorer neighborhoods where migrant workers live Hong Kong Economic Journal reported. The local government sent multiple police vehicles to the protests according to the report. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-15/china-s-guangzhou-city-sees-rare-protests-over-covid-lockdowns 15th Nov 2022

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg Shares of Chinese firms tied to reopening rallied after Chinas top leaders called for a more targeted approach while reinforced the need to stick with the Covid Zero policy.Market watchers are cautiously optimistic that such policy finetuning could spur appetite for battered Chinese assets. The following is a selection of reactions from market participants and economists. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-10/what-china-watchers-say-about-leadership-s-latest-covid-language 13th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress A team of researchers affiliated with several entities in Thailand working with two colleagues from the U.S. and two from Canada has developed a mRNA COVID19 vaccine that can be safely refrigerated for up to three months before use. The team has named it ChulaCov19. In their paper published in the journal Nature Microbiology the group describes the differences between their vaccine and other mRNA COVID19 vaccines. Amid the global pandemic groups around the world have developed vaccines to protect or lessen symptoms of people fromwith COVID19. And of the 172 vaccines developed to date 40 are RNAbased. The most wellknown vaccines have been developed by Pfizer and Moderna and both have been shown to be effective in preventing serious symptoms. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-covid-vaccine-thailand-refrigerator-months.html 20th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Pulse Over twothirds of nonhospitalised patients infected with Covid in the first wave of the pandemic developed long Covid according to a new study. In the first study to directly compare patients who were hospitalised or well enough to remain at home researchers found fatigue to be the most longlasting and prevalent symptom. The study of more than 650 patients in Spain found that 59.7 of hospitalised patients and 67.5 of nonhospitalised patients had at least one postCovid19 symptom two years later. https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/neurology/over-two-thirds-of-first-wave-covid-infections-led-to-long-covid-finds-study/ 20th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

The Lancet The effectiveness of the second BNT162b2 PfizerBioNTech mRNA COVID19 booster vaccine dose ie fourth inoculation is well established but its safety has yet to be fully understood. The absence of sufficient vaccine safety information is one of the key contributors to vaccine hesitancy. In this study we aimed to evaluate the safety profile of the second BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 booster vaccine using data from a retrospective cohort and a prospective cohort. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00407-6/fulltext 20th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Scientific American Older people were always especially vulnerable and now make up a higher proportion of COVID fatalities than ever before in the pandemic. While the total number of COVID deaths has fallen the burden of mortality is shifting even more to people older than age 64. And deaths in nursing homes are ticking back up even as COVID remains one of the top causes of death for all ages. COVID deaths among people age 65 and older more than doubled between April and July this year rising by 125 percent according to a recent analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. This trend increased with age more than a quarter of all COVID fatalities were among those age 85 and older throughout the pandemic but that share has risen to at least 38 percent since May. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-is-dying-from-covid-now-and-why/# 20th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Covid19s constant mutations have proven nearly impossible for drugmakers to keep up with. Omicrons newest stepchildren threaten to render the last two antibody drugs on the market ineffective Eli Lilly Co.s bebtelovimab which is used to treat symptoms and AstraZeneca Plcs Evusheld which helps prevent infections. When Covid first hit scientists quickly developed antibody drugs to protect people from the viruss worst effects. Its a straightforward premise a targeted antibody can immediately neutralize a threat inside the body preventing an infection from even starting. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-16/covid-s-mutations-leave-doctors-with-far-fewer-antibody-drugs-to-treat-virus 19th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

BioSpace Novavax Inc. today announced that Health Canada has granted expanded authorization for Nuvaxovid COVID19 Vaccine Recombinant protein Adjuvanted NVXCoV2373 for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 COVID19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARSCoV2 as a homologous booster in adults aged 18 and older. Canadians now have access to our proteinbased Nuvaxovid COVID19 vaccine as an adult booster said Stanley C. Erck President and Chief Executive Officer Novavax. With the winter months upon us its important to have options for vaccination to help protect against COVID19. https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/novavax-nuvaxovid-covid-19-vaccine-receives-expanded-authorization-in-canada-as-a-booster-in-adults/ 19th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Human Resources for Health Nurses are frequently exposed to chronic stress in the workplace generating harmful effects such as job strain and burnout. On the contrary resilience has been shown to be a beneficial variable. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between dimensions of the Job Demand ControlSupport model resilience and burnout in nurses and examine the mediating role of resilience between job strain and burnout. https://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12960-022-00776-3 19th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco Researchers at Stanford University are launching a new study to see whether Pfizers antiviral drug Paxlovid which is approved to treat COVID19 might also be an effective cure for socalled long COVID that causes suffering in patients long after their initial SARSCoV2 infection. More than 98 million Americans have had COVID19 since the pandemic began according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates as many as 1 in 5 adults who have had COVID19 later experience long COVID symptoms. Fatigue cognitive issues shortness of breath the list really goes on said Dr. Linda Geng who is CoDirector of Stanfords PostCOVID clinic. Dr. Geng says the study is the first in the nation to test Paxlovid on people with long COVID symptoms. https://www.ktvu.com/news/stanford-researchers-launch-first-study-on-long-covid-treatment-with-pfizers-paxlovid 19th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times Chinas doctors have a blunt message for Xi Jinping the countrys healthcare system is not prepared to deal with a huge nationwide coronavirus outbreak that will inevitably follow any easing of strict measures to contain Covid19. The warning for Chinas leader was delivered by a dozen health professionals including frontline doctors and nurses and local government health officials interviewed by the Financial Times this month and echoed by international experts. The medical system will probably be paralysed when faced with mass cases said one doctor in a public hospital in Wuhan central China where the pandemic started nearly three years ago. https://www.ft.com/content/392a603d-5f6f-4270-bec2-41e5da69cc67 19th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

9News.com Masks will once again be mandatory in hospitals across New South Wales as the state goes through an increase in COVID19 cases. Infections and hospitalisations are rising across the country as Australias fourth wave continues to approach its peak. In New South Wales confirmed cases rose from 19800 last week to 27869 this week as of 4pm yesterday a 52 per cent increase leading to NSW Health mandating masks in hospitals across the state. https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-australia-updates-fourth-wave-hospitalisations-cases-spiking/0ab147b3-9e1c-44c1-885e-30e88d87081d 19th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated on Friday that Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 account for nearly half of the COVID19 cases in the country for the week ending Nov. 19 compared with 39.5 in the previous week. The proportion of the two variants which are descendants of Omicrons BA.5 subvariant have risen to 49.7 of circulating coronavirus variants around two months after they were initially detected. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-variants-bq1bq11-make-up-nearly-half-us-cases-cdc-2022-11-18/ 18th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE said on Friday their Omicrontailored shot produced higher virusneutralizing antibodies in older adults against the emerging subvariant BQ.1.1 than its original vaccine. Antibody levels against the subvariant rose nearly ninefold in older adults aged 55 and above who received the Omicron shot compared to a roughly twofold increase in participants with the original shot according to data posted on online archive bioRxiv. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pfizerbiontech-omicron-shot-shows-immune-response-against-bq11-older-adults-2022-11-18/ 18th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Hong Kong will cut in half the number of laboratory Covid19 tests new arrivals must undergo starting next week. Travelers will be swabbed for testing at the airport and then must arrange one additional nucleic acid test on their second day in the Asian financial hub Under Secretary for Health Libby Lee said at a briefing on Thursday with reporters. The other two tests currently required conducted on days four and six will no longer be needed she said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-17/hong-kong-to-ease-covid-testing-requirement-for-arrivals 17th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Moderna Inc said on Monday its Omicrontailored vaccines produced a better immune response against the BA.45 subvariants in a midtolate stage study when given as a booster dose compared with its original shot. Data shows that both of Modernas Omicrontailored shots mRNA1273.214 and mRNA1273.222 produced a higher antibody response against BA.45 subvariants than its original shot in vaccinated and boosted adults the company said. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/modernas-omicron-shots-shows-better-immune-response-than-original-covid-vaccine-2022-11-14/ 15th Nov 2022

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg China is relying on 20 key parameters to guide officials on the ground as it eases the contentious Covid Zero policy.Released on Friday the measures detail what officials should be doing on everything from quarantine to testing representing a sweeping pullback of the countrys punishing pandemic playbook. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-11/these-are-the-20-measures-guiding-china-s-covid-easing-efforts 13th Nov 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Covid cases are continuing to surge doubling in New South Wales and Victoria in just a fortnight. Hospitalisations and deaths have also risen sharply prompting NSW health authorities to mandate a limited return to maskwearing to curb the rise in cases. NSW Health updated its Covid risk rating to amber on Friday requiring masks in all areas of public hospitals and health facilities along with limited visitor numbers. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/18/covid-cases-double-in-nsw-and-victoria-in-a-fortnight-as-fourth-wave-surges-across-eastern-states 20th Nov 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg China reported its first Covid death in almost six months on Sunday as the virus outbreak in the country continues unabated.A 87yearold man in Beijing died on Saturday after his condition worsened the official Beijing Daily reported. He first displayed Covid symptoms on Nov. 11 and was confirmed infected two days later according to the report. It was the first documented death from Covid since May 26 when officials in Shanghai reported one fatality. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-20/china-reports-first-covid-death-since-may-amid-growing-outbreak 20th Nov 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Beijings biggest district urged people to stay home during the weekend and COVID19 outbreaks grew in numerous Chinese cities on Friday even as China further finetuned its COVID rules by removing capacity limits at entertainment venues. Under a series of measures unveiled last week authorities have sought to be more targeted in applying COVID19 curbs that are taking a heavy toll on the economy and fuelling public frustration and anger sparking investor hopes this week for more significant easing. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/china-revises-covid-prevention-guidelines-entertainment-venues-events-2022-11-18/ 18th Nov 2022

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg Chinas state media reaffirmed the countrys commitment to Covid Zero even as a spike in infections across major cities seemingly reflected a greater tolerance for outbreaks. Nationwide there were 17298 new cases on Monday the highest since lateApril. The southern manufacturing hub of Guangzhou accounts for the majority with 5124 cases despite lockdowns being extended in three of the citys districts. The southwestern megacity of Chongqing has also seen a spike in infections which climbed to 2948. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-15/chinese-state-media-reinforce-covid-zero-as-cases-jump-in-major-cities 15th Nov 2022