27th Aug 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=83 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Thailand will delay human trials of its coronavirus vaccine due to limited production capacity at overseas facilities a senior official said on Wednesday but it hopes to resume trials by the end of the year. Thai health authorities had planned human testing of the vaccine by October but must delay that by several months as factories abroad are at full capacity said Kiat Ruxrungtham director of the Chulalongkorn University vaccine development programme. The delay will be a setback for Thailands push to quickly create its own vaccine and comes as developers worldwide race to complete trials and secure regulatory approval. A race is on among countries to guarantee a supply amid concern about competition for access with Britain and the United States in the lead in securing six vaccine deals with drugmakers each. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-thailand-vaccine/thailand-delays-human-testing-for-coronavirus-vaccine-idUKKBN25M13I 26th Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Myanmar ordered all schools to close after reporting 70 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday its biggest daily rise as authorities try to tackle a resurgence of the virus following weeks without confirmed domestic transmission. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-myanmar/myanmar-shuts-schools-after-biggest-daily-climb-in-coronavirus-cases-idUSKBN25M0E8 26th Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera Health officials and lawyers have expressed worry about unclear terms on issues like data retention and sharing. People were just hostile said Kaur who is one of more than one million Accredited Social Health Activists or ASHA workers on the front lines of Indias battle to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. We didnt want to download the app but our concerns were ignored Kaur said in a phone interview. There is so much information the app wants from every individual including pictures. Many are just scared to give it now and threaten us if we persist. Considered key tools in stemming the pandemic the rollout of Punjabs Corona Virus Alert COVA app and the dozens of tracing apps being used by different Indian states has been mired in concerns over privacy issues. https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/india-health-workers-alarmed-black-holes-covid-19-apps-200826135111352.html 26th Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Independent Boris Johnson and his ministers are well known for their mantra that they are following the science. On the evidence of recent weeks it might be said that they are also following the Scots. The recent WestminsterEnglish policy Uturn on masks follows other such examples where UK ministers now responsible only for policy in England have followed the Scottish precedent reversing a previously decided approach as on the wearing of face coverings on public transport in shops and indeed on abandoning plans to send pupils back to school towards the end of the last term. Most recently the UKs secretary of state for education Gavin Williamson has pleaded to be allowed to keep his job on the grounds that his counterparts in Belfast DUPSinn Fein Edinburgh SNP and Cardiff LabourLib Dem have been doing much the same as he has and if theyre not being sacked neither should he be dismissed from his role. There is also some suggestion that the Scottish government as well as the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland earlier in the year urged the English authorities to proceed more slowly in relaxing the lockdown from May onwards and to retain more of the social distancing conventions and business support for longer. So far as their devolved powers allowed them to this is indeed what transpired in the three mostly selfgoverning parts of the UK. Arguably their greater caution has resulted in better health outcomes and fewer local lockdowns. https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/politics-explained/boris-johnson-coronavirus-nicola-sturgeon-scotland-lockdown-a9689871.html 26th Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian People on low incomes in areas with high coronavirus infection rates will be eligible for a payment of up to 182 if they have to selfisolate the government has announced. Under the scheme being trialled from Tuesday in Blackburn with Darwen Oldham and Pendle lowpaid people who test positive for Covid19 will receive 130 for their 10day isolation period. This rises to 182 or 13 a day for people they have been in close contact with including members of their household who have to isolate for 14 days. The move follows weeks of campaigning by regional mayors councils and trade unions who said millions of people across the country could not afford to isolate without pay for a fortnight. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/27/people-on-low-incomes-in-uk-covid-hotspots-to-be-paid-if-self-isolating 26th Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

EurekAlert! Infection has been reduced up to 70 as of May 1st. Thanks to developed model scenarios can be drawn regarding future containment measures. While the pandemic caused by SARSCoV2 is still ravaging most countries of the world and containment measures are implemented worldwide a debate is emerging on whether these measures might be partially alleviated and in case how and when. This discussion requires appropriate models that guide decisionmakers through alternative actions via scenarios of the related trajectories of the epidemic. This is the subject of a research whose results are published today in the journal Nature Communications by a team of Italian scientists from Universit Ca Foscari Venice Politecnico di Milano Milan Universit di Padova Padua and cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/pdm-c-s082620.php 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

The Times Germany has extended its furlough scheme until the end of 2021 despite reservations in Angela Merkels party about a bill that may exceed 30 billion. The measure is intended to buy time for the economy to recover after GDP contracted by 11.7 per cent over the first six months of this year. It is expected to take until late next year or early 2022 to regain the lost ground. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/germany-extends-its-furlough-scheme-until-end-of-2021-nq9m58jb8 27th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters European Union nations Britain and EU partners have agreed on a blueprint for a COVID19 vaccination plan envisaging inoculation of at least 40 of their populations a step that may set back the World Health Organisations own vaccine blueprint. The EU target for early vaccinations is twice as high as the goal set by the WHO which is aiming to buy vaccines initially for 20 of the worlds most vulnerable people through a global procurement scheme. The EU estimates that the share of its population in need of initial vaccination should a shot be developed would be at least 40 effectively reducing the availability of possible doses for less developed countries. There is so far no approved COVID19 vaccine except one authorised in Russia before largescale trials. The supply of the vaccines that might be successful is expected to be limited for a long period as production capacities are limited. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eu-vaccination/eu-eyes-initial-covid-19-vaccination-for-at-least-40-of-population-idUKKBN25M1KW 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg The city is grasping for some semblance of its old self. Among the terrible whatifs theres the big one What if the virus strikes again Begin in the East 80s off Madison waiters in surgical masks hand out sanitized menus to the regulars dining al fresco. Across town in the West 70s the sirens have yielded to the familiar clang of jackhammers. In Central Park the zoo the playgrounds even the carousel have reopened. Soon schools across the city will too but not fully. Squint and you can see it New York once the epicenter of the nations coronavirus outbreak is grasping for some semblance of its old self. Five eternal months after the lockdown began office workers have started to trickle back to midtown. A fraction of the suburban commuters are braving the MetroNorth lines. Wall Street is roaring though still mostly working from home. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-26/nyc-s-virus-threat-has-faded-but-its-future-is-stuck-in-limbo 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

ITV News Passengers arriving into Guernsey from Group B countries which includes the UK and Jersey may only need to selfisolate for as little as 24 hours in the next phase of the islands exit from lockdown. In an update to the islands lockdown strategy inbound passengers would be tested on arrival and again on the seventh day. They would be subject to passive surveillance until day 14 meaning they must report any Covid19 symptoms and avoid all care homes and the hospital except in the event of an emergency. Passengers coming to the island from Group A countries would still have to complete a mandatory selfisolation period of 14 days. The rules for Group C will also remain the same with no selfisolation requirement for passengers arriving from countries where an air bridge is in place. Currently this refers only to the Isle of Man. https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2020-08-26/uk-arrivals-into-guernsey-to-be-tested-in-next-phase-of-lockdown-exit 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Secondary pupils will have to wear face coverings in school corridors in local lockdown areas of England after the government reversed its guidance. Head teachers in any secondary school will also have the flexibility to introduce masks in their schools. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said it followed updated advice from the World Health Organization. But Labour accused the government of passing the buck on decisions back to schools. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new guidance meant that in coronavirus hot spot areas that it probably does make sense in confined areas outside the classroom to use a face covering in the corridor and elsewhere. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53907035 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Lockdown rules are easing in Wigan the only borough in Greater Manchester where extra restrictions imposed just under a month ago have been lifted. Rossendale and parts of Blackburn with Darwen in Lancashire have also had restrictions eased the Department for Health and Social care said. Wigan Council leader David Molyneux thanked residents for being responsible patient and kind. Tighter rules were reintroduced after a regional increase in Covid19 cases. Mr Molyneux said residents had done their bit to reduce the spread of the virus. I know it hasnt been easy but by working together and following the rules weve managed to keep our loved ones safe he said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-53908486 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

The Sydney Morning Herald A northern beaches high school has proposed ending the school day at 2pm saying a European model of earlier start and finish times would make students more independent and give teachers more time for oneonone feedback. But some parents are worried the move would not suit junior school students who are less independent learners while the timetable would challenge working parents relying on 3pm public transport. Pittwater High School principal Jane Ferris said compressed timetables introduced during the COVID19 lockdown had made her reflect on the European model where schools such as Sweden and Germany start around 8am and finish after lunchtime. The school found many students enjoyed having blocks of time to catch up on work or prepare for assignments while teachers had greater opportunities to give students feedback and engage parents. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/schools-learn-the-lessons-from-lockdown-want-to-start-and-finish-earlier-20200820-p55nrv.html 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Fortune It may have been intended as a shortterm tool in Germanys fight against the pandemics economic effects but thats not how the governments massive wagesupport program is panning out. Now recognizing that it will take at least a couple years to get the economy back to prepandemic levels Angela Merkels coalition government announced late Tuesday the extension of the current Kurzarbeit short time work scheme until the end of 2021. https://fortune.com/2020/08/26/germany-extends-kurzarbeit-pandemic-wage-support/ 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

The Wall Street Journal Germany is beefing up its already formidable stimulus package to prop up its economy through the Covid19 pandemic brushing away concerns from some economists that the state is keeping insolvent businesses afloat artificially. Wage subsidies for furloughed workers the flagship measure in the countrys new package will be extended by 12 months to the end of 2021 in contrast with most other European countries whose programs are set to expire in the coming months. Furlough programs known in Europe as shorttime work allow companies to temporarily idle workers without resorting to payroll cuts. So far the program has allowed Germany to avoid a spike in unemployment and could help businesses adjust faster to rising demand when the economy normalizes. The 5.6 million workers currently enrolled can earn up to 87 of their pay from benefits while working reduced hours or not at all. https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-boosts-already-hefty-coronavirus-stimulus-11598440184 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC French schoolchildren will be returning to school on 1 September with a somewhat relaxed version of the rules under which some of them went back to school in May. For example there will no longer be a limit on class sizes and distancing is not compulsory in situations where it would stop a school being able to fit all its pupils in. The exception to that is the use of masks which will be compulsory indoors for staff and students over the age of 11 even if they manage to stay more than 1m apart. This means teachers will take lessons wearing masks. Schools are no longer forced to prevent different classes and groups of students from mixing but they are encouraged to stagger start and finish times to prevent large groups building up. Floors desks and surfaces that are touched regularly such as door handles must be cleaned and disinfected at least once a day. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-53892357 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Saving lives or the economy in the coronavirus pandemic is a false choice MPs have warned as a study confirms the UK to have one of the highest excess death rates combined with the worst projected hit to the economy. Data analysed by the Guardian shows the UK has effectively endured the worst of both worlds with 610 excess deaths per million while GDP is set to fall by 11.5 this year. This places it narrowly ahead of Italy and Spain which also have high excess death figures and devastating economic forecasts. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/26/saving-lives-or-uk-economy-from-covid-a-false-choice-mps-warn 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

The Japan Times After COVID19s emergence in Buenos Aires led to a strict lockdown in March Juliana Cassataro and her fellow vaccine researchers grew concerned. The U.S. Europe and China had already revved up their quests to obtain shots how far back in line would Argentina have to wait for supplies We did not want to stay in our homes said Cassataro a scientist at the National University of San Martin in the nations capital. We wanted to use our knowledge to help in this pandemic. Determined to give Latin America its own protection from the fastspreading virus Cassataros team 10 women and two men quickly got to work. A government grant of 100000 in May paid for initial studies and human trials could start in about six months. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/08/26/world/science-health-world/developing-countries-coronavirus-vaccines/ 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said face coverings will be compulsory. Decision on whether to wear masks in most schools to be down to headteachers. The eleventhhour Uturn followed new advice from World Health Organisation https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8663779/Secondary-pupils-wear-face-coverings-classrooms-local-area-goes-lockdown.html 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

New Zealand Herald The Government is embarking on a weeklong Covid19 testing blitz promising to test 70000 people in a bid to further tighten the screws on this elusive virus. The approach will be aggressively targeted according to Health Minister Chris Hipkins with a specific focus on South Auckland. Officials will be testing asymptomatic people in this region a new strategy for this outbreak and will target specific regions rather than only people with Covid19 symptoms. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&ampobjectid=12359543 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK It may have been intended as a shortterm tool in Germanys fight against the pandemics economic effects but thats not how the governments massive wagesupport program is panning out. Now recognizing that it will take at least a couple years to get the economy back to prepandemic levels Angela Merkels coalition government announced late Tuesday the extension of the current Kurzarbeit short time work scheme until the end of 2021. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-education/england-schools-in-covid-hotspots-to-bring-in-face-masks-after-government-u-turn-idUKKBN25M0ND 26th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Public confidence in virus control rather than the length and stringency of government lockdowns may be the best way to gauge how economies emerge from this years pandemic though tracking that confidence can be a bewildering business. Apparent gaps between what people are saying and doing complicate the task facing economists in assessing confidence and how economies are expected to heal at least before the arrival of a gamechanging vaccine thats still likely to be at least six months away. Britain provided an example of this confusion last week with retail sales volumes returning to prepandemic levels in July despite consumer confidence polls remaining mired in gloom close to 10year lows for the past two months. Theres a similar picture in the United States where consumer confidence readings are also stuck near sixyear lows even as retail sales return to their highest on record in July. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-global-confidence/column-public-confidence-often-inscrutable-pivotal-for-recovery-idUKKBN25M0YI 26th Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK The city of Berlin will put thousands of police on the streets at the weekend to enforce a ban on demonstrations opposing measures imposed to stem the coronavirus pandemic after marchers at a recent rally failed to wear masks or keep their distance. Andreas Geisel the Berlin interior senator said the authorities had decided to ban the protest after weighing up the importance of the right to freedom of assembly with the need to protect people against infection. We are still in the middle of a pandemic with rising infection figures he said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany-protest/berlin-bans-protest-against-coronavirus-curbs-idUKKBN25M1F6?il=0 26th Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

7NEWS.com.au Tens of thousands of Australians are preparing to participate in Freedom Day protests against coronavirus restrictions. Predominantly in Victoria but with others planned elsewhere across Australia COVID sceptics are voicing their intention to rally. The date they have marked in their calendars is September 5. https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/freedom-day-protests-against-coronavirus-lockdown-slammed-by-daniel-andrews-c-1265108 26th Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC said this week that people exposed to COVID19 but not symptomatic may not need to be tested shocking doctors and politicians and prompting accusations the guidance was politically motivated. The advice marks a reversal of the agencys previous position recommending testing for all close contacts of people diagnosed with COVID19. Admiral Brett Giroir the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services HHS said the goal was appropriate testing not more testing for its own sake and that there was no political pressure from the administration behind the decision. CNN and The New York Times reported on Wednesday that U.S. public health officials were ordered by highlevel members of the Trump administration to push forward with the changes. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-cdc-testing/u-s-health-agency-says-testing-not-needed-for-some-exposed-to-covid-19-drawing-criticism-idUKKBN25M2IV 26th Aug 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Age Lockdowns to stop the spread of coronavirus across Victoria could punch a 41 billion hole in the states economy and drag it back to where it was in 2016 with fresh warnings its COVID19 outbreak is holding back the entire nation. Forecasts from both the ANZ and the NAB suggest the Victorian economy will this year suffer the single largest economic hit of any state or territory on record that will also drive up unemployment and weigh on wages growth. https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/victorian-economy-could-lose-four-years-of-growth-due-to-virus-lockdown-20200826-p55phc.html 26th Aug 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Ukraine on Wednesday imposed a temporary ban on most foreigners from entering the country until Sept. 28 and extended lockdown measures until the end of October to contain a recent spike in coronavirus cases. Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting Prime Minister Denys Shmygal also said the government would need to take a decision on Thursday on whether to ban major public events in September. The rise in coronavirus infections we have seen in recent weeks is forcing us to act more decisively Shmygal said. The daily tally of new infections jumped to around 2000 last week with a record high of 2328 on Saturday. The total number of infections reached 110085 on Wednesday with 2354 deaths. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-ukraine/ukraine-bans-foreigners-extends-lockdown-measures-to-fight-covid-19-government-meeting-idUKKBN25M1HP 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

New York Times Russia starts a new phase of clinic trials of Russias approved COVID19 vaccine called Sputnik V that will involve more than 40000 people in Moscow the Russian Direct Investment Fund RDIF said on Wednesday. The RDIF which is backing the vaccine said similar trials would be held in five other countries. The vaccine has been hailed as safe and effective by Russian authorities and scientists following two months of smallscale human trials the results of which have not been made public yet. https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/08/26/world/europe/26reuters-health-coronavirus-russia-vaccine-putin.html 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters VBI Vaccines Inc said on Wednesday it expected to begin human testing of two of its experimental COVID19 vaccine candidates at the end of the year. The two candidates VBI2901 and VBI2902 were selected after three preclinical mouse studies induced neutralizing antibodies after a single dose the company said. The activity was analyzed using a plaque reduction neutralization test considered the gold standard for measuring antibodies that can neutralize a virus the company said. VBI said its manufacturing partner Therapure Biomanufacturing will begin making bulk vaccines in September for use through midstage trials. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccine-vbi-vaccin/vbi-vaccines-selects-two-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-for-human-trials-idUKKBN25M1P9 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Echo A coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by scientists in Southampton could begin clinical trials in the city in the autumn. A 1.9 million funding boost from Innovate UK the Governments innovation agency has provided support for a collaboration between Cambridge spinout company DIOSynVax the University of Cambridge and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. The cash will allow the team to take the vaccine candidate to clinical trial. This will take place at the National Institute for Health Research NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and could begin as early as autumn this year. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18675106.covid-19-vaccine-trials-may-begin-southampton-autumn/ 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

PR Newswire.com The worldwide response both private and public to finding a therapeutic andor vaccine for the global pandemic has brought out the best in the global community. Contrary to historical comparable situations it appears that this time a vaccine or vaccines may emerge in the very near future an astronomical pace. Early in the COVID19 pandemic infectious disease experts said that developing a vaccine for the virus would take at least 1218 months. Now in their continued blitzkrieg against SARSCoV2 the novel coronavirus that causes COVID19 several drug companies are keeping pace with their ambitious timelines and some are moving even faster than they initially predicted. Recent articles have reflected this optimism. One such report said The pandemic is pushing drug companies to develop and test their wares at unparalleled speeds. There is no reason you couldnt speed up drug development if you really focused on it and thats what the pandemic has brought say a CEO of a life sciences consulting firm Never have so many groups been working on vaccines and treatments for the same disease said an executive director of a medical research advocacy division of a wellknown Institute. But We have to be cautiously optimistic. https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/are-covid-19-vaccines-and-therapeutics-advancing-faster-than-expected-876602324.html 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian A naturally derived mosquito repellent that was given to British soldiers in April is effective at providing protection against Covid19 defence scientists have said. But it is unclear whether the spray would make any practical difference beyond frequent handwashing and the use of alcoholbased hand sanitisers and personal protective equipment in insulating against the virus. The Ministry of Defence released an eightpage paper from the Porton Downbased Defence Science and Technology Lab DSTL which tested the efficacy of Mosiguard a Citriodiolbased spray on plastic and artificial skin. Jeremy Quin a junior defence minister said the research found that sprays containing Citriodiol can kill the virus. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/26/citriodiol-based-spray-can-help-protect-against-covid-19-says-mod-lab 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times The European pharmaceutical industrys vaccines lobby has pushed the EU for exemptions that would protect its members from lawsuits if there are problems with any new coronavirus vaccines according to people with knowledge of the discussions and an internal memo seen by the Financial Times. The pandemic has compressed into months vaccine research and development that can take years. Some potential vaccines are already at the phasethree testing stage the last step before they come to regulators for approval. At the same time governments around the world have poured cash into research and development to try to save lives and prevent economically crippling lockdowns. https://www.ft.com/content/12f7da5b-92c8-4050-bcea-e726b75eef4d 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Face masks made from nonwoven fabric are more effective at blocking the spread of Covid19 via airborne respiratory droplets than other types that are commonly available according to modelling in Japan by the worlds fastest supercomputer. Fugaku which can perform more than 415 quadrillion computations a second conducted simulations involving three types of mask and found that nonwoven masks were better than those made of cotton and polyester at blocking spray emitted when the wearer coughs the Nikkei Asian Review said. Nonwoven masks refer to the disposable medical masks that are commonly worn in Japan during the flu season and now during the coronavirus pandemic. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/26/non-woven-masks-better-to-stop-covid-19-says-japanese-supercomputer 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Obesity increases the risk of dying of Covid19 by nearly 50 and may make vaccines against the disease less effective according to a comprehensive study using global data. The findings which the lead researcher described as scary show that the risks for people with obesity are greater than previously thought. The study a collaborative effort between the University of North Carolina UNC Saudi Health Council and World Bank will increase pressure on governments to tackle obesity including in the UK where Boris Johnson has put himself at the head of a drive to reduce the nations weight. It emerged ahead of a report from the Institute for Public Policy Research that calls on the government to go further than its recent initiatives which include restrictions on junk food advertising and supermarket offers. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/26/obesity-increases-risk-of-covid-19-death-by-48-study-finds 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News Two patients in Europe have reportedly been confirmed as having been reinfected with the coronavirus with scientists admitting it is not good news. A patient in the Netherlands said to have caught the virus for a second time is an older person with a weakened immune system according to Dutch national broadcaster NOS. The other person in Belgium was said to have experienced mild symptoms after catching the virus again in June having reportedly first been infected in the second week of March. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-two-patients-in-europe-catch-covid-19-for-a-second-time-reports-12056933 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News Official advice on what hand sanitiser to use against coronavirus was watered down by the government 10 days before lockdown and no longer matches World Health Organisation WHO standards. WHO says hand sanitiser should contain at least 60 alcohol to be effective against COVID19 and has published tests showing it takes 20 to 30 seconds to kill the virus on hands. A Sky News investigation has found hundreds of thousands of bottles of alcoholfree hand sanitiser which take up to two minutes to kill coronavirus are being used in schools homes and businesses. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-uk-dropped-who-guidance-on-alcohol-based-hand-sanitisers-before-lockdown-12056746 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress In April a team led by Professor Andrea Rinaldo the head of EPFLs Laboratory of Ecohydrology ECHO published a paper that presented a model for the spread of COVID19 in Italy. Since then the model has been used to investigate different potential outcomes of the pandemics progression depending on the measures put in place. The researchers from the Politecnico di Milano Ca Foscari University of Venice the University of Padua and EPFL published these latest results today in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-08-pandemic-italy.html 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Nobody wants to go back to a national coronavirus lockdown. Frances Emmanuel Macron and Spains Pedro Sanchez are ruling out blanket stayathome restrictions even as Covid19 cases surge higher. Their motives are clear Another round of widespread lockdowns would tank the economy and split society and would also be an admission of defeat from politicians and publichealth officials who like Sanchez insist we are better prepared to control the epidemic than we were in the dark days of spring. The less draconian strategy of combining preventative measures while waiting for a vaccine to emerge is a commendable one. But there are limits here too. Mask policies are becoming tougher and more complicated risking confusion and hostility. International travel curbs which havent always proven effective or easy to enforce are piling up again. And while testing and tracing are vital for improving our ability to catch cases resource gaps remain. Spain is enlisting the army to help its efforts. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-08-26/second-wave-the-agonizing-wait-for-better-coronavirus-treatments 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg A 15minute Covid test from Abbott Laboratories that will be priced at just 5 has been granted emergency authorization for use in the U.S. a breakthrough that could ease the bottleneck that has crimped much of the nations testing capacity. The product dubbed BinaxNOW works without relying on laboratory equipment at a time when labs can take as long as two weeks to produce results. It uses a nasal swab and a small reactive card and it can be administered by a range of healthcare workers including pharmacists at almost any location. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-26/abbott-gets-ok-on-5-15-minute-covid-test-that-avoids-lab-delay 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress A new study looking at male and female immune responses to the new coronavirus may shed new light on why men are more likely to become seriously ill with COVID19 researchers said Wednesday. Since early in the pandemic it has been clear that men particularly older men are at a far higher risk of dying from the virus than women of a similar age but scientists have not yet been able to pinpoint exactly why. A new study published in the journal Nature noted that globally men account for about 60 percent of deaths from COVID19 and looked at whether differences in immune responses could explain why. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-08-women-mount-stronger-covid-immune.html 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress A chemical used in insect repellent can kill the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID19 according to a preliminary study by Britains defense laboratory published on Wednesday. Scientists at the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory DSTL found that Citriodiol the active ingredient in repellents such as Mosiguard had antiviral properties if mixed with the virus in the liquid phase and on a test surface. Mixing a virus suspension with Mosiguard spray or selected constituent components resulted in a reduction in SARSCoV2 said the study. At a high concentration Mosiguard gave a significant decrease... resulting in no recoverable virus it added. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-08-insect-chemical-coronavirus-uk.html 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNBC Australian researchers hope to start human trials of a coronavirus antibody therapy in early 2021. A largescale trial of a vaccine could begin by the end of this year. Antibody therapies would be most useful for the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/26/australian-coronavirus-antibody-therapy-aims-for-trial-in-early-2021.html 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Evening Standard A 1.9 million funding boost from Innovate UK the Governments innovation agency has provided support for a collaboration between Cambridge spinout company DIOSynVax the University of Cambridge and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. The research team used banks of genetic sequences of all known coronaviruses including those from bats the natural hosts of many relatives of human coronaviruses to develop their vaccine candidate called DIOSCoVax2. They have developed libraries of computergenerated antigen structures which can train the immune system to target key regions of the virus and system to make good antiviral responses. These immune responses include neutralising antibodies which block virus infection and Tcells which remove virusinfected cells. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/cambridge-coronavirus-vaccine-clinical-trials-autumn-a4533216.html 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC The top doctor at the US Food and Drug Administration FDA has apologised for overstating the benefits of plasma for treating Covid19 patients. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn came under fire after his agency on Sunday gave emergency authorisation to use convalescent plasma on Covid patients. Echoing President Donald Trump Mr Hahn touted the treatment as lifesaving. Scientists quickly questioned the data provided by Mr Hahn who suggested plasma could reduce deaths by 35. This claim exaggerated preliminary findings from a clinic at the Mayo Clinic. I personally could have done a better job and should have done a better job at that press conference explaining what the data show regarding convalescent plasma Mr Hahn told CBS News on Tuesday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53911565 25th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CBC.ca Ontario has revealed its plan to manage potential COVID19 outbreaks in schools which describes scenarios in which select students will be sent home and entire schools shut down as a result of positive cases. The strategy calls for all members of a class cohort to be sent home to selfisolate in the result of a single positive case among the group. An entire school may also be shut down if the local public health unit finds evidence of potential widespread transmission such as a number of positive cases with no known source outside the school. That determination will be at the discretion of local authorities and not dependent on a particular case count or statistical threshold. At the provinces daily news conference on Wednesday Education Minister Stephen Lecce acknowledged a difficult few months for children and offered reassurances to parents. Know if your child returns to school they will be safe said Lecce. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-coronavirus-ontario-august-26-school-outbreaks-1.5700360 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Belfast Telegraph Another 72 people have been diagnosed with Covid19 in Northern Ireland. Health minister Robin Swann has expressed concern about the rising number of infections over recent weeks in areas like Belfast. The Stormont executive has relaxed a number of coronavirus restrictions but moved to cut the numbers allowed to congregate indoors and outdoors earlier this month in response to the virus resurgence. A total of 384 have tested positive over the last seven days the Department of Health said. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/another-72-people-diagnosed-with-covid-19-in-northern-ireland-39480525.html 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg Quint Italy has ruled out imposing a new nationwide lockdown despite an upsurge in coronavirus cases as the country struggles to emerge from the worst recession in living memory. The increase in contagion has been limited with very low impact on health services Health Minister Roberto Speranza said in an interview with Bloomberg News. I exclude the hypothesis of a lockdown for our country now Speranza 41 said at his Rome office Wednesday. We have few cases and the situation is under control with pressure on hospitals that is very low minimal. The minister noted that during the peak of the virus crisis Italy had 4068 patients in intensive care compared with just 66 as of Tuesday. https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/italy-rules-out-a-new-lockdown-despite-upsurge-in-virus-cases 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

POLITICO Spain is fighting back a second wave of the coronavirus with no consensus on the way forward. The spread of the virus has accelerated in Spain this summer with 2415 new cases diagnosed just on Tuesday. The country now has Europes highest incidence of COVID19 with 173 cases per 100000 inhabitants in the last two weeks. Regions such as Catalonia have reported more than 1000 cases per day for four days in a row while the number is surging in Madrid and the Basque Country. https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-flourishes-in-spanish-summer-as-response-splinters-among-regions/ 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg Spain is reemerging as the epicenter of Europes coronavirus outbreak but the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has rejected calls for another national lockdown. In Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel is extending the countrys job support program until the end of next year. Bloombergs Maria Tadeo reports on Bloomberg Markets European Open. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-08-26/sanchez-rejects-new-spanish-lockdown-video 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BNNBloomberg Italy has ruled out imposing a new nationwide lockdown despite an upsurge in coronavirus cases as the country struggles to emerge from the worst recession in living memory. The increase in contagion has been limited with very low impact on health services Health Minister Roberto Speranza said in an interview with Bloomberg News. I exclude the hypothesis of a lockdown for our country now Speranza 41 said at his Rome office Wednesday. We have few cases and the situation is under control with pressure on hospitals that is very low minimal. The minister noted that during the peak of the virus crisis Italy had 4068 patients in intensive care compared with just 66 as of Tuesday. A generalized lockdown is not a prospect for us also because we have reinforced the health service we are faster at doing tests said Speranza a lawmaker from junior coalition party Article One. Were also doing tests at airports for people who come from atrisk countries. The average age of people whove tested positive in the last week is 30 and most have mild symptoms or none at all he said. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/italy-rules-out-a-new-lockdown-despite-surge-in-virus-cases-1.1485108 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic could hit France in November a government advisor told local media on Wednesday as the city of Marseille tightened restrictions to fight the outbreak. Authorities in Marseille said late on Tuesday that bars and restaurants would have shorter opening times and they also broadened mandatory maskwearing in the southern port city between Aug. 26 and Sept. 30. There are fears of a second wave in November Professor JeanFranois Delfraissy who heads the scientific council that advises the government on the pandemic told France 2 television on Wednesday. France has the seventhhighest COVID19 death toll in the world and the government is monitoring the figures closely to see if fresh restrictions or lockdown are needed. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france/second-wave-of-coronavirus-could-hit-france-in-november-government-advisor-idUSKBN25M0L4 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Local France Frances prime minister urged the population to take responsibility for limiting the Covid19 outbreak by wearing masks to protect one another saying a lockdown cannot be ruled out. In an interview with France Inter Jean Castex said people who resisted maskwearing now compulsory in the workplace enclosed public spaces and on public transport should think of others. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200826/french-pm-urges-population-to-take-responsibility-for-controlling-coronavirus 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Connexion Government advisory body the Conseil Scientifique said the 20 largest cities in France must devise local lockdown plans in case of a second wave of the virus and possible future pandemics. Education Minister JeanMichel Blanquer said health and safety measures in schools could be ramped up in line with local virus rates possibly resulting in a return to distance learning. A spokeswoman for Toulouse told Connexion plans they had been told to draw up concerned authorities would deliver services if another lockdown became necessary. The plan we have been asked to prepare is not concerned with the rules of a lockdown only with how we can deliver services like looking after old people in their homes cleaning schools collecting rubbish and so on she said. The Prime Ministers office will lay down the law on how a lockdown would work. https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/20-French-cities-urged-to-prepare-local-plans-for-lockdown 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg South Korean stocks and the currency could come under pressure as policy makers consider stricter socialdistancing measures and a lockdown amid a flareup in Covid19 cases. Such concerns saw the benchmark Kospi index and the won slip early on Wednesday although losses were pared after a senior health ministry official denied market rumors that authorities will raise socialdistancing rules to the highest level. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-26/south-korean-stocks-won-spooked-by-fears-of-potential-lockdown 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Australian researchers hope to start human trials of a coronavirus antibody therapy in early 2021 while a largescale trial of a vaccine could begin by the end of this year scientists said on Wednesday. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-australia-state/australian-coronavirus-antibody-therapy-aims-for-trial-in-early-2021-idUKKBN25L2WB 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The French government wants to avoid a new nationwide lockdown due to the new coronavirus epidemic Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Medef employers federations annual endofsummer conference Castex also said that a normal restart to the school year was a precondition for restarting the economy. https://www.reuters.com/article/france-economy/france-wants-to-avoid-nationwide-lockdown-due-to-epidemic-pm-idUSP6N2D402A 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK On June 9 an Indian health education minister posted an infographic on Twitter showing COVID19 infections and deaths in the city of Bengaluru were running about half the rate in New Zealand a country acclaimed globally for reining in the disease. The city which has more than double the population of New Zealand stumps the Kiwis said the caption to the image posted by Sudhakar K. who is responsible for medical education in the southern state of Karnataka. Bengaluru known to many as Bangalore is the capital of the state. His tweet was liked and retweeted by thousands. But the celebration was shortlived. At the time only about 450 cases of the novel coronavirus had been recorded among Bangalores population of more than 12.5 million compared with more than 260000 cases across India and about 1150 in New Zealand. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-india-bengaluru/how-indias-silicon-valley-saw-its-covid-19-success-come-undone-idUKKBN25M019 26th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK The French health ministry said it had registered 5429 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours a new postlockdown high and a level of new infections not seen since the height of the epidemic in early April. The total number of people infected with the virus in France now stands at 253587. The health ministry said figures for the cumulative death toll and for COVID19 hospitalisations for Wednesday were not available yet due to a technical glitch. On Tuesday the ministry reported the cumulative number of deaths had risen by 16 to 30544 and it said 4600 people were in hospital with COVID19 including 410 in intensive care. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france-casualties/france-reports-5429-new-coronavirus-infections-new-post-lockdown-high-idUKKBN25M2GX 26th Aug 2020

New Lockdown

Metro.co.uk Drinking outdoors has been banned in Manchester city centre over the Bank Holiday weekend due to coronavirus safety fears. Police will enforce the new measures over the weekend fearing too many revellers will be out drinking in open spaces and breaking social distancing guidelines. However Mancunians will still be allowed to drink in pubs and restaurants. People in the city are already banned from meeting people from different households indoors or in private gardens after the Government reimposed lockdown restrictions in large parts of the north after a spike in Covid19 cases. Inspector Jonathan Shilvock said Unfortunately due to the current pandemic events taking place over the bank holiday weekend have had to be cancelled for fears around public health and a possible lack of social distancing. https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/26/outdoor-drinking-banned-lockdown-tightens-manchester-13181185/ 26th Aug 2020

New Lockdown

The Scotsman Certain regions of Spain including popular tourist destinations have embarked on new voluntary lockdowns in order to control outbreaks of coronavirus. Las Palmas and Valleseco both in Gran Canaria Tielmes in Madrid and La Barquilla in Cceres are currently all in voluntary lockdown. Gran Canaria has had the biggest number of coronavirus outbreaks of all the Canary Islands. While the tourist resort of Valleseco has only seen three positive cases of the virus the local mayor Dmaso Arencibia Lantigua has said he doesnt want to take any chances due to the high number of cases of Covid19 elsewhere on the island. https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/gran-canaria-and-other-popular-tourist-destinations-spain-have-gone-voluntary-lockdown-heres-why-2952606 26th Aug 2020

New Lockdown

FRANCE 24 Myanmar expanded a lockdown in conflictwracked Rakhine state to cover four more townships on Wednesday halting the movement of about 1 million people as the number of coronavirus cases climbs steadily. One hundred new infections were confirmed across Myanmar in the last 24 hours bringing the total to 574 with the northwestern state registering the bulk. Rakhine is one of the poorest states in the country with substandard healthcare facilities and a lack of access to education in some remote parts. https://www.france24.com/en/20200826-myanmar-expands-rakhine-virus-lockdown-to-cover-one-million 26th Aug 2020

New Lockdown

The National Jordan is set to reimpose restrictions and extend curfew hours from Tuesday in response to the worst coronavirus outbreak the kingdom has seen since the start of the pandemic. A ban on movement will be in force from 11pm to 6am and businesses will not be allowed to operate between 10pm and 6am as part of a series of sweeping measures to contain a nationwide surge in Covid19 cases with new infections rising from fewer than 10 to between 20 and 35 each day. Total lockdowns will be imposed on Fridays in areas with outbreaks starting with Amman and Zarqa this week. Public hospitals across Jordan have suspended visiting hours as a precautionary measure. The restrictions aim to limit social gatherings and reduce mixing of citizens while avoiding a complete nationwide lockdown government spokesman Amjad Adaileh said while noting the social and economic harm full lockdowns cause. https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/jordan-reimposes-partial-lockdown-as-covid-19-infections-rise-1.1067915 24th Aug 2020