1st Sep 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=85 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The Times One of Britains leading government contractors is planning to close more than a third of its 250 offices after concluding that staff are working just as effectively from home. Almost 100 sites are set to be closed as Capita which has 45000 staff in the UK prepares to transform its operations permanently. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/business/capita-plans-to-shut-offices-as-staff-work-from-home-9xvfttmh5 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Spain has registered more than 23000 new COVID19 cases since Friday health emergency chief Fernando Simon told a news conference on Monday suggesting the infection rate had declined slightly from an Aug. 21 peak. Health ministry data showed 2489 new cases were diagnosed in the past 24 hours bringing the total since the onset of the pandemic to 462858. Of course we are worried because we have to stabilize and bring down the infection chain Health Minister Salvador Illa told Catalonias regional TV channel 324 late on Monday adding that the goal is to avoid pressuring hospitals. Illa said that the situation is not comparable to the pandemics first peak in March and April noting hospitals now have greater capacity. He said that nothing can be ruled out but it would be unlikely Spain would need to close schools again or impose a new state of emergency to try to tackle the virus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-spain-tally/spain-reports-more-than-23000-new-covid-19-cases-since-friday-idUSKBN25R289 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

Geo News Pakistan on Sunday reported 213 new coronavirus cases its lowest daily count in more than four months. The country reported its first case of the deadly virus on February 26 and went into a threeweek lockdown in late March. In the subsequent months the caseload kept climbing peaking at 6825 new cases in a single day on June 13. While it recorded 153 deaths its highest to date on June 19. However in the last month Pakistans daily infections and fatalities have dropped significantly. On August 30 it recorded only 213 new cases in a day and six deaths across the country while it sampled 18017 tests. https://www.geo.tv/latest/305298-pakistan-records-lowest-daily-count-of-covid-19-in-four-months 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

Mirror Online A coronavirus superspreader could be responsible for at least 140 positive cases on the holiday island of Gran Canaria which is facing the threat of a new lockdown. Health experts believe the virus was introduced via the nightlife scene in the Guanarteme district of the popular Playa de las Canteras resort. While mainland Spain struggles with a second wave Gran Canaria is battling escalating outbreaks of coronavirus which have put the island on the brink of a new lockdown unlesss the situation drastically improves in the next 14 days. The Canary government says it is watching the evolution of the virus very carefully and monitoring what action to take on a day to day basis. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/coronavirus-super-spreader-infected-140-22599757 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC Wearing a face mask in public has become mandatory across Paris and several surrounding areas amid a surge in Covid19 cases in France. On Friday the country recorded 7379 new infections its highest number since early May. The number of red zones where the virus is in active circulation has risen from two to 21. Announcing new local curbs on Thursday PM Jean Castex said he wanted to avoid another general lockdown. He said the coronavirus was gaining ground across France and that if the government did not act fast infection growth could become exponential. Despite a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks daily death tolls have remained low. Overall more than 3 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53934952 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

Sky News It would be a miracle if this years Tour de France finishes the head of the world governing body for competitive cycling has warned after a surge in coronavirus cases prompted a rule change. There was an unusually subdued atmosphere as the race began in Nice on Saturday amid fears the 176 riders may not make it to the finishing line in Paris. Union Cycliste Internationale president David Lappartient said it was a first miracle that we are able to start this race. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-it-would-be-a-miracle-if-tour-de-france-finishes-uci-president-admits-12059171 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg The French government isnt taking any chances. From Tuesday masks will be mandatory for companies with groups working in enclosed spaces Labor Minister Elisabeth Borne said Sunday on BFM TV. While opera singers are among those who can be granted exemptions maskwearing is becoming entrenched in daily life. Cities from Paris to Marseilles are making masks compulsory even outside while students over 11 years old will have to cover their faces when returning to school next month. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-30/france-tightens-mask-protocols-after-surge-in-virus-infections 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

South China Morning Post Fernando de Noronha has reopened for visitors after a fivemonth shutdown but with one stipulation. Tourists have to have contracted and recovered from Covid19 before being allowed on the island https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3099492/island-paradise-brazil-reopens-welcome-tourists-only-if 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Germans to refrain from nonessential travel to areas with severe coronavirus outbreaks including the U.S. Merkels warning to people in Europes biggest economy reflects growing concern among European leaders faced with a summer surge of Covid19. Paris is expanding its maskwearing mandate to public spaces citywide Spain reported the most new infections since late April and Italy had the most since early May. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-27/merkel-calls-on-germans-to-avoid-travel-to-virus-hit-areas 27th Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

News.com.au When were not coping its not always possible to see a psychologist for help. Sometimes there are barriers to professional support services cost distance availability and more recently coronavirus lockdowns. If youre struggling during COVID19 there are a number of free and accessible tools available. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/mind/coronavirus-australia-free-mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-during-the-covid19-pandemic/news-story/14d2d2d2516f54399f7888eac2e04258 31st Aug 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian Office buildings in Australian CBDs could be converted into residential living spaces as a tanking commercial property market leads to a potential reversal of gentrification. The prediction of drastically different city centres made by property experts and architects follows the Covid19 shift in work habits that have forced employers to allow staff to work from home with expectations the flexibility afforded to them as a result of coronavirus will remain in some capacity into the postpandemic future. Urban planning thinktanks believe that as businesses require less floor space and less commercial property is used state and local governments will have to do more to draw people into the city centres in which they have already invested heavily. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/30/the-reversal-of-gentrification-how-covid-19-could-remake-australias-cities 29th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Financial Times The fate of the property is not only emblematic of the severity of the crisis emerging for the hotel industry but also of the pressure building across the commercial real estate sector from smalltown malls to skyhigh office blocks hitting one of its primary sources of financing the 1.4tn market for commercial mortgagebacked securities. I dont think anyone foresaw the devastation that Covid would wreak on commercial real estate and the CMBS market says Lea Overby an analyst at Wells Fargo who has covered the sector for almost two decades. https://www.ft.com/content/e4b2302b-76c5-494a-8560-e6d24de9358f 30th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian University students are returning to mostly virtual class at a time of tumult and disruption due to the Covid19 pandemic. The coronavirus has hit Australian universities hard with a slew of academic institutions recently announcing severe job cuts among them the University of Sydney RMIT University the University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales. The staff cuts coupled with distant learning have dramatically altered the university experience for tens of thousands of Australian students. Unions and academics have sounded the alarm that this could lead to degrees of lower quality. Enrolments for next year are set to balloon which could result in a challenging environment of more students and fewer teachers. Guardian Australia spoke to several students some at universities that have announced staff cuts others learning under lockdown about their experiences during the pandemic. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/30/you-just-feel-disconnected-how-covid-has-upturned-uni-students-lives 29th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters Africa Schools will reopen in Nigerias commercial hub of Lagos next month as part of plans to revive the economy as COVID19 cases decline the state governor said on Saturday. Lagos the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria plans to reopen colleges on Sept. 14 and primary and secondary schools on Sept. 21 Babajide SanwoOlu said. The gradual easing doesnt mean the pandemic is over he said in a tweet. It is not an invitation to carelessness or nonchalance. The Lagos governor said restaurants social clubs and recreational centers would also be allowed to reopen as long as they followed safety rules. Nigeria has reported 53727 infections in total including 18104 in Lagos and 1011 deaths https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN25Q0J2-OZATP 30th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Wuhan Ground Zero for the COVID19 pandemic and the Chinese city hardest hit by the coronavirus will reopen all its schools and kindergartens on Tuesday local authorities said. As many as 2842 educational institutions across the city are set to open their doors to almost 1.4 million students when the autumn semester gets underway the local government announced on Friday. Wuhan University reopened on Monday. The city said it has drawn up emergency plans to switch back to online teaching should risk levels change. It advised students to wear masks to and from school and avoid public transportation if possible. Schools have been ordered to stock up on disease control equipment and to carry out drills and training sessions to help prepare for new outbreaks. They must also restrict unnecessary mass gatherings and submit daily reports to health authorities https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-wuhan/chinas-wuhan-says-all-schools-to-reopen-on-tuesday-idUKKBN25P04M 29th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

CNN Remote indigenous communities in Brazil who have little or no contact with the outside world are facing a grave threat from Covid19 and advocates accuse the government of failing to protect these vulnerable groups. The virus has already killed a member of the Marubo and a member of the Tikuna indigenous people living in the remote Javari Valley and more than 450 people have been infected according to the Brazilian government. The situation in the Javari Valley is critical said Douglas Rodrigues a physician who has worked with recently contacted indigenous groups over the past 40 years. We are preparing for a catastrophe he told CNN. Overall some 800000 indigenous people live in villages throughout Brazil. The largest concentration of isolated communities is based in the Javari Valley a region the size of Austria located in southwest Amazonas state near the border with Peru. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/29/americas/brazil-javari-valley-indigenous-covid-19-intl/index.html 29th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Research on the ability of children of different ages to catch and transmit the virus is contradictory and differences in education systems and social conventions make comparisons difficult. One complicating factor is what epidemiologists call contact matrices the degree to which different age groups mix particularly within extended multigenerational families which can vary from society to society and from group to group within a society. Countries have taken different approaches but some of the questions are broadly familiar. Should all children and staff be required to wear masks or only some age groups Should children be tested for the virus How should social distancing be managed in the classroom and playground And finally should schools be reopening at all https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/28/reopening-schools-different-countries-tackle-education-conundrum-coronavirus 28th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday she was making her own face covering to help stop the spread of the coronavirus raising the profile of a public health measure which will become mandatory across the country next week. The Pacific nation of 5 million people had seemed to stop community transmission of COVID19 due to tough lockdown measures but reintroduced restrictions in its largest city Auckland this month following a fresh outbreak. With restrictions to scale back on Sunday Ardern said in a Facebook post she was taking matters into her own hands before masks become compulsory on public transport across the country the following day https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-newzealand/new-zealands-ardern-takes-mask-making-into-her-own-hands-ahead-of-virus-measure-idUSKBN25O0X2 28th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Financial Times Regional leaders in England have called on the government to increase the level of support under a new scheme launched on Thursday for people on low incomes who are required to selfisolate and are unable to work from home. Health secretary Matt Hancock announced plans to trial the scheme in some parts of the northwest of England lockdown area. Those who test positive will be entitled to access 130 over their 10day selfisolation period while members of their household will be entitled to a payment of 182 when they selfisolate for 14 days. Any nonhousehold contacts reached via the governments NHS testandtrace programme will be able to claim a similar amount depending on the length of their isolation period. https://www.ft.com/content/b9f072e1-4487-492a-922e-32d26dda6fc0 27th Aug 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK 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. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france/second-wave-of-coronavirus-could-hit-france-in-november-government-advisor-idUKKBN25M0L4 26th Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Catholic Church obviously teaches against abortion and I agree with the Church in that stance he says. If the child was killed yesterday or 50 years ago it was still a horrible situation. Morality isnt defined by how long ago something happened its a constant. Hieus concerns about the Oxford University vaccine are shared by many Christians and religious leaders. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-31/coronavirus-covid-oxford-vaccine-dividing-christians-anti-vaxxer/12612196 31st Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

Newshub A Kiwi epidemiologist who thinks the country should give up trying to eliminate COVID19 says we shouldnt be pinning our hopes on a vaccine. New Zealands strategy of elimination clamping down wherever the virus rears its head in an effort to prevent wider outbreaks has been hailed by global health officials and seen us record some of the lowest per capita infection and mortality rates in the world. For more than 100 days there were no detected cases of the virus in the community a golden run that had New Zealanders enjoying more freedoms than most others. That all came to a screeching halt earlier this month with the detection of four new cases in Auckland that couldnt be and still havent been linked to a known source. University of Auckland specialist Simon Thornley who has long advocated against locking down to stop the virus says its time to accept its here to stay and ditch the lockdowns. He praised the few hundred people who at the weekend who gathered in downtown Auckland mostly without masks to protest against the level 3 restrictions. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/08/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-a-fantasy-controversial-epidemiologist-simon-thornley.html 31st Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

The Sydney Morning Herald Homelessness in Australia had spiked during the COVID19 pandemic and might reach unprecedented levels in a deep recession according to community groups calling for a multibilliondollar social housing building program that would also stimulate the economy. Peak body Homelessness Australia says the severity of the recessions impact on the vulnerable will hinge on the federal governments intervention. It said support services were already inundated as surging unemployment and family violence took a toll on peoples living arrangements. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/coronavirus-recession-risks-homelessness-on-a-scale-unseen-before-20200830-p55qmb.html 31st Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

ABC News Previously unseen diplomatic correspondence has given new insights into how little Australian officials knew of the COVID19 emergency as it unfolded in Chinas Hubei province at the beginning of the year. The partly redacted cables suggest Australias missions in China did not begin sending detailed situational reports back to Canberra until late January with the updates largely based on local official statements. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-31/coronavirus-diplomatic-cables-show-early-confused-weeks-covid-19/12401064 31st Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

VOA Asia A coronavirus deal signed by Australia with an international drug company is raising ethical concerns among prominent church leaders. Australia has signed a deal with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to produce and distribute a vaccine being developed by Britains Oxford University... if the treatment works. But three of Australias most senior archbishops have written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison urging him to reconsider the agreement saying the use of fetal tissue in the research is deeply immoral. To use that tissue then for science is reprehensible said Glenn Davies Anglican Archbishop of Sydney. Once I know something that is morally compromised it is my job to speak out about it. The Oxford University study uses embryonic kidney cells harvested from a female fetus in the Netherlands in 1973. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/australian-religious-leaders-criticize-immoral-covid-19-vaccine-deal 30th Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC Demonstrators many with farright sympathies broke through a cordon and ran up the steps of the parliament building before police dispersed them. The interior minister said there should be zero tolerance for such behaviour. Some 38000 turned out for the wider largely peaceful Berlin demonstration. Demonstrators bearing the flag of former imperial Germany used by the Reichsbrger Reich Citizens farright group overcame a handful of police to run to the entrance of the Reichstag Building in Berlin. Police put the number involved at several hundred. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53964147 30th Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

CNN When countries impose restrictions to combat coronavirus theres an implicit pact between the government and people were all in this together. So when the powerful or influential break the rules it provokes fierce public anger and puts societys inequalities on full view. EU Commissioner Phil Hogan who resigned from his post Wednesday for breaking Irelands coronavirus restrictions by attending a political golf society event with 80 other people was just the latest member of the political elites to be caught flouting the rules. Irelands Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary had already resigned over the socalled Golfgate scandal. The dinner was held a day after the government in which he served facing a surge in cases imposed restrictions effective immediately that limited indoor gatherings to six people down from the 50 previously allowed. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/30/europe/coronavirus-elites-breaking-rules-intl/index.html 30th Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent Millions of migrant workers made arduous journeys to their villages after India imposed the worlds largest lockdown in March. Back in the rural hinterland many say caste discrimination is reversing even the small economic and social gains they eked out in the cities. In the village of Aston in the central state of Madhya Pradesh Raju Banskar 33 says the double stigma of coming from a lower caste and having travelled from New Delhi where the coronavirus is spreading has made it impossible to find a job. In the city construction work fuelled by Indias decadeslong economic boom brought him 250 rupees to 300 rupees 2.503 a day and few paid attention to his caste. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/india-coronavirus-caste-system-discrimination-migrant-workers-a9685961.html 28th Aug 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Australian church leaders have raised objections to a potential Covid19 vaccine under development at the University of Oxford over concerns it contains cell lines from an electively aborted human foetus. The objections were sent in a letter to the prime minister Scott Morrison last week cosigned by Catholic archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher Anglican archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies and Greek Orthodox archbishop of Australia Makarios Griniezakis. However scientists say the development process is a proven method and church priorities should be on ensuring public health against the coronavirus. The Vatican itself has in the past released statements permitting the use of vaccines drawn from foetal cell lines if no alternatives are available. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/26/why-are-australian-church-leaders-opposing-the-oxford-coronavirus-vaccine 26th Aug 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday partial restrictions in and around the capital Manila will be kept for another month starting Sept. 1 to tackle a rising number of coronavirus cases and further expand hospital capacity. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-philippines/philippines-extends-partial-coronavirus-curbs-in-manila-until-sept-30-idUKKBN25R2EF 30th Aug 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Brazil has registered another 758 novel coronavirus deaths over the last 24 hours and 41350 new cases the Health Ministry said on Saturday. The nation has now registered 120262 coronavirus deaths and 3846153 confirmed cases. In terms of total deaths Brazil is the hardest hit country in the world outside of the United States. However daily new cases and deaths have begun to stabilize in recent weeks. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-tally/brazil-coronavirus-deaths-rise-above-120000-idUKKBN25P0TZ 29th Aug 2020

Continued Lockdown

News.com.au New Zealands largest city Auckland left lockdown overnight and moved into what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described as level 2.5 after just two new cases were announced on Sunday. Ms Ardern on Sunday thanked residents in the city after living through two and a half weeks of lockdown but she has warned the government would raise levels again if we need to. For Auckland you are at a form of level two that I am going to call level 2.5 Ms Ardern said. It is designed to keep us on track with our elimination strategy at level two in the scenario we now have but it will only work if people follow the guidance I understand it is easy to become complacent. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-masks-mandatory-on-public-transport-in-nz-from-august-31/news-story/c3e661a44d40079b24a2bd478531150c 31st Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Straits Times Canada reached an agreement in principle on Monday Aug 31 with both Novavax and Johnson Johnson for millions of doses of their experimental coronavirus vaccines Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Canadas two agreements follow separate deals with Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc announced weeks ago and are the latest example of countries rushing to secure access to vaccines. Last week Canadas National Research Council said it had ended its partnership on a coronavirus vaccine with Chinas CanSino Biologics because the company lacked the authority to ship the vaccine. Novavax said it expects to finalize an advance purchase agreement to supply doses of the vaccine beginning as early as the second quarter of next year. Novavax has agreed to supply up to 76 million doses of its experimental vaccine while Johnson Johnson will supply up to 38 million doses of its vaccine candidate. Both agreements are subject to the vaccines obtaining licenses from Health Canada the companies said https://www.straitstimes.com/world/americas/canada-to-buy-millions-of-doses-of-novavax-and-johnson-johnsons-potential-covid-19 31st Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The emergency authorisation of COVID19 vaccines requires a great deal of seriousness and reflection the World Health Organization said on Monday after the United States announced it was considering fasttracking candidate drugs. Although every country had the right to approve drugs without completing full trials it is not something that you do very lightly WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan told a news conference. The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said he would be willing to bypass the normal approval process to authorise a COVID19 vaccine as long as officials were convinced the benefits outweigh the risks. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-care/emergency-authorisation-of-covid-19-vaccines-needs-great-care-who-idUKKBN25R2CK 31st Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters on MSN.com Countries with significant active spread of coronavirus must prevent amplifying events as opening up without the virus being under control would be a recipe for disaster the World Health Organization said on Monday. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/opening-up-without-control-of-covid-19-is-recipe-for-disaster-says-who/ar-BB18yBZX 31st Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Hindustan Times The Union government is working on at least five distinct ways ranging from free vaccines to guaranteed supply in which it can help its immediate neighbours as well as countries in West Asia Africa and even Latin America officials familiar with the plan said on condition of anonymity. The idea is to leverage the countrys standing as the worlds vaccine factory to consolidate diplomatic ties. Indian companies are working on two vaccines which are currently in clinical trials. Though the arrangement will be largely for these vaccines it might also include vaccines manufactured by the Punebased Serum Institute of India SII the worlds largest vaccine maker which has partnerships with three companies including AstraZeneca. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vaccine-diplomacy-in-india-s-outreach-plan/story-nS3FjslzGhCBdL2HTk5svI.html 31st Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Gizmodo UK Scientists in Nevada are the latest to report a likely case of reinfection from the coronavirus that causes Covid19 with genetic evidence backing up their claim. While it remains to be seen whether reinfection will be a common phenomenon this newest case suggests that a second infection can cause more severe illness than the first even in young and seemingly healthy people. The report was released as a preprint by The Lancet on Thursday meaning that it hasnt undergone the typical peerreview process as of yet. According to the report the patient is a 25yearold resident of Reno Nevada who tested positive for the novel coronavirus SARSCoV2 in midApril via a standard RTPCR test. In late March the man began feeling symptoms consistent with Covid19 such as sore throat cough headache nausea and diarrhoea. He isolated and reported feeling better by April 27 he also tested negative for the virus twice over the next month. https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/08/man-hospitalised-in-the-u-s-after-apparent-coronavirus-reinfection/ 31st Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CBS News Dr. Scott Gottlieb the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration said Sunday he does not believe there will be full approval of a coronavirus vaccine for the general population until early 2021. Were likely to see a stepwise progression of authorization of this vaccine for certain select populations that are at higher risk of either contracting it or having a bad outcome before we see a full approval for the general population Gottlieb said on Face the Nation. I think again full approval for the general population where people can go to CVS and get a shot thats really a 2021 event maybe the first quarter of 2021 probably more likely the first half. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/scott-gottlieb-coronavirus-vaccine-full-approval-2021-face-the-nation/ 31st Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK 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 31st Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Advanced trials of a potential COVID19 vaccine developed in China are under way in Indonesia. More than 2000 Indonesians signed up for the trial of the vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer Sinovac. This week some candidates were given a second dose of the trial vaccine as Jessica Washington reports from Bandung Indonesia. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/indonesia-chinese-vaccine-tested-covid-19-cases-rise-200830104049098.html 30th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian The rush to immunise populations against Covid19 could lead to the rollout of a vaccine that is not very effective and risk worsening the pandemic leading scientists have said. Politicians and commercial companies are competing to be the first to license a vaccine but experts say the world would be better served by waiting until comprehensive results showed at least 3050 effectiveness. Ministers announced on Friday that the UK would take emergency powers to push any vaccine through the regulatory processes with unprecedented speed before the end of the year. Donald Trump wants to be able to announce the US has a vaccine before tthe presidential election on 3 November. A vaccine is vital to stopping the pandemic but Prof Sir Richard Peto of Oxford University and an adviser to the World Health Organization said the first vaccine would be bought and used all over the world even if it had low efficacy. Even if it protected only a minority of the population it would be regarded as the standard by which later vaccines would be measured. That could even lead to inferior vaccines being approved because they would not have to show that they were any better. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/30/covid-vaccine-rush-could-make-pandemic-worse-say-scientists 30th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The New York Times A worldwide virushunting program allowed to expire last year by the Trump administration just before the coronavirus pandemic broke out will have a second life whatever the outcome of the presidential election. Joseph R. Biden Jr. has promised that if elected he will restore the program called Predict which searched for dangerous new animal viruses in bat caves camel pens wet markets and wildlifesmuggling routes around the globe. The expiration of Predict just weeks before the advent of the pandemic prompted wide criticism among scientists who noted that the coronavirus is exactly the sort of catastrophic animal virus the program was designed to head off. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/30/health/predict-pandemic-usaid.html 30th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Gulf News COVID19 patients hospitalised with high blood pressure obesity and diabetes were over three times more likely to die from the viral disease say researchers. The study published in the journal Diabetes Care looked at the impact of metabolic syndrome on outcomes for COVID19 patients. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of at least three of five conditions hypertension high blood sugar obesity high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Together obesity diabetes and prediabetes high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels are all predictive of higher incidents of death in these patients said the study lead author Joshua Denson from the Tulane University in the US. https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/health-fitness/obese-diabetics-over-3-times-more-likely-to-die-of-covid-study-1.1598466990820 30th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNBC FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn told the Financial Times hes willing to consider granting emergency authorization for a Covid19 vaccine before clinical trials have been completed. The comments come about a week after President Trump accused the FDA for intentionally moving slowly to hurt him politically. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/30/fda-willing-to-fast-track-coronavirus-vaccine-before-phase-three-trials.html 30th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Passengers who were on a flight from Zante on the Greek island of Zakynthos to Cardiff in Wales last week have been told to isolate after it was identified as the source of at least seven confirmed coronavirus cases Public Health Wales said on Sunday. Greece which is not on the list of countries under British quarantine rules is a popular holiday destination and more tourists are expected to have visited this year after several other favourites such as Spain were put under restrictions. Cardiff and Vale Test Trace Protect and Public Health Wales have identified at least seven confirmed cases of COVID19 from three different parties who were infectious on TUI Flight 6215 from Zante to Cardiff on 25 August said Giri Shankar incident director for the novel coronavirus COVID19 outbreak response at Public Health Wales. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-flight/zante-flight-to-cardiff-told-to-self-isolate-after-covid-cases-found-idUSKBN25Q0OF 30th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bangkok Post A more infectious mutation of the new coronavirus has been found in Indonesia the Jakartabased Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology said on Sunday as the Southeast Asian countrys caseload surges. Indonesia reported 2858 new infections on Sunday data by the health ministry showed below the previous days record 3308 but above the past months daily average. Its total number of cases was 172053 with 7343 Covid19 fatalities. The infectious but milder D614G mutation of the virus has been found in genome sequencing data from samples collected by the institute deputy director Herawati Sudoyo told Reuters adding that more study is required to determine whether that was behind the recent rise in cases. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/1977035/mutated-coronavirus-strain-found-in-indonesia-as-cases-jump 30th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times The head of the US Food and Drug Administration has said he is willing to bypass the normal approval process to authorise a Covid19 vaccine as soon as possible but has insisted he will not do so to please President Donald Trump. In an interview with the Financial Times Stephen Hahn said his agency was prepared to authorise a vaccine before Phase Three clinical trials were complete as long as officials believed the benefits outweighed the risks. But he defended his embattled organisation against accusations that it was rushing the process to boost Mr Trumps reelection prospects. It is up to the sponsor vaccine developer to apply for authorisation or approval and we make an adjudication of their application Dr Hahn said. If they do that before the end of Phase Three we may find that appropriate. We may find that inappropriate we will make a determination. https://www.ft.com/content/f8ecf7b5-f8d2-4726-ba3f-233b8497b91a 30th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post Canada has scrapped a Covid19 vaccine development agreement with the Chinese pharmaceutical company CanSino citing delays in shipping the drugs. Earlier this week CanSino had denied that the collaboration had been dropped but the National Research Council a governmentfunded body confirmed that clinical trials of vaccine candidate Ad5nCoV would not go ahead in Canada. In response to queries the council said Due to the delay in the shipment of the CanSino Covid19 vaccine candidate doses to Canada and as CanSino has now completed phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials elsewhere this specific opportunity is over and the NRC is focusing its team and facilities on other Covid19 priorities. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3099399/coronavirus-canada-confirms-planned-chinese-vaccine-trial-has 29th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CBS News The discovery of the coronavirus in the bathroom of a vacant apartment in southern China is being taken as evidence that the pathogen spread up through sewage pipes after a toilet was flushed in another unit. The finding is adding to concerns over the virus ability to spread in tiny airborne particles in enclosed spaces and not just in the same room or even on the same floor. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-china-toilet-how-covid-showed-up-in-bathroom-long-vacant-apartment-what-it-means/ 28th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

EL PAS in English The Spanish Agency for Medicine and Health Products AEMPS has authorized the first clinical trial in Spain of an experimental vaccine against the novel coronavirus. Thats according to Health Minister Salvador Illa who made the announcement on Friday at a government press conference. The testing will involve a vaccine from Janssen a company that is owned by the US multinational Johnson Johnson with 190 healthy volunteers from Spain. There will be a further 400 participants of the trial in Germany and Belgium. The recruitment of volunteers who will be aged between 18 and 55 and over 65 will begin immediately Illa stated with three Spanish hospitals La Paz and La Princesa in Madrid and Marqus de Valdecilla in Santander taking part. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-08-28/spain-to-participate-in-clinical-trials-of-johnson-johnson-coronavirus-vaccine.html 28th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK One of Bangladeshs largest drugmakers Beximco Pharmaceuticals announced on Friday that it will invest with the Serum Institute of India SII to ensure Bangladesh gets access to vaccines it is developing for the novel coronavirus. The deal comes after Bangladesh said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus. The investment amount will be treated as an advance and once the vaccine receives regulatory approvals SII will include Bangladesh among the countries who will be the first to receive an agreed quantity of this vaccine from SII on a priority basis Beximco said in a statement citing the heads of both organisations. Beximco will also be the exclusive supplier for Bangladesh for a vaccine developed by the Serum Institute it said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-bangladesh-india/bangladeshs-beximco-in-coronavirus-vaccine-pact-with-indias-serum-institute-idUKKBN25O1J0 28th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Science Magazine Peter Marks who runs the FDA division that oversees vaccine approval has vowed that he would resign if the Trump administration pushed through a vaccine that was not clearly safe and effective. And he insists that FDA will consult with the Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee VRBPAC which Offit sits on to publicly discuss data related to any approval request. Approval should be something that we can make transparent and to do anything less than that is really a disservice to people Marks says. VRBPACs next meeting is scheduled for 22 October 12 days before the presidential and congressional elections. Science spoke with a range of researchers and regulators about how a COVID19 vaccine approval might be accelerated and the potential consequences. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/here-s-how-us-could-release-covid-19-vaccine-election-and-why-scares-some 28th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times UK health officials suggested that should a vaccines developers be ready to seek approval before the end of the year the MHRA might be able to give a faster verdict than its European counterpart. The health department said If a vaccine is discovered before 2021 the proposals will bolster existing powers that allow the MHRA to consider approving its use before a full product licence is granted provided it is proven to be safe and effective during robust and extensive clinical trials. The measures were necessary because during the transition period a new potential Covid19 vaccine must be granted a licence by the EMA it said. https://www.ft.com/content/36576d82-b646-429d-b43d-e5be3320eaa5 28th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC Earlier this month the head of a wellknown privatelyowned Chinese conglomerate told his staff that a vaccine for Covid19 was expected to come to market by November. The boss whose firm has a healthcare division said that he saw it as a portent of economic recovery a chance for his firms to sell more according to a person privy to the comments. Within a few weeks the Chinese government was forced to go public with its apparent progress. The novel coronavirus that causes Covid19 originated in humans in China before it spread ceaselessly across the world. Now China is using its global footprint in a relentless effort to win the race to develop and deploy an effective vaccine. Last week one of the developmental vaccines was pictured in staterun media a small branded box was shown held up by a smiling woman in a lab. Sinopharm said it hopes to have it ready to go on sale by December. It even named a price equivalent to about 140 106. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-53917315 27th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Conversation UK For all its innovative prowess China has generally lagged other countries in developing vaccines. But that appears to be changing with the race for a coronavirus vaccine with Chinese companies potentially even at the forefront. As often with China the question is who are we dealing with Who are the main vaccine developers How far are they in developing a vaccine What is their approach What is the connection to the Chinese state And what is the outlook if China comes up with the vaccine first Of the 32 vaccines that are in human trials around the world a larger number are from Chinese companies than might have been expected. The three leading players are Sinovac CanSino Biologics and Sinopharm. https://theconversation.com/inside-the-chinese-companies-vying-to-produce-the-worlds-first-coronavirus-vaccine-145146 27th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK A Chinese government offer to test all Hong Kong residents for the novel coronavirus is meeting scepticism from the citys medical community and public and is emerging as a politically charged issue ahead of the launch of the plan next week. A 60person mainland Chinese team will carry out tests and build temporary hospitals in the first direct help from Chinese health officials for the semiautonomous city in its battle with the epidemic. But it comes at a sensitive time for the former British colony with anxiety running high about what many of its 7.5 million residents see as Beijings efforts to rein in their freedoms in particular with a national security law imposed in June. Against this background some democracy activists have suggested that peoples DNA will be collected and abused under the cover of testing. The city government has dismissed that saying no samples would be taken out of the city. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-hongkong-testing/chinas-offer-of-coronavirus-tests-for-all-in-hong-kong-meets-with-public-distrust-idUKKBN25N0G4 27th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

ITV News One of Chinas leading experts on Covid19 has told ITV News that the virus is likely to be with us for at least the next two to four years. In his first foreign television interview Dr Zhang Wenhong the Director of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai predicts we will be living with this for some time to come and he believes there is a high chance of a second international outbreak this autumn or winter. His forecasts are based on his knowledge of the virus as one of the first to face it and the current situation in the rest of the world not in China where this week for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic there were no local infections. Dr Zhang points to the fact that the United States and India are still struggling to contain their first wave of the virus and other parts of South America and Africa are only just at the beginning of their battle. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-08-26/covid-19-could-be-with-us-for-next-two-to-four-years-one-of-chinas-leading-experts-warns 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BGR Chinese officials claim that the neighboring country of Kazakhstan is dealing with an outbreak of a new virus thats even deadlier than the novel coronavirus. Kazakhstan officials say there is no new virus though the country is dealing with a spike in COVID19 cases. Chinas handling of COVID19 news has been sketchy since the early days of the pandemic and its unclear why the country is making the claims. https://bgr.com/2020/08/26/kazakhstan-virus-china-coronavirus-covid-19/ 26th Aug 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Health experts are concerned about the Indian governments decision to implement rapid tests which screen for antigens or viral proteins as authorities ramp up coronavirus tests amid surging infections. India crossed the threemillioncase milestone on Sunday 17 days after it crossed the twomillion mark. It is the worstaffected country in Asia and third behind the United States and Brazil globally. In June the worlds secondmost populous nation began using cheaper faster but less accurate tests to scale up testing a strategy that the US is now considering. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/india-accurate-coronavirus-tests-raise-concerns-200824054220744.html 24th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC Nicola Sturgeon has voiced concerns after 160 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland. The latest increase in new cases follows 123 reported on Sunday with a number of clusters across Scotland. The first minister said the rise in cases was partly the result of a greater number of people being tested. But she said it was undoubtedly a concern and that any connection between cases was being carefully considered by health protection teams. A total of 69 of the new cases were reported in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area with Ms Sturgeon saying particularly close attention was being paid to this. However she stressed that the positive results still represent less than 1 of people newly tested yesterday. The number of people in hospital with the virus has increased to 258 five of whom are in intensive care. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53971946 31st Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN Since classes started on August 19 1200 students at the University of Alabama have tested positive for the virus the university systems website showed Saturday. Classes at the University of Dayton will continue online for at least two weeks after the school reported 116 case on Thursday and then another 148 on Friday according to the universitys website. Outbreaks have been identified at four different sororities at Kansas State University according to news releases from the college and the Riley County Health Department. Providence College in Rhode Island has implemented policies to prevent the virus spread but 17 students have been placed on interim suspension for violating those measures meaning they will not be allowed on campus or in classes until they attend a hearing college spokesperson Steven Maurano told CNN Saturday. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/30/health/us-coronavirus-sunday/index.html 31st Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

New Zealand Herald After a weekend of sunny weather in Sydney the city has now been put on alert with a series of worrying virus warnings. Yesterday new cases were confirmed at a childcare centre and shopping mall on Sydneys north shore and an urgent warning was issued for bus commuters to isolate immediately amid a growing cluster in the citys eastern suburbs. There are now warnings in place across the city after recorded cases visited shopping centres pubs and gyms. A school and an early learning centre have also closed. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&ampobjectid=12360850 31st Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Financial Times Mr Snchez argues it is up to individual regions to ask the central government to grant them emergency powers if needed for specific areas. Regional politicians reluctant to acknowledge particular problems on their watch say a national response is required. The central government cannot be absent said Isabel Daz Ayuso the centreright leader of the government of Madrid. Abandoning its functions will expand the pandemic. As the handling of the crisis threatens to become a game of chicken between the centre and regions with each calling on the other to act one big question is whether Spains decentralised model puts the country at a disadvantage. https://www.ft.com/content/947d94aa-abdd-456d-85bc-363d64520869 30th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian More than 1700 people in the UK have been reported to have tested positive for coronavirus the largest weekend number since the middle of May. The government figures published on Sunday which showed 1715 further positive tests continue a worrying trend of a growing number of cases since the beginning of July amid persistent concerns over a second spike in the autumn. The cases bring the total number to 334467. There was just one new death bringing the total to 41499. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/seven-people-on-tui-flight-from-greek-island-zante-to-cardiff-test-positive-for-covid 30th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Brazil registered 566 additional coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours and 16158 new cases the Health Ministry said on Sunday evening. The nation has now registered 120828 deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus and 3862311 confirmed cases. Sundays tend to have relatively low coronavirus numbers in Brazil because of delays in testing by the nations state government https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-brazil-tally/brazil-reports-566-coronavirus-deaths-on-sunday-idUKKBN25Q0VX?il=0 30th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Voice of America India reported 78761 new coronavirus infections in 24 hours on Sunday the highest single day rise in the world since the pandemic began while the county is continuing to open its economy. It was the fourth consecutive day that India has registered more than 75000 infections. With a population of 1.4 billion people India is the third most infected nation in the world behind the United States and Brazil with 3.5 million cases and more than 63000 deaths according to official statistics provided by the countrys health ministry. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/india-sets-world-record-coronavirus-infections-24-hours 30th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC India has set a record for the worlds highest singleday increase in coronavirus cases. The nation the worlds thirdmost infected on Sunday reported 78761 new cases in 24 hours passing the number posted in the US on 17 July. The rise comes as the government continues to lift restrictions to try to boost an economy that lost millions of jobs when the virus hit in March. An upsurge of Covid19 in many rural areas continues to be a major concern. On Sunday global infections passed the 25 million mark with 843000 deaths. The US remains the most affected nation closing in on six million infections according to Johns Hopkins University research. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-53969118 30th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK U.S. cases of the novel coronavirus surpassed 6 million on Sunday as many states in the Midwest reported increasing infections according to a Reuters tally. Iowa North Dakota South Dakota and Minnesota have recently reported record oneday increases in new cases while Montana and Idaho are seeing record numbers of currently hospitalized COVID19 patients. Nationally metrics on new cases deaths hospitalizations and the positivity rates of tests are all declining but there are emerging hotspots in the Midwest. Many of the new cases in Iowa are in the counties that are home to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University which are holding some inperson classes. Colleges and universities around the country have seen outbreaks after students returned to campus forcing some to switch to onlineonly learning. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/us-coronavirus-cases-top-six-million-as-midwest-schools-face-outbreaks-idUKKBN25Q0KS 30th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK France reported 5413 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Sunday slightly down from the 5453 seen on Saturday. The health ministry said the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths rose to 30606 from 30602 reported on Saturday. The number of people in hospital with the disease was 4535 versus 4530 the day before and the number in intensive care rose to 402 from 400. In mainland France the progression of the COVID19 epidemic is exponential. The strong growth dynamics of transmission is very worrying. the ministry said in a statement. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france-casualties/france-shows-steady-growth-in-new-coronavirus-cases-idUKKBN25Q0QD 28th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English The Spanish Health Ministry reported on Thursday that 9658 new coronavirus cases had been detected by the regions. This is the largest spike in infections that Spain has seen since it entered a second wave of the virus and confirms the upward trend of Covid19 transmission which has been rising since the beginning of August. The news came on the same day that Spains 17 regions and the Health and Education ministries met to establish protocols for how to safely reopen schools in September. According to Fernando Simn the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts students will be able to return to class even if there is community transmission of the virus in Spain. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-08-28/spanish-health-authorities-support-reopening-of-schools-despite-surge-in-coronavirus-cases.html 28th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Ocala News In the roughly three months since Gov. Ron DeSantis greenlighted Phase Two of his plan to reopen Florida the Sunshine State has seen a whopping 947.9 percent increase in the number of COVID19 cases. As of Friday morning 615806 cases had been identified across the state. On June 3 when the governor made the announcement that bars and pubs could reopen at 50 percent capacity inside and full capacity outside the state was reporting 58764 COVID19 cases a difference of 557042. Under Phase Two bowling alleys movie theaters arcades and auditoriums also were allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity. But a portion of that plan was shortlived as DeSantis reversed his decision on bars and ordered them closed again on June 26 when the state was reporting 122960 cases. The number of deaths and people hospitalized also are quite different today than when DeSantis decided to reopen the state. On June 3 the state was reporting 2566 deaths and 10525 people hospitalized. On Friday those numbers had jumped to 11099 deaths and 38029 people being treated in area hospitals. https://www.ocala-news.com/2020/08/28/florida-shows-947-9-increase-in-covid-19-cases-since-governor-reopened-state/ 28th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Metro.co.uk Frances coronavirus cases are surging with the government declaring that the countrys rate of infection has quadrupled in a month. On Wednesday France recorded 5429 new cases of coronavirus the countrys highest daily total since March and thirdlargest since the pandemic began. The nations R rate has also risen to 1.4 which is higher than the rate of 1 required to keep the curve of infection constant. Prime Minister Jean Castex has now changed Paris guidance on face coverings with masks to become mandatory in the city from Friday morning. He warned that regional lockdowns could be on the horizon if the infection rates continue to climb. https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/27/coronavirus-rates-quadruples-france-13189083/ 27th Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English Of Spains regions Madrid is currently under the most pressure when it comes to the number of coronavirus cases in its hospitals. Thats according to the latest data from the Spanish Health Ministry about the progress of the epidemic and which was released on Wednesday evening. The regional healthcare centers are currently treating 1800 patients 175 of whom are in intensive care units ICUs 13.6 of the hospital beds in the entire region. Until Tuesday Aragn was the region that topped this list. As well as the rise in patients in Madrid the figures released on Wednesday confirmed what is now a trend of rapidly rising cases throughout Spain. In fact the country is already considered to be immersed in a second wave of the epidemic. For a week now the Health Ministry has been reporting around 7000 new cases every day and there are no signs of this trend changing. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-08-27/pressure-on-madrid-hospitals-rising-as-covid-19-cases-surge-in-spain-once-more.html 27th Aug 2020

New Lockdown

The New York Times British universities should scrap plans to reopen next month to prevent travelling students from fuelling the countrys coronavirus pandemic a union said calling for courses to be taught online. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government has come under fire over its moves to restart education especially after a row over exam results for school students and a failed attempt to bring all pupils back to their classes earlier this year. Johnson has been calling on Britons to return to something more akin to normality after the coronavirus lockdown calling on workers to return to offices to help the economy recover from a 20 contraction in the AprilJune period. https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/08/30/world/europe/30reuters-health-coronavirus-britain-universities.html 30th Aug 2020

New Lockdown

iNews President Emmanuel Macron has raised the possibility of another nationwide lockdown in France after the country recorded its largest daily rise in coronavirus cases since March. On Friday the number of infections recorded rose by a further 7379 bringing the total in the country to 267077. It latest figures mark the largest daily spike in cases since 31 March at the peak of the first wave when 7578 cases were recorded. https://inews.co.uk/news/coronavirus-latest-france-second-lockdown-exponential-rise-covid-19-cases-613448 29th Aug 2020