3rd Sep 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=87 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Wales Online A total of 117 children have tested positive for coronavirus since Scotlands schools reopened last month the Education Secretary has revealed. John Swinney announced the number of positive tests for the virus as teachers unions spoke out about their ongoing fears over safety inside schools. Since pupils returned to school in August a total of 77 youngsters aged between 12 and 17 have been found to have Covid19 along with 40 children aged between five and 11. The Education Secretary told MSPs at Holyrood the evidence he had seen suggested most cases were coming within households describing this as the predominant explanation for how youngsters had contracted the disease. But he added that overseas travel was also resulting in quite a number of the cases. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/117-children-tested-positive-covid-18863808 2nd Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC As millions of pupils in England return to school after lockdown the BBC went to two primary schools in Luton Whitefield Primary Academy and Southfield Primary School to find out how parents and children felt. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-53996461 2nd Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

iNews The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez said he was particularly worried about the surge in coronavirus cases in Madrid. One of the countries in Europe hit hardest by Covid19 Spain has reported a surge in infections in the capital and other regions since lockdown was lifted in June. We are worried about the state of public health and evolution of the virus in Madrid Mr Snchez said. https://inews.co.uk/news/world/coronavirus-latest-europe-spain-france-greece-surge-covid-19-cases-616706 2nd Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters India said on Wednesday it would allow metro services to reopen nationwide despite the number of novel coronavirus infections there reaching almost 3.8 million. The country reported 78357 new cases in the last 24 hours federal health data showed taking total infections to 3769523. Some 66333 people have died. Indias total cases lag only the United States and Brazil which it will overtake in days based on current trends. A dozen metro services including in the capital New Delhi would be allowed to reopen from Sept. 7 Indias urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-cases/indias-coronavirus-case-tally-nears-3-8-million-as-country-reopens-idUKKBN25T0XG 2nd Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

The New Indian Express Children returned to school Tuesday in the central Chinese city of Wuhan the original epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic that underwent months of lockdown but which has not seen new cases of local transmission for weeks. State media reported 1.4 million children in the city reported to 2842 kindergartens primary and secondary schools as part of a nationwide return to classes. Life has largely returned to normal in Wuhan where the novel coronavirus was first detected late last year. After what critics called an attempt to ignore the outbreak the city underwent a 76day lockdown during which residents were confined to their homes and field hospitals opened to assist an overwhelmed medical system. https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/sep/01/months-after-lockdown-children-in-wuhan-return-to-school-2191156.html 2nd Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Melbournes secondwave lockdown rules are some of the strictest in the western world and many single people have faced weeks of isolation https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/03/it-gets-into-your-bones-the-unique-loneliness-of-coronavirus-lockdown-when-you-live-alone 3rd Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

The Irish Times The current surge of Covid19 can be successfully suppressed through people slightly reducing their daily contacts public health officials have said. Getting the R number below 1 is absolutely realistic through a marginal reduction in the number of contacts people have each day according to Prof Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team. The R figure represents the number of people that one infected person will pass the virus on to on average. It is a modest amount of extra effort that we have to do he said on Wednesday evening. The reproduction number stands at 1 to 1.2 according to Prof Nolan who is chairman of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/covid-19-ireland-now-in-most-challenging-phase-says-government-1.4344766 2nd Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Sky News Secondary school teachers should be tested weekly for coronavirus a former health secretary has said. Jeremy Hunt who now chairs the health and social care committee told Sky News that regular COVID19 tests would help reassure parents. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-jeremy-hunt-calls-for-weekly-covid-19-testing-for-secondary-school-teachers-12061513 2nd Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

The Washington Post The top U.N. official for Libya warned Wednesday that the conflicttorn North African country is at a decisive turning point with foreign backers of its rival governments pouring in weapons and the misery of its people compounded by the coronavirus pandemic that appears to be spiraling out of control. Acting special representative Stephanie Williams told the U.N. Security Council that its actions will help determine whether the country descends into new depths of fragmentation and chaos or progresses towards a more prosperous future. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/un-libya-at-turning-point-covid-heading-out-of-control/2020/09/02/dd6aca1e-ed5e-11ea-bd08-1b10132b458f_story.html 2nd Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Ministers are considering reimposing quarantine measures for those arriving in the UK from Portugal as coronavirus cases rise sources have told the BBC. The country has recorded more than 20 cases per 100000 people in the past week. Normally when a country surpasses that mark the UK government imposes 14 days of selfisolation on returning travellers. Ministers are expected to reach a decision on the measures by Thursday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53980191 1st Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

Evening Standard The brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has claimed the coronavirus lockdown is a psychological operation to close down the economy. Piers Corbyn was arrested and slapped with a 10000 fine for his part in antilockdown protests on Saturday which saw thousands descend on Trafalgar Square. The 73yearold a climate change denier who set up controversial weather forecasting business Weather Action said on Twitter he had been handed the fixed penalty fine as organiser. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/piers-corbyn-arrested-protest-coronavirus-lockdown-a4537061.html 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent Germanys health minister has been subjected to homophobic abuse and allegedly spat on while attempting to engage with a crowd of antilockdown protesters as opponents of the countrys pandemic restrictions appear increasingly emboldened. Jens Spahn faced down the two dozen or so demonstrators gathered outside a community centre in which he was campaigning on Sunday ahead of local elections in BergischGladbach. Now viral footage showed the Christian Democrats CDU politician appealing for calm from the crowd as some in the crowd yelled disgrace and gay pig. North RhineWestphalia Police said in a statement on Monday that they had no evidence that the minister was spat on but that a criminal complaint had been filed against a 39yearold man who insulted Mr Spahn. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-germany-anti-lockdown-protesters-health-minister-homophobic-a9699536.html 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Germanys health minister was jeered spat at and targeted by homophobic abuse as the countrywide protests of a vocal minority of people against coronavirus restrictions has taken on an increasingly aggressive tone. The Conservative politician Jens Spahn a key figure in Germanys handling of the pandemic on Saturday tried to confront a crowd of protesters outside an event ahead of local elections in NorthRhine Westphalia. A video of the encounter in Bergisch Gladbach shows Spahn who is gay taking off his mask to speak to demonstrators only to be drowned out by audible shouts of shame go away and gay pig. A campaign event in Mnster scheduled for Monday night was moved to an indoor venue at short notice. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/german-health-minister-jens-spahn-targeted-by-homophobic-abuse-from-protesters 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Antilockdown protesters and facemask refusers can be called Covidiots German prosecutors said on Wednesday dismissing legal complaints against Social Democrat coleader Saskia Esken who used the term on Twitter. Prosecutors in Berlin who had received hundreds of complaints accusing Esken of slander said she was exercising her constitutional right to express her opinion. Eskens SPD party is the junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkels conservativeled ruling coalition. In an Aug. 1 tweet Esken said protesters at a Berlin march threatened the health of others by violating social distancing rules and ignoring requirements to wear face masks. The pointed term Covidiot is as an expression of opinion in the political discourse in the coronavirus pandemic not liable for prosecution and is covered by the constitutionally protected freedom of speech prosecutors said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany-covidiots/german-spd-leader-can-call-anti-lockdown-protesters-covidiots-prosecutors-say-idUKKBN25T1WS 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

Foreign Policy The Berlin government tried but failed to ban the protests on public safety grounds. But the demonstrations may have a positive if unintended effect they are already jolting Germany and Europe awake to a new wave of political disinformation aimed right at the heart of European democracy. Berlins coronavirus pandemic management has been the source of global admiration and pride at home and it has driven government approval to new heights. German Chancellor Angela Merkel enjoys a 71 percent approval rating. Her health minister Jens Spahn has 60 percent support. And her Social Democratic Finance Minister Olaf Scholz the architect of Germanys coronavirus rescue package is at 57 percent approval. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/02/germany-is-losing-the-fight-against-qanon/ 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Tony Abbott wants Australia to lift all travel bans immediately amid COVID19. He argues the economic devastation isnt proportionate to health risks of virus. Mr Abbott criticised Dan Andrews strict lockdown in Victoria in particular. He said lockdown was most restrictive globally aside from epicentre Wuhan. New modelling suggests cases in Victoria could fall below ten within a week. University of South Australias Adrian Esterman said infections dwindling fast https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8685877/Tony-Abbott-slams-Daniel-Andrews-calls-Australia-lift-covid-19-lockdowns-travel-bans.html 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian on MSN.com Police in Victoria have arrested a pregnant 28yearold woman in front of her partner and two children for planning an antilockdown protest in regional Victoria this weekend. Police arrested the woman Zoe Buhler at her home in Miners Rest near Ballarat on Wednesday after she created a freedom day event on Facebook calling for people to protest against the Victorian governments lockdown measures. https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/three-men-arrested-ahead-of-planned-anti-lockdown-protest-in-victoria/ar-BB18CFPs 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

9News Former prime minister Tony Abbott has defended travelling to the UK where he took a swipe at Australias coronavirus response slamming Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for running a health dictatorship. Speaking in London to the UK thinktank Policy Exchange Mr Abbott said some of the lockdown measures taken in Australia had gone too far. My plea is for us to be very careful about further lockdowns because the consequences of lockdowns are enormous Mr Abbott said. https://www.9news.com.au/national/tony-abbott-victoria-coronavirus-response-health-dictatorship-uk-visit/3e4e5498-1906-44f1-b81c-94db2847eec1 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Police in Victoria have arrested a pregnant 28yearold woman in front of her partner and two children for planning an antilockdown protest in regional Victoria this weekend. Police arrested the woman Zoe Buhler at her home in Miners Rest near Ballarat on Wednesday after she created a freedom day event on Facebook calling for people to protest against the Victorian governments lockdown measures. As some of you may have seen the government has gone to extreme measures and are using scare tactics through the media to prevent the Melbourne protest the nowdeleted event description read. Here in Ballarat we can be a voice for those in stage four lockdowns. We can be seen and heard and hopefully make a difference https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/02/three-men-arrested-ahead-of-planned-anti-lockdown-protest-in-victoria 2nd Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters Hungary has decided to exempt tourists visiting from three neighbouring states from a lockdown of its borders that took effect on Tuesday provided they test negative for COVID19 beforehand prompting a rebuke from the European Commission. The EU executive said Hungarys move to admit visitors from the Czech Republic Poland and Slovakia but not from other EU member states amounted to discrimination and was illegal. Hungary said last week it would close its borders to foreigners from Tuesday to curb a rise in coronavirus cases. Returning Hungarian citizens can leave a 14day quarantine only if they provide two negative COVID tests. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-hungary-borders/hungary-exempts-some-visitors-from-border-lockdown-riles-eu-idUKKBN25S3U7?il=0 2nd Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

Voice of America The Trump administration has issued a directive halting the eviction of certain renters though the end of 2020 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Federal state and local governments have approved eviction moratoriums during the course of the pandemic for many renters but those protections are expiring rapidly. A recent report from one think tank the Aspen Institute stated that more than 20 million renters live in households that have suffered COVID19related job loss and concluded that millions more are at risk of eviction in the next several months. The administrations action stems from an executive order that President Donald Trump issued in early August. It instructed federal health officials to consider measures to temporarily halt evictions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed up Tuesday by declaring that any landlord shall not evict any covered person from any residential property for failure to pay rent. https://www.voanews.com/usa/cdc-directs-halt-renter-evictions-prevent-virus-spread 3rd Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Hindu The countrys GDP contraction was the worst among many major economies Despite enforcing the most stringent lockdown to control the spread of COVID19 the average daily cases and deaths in India are growing at the fastest pace in the world. Due to the severe restrictions between April and June the economy took an unprecedented hit with the GDP contracting for the first time in decades in the April to June quarter. https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-despite-stringent-lockdown-indias-covid-19-cases-deaths-record-fastest-rise-even-as-gdp-plummets/article32502582.ece 2nd Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

Deutsche Welle The Indian economy had been moderating even before the pandemic but the lockdown to curtail the spread of the virus dealt a further blow to industrial production and consumer spending IHS Markit chief economist Rajiv Biswas told DW. But there are already some signs of a recovery. https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-lockdown-hurt-indian-industries-dramatically/av-54782126 2nd Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Financial Times Australia has entered its first recession in almost three decades after Covid19 battered the economy which shrank a record 7 per cent in the June quarter. The decline in gross domestic product follows a fall of 0.3 per cent in the March quarter marking two consecutive quarters of contraction the technical definition of recession according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The global pandemic and associated containment policies led to a 7 per cent fall in GDP for the June quarter. This is by a wide margin the largest fall in quarterly GDP since records began in 1959 said Michael Smedes ABS head of national accounts. The economic contraction was worse than expected with economists forecasting a 6 per cent fall in the second quarter and a decline of just over 5 per cent on an annual basis. The ABS figures revealed that GDP fell 6.3 per cent in the 12 months to the end of June. https://www.ft.com/content/7057b5b2-01cf-4881-b40e-aa09035f1017 2nd Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

ABC News Many exhausted Victorian healthcare workers have been among the callers. Theyre experiencing burnout and fatigue and theyre stressed about not being able to take time off work Joy says. They have also raised concerns about the possibility of unknowingly contracting and passing on the virus. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-02/mental-health-crisis-coronavirus-victoria-lifeline-calls-rise/12588500 2nd Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

AlJazeera Tens of thousands of girls across Asia are being forced into child marriage by desperate families plunged into poverty because of the coronavirus pandemic as campaigners warn that years of progress tackling the practice is being undone. Child marriage has long been practised as part of tradition in communities from the Indonesian archipelago to India Pakistan and Vietnam but numbers had been decreasing as numerous initiatives worked to spread awareness of its dangers and encouraged access to education and womens health services. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/coronavirus-despair-forces-girls-asia-child-marriage-200902071153195.html 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News Use of inexpensive readily available steroid drugs to treat people hospitalized with Covid19 reduced the risk of death by onethird according to an analysis encompassing seven different clinical trials conducted by the World Health Organization and published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The positive steroid findings the result of a pooled look at data known as a metaanalysis confirm a similar survival benefit reported in June from a single large study. Corticosteroids are the first and so far only therapy shown to improve the odds of survival for critically ill patients with Covid19. https://www.statnews.com/2020/09/02/covid19-steroids-reduce-deaths-of-hospitalized-patients-who-analysis-confirms/ 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Financial Times The World Health Organization has said antiinflammatory steroids should be used to treat severely ill coronavirus patients as a landmark study provided a clear signal of their effectiveness in reducing mortality. Issuing its first guidance on treating Covid19 the WHO strongly endorsed the use of two cheap steroids informed by a report published on Wednesday which confirmed that the drugs significantly reduced the rate of death in patients requiring oxygen support. Weve received a clear signal that using steroids with severely ill patients improves their outcomes said Anthony Gordon professor of anaesthesia and critical care at Imperial College London. https://www.ft.com/content/b77f87cc-8224-4061-ae2d-7702b16d8cbe 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The European health regulator said on Wednesday it was evaluating Taw Pharmas branded steroidal drug dexamethasone as a potential COVID19 treatment for hospitalised adult patients after it received an application from the drug developer. The European Medicines Agency EMA said in a statement its human medicines committee CHMP would weighin on the application for Dexamethasone Taw within the shortest timeline possible. Europe is already evaluating the decades old dexamethasone for COVID19 after it garnered international attention when a study dubbed RECOVERY showed in June the drug reduced death rates by about a third in severely ill hospitalised COVID19 patients. The EMA said results from RECOVERY would be considered in the assessment of Dexamethasone Taw. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-europe-dexamethaso/eu-watchdog-assessing-dexamethasone-taw-as-possible-covid-19-drug-idUKKBN25T21Q 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will organize meetings with an independent group of experts to review data of coronavirus vaccine candidates and advise the agency FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said on Wednesday. The meetings will reinforce the transparency of the process as FDA reviews data from trials now underway Hahn said in a post on Twitter. The statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump last month accused members without evidence of a socalled deep state working within the FDA of complicating efforts to test COVID19 vaccines in order to delay results until after the Nov. 3 presidential election. The FDA said last week it will hold a meeting of its advisory committee to address the general development of COVID19 vaccines on Oct. 22 and have additional meetings as applications for coronavirus vaccines are submitted. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccine-fda/u-s-fda-to-bring-outside-experts-to-review-covid-19-vaccines-idUKKBN25T23H 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medscape Pregnant women with COVID19 are less likely to have major symptoms but more likely to need intensive care treatment and experience preterm birth. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/936738 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Patients given the drug for seven days were compared to those who were not. They had a 93 per cent better recovery odds measured by either a greater chance or survival or less need for organ support such as ventilation. The findings come from the REMAPCAP trial involving hospitals globally. NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said the NHS will now take immediate action to ensure that patients who could benefit from hydrocortisone do so. Another study published today found three steroids reduce risk of death by 20 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8689999/NHS-start-using-steroid-hydrocortisone-Covid-19-patients-boost-survival-93.html 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Times Oxford Biomedicas role as lead manufacturer of a potential Covid19 vaccine being developed by Astrazeneca has been expanded with an agreement to increase production. The gene and cell therapy group has signed an 18month supply agreement to produce Astrazenecas AZD1222 vaccine on a commercial scale. Under the agreement which can be extended for a further 18 months into 2022 and 2023 Astrazeneca will pay Oxford Biomedica an initial 15 million as a capacity reservation fee. Oxford Biomedica said that subject to the stepping up of manufacturing capacity and the continuation of the vaccine programme it expected to received further revenue of more than 35 million plus certain materials costs for the manufacture of multiple largescale batches of AZD1222 until the end of 2021. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/oxford-biomedica-covid-19-vaccine-gets-cash-injection-to-boost-production-xjdwbw8vv 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Cambridgeshire Live Covid19 has triggered an eczema epidemic among NHS workers from washing their hands so much reveals new research. Sixoutof10 seen for skin problems are suffering irritant contact dermatitis a form of the itchy painful condition caused by friction according to the study. It highlights the impact of PPE personal protective equipment and frequent hand hygiene on medical workers.Colead author Dr Isha Narang of University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation said Wearing PPE for long periods can cause pressure and irritant effects on the skin and frequent handwashing with soap is drying sometimes the effects can be bad enough to require time off work. As PPE and handwashing are essential methods of reducing the spread of Covid19 its important to provide healthcare workers with advice and support in managing their skin. https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/covid-19-triggers-epidemic-eczema-18866414 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Studies around the world have confirmed that steroids can save lives in the Covid19 pandemic leading to new recommendations from the World Heath Organization that doctors should give them to severely ill patients. In June the Recovery trial run in most NHS hospitals and led by Oxford University found that the lives of one in eight people sick enough from Covid19 to need a ventilator could be saved by a steroid called dexamethasone. Now combined results from that trial and six others have confirmed those findings and established that at least one other equally cheap and widely available steroid hydrocortisone also saves lives. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/sep/02/two-types-of-steroid-found-to-save-lives-of-some-covid-19-patients 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress More than half of adults have found it difficult to manage their weight during the COVID19 lockdown according to the results of an online survey involving over 800 UK adults being presented at The European and International Congress on Obesity ECOICO held online this year 14 September. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-people-struggled-weight-covid-lockdown.html 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Wall Street Journal In April as Covid19 cases surged across Russia President Vladimir Putin called a meeting of the countrys top scientists and health officials over video link to deliver an urgent directive Do whatever you need to create a national vaccine as soon as possible. Four weeks later Alexander Gintsburg director of the staterun Gamaleya Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology told state television that his researchers had developed one. They were so sure it was safe he said the researchers had tested it on themselves. Last month Mr. Putin with great fanfare said Russia had approved Gamaleyas vaccine making it the first country to sign off on one amid a global race to curb the spread of Covid19. https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-roulette-inside-putins-race-to-develop-a-covid-19-vaccine-before-the-west-11599039001 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

New Scientist News The evidence for benefit is strongest for dexamethasone Stephen Evans at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in a statement. These new results published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association add weight to earlier findings from the RECOVERY trial which found that dexamethasone reduced deaths in critically ill covid19 patients by a third for patients on ventilators and by a fifth for those receiving oxygen the first drug shown to do so. This analysis increases confidence that dexamethasone has a really worthwhile role in critically ill patients with covid19 Evans said. As a result of the study the WHO is expected to update its guidance on treatment. In the UK the drug has been in use for treating severely ill covid19 patients since June. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-millions-of-pupils-return-to-schools-after-lockdown/ 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Health officials across the US have reportedly been notified that they should expect a coronavirus vaccine available to health workers and highrisk groups by November amid concerns the accelerated vaccine development process has become politicized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC informed health officials that limited Covid19 vaccine doses may be available by early November 2020 the New York Times reported. Meanwhile in a letter to governors dated 27 August Robert Redfield the director of the CDC said states in the near future will receive permit applications from McKesson a company which has contracted with CDC to distribute vaccines to places including state and local health departments and hospitals. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/02/cdc-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-november-trump 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Dr Anthony Fauci told Kaiser Health News that researchers would have a moral obligation to stop trials early if the data was good enough. The FDA has said a shot should cut rate of symptomatic COVID19 by at least 50 to get its approval. Three coronavirus vaccines are currently in their finalstage trials in the US. Some experts and Americans are concerned that political pressure not data is driving the push to approve vaccines. Currently the three trials are expected to conclude this winter https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8690209/Dr-Fauci-says-coronavirus-vaccine-trials-stopped-weeks-early.html 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The first shots of British drug maker AstraZenecas potential COVID19 vaccine could be on the market by the end of 2020 Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Wednesday. We are talking about a potential vaccine so we need to be extremely prudent but... if the vaccine is confirmed as safe and able to meet its objective it will be already available by the end of 2020 Speranza told parliament. Drugmakers are racing to combat the pandemic which has killed more than 850000 people and infected over 25 million. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-vaccine/astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-could-be-on-the-market-by-end-of-2020-italy-minister-idUSKBN25T2D7 2nd Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian The US government has said that it will not participate in a global initiative to develop manufacture and equitably distribute a vaccine for Covid19 because the effort is coled by the World Health Organization. The Covid19 Vaccines Global Access Facility Covax is a plan developed by the WHO along with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and is meant to accelerate the development and testing of a vaccine and work toward distributing it equally. The WHO announced last month that more than 170 countries were in talks to participate in Covax. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/us-covid-19-vaccine-refuses-international-effort-coronavirus 1st Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Pregnant women in hospital with coronavirus are less likely to show symptoms and may have a greater risk risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit than nonpregnant women of similar age a study has found. The analysis which encompassed 77 studies conducted globally and was published in the British Medical Journal looked at 11432 pregnant women admitted to hospital and diagnosed as having suspected or confirmed Covid19. It showed that pregnant women may be at increased risk of needing admission to an intensive care unit ICU than nonpregnant women of similar age as is the case with other respiratory viruses such as the flu. This could be partially attributed to the understanding that a mothers immune system is often compromised to protect the baby and that the lungs and the cardiovascular system the coronaviruss attacking ground are already under strain during pregnancy. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/sep/01/pregnant-women-in-hospital-with-covid-19-may-not-show-symptoms-study-finds 1st Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The New Indian Express Handwashing isnt as effective as wearing a mask when it comes to curbing the spread of COVID. Fact. Flying in an aeroplane is a surefire way to contract COVID because it is a closed airconditioned space. Myth. Six months of onagain offagain lockdowns later the average Indian still has a whole load of basic questions about the COVID19 virus and all heshe has to contend with is a glut of news stories that often offer contradictory viewpoints about what is safe and what isnt. To best understand the hard and constantly evolving scientific knowledge that we have about this virus The New Indian Express Editor G S Vasu spoke to renowned gastroenterologist and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr D Nageshwar Reddy. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2020/sep/01/if-everyone-wears-a-mask-we-can-achieve-90-effect-of-lockdown-dr-d-nageshwar-reddy-2191168.html 1st Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP The scale of the COVID19 pandemic in the Americas is unprecedented an official with the Pan American Health Organization PAHO said today in a press conference. And nowhere has its impact been bigger than in the healthcare workforce. PAHO Director Carissa Etienne MBBS MSc said that nearly 570000 healthcare workers in the Americas have fallen ill with COVID19 and more than 2500 have died. Overall there have been almost 13.5 million cases in the Americas and more than 469000 deaths. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/09/health-agency-covid-19-hitting-health-workers-hard-americas 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC Parts of Greater Manchester will not have lockdown restrictions eased as planned following a government Uturn. Measures in Bolton and Trafford were due to be eased overnight after a fall in cases earlier in August. But they will now remain under existing restrictions following a significant change in the level of infection rates over the last few days the government announced. The regions mayor Andy Burnham said the Uturn had been complete chaos. The boroughs had been due to allow people from different households to meet indoors and businesses to offer close contact services such as facials but that has now been halted https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-53995677 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC Restrictions on visiting other households have been reintroduced in Glasgow and two neighbouring areas after a rise in coronavirus cases. The new rules affect more than 800000 people in Glasgow city West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire. They are being told not to host people from other households in their own homes or visit another persons home. The restrictions came into effect from midnight. They will last for two weeks but will be reviewed after a week. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Tuesday that 135 of the 314 new cases in Scotland over the past two days had been in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. She said Covid19 continued to be a dangerous and potentially deadly virus. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53989021 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English According to Social Security Minister Jos Luis Escriv 132000 new jobs were created in the first three weeks of the month. But the upward trend was reversed by fresh coronavirus outbreaks and travel advisories introduced by many countries that recommended not going to Spain. The slowdown began in late July when the United Kingdom introduced a quarantine for travelers arriving from the country. This has impacted the tourism industry which is usually a leading source of Spanish job creation at this time of the year and contributes more than 12 of Spains gross domestic product GDP. And hotels have already announced plans to close in late August due to a lack of demand in a move that could have an adverse effect on September traditionally still a strong month for tourism. https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020-09-02/covid-19-outbreaks-dampen-spanish-tourisms-hopes-for-the-summer-season.html 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The number of registered unemployed people in Spain rose in August as new outbreaks of the coronavirus and travel restrictions imposed by other countries began taking a toll after months of timid recovery from an initial lockdown. The number of jobless people rose by 0.79 in August pushing up the national total to 3.80 million and ending a positive trend that began in May when Spain began emerging from one of Europes strictest coronavirus lockdowns. The heavily tourismdependent Balearic Islands were the hardest hit region registering a 3 rise in unemployment. The pace of job creation in Spain stagnated in August with only 6822 more people with a formal working contract and contributing to social security in that month compared to an increase of 161000 in July the social security minister said on Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-economy-unemployed/spains-unemployment-rises-amid-new-covid-outbreaks-tourist-restrictions-idUSKBN25T1CX 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Russia reported 4952 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday pushing its national tally to 1005000 the fourth largest in the world. Authorities said 115 people had died in the last 24 hours bringing the official death toll to 17414. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-russia-cases/russia-reports-nearly-5000-new-coronavirus-cases-idUSKBN25T10T 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Independent More than 50 countries around the world are experiencing a rise in new coronavirus cases figures show. Europe north Africa and south Asia have the highest concentration of countries that are experiencing an upswing in coronavirus cases as the worldwide total passed 25 million. The UK is among the worst hit. Infections have spiked in two northern areas of England due to be released from lockdown against the advice of local officials. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-news-live-uk-cases-deaths-update-schools-reopen-portugal-latest-today-a9697956.html 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

RTE.ie More than 40 of new coronavirus cases in South Korea are being found in people over the age of 60 contributing in part to a surge in the number of Covid19 patients who are severely or critically ill health authorities said. South Korea is battling a second wave of infection centred in the capital Seoul and surrounding areas which are home to 25 million people. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 267 new cases as of midnight last night a slight increase over the day before. Overall South Korea has reported 20449 cases and 326 deaths. The number of severely or critically ill patients stood at 124 Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip told a briefing from just nine reported on 18 August. https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0902/1162678-coronavirus-global/ 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Germany will not need another national lockdown over the winter to keep the coronavirus under control despite rising infections Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday. After initially keeping infections and deaths relatively low compared to its European neighbours the number of new cases has accelerated in recent weeks raising fears of a second wave. https://www.reuters.com/article/healthcoronavirus-germany-minister/german-minister-rules-out-new-nationwide-coronavirus-lockdown-idUSL8N2FZ2C8 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Turkey is seeing the second peak of the coronavirus outbreak due to carelessness at weddings and other social gatherings Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday amid a rapid rise in the number of daily cases and deaths. Speaking after a meeting of his coronavirus science team Koca said the capital Ankara had seen the most rapid rise in the number of cases lately. He added that 29865 healthcare workers had contracted the virus so far with 52 of them dying. The outbreak is increasingly continuing. The virus is spreading to more people each day. Our test numbers are rising every day our new patient numbers are not falling. Koca said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/healthcoronavirus-turkey/turkey-seeing-second-peak-of-covid-19-outbreak-health-minister-says-idUKA4N29K01W 2nd Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Germanys national institute for infectious diseases on Wednesday added the Canary Islands to its list of risk regions citing a high rate of new coronavirus infections in the Spanish autonomous region. The Robert Koch Institute said the whole of Spain mainland and islands was a risk region. The institutes update is usually followed by a travel warning to the designated regions by the Foreign Ministry. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany-spain/german-health-institute-designates-canary-islands-as-coronavirus-risk-region-idUKKBN25T2ZU 2nd Sep 2020

New Lockdown

The Independent The UK faces a permanent 33bn annual hit to the economy as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey told MPs on Wednesday. Structural changes in the economy as people change their behaviours in response to the pandemic could cause longterm scarring to growth and employment Mr Bailey warned. The Bank predicts that behavioural shifts such as more working from home and people being more cautious about going out will reduce gross domestic product GDP by 1.5 per cent every year below where it had been expected to be. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-news-live-uk-cases-deaths-update-test-quarantine-greece-scotland-latest-a9700216.html 2nd Sep 2020

New Lockdown

Los Angeles Times Cuban authorities have ordered a strict 15day lockdown of Havana in an effort to stamp out the lowlevel but persistent spread of the coronavirus in the capital. Aggressive antivirus measures including closing down air travel have virtually eliminated COVID19 in Cuba with the exception of Havana where cases have surged from a handful a day to dozens daily over the last month. A daily curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. was instituted Tuesday. Most stores are barred from selling to shoppers from outside the immediate neighborhood in order to discourage people from moving around the city. Some Havana residents complained that the measures were complicating the already difficult task of buying food in a city hit by constant shortages and endless lines for a limited supply of basic goods. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-09-02/cuba-closes-off-havana-coronavirus 2nd Sep 2020

New Lockdown

Stuff.co.nz Auckland reemerged from lockdown this week but the new cluster in the city was a reminder that globally the coronavirus pandemic is far from over. Many countries who were apparently progressing well have been hit by second waves of Covid19. In parts of Europe surging infections numbers are placing pressure on governments with some opting for localised lockdowns mandated masks and even border closures to try and get on top of the virus. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/122637177/coronavirus-the-countries-bolstering-restrictions-or-reentering-lockdown 2nd Sep 2020