11th Sep 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=93 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

RFI English Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne said that the government would continue paying up to 84 percent of salaries for employees in struggling companies. I confirm we will maintain the same level so the cost for the employer will be limited to 15 percent of net salary until next summer Borne told BFM television on Thursday. Currently the scheme to help the most exposed sectors hotels cafes events was in place until the end of the year. The idea Borne said is that companies can keep jobs and skills while they restructure or retrain people. https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200910-france-extends-programme-to-protect-workers-from-further-covid-19-related-job-losses 10th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK The number of firms declaring insolvency in Germany was 6.2 lower in the first half of last year despite the coronavirus crisis the Statistics Office said partly because of a rule designed to keep firms afloat in the pandemic https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-economy-insolvencies/german-firms-spared-insolvency-spike-despite-pandemic-idUKKBN2610QN?il=0 10th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Financial Express The high unemployment rate in urban India subsided in the week ending 6 September 2020 falling to the lowest level since the lockdown began. The urban unemployment rate fell to 8.32 per cent in the week according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. Interestingly the employment situation in urban India has improved despite a severe loss of salaried jobs. An estimated 21 million salaried employees have lost their jobs by the end of August. There were 86 million salaried jobs in India during 201920 which fell to 65 million in August 2020. The loss in salaried jobs was the biggest among all types of employment. https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/employment-recovering-urban-unemployment-at-lowest-since-lockdown-even-as-salaried-jobs-get-cut/2079675/ 10th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian New Zealanders are experiencing more depression and anxiety since the coronavirus lockdown doctors say despite the country leading the world in its battle against the pandemic. New Zealand has been lauded for its effective management of the virus with most Kiwis returning to their normal routines following a strict sevenweek lockdown in April and May. A recent outbreak in Auckland has now largely been contained. But GPs working on the front line say generalised anxiety is proliferating in the community and putting a strain on mental health services that are already overburdened. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/10/new-zealand-mental-health-crisis-as-covid-stretches-a-struggling-system 10th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters India Italian industrial output rose a strongerthanexpected 7.4 in July from the month before data showed on Thursday a third consecutive increase following the end of the countrys coronavirus lockdown https://in.reuters.com/article/italy-economy-output/italy-july-industry-output-rises-more-than-expected-as-post-lockdown-rebound-continues-idINR1N2C902K 10th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK The postlockdown surge in Britains housing market intensified in August and prices hit a four year high as buyers sought properties with gardens according to a RICS survey that also sent a warning signal that the recovery could run out of steam https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-economy-housing/uk-house-prices-jump-as-buyers-seek-gardens-after-lockdown-rics-idUKKBN2603H2 10th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Medical Xpress Ministers decided on new rules to come into force from Tuesday including limiting gatherings to 10 people rather than 20 previouslya cap already in force in the capital Lisbon since late June. Also extending a measure from the capital sales of alcohol will be barred from 8 pm as will drinking in public spaces. Meanwhile sporting venues will remain closed to fans ahead of the football championship kicking off next week. Weve been seeing a sustained rise in the number of new cases since the beginning of August Prime Minister Antonio Costa said after Portugal saw 646 new infections in the 24 hours to Wednesdayits highest since April 20. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-portugal-toughens-virus-schools.html 10th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Daily Star (Bangladesh) The United Arab Emirates said Thursday that daily coronavirus cases had jumped fivefold compared with a month ago and warned residents and citizens to abide by measures designed to curb the disease. The daily tally of cases hit 930 on Thursday said Farida alHosani spokeswoman for the Emirates health sector compared with 179 on August 10. This is the highest number recorded in four months she said during a televised conference. Those who violate the preventive measures in place whether an individual shops or restaurants will be held accountable. Hosani said 12 percent of cases were among residents or citizens returning to the UAE from abroad even though they received negative tests from their destination countries which are a requirement for entry. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2020/Sep-10/511507-uae-sounds-warning-after-virus-cases-jump-five-fold.ashx 10th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Hindustan Times The latest numbers put total cases at 4.46 million and 1152 new casualties recorded over the past 24 hours took the death toll to 75062. In terms of infections India is second only to the United Statess 6.5 million. In terms of deaths India is third with the US having recorded over 194000 fatalities and Brazil over 128000. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-inches-closer-to-100-000-daily-covid-19-case-mark/story-niqHnCcbul4jSx56VTqnIJ.html 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC More than 500000 people have downloaded Scotlands new contact tracing app since it went live. It became available to download free onto a smart phone from Apples App Store or Google Play on Thursday. The Protect Scotland app lets people know if they have been in close contact with someone who later tests positive. The Scottish government has said the software will support the Test and Protect system and is another tool in the fight against Covid19. Up until now contact tracing has been done manually using a method followed for years to help control the spread of infectious diseases. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54098960 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC A university has signed a contract with a private company to buy thousands of coronavirus tests for students and staff. The University of Exeter will be offering the tests to anyone showing symptoms or who is deemed at high risk. Deputy vice chancellor Tim Quine said the safety of staff and students was the universitys first priority. The salivabased tests provided by Halo will give results within 24 hours it claimed. Mr Quine told BBC Radio Devon the university had to do its own bit to help prevent the spread of the virus. He said By bringing students to the region we know we are changing the risk dynamic. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-54099782 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC More than 500000 people have downloaded Scotlands new contact tracing app since it went live. It became available to download free onto a smart phone from Apples App Store or Google Play on Thursday. The Protect Scotland app lets people know if they have been in close contact with someone who later tests positive. The Scottish government has said the software will support the Test and Protect system and is another tool in the fight against Covid19. Up until now contact tracing has been done manually using a method followed for years to help control the spread of infectious diseases. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54098960 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Scientists and health professionals have raised doubts about Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Operation Moonshot plan for mass coronavirus testing. The PM hopes millions of Covid19 tests including some giving results within minutes could be processed daily. But experts say there are issues with laboratory capacity for current tests while the technology for more rapid tests does not as yet exist. The British Medical Journal says leaked memos show the plan could cost 100bn. Speaking after his announcement that gatherings in England are to be restricted to six people from Monday Mr Johnson said the government was working hard to increase testing capacity to 500000 tests a day by the end of October. And he said that in the near future he wanted to start using testing to identify people who are negative who dont have coronavirus and who are not infectious so we can allow them to behave in a more normal way in the knowledge they cannot infect anyone else. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54097050 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Business Today As more people try to avoid public transport during the pandemic to avoid the virus India is seeing an precedented sale of bicycles. Bicycle groups have emerged on social media and are lobbying for more bike lanes in cities. Bicycle dealers are finding it hard to cope with the steep rise in demand. Will COVID19 bring about a change in the way people commute or will this trend be shortlived Watch the video for more. https://www.businesstoday.in/videos/news-reel/bicycle-sales-go-up-amid-pandemic-as-india-eases-covid-19-lockdown/415558.html 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

The Times of India The Tamil Nadu government has eased its curbs further allowing vehicles used in the transportation of staff to offices factories and other establishments to carry up to 60 capacity rather than 3040 as they are doing now https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-nadu-government-announces-more-lockdown-relaxations/articleshow/78029745.cms 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Daily Mail The Xiongan New Area near Beijing will have a selfsufficient neighbourhood. It is designed to let people live more comfortably in the event of pandemics. The complex will have larger balconies 3D printers and drones among others. Its architect from Spain was inspired while working in coronavirus lockdown. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8717773/China-building-new-COVID-proof-city-designed-make-lockdowns-easier.html 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian The 550afortnight pandemic topup set to disappear on 25 September has been lifealtering for single mothers say welfare campaigners. About 244000 single parents receive parenting payment 790afortnight plus the 550 Covid supplement and the family tax benefit while those with children older than seven get jobseeker payment 565 plus the 550 Covid supplement and the family tax benefit. The coronavirus supplement is also provided to students receiving youth allowance or Austudy. Toni Wren the executive director of AntiPoverty Week said government data showed about 1.1 million children lived in families receiving the supplement in July. That included 500000 children whose parents were receiving the jobseeker payment. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/10/distress-and-fear-poverty-looms-for-a-million-australian-children-once-coronavirus-supplement-slashed 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters New York City restaurants struggling to stay in business after months of closures imposed in the face of the coronavirus pandemic won a longawaited approval on Wednesday to resume limited indoor dining. But Los Angeles County health officials prohibited Halloween parties and said children should not be allowed to trick or treat during the popular fall holiday on Oct. 31. The contrasting moves on opposite coasts of the United States came as new coronavirus infections have fallen for seven weeks in a row but the nationwide death toll since the pandemic broke out in March exceeded 190000 according to a Reuters tally. In New York City Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said indoor dining could resume at thousands of restaurants as of Sept. 30 although capacity was limited to 25 percent. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/u-s-covid-19-deaths-surpass-190000-iowa-and-south-dakota-emerge-as-new-hotspots-idUSKBN2601HS 10th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Save The Children Australia 93 of households that lost over half of their income due to the pandemic reported difficulties in accessing health services Two thirds of the children had no contact with teachers at all during lockdown eight in ten children believed they had learned little or nothing since schools closed and violence at home doubled during school closures the reported rate was 17 compared to 8 when the child was attending school in person. https://www.savethechildren.org.au/media/media-releases/largest-global-survey-of-covid-19 10th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

Sky News Leaked documents reportedly show the government plans to carry out up to 10 million coronavirus tests a day by early next year but critics say the proposals represent wastecorruption on a cosmic scale. The mass testing programme would cost 100bn almost as much as the government spends on the NHS each year 130bn according to a briefing memo seen by medical journal The BMJ. A separate document revealed there were plans to grow the UKs testing capacity from the current 350000 a day to up to 10 million a day by early 2021. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-scientists-doubtful-as-leaked-government-document-reveals-plans-for-10-million-tests-by-next-year-12067722 10th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

Evening Standard Donald Trump understood the dangers of coronavirus before it hit the US but wanted to play down the threat a new book claims. The US president reportedly told journalist Bob Woodward that he deliberately minimised the risks during an interview on March 19. I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down because I dont want to create a panic Mr Trump allegedly said. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/donald-trump-downplay-coronavirus-bob-woodward-a4543986.html 10th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent Englands chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance poured cold water on Operation Moon Shot warning it is completely wrong to say that ministers proposed mass coronavirus testing regime could allow for a return to seminormality by Christmas just minutes after Boris Johnson touted hopes that it could. Speaking at Downing Street the prime minister tightened Englands coronavirus restrictions making it illegal from Monday for people to gather in groups larger than six with some exemptions. Meanwhile across the Atlantic Donald Trump came under fire after it was revealed he had downplayed the potential severity of the virus to avoid panic. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-news-live-lockdown-rules-new-cases-vaccine-symptoms-test-update-b420848.html 10th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian New Zealands health minister has pleaded with people to stop spreading misinformation about the coronavirus as the government struggles to contain a minicluster centred on an evangelical church in Auckland. The minicluster started with four cases in the suburb of Mt Roskill last month and has now grown to 45 cases. Health authorities say they have struggled to isolate and lock down the cluster as some people have refused to cooperate saying they do not believe in the virus and will not share their close contacts Repeated deliberate and malicious spread of misinformation is also proliferating online health minister Chris Hipkins said prompting him to issue a stark warning that lives are at stake. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/10/deliberate-malicious-stop-spreading-covid-misinformation-says-new-zealand-minister 10th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

ABC News A group of 78 researchers and doctors from Stanford Medical School took aim this week at Dr. Scott Atlas the expert President Donald Trump recently added to the White House pandemic response task force for embracing and peddling what they described as falsehoods and misrepresentations of science in his public musings about the coronavirus. In a Dear Colleagues letter penned Wednesday the Stanford experts wrote that they have a moral and ethical responsibility to push back on Atlas controversial claims about mitigating the spread of the coronavirus which they characterized as opinions and statements that run counter to established science and undermine public health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/stanford-colleagues-warn-dr-scott-atlas-fosters-falsehoods/story?id=72926212 10th Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Age Mental health support services have seen calls from children and young people in Victoria jump by up to a third as the states hard lockdown and extended restrictions on school attendance take a toll. There was a 28 per cent spike in calls to the phone counselling service Kids Helpline between March and July 2020 compared with the same period last year and a 19 per cent jump from July to August compared with the previous month. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/calls-for-help-surge-as-teens-mental-health-suffers-in-lockdown-20200910-p55u7m.html 10th Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian Maintaining good nutrition is crucial and an excellent means of incorporating structure into your day. If you are growing your own vegetables as many have since the toilet paperthemed scarcity apocalypse phase of isolation Instagram everything. Demonstrate second world warstyle thrift as you transform beetroot stalks into colourful inedible gourmet feasts. Theres no need to illustrate your daily halfablock of Cadburys Fruit Nut habit or admit your car interior reeks of rendered pork fat because youre driving through at Maccas at least three times a week. Its ... not considered polite. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/10/make-your-bed-phone-your-mother-in-tears-as-victorias-lockdown-drags-on-just-keep-going 10th Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

Lancashire Telegraph Cash grants will be available to businesses ordered to close due to local lockdowns in England the Government has said. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay said lifeline grants of up to 1500 will be on offer every three weeks. His announcement came as Labour demanded targeted income support for businesses and selfemployed people in sectors which have been most affected by coronavirus. The Opposition also called for extra income support to be given to areas of the country placed under local lockdown restrictions. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/18710467.businesses-lockdown-areas-entitled-1-500/ 10th Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

Anadolu Agency Palestine confirmed seven more deaths and 1000 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours the highest singleday jump since the outbreak began. The virus claimed six lives in occupied West Bank and one in Gaza Strip. In a statement on Thursday the Health Ministry said the death toll in the country rose to 224 while the total infections reached 37214 including 25483 recoveries. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/health/palestine-records-highest-daily-coronavirus-infections/1969168 10th Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

Channel NewsAsia Singapore The government is considering tighter measures Solberg told a news conference. We cant open up anymore at this time ... In case of a rise in the number of infections without a known source or local outbreaks that are not contained we will consider tighter restrictions locally regionally or nationally she said. The number of people allowed at public gatherings could be cut to 50 from the current 200 and the maximum permitted at private events to 510 people from 20 currently Solberg said. Universities which reopened with inperson classes in August could be told to return to allonline teaching she added. Earlier plans to allow adults outside of the professional leagues to take part in contact sports such as football remain on hold for the time being she added. Norway with a population of 5.4 million reported 738 coronavirus cases last week the highest number of any single week since early April according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health FHI. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/norway-may-have-to-tighten-covid-19-restrictions--pm-says-13099350 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Serum Institute of India has put on hold trials of AstraZenecas potential Covid19 vaccine in the country until the British drugmaker confirms it wishes to restart them the company said on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-serum-institute/serum-institute-puts-india-trials-of-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-on-hold-idUSKBN2611LG 11th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Anadolu Agency Around 180 vaccines to combat COVID19 are in development worldwide including 35 in human trials the WHO chief said on Friday. No disease in history has seen such rapid development in research. Its a testament to the incredible advances in science and technology the world has made in recent years DirectorGeneral Tedros Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva. It must be matched by its ambition to ensure as many people as possible have access to them. When journalists asked about differing claims on vaccines arrival including an aspiration by US President Donald Trump to have one by October the WHOs chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said people should remember that clinical trials take time. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/180-covid-19-vaccines-in-development-says-who/1969537 11th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail University of Washington analyzed swabs from 500 people tested for coronavirus for differences in people of different ages and sexes. They found signs that genes that turn on the immune response in elderly people get activated more slowly than those in younger people. Genes that should turn the immune system off to keep inflammation from getting out of control are less active in men https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8711305/Delayed-immune-responses-make-COVID-19-deadly-elderly-people.html 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The BMJ We need a targeted testing strategy not a blunderbuss say Maggie Rae and Ellis Friedman. The governments moon shot plan to test millions of people daily for covid19 risks repeating the mistakes of the early days of test and trace. The ambition to deliver a further substantial increase in testing is welcome but as the push for 100000 daily tests exposed an efficient and effective test trace regime is not a numbers game. Testing is not a medical intervention and on its own does nothing to control the disease. It only has value if the test is reliable and a positive test triggers a quick and effective response which means immediately tracing the contacts of the infected person investigating the source of their infection and effectively preventing further transmission of the virus. Identifying large numbers of asymptomatic carriers has the potential to significantly strengthen our ability to manage the disease butas the continuing problems with laboratory capacity demonstratewe are unlikely to ever have the capacity and public compliance to allow us to repeatedly test millions of asymptomatic people and then report the results and trace contacts efficiently. Even in areas where there are major outbreaks such as Bolton randomly offering tests to the public will not work effectively and will waste valuable resources. We need a targeted testing strategy which is part of a well designed control strategynot a blunderbuss. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/09/10/covid-19-an-efficient-and-effective-test-trace-regime-is-not-a-numbers-game/ 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine could still be available by the end of the year or early next year according to the companys chief executive Pascal Soriot despite clinical trials being paused after a volunteer fell ill. AstraZeneca and Oxford University which are jointly developing the vaccine and testing it on 50000 to 60000 people around the world halted trials on Wednesday to investigate the potentially unexpected illness of one participant. Soriot was unable to say when the trial would resume but said I still think we are on track for having a set of data that we would submit before the end of the year for regulatory approval. They could still have a vaccine by the end of this year early next year depending on how fast the regulator moves he added. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/10/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-is-still-possible-this-year-says-astrazeneca-chief 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Studies have shown that living through a pandemic negatively affects confidence that vaccines are safe and disinclines the affected to vaccinate their children. This is specifically the case for individuals who are in their impressionable years ages 1825 at the time of exposure because it is at this age that attitudes about public policy including health policy are durably formed. This heightened skepticism about vaccination observed in a variety of times and places persists for the balance of the individuals lifetime. The difference now is that Trump and his appointees by making reckless and unreliable claims risk aggravating the problem. Thus if steps are not taken to reassure the public of the independence and integrity of the scientific process we will be left only with the alternative of herd immunity which given Covid19s many known and suspected comorbidities is no alternative at all. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/10/us-covid-19-crisis-health-economy 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Business Standard The epidemiologist whose modelling heavily influenced the British government to impose a lockdown in March has warned that fresh restrictions may have to be reimposed in coming weeks to deal with a rise in new coronavirus cases. Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London said he was encouraged that the government is banning social gatherings of more than six people from Monday noting that one of the mistakes in the early days of the pandemic this year was an overly cautious approach. Still he told BBC radio that all the analysis suggested there would be an uptick in deaths in the coming weeks so now is the time to respond. The UK has seen Europes deadliest virus outbreak with around 41600 deaths. Ferguson added that if the transmission rates dont fall markedly so the epidemic starts shrinking again then we may need to clamp down in other areas. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/uk-epidemiologist-warns-of-virus-uptick-wants-lockdown-re-imposed-120091000798_1.html 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Atlantic Im an American living in Germany and Ive been following how some people in the United States have opposed lockdowns due to fears about shutting down the economy. It seems to me that even to those who believe the economy is what matters most having a complete national lockdown for a few weeks is economically better than what the U.S. is going through now. Should the U.S. have done that And is it too late https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/09/united-states-lockdown-again/616228/ 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times The problem is that the crisis has been hugely complicated by Spains political polarisation and its decentralised model of governance. Pedro Snchez prime minister insists handling the pandemic is now primarily the responsibility of the countrys regions whose collective health budget is more than 10 times that of his administration. The regions respond that the central government must provide more leadership. The upshot is that while controls were rapidly dropped in June with plans for a stepbystep phase out being discarded reintroducing such curbs has been halting and sometimes halfhearted. Some epidemiologists identify this as the central error in the handling of the crisis. Regions were able to scrap lockdown measures without demonstrating they were increasing track or trace staff or preparing more adequately for a new rise in cases. https://www.ft.com/content/6a5e61f5-7a35-4ad9-b57d-98f1dfa107ad 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews under fire from CSL chairman Brian McNamee. Melbourne businessman described roadmap out of lockdown as map of misery CSL is one of the companies to manufacture a coronavirus vaccine in Australia. But its boss Dr McNamee has issued a dire warning to not bank on a vaccine https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8715861/Boss-biotech-company-tasked-making-coronavirus-vaccine-slams-Dan-Andrews-lockdown-strategy.html 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

News.com.au A major error has been uncovered in the COVID19 modelling used by the Federal Government to inform Australias tough lockdown restrictions. Modelling released by Melbournes Peter Doherty Institute earlier this year showed grim predictions of the impact the coronavirus pandemic would have on Australia if no measures were taken to suppress it. But The Daily Telegraph has revealed an error in the modelling meant the number of people that would need ICU beds was dramatically overestimated making the potential impacts of the pandemic appear much worse. When the modelling was released chief medical officer Brendan Murphy branded it a horrendous scenario. A daily demand for new intensive care beds of 35000 plus he said. Professor Murphy warned Australians this ICU capacity was completely beyond the realm of any country to create. https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/coronavirus-australia-mistake-in-covid-modelling-that-informed-lockdown/news-story/ed597d740d845649de9e7b31c123bee7 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

9News With our minds focused on staying safe from COVID19 and millions forced to stay indoors for weeks on end there may be other aspects of your health that are suffering without you knowing. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the concerns among doctors with people being unable to get enough time outdoors. Vitamin D is something thats synthesised inside our bodies and it starts with a process on the skin and often what were needing is a certain amount of exposure to UV light to start the first step in the chain of producing vitamin D Melbournebased GP and spokeswoman from The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners RACGP Dr Lara Roeske told nine.com.au. https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-why-lockdown-could-make-you-vitamin-d-deficient/47faaeba-84f5-4c4b-bd50-70e0c9486037 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Australias decision to lockdown at start of crisis based on miscalculated figures. Research estimated daily ICU demand of 35000 beds in uncontrolled outbreak. But data confused ICU admissions with patients needing to be taken to hospital Then Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said at time data was horrendous. Data used to guide government decision to shut down large parts of economy. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8714505/How-error-numbers-used-justify-shutting-Australia-COVID-19-crisis-went-unnoticed.html 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Newshub Nearly half of all Kiwi adults drank alcohol more frequently and heavily during the lockdown and its aftermath than they normally would a new survey has found. Women led the way 52 percent of them drinking more often and 48 percent more heavily than usual the 2020 Global Drug Survey found. Nearly 3000 Kiwis took part in the international research which this year focused on how peoples drug use was affected by the COVID19 pandemic and lockdowns implemented to suppress it. Stuck at home many people turned to alcohol and other drugs while others cut back robbed of opportunities for socialising with friends. Theres been a number of New Zealanders that have increased their consumption during lockdown and theyve maintained that postlockdown Nicki Jackson of Alcohol Healthwatch told The AM Show on Thursday. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/09/coronavirus-kiwis-turned-to-cannabis-and-alcohol-to-cope-during-lockdown-study.html 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Canada is aggressively negotiating with drugmakers on delivery schedules for potential Covid19 vaccines and shipments would begin early in 2020 under existing deals Canadas minister of public services and procurement told Reuters on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-canada-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-doses-could-arrive-in-canada-early-in-2021-minister-idUSKBN2613AO 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Thomson Reuters Foundation News AstraZenecas pause of an experimental vaccine for the coronavirus after the illness of a participant is a wakeup call but should not discourage researchers the World Health Organizations WHO chief scientist said on Thursday. This is a wakeup call to recognise that there are ups and downs in clinical development and that we have to be prepared Soumya Swaminathan told a virtual briefing from Geneva. We do not have to be discouraged. These things happen. Governments are desperate for a vaccine to help end the COVID19 pandemic which has caused more than 900000 deaths and global economic turmoil and the WHO had flagged AstraZenecas being developed with Oxford University as the most promising. https://news.trust.org/item/20200910141710-fiw0i/ 10th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post Preliminary study suggests virus is able to replicate inside the brain and its presence starves nearby brain cells of oxygen. Neurological impacts could also have been the result an abnormal immune response known as a cytokine storm https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3100959/headaches-and-delirium-coronavirus-can-invade-brain 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Des Moines Register The state has been changing how it reports testing data which has caused spikes in the rate of positive data. Before the changes the state was consistently reporting a positivity rate that is the percentage of tests that were positive below 10. Iowa also is now counting the results of antigen tests a relatively rapid type of coronavirus tests that will increase the reported rates of infection in some counties. On Thursday the state was reporting 10.5 positive since the pandemic started. Of the tests the state has reported since 10 a.m. Wednesday 12.4 were positive according to a Des Moines Register analysis. Iowas 14day average was 9.7 positive according to the state https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2020/09/10/coronavirus-iowa-state-reports-20-covid-19-deaths-819-new-cases-9-10-2020-september-data/5744705002/ 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The weekly number of positive COVID19 cases in England jumped 43 at the end of August compared to the previous week the latest data from the test and trace scheme showed on Thursday. MHS Test and Trace said on Thursday that 9864 new people rested positive for Covid19 in England in the week from Aug to Sept 2 the highest number of weekly positive cases since the scheme launched at the end of May. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-trace/english-tracing-scheme-shows-weekly-jump-in-number-of-covid-19-cases-idUKL8N2G7337 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Ottawa Citizen Premier Doug Ford says its too early to say whether Halloween trickortreating will be permitted. It just makes me nervous kids going door to door. Id prefer not to. Itd be a shame but well check that out. Province announces 14.75 million investment to improve access to mental health and addictions services. Ontario reports 170 new cases including 55 in Toronto 28 in York and 22 in Peel. Another person has died bringing the COVID19 death toll to 2814. 54 people are hospitalized with the disease including 14 in ICU and nine on ventilators Ottawa Public Health reports 12 new cases as of Thursday down from 17 cases Wednesday and 37 on Tuesday. That brings the total number of cases in the capital region to 3163. There are 226 active cases https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/covid-19-170-new-cases-in-ontario-quebec-to-fine-people-not-wearing-masks-indoors 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Press and Journal The last new case for the region was on August 11 and now their total sits at 57 positive cases. The latest figures from the Scottish Government show an increase of 161 new confirmed positive cases across the country and there have been no registered deaths in the last 24 hours. Of these five cases were recorded in the Grampian area and three in the Highlands. The regions total number of positive cases now sits at 1996 and 473 people respectively. The other islands total positive cases since the pandemic began remain at 17 on Orkney and nine in the Western Isles. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/2479687/regional-breakdown-161-new-covid-19-cases-across-scotland-including-first-positive-case-on-shetland-for-a-month/ 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Record Nicola Sturgeon has announced new lockdown restrictions across Scotland as the number of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to rise. The First Minister told MSPs the country must remain in phase 3 of lockdown for now and would likely remain so for some time to come. The SNP leader also revealed a range of new restrictions on social gatherings aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. From Monday there will be a new limit of six people from two households allowed to meet socially a rule that covers meetings in homes as well as in pubs and restaurants. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-lockdown-rules-changes-22660050 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Metro.co.uk Local leaders have warned Birmingham could be the next city put into a local lockdown after coronavirus infection rates have soared. West Midlands mayor Andy Street said increased restrictions in the city are looking very likely as Birminghams case rate has increased to 69 per 100000 up from 30 a week ago. It comes after 712 people caught coronavirus in the city in the seven days up to Saturday MailOnline reports. Boris Johnson announced at a press conference yesterday that gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday in a bid to control the spread of the virus. https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/10/birmingham-is-on-brink-of-lockdown-after-infection-rates-double-in-a-week-13248919/ 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC The number of people allowed to meet up in Scotland has been cut to six amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic accelerating. It came as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a tightening and extension of lockdown rules. Changes planned for next week have been put back until at least 5 October. It means that theatres live music venues indoor soft play facilities and indoor contact sports will not now open next Monday. Until now eight people from three households had been allowed to meet indoors in Scotland and up to 15 from five households outdoors. This will change to six people from two household and will apply both indoors and outdoors including in homes gardens pubs and restaurants. Children under the age of 12 will not count towards the total however. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54093110 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said we must act to avoid another lockdown as virus cases rise in England. He set out a new rule of six restricting gatherings to a maximum of six people enforced by police able to issue fines or make arrests. Mr Johnson also outlined a moonshot plan to control the virus with mass testing possibly by next spring. It comes as the UK reported another 2659 coronavirus cases the fourth day running of over 2000 reported cases. I want to be absolutely clear these measures are not another national lockdown. The whole point of them is to avoid a second national lockdown Mr Johnson said in the first Downing Street coronavirus briefing since July. He added it breaks my heart to have to insist on these restrictions. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54093465 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard Madrid has brought in new restrictions on social gatherings restaurants and bars as Spain tries to curb a spike in coronavirus cases while millions of pupils return to school this week. A ban on outdoor meetings of more than 10 people was extended indoors because most recent outbreaks of Covid19 were linked to family meetings or mass drinking sessions organised by young people called botellones. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/madrid-gatherings-ban-a4544481.html 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Euro Weekly News The continued surge in coronavirus cases is set to continue as schools reopening are seeing millions of childen and teachers returning after having been out of the educational environment for over six months. Since July Spain has become the country with the fastest rising coronavirus cases with the UK and France following closely behind. https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/09/10/spain-passes-half-a-million-coronavirus-cases/ 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

9News Victoria has recorded 51 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours with seven more lives lost. The new deaths have brought the states total number of COVID19 fatalities to 701. Victoria now accounts for nearly 90 per cent of Australias coronavirus deaths. The latest fatalities included four men in their 70s two women in their 80s and one man in his 80s. https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-victoria-update-51-new-cases-covid19-7-deaths-latest-numbers-dhhs/d97a720a-d846-4bd5-9a45-ffc11c1a9bf3 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Austria eported 664 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours the biggest daily increase since late March when an initial spike in infections was rapidly fading due to a struct lockdown. Of those new cases 387 were in Vienna the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-austria/austria-reports-664-new-coronavirus-cases-in-a-day-highest-since-march-idUSKBN2611D9 10th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK The French government will discuss on Friday whether to impose new local lockdowns to try and tackle rising Covid19 cases while keeping economic activities going. Government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said on Thursday that nothing will be ruled out at Fridays cabinet meeting with President Macron saying he hoped any new measures would bot be too restrictive. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france-idUKKBN2610TB 10th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

Daily Mail Boris Johnsons new army of Covid secure marshals are out in force today. Those in the new roles will be recruited by councils to step up enforcement. There is confusion on how wide their remit will be and what powers theyll have. Rankandfile officers have been left absolutely baffled by the announcement https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8718097/Meet-covid-marshalls-Army-workers-enforce-new-lockdown-rules.html 10th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

The Japan Times Myanmar was accelerating efforts Thursday to control the spread of the coronavirus which has led to campaigning for Novembers general election to be suspended in some areas due to partial virus lockdowns. The Ministry of Health and Sport issued a stayathome order for 20 Yangon townships effective Thursday as cases of the coronavirus continued to rise with 120 new cases and two deaths. That brings the countrys total to 2009 recorded cases and 14 deaths since the pandemic began. The order calls for a partial lockdown with limited trips out of the house allowed to carry out necessary activities such as the purchase of food. Seven other Yangon townships were put under similar partial lockdowns Sept. 1 as was all of Rakhine state last month after a surge of new cases there. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/09/10/world/science-health-world/myanmar-locks-parts-yangon-amid-virus-increase/ 10th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

CNBC Indonesian stocks fell by more than 5 on Thursday following an announcement that its capital city Jakarta will reinstate partial lockdown measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The decline in the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index stood in contrast with gains seen in most markets across Asia Pacific. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/10/indonesian-stocks-dive-as-jakarta-plans-partial-coronavirus-lockdown-again.html 10th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

TVNZ Peters again criticised the Governments Covid19 response while on the campaign trail in Kaikoura today. The reality is the lockdown should never have happened outside of the Auckland super city region and thats demonstrably obvious now he told reporters. Members of the Government should explain why this has happened to the South Island West Coast and Southland when theyre flying people in from Auckland but theyre not allowing them to be in lockdown 1. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/winston-peters-says-latest-lockdown-outside-auckland-should-never-have-happened 10th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Doctors in Indonesias capital warned on Thursday the coronavirus pandemic is not under control with Jakarta intensive care units nearing full capacity and the city ordering new lockdown measures to stem a spike in infections https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-indonesia-hospitals/as-jakarta-heads-into-lockdown-doctors-warn-of-buckling-health-system-idUKL4N2G71LE 10th Sep 2020