17th Sep 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=97 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The Scotsman Some 35 of respondents said they are not comfortable visiting friends 62 are less confident to eat out and 63 are worried about using public transport. There has also been an increase in the number of people experiencing loneliness the charity said. Three in ten 30 respondents who live alone said they have spent too long on their own and just over one in five 22 said they feel lonely and isolated more than three times the figure for those living with others. https://www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-scotland-almost-half-over-50s-less-confident-about-going-shops-due-covid-19-2974139 16th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Financial Times Spains economy will struggle to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to such an extent that it will still be as much as 6 per cent smaller at the end of 2022 than it was before the crisis hit according to the Bank of Spain. In a grim set of economic projections released on Wednesday the central bank highlighted the destructive impact of both the initial coronavirus outbreak and of the resurgence in infection rates following the end of the countrys lockdown in June. Spains economy contracted a record 18.5 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared with the previous three months following a 5.2 per cent firstquarter contraction. https://www.ft.com/content/53ab7751-56cb-4c19-8855-43065aea6448 16th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Australian Times Excess capacity weak investment and low profit expectations continue to hurt Australias manufacturing sector as a result of pandemicrelated restrictions a survey of industrial trends has found. The Australian ChamberWestpac Survey of Industrial Trends indicates that business conditions remained weak in the September quarter with investment profit and employment expectations low and production lower than capacity. https://www.australiantimes.co.uk/news/australian-industry-still-caught-in-a-post-lockdown-slump/ 16th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

New York Times Europes leaders choose targeted measures over nationwide lockdowns even as cases rise. In the early days of the pandemic President Emmanuel Macron exhorted the French to wage war against an invisible enemy. Today his message is to learn how to live with the virus. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/world/covid-coronavirus.html 16th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK A hefty drop in meal prices spurred by Britains scheme to support the hospitality sector through the COVID19 pandemic helped to push inflation down last month to its lowest rate in almost five years. Consumer prices rose by 0.2 in annual terms in August the smallest increase since December 2015 and a sharp slowdown from Julys 1.0 increase the Office for National Statistics ONS said on Wednesday. A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a reading of 0.0. Discounts for more than 100 million meals were claimed Last month through the governments Eat Out to Help Out programme which offered diners a statefunded price reduction of up to 10 pounds 12.89. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-economy-inflation/uk-diner-discounts-push-inflation-down-to-near-five-year-low-idUKKBN2670OO 16th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Classes in Canadas high risk schools should ideally have 20 or fewer students so children can maintain safe distance from each other a top doctor who advised the government of Ontario on school reopening said as sometimes crowded classes resumed in the midst of a spike in COVID19 cases. Dr Ronald Cohn president of Torontos Hospital for Sick Children is one author of two reports that Canadas most populous province cited repeatedly in drafting back to school plans. Cohn said much depends on the size of classrooms some can accommodate only 15 while others may be large enough to teach 18 or 20 children but likely not many more than that. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-canada-education/top-medical-expert-says-ontario-needs-smaller-classes-as-covid-19-cases-accelerate-idUSKBN26737B 16th Sep 2020

Lockdown Exit

AlJazeera The federal government outlined a sweeping plan Wednesday to make vaccines for COVID19 available for free to all Americans even as polls show a strong undercurrent of scepticism rippling across the land. In a report to Congress and an accompanying playbook for states and localities federal health agencies and the Defense Department sketched out complex plans for a vaccination campaign to begin gradually in January or possibly later this year eventually ramping up to reach any American who wants a shot. The Pentagon is involved with the distribution of vaccines but civilian health workers will be the ones giving shots. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/outlines-sweeping-plan-provide-free-covid-19-vaccines-200916142201128.html 16th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters The U.S. government on Wednesday said it will start distributing a COVID19 vaccine within one day of regulatory authorisation as it plans for the possibility that a limited number of vaccine doses may be available at the end of the year. Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense on Wednesday held a call with reporters and then released documents on the distribution plans that it is sending to the states and local public health officials. Our goal at Operation Warp Speed is that 24 hours after regulatory authorization is issued we have vaccine moving to administration sites one of the officials said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-usa-vaccine/u-s-plans-to-distribute-covid-19-vaccine-immediately-after-regulators-authorise-it-idUKKBN2672FY?il=0 16th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Metro Every American will be offered a free coronavirus vaccine from January 2021 and most people who take up the offer will need two injections of it. A report given to the US Congress Wednesday says the vaccination campaign may begin by the end of the year and is likely to be in fullswing by January. Anyone who takes up the offer of a free shot will be given two doses 21 to 28 days apart with each patient being given both shots from the same vaccine manufacturer. Multiple US pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer and Moderna are racing to develop their own shots with results from ongoing finalphase testing expected as early as October. Other manufacturers around the world are developing their own shots with scientists saying most vaccines tested appear to offer protection from Covid19. https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/16/us-government-will-offer-covid-19-vaccine-free-to-all-americans-and-theyll-need-two-shots-of-it-13280729/ 16th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

NBC News The federal government released broad plans Wednesday aimed at distributing free Covid19 vaccines within a day after an emergency use authorization or full approval is granted. A playbook developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instructs state health agencies to create a vaccine planning committee made up of leaders from different community groups such as health centers hospitals longterm care facilities and pharmacies. The CDC playbook advises states to prepare for a limited supply of vaccine doses in the fall. Its unclear which vaccine will receive authorization first as well as when data from the clinical trials will be available for officials to review. Still the CDC previously told states to prepare for a rollout by Nov. 1. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/u-s-plans-ship-free-covid-19-vaccines-within-24-n1240205 16th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Sky News Schoolchildren and their parents could be prioritised for coronavirus tests after hospitals and care homes as the government deals with real challenges in the system a cabinet minister has told Sky News. The government has come under growing pressure over a lack of availability of COVID19 tests in some areas blamed on problems with laboratory capacity and admitted it could take a matter of weeks to solve the issues. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-schoolchildren-and-parents-could-be-among-groups-prioritised-for-covid-19-tests-says-cabinet-minister-12073061 16th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Japan Today Australias Victoria state on Wednesday said the daily rise in infections in its coronavirus hot spot of Melbourne has eased further putting it on course to relax an extended hard lockdown in the city by the end of the month. However a new law that goes into effect from midnight Wednesday will punish anyone caught trying to leave Melbourne for rural areas where restrictions are less severe with fines of up to 5000. Average cases over the last two weeks in Melbourne the states largest city fell below 50 health authorities said the benchmark the state set to start easing curbs. Construction sites manufacturing plants warehouses and childcare facilities can reopen allowing more than 100000 workers to return to their jobs if the 14day rolling average is under 50 cases as of Sept 28. However people will still be limited to moving around in a 5kilometer radius around home and only allowed outside for two hours a day for exercise with a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. We have to see this through. We absolutely do. https://japantoday.com/category/world/update-2-australia's-covid-19-hotspot-on-track-for-easing-lockdown 16th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters New Zealands response to control the novel coronavirus helped lessen the shortterm economic shock of the pandemic but massive debt and continuing disruptions will delay a full recovery government data showed on Wednesday. The Treasury opened up its books ahead of the general election on Oct 17 in which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has a strong lead on the back of the her success in containing COVID19 the disease caused by the coronavirus. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said most shortterm indicators were less grim than predicted at the governments annual budget in May. These are signs that the New Zealand economy is robust and that our plan to eliminate COVID19 and open up the economy faster is the right approach he told a news conference after the preelection Economic and Fiscal Update was released. https://www.reuters.com/article/newzealand-economy-election-int/new-zealands-coronavirus-fight-eases-economic-pain-but-outlook-still-bleak-idUSKBN267035 16th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

YAHOO! India successfully blunted the aggressive progression of COVID19 by imposing a countrywide lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic Minister of State for Health Ashiwni Choubey told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply to a question Choubey said it has been estimated the decision of lockdown slowed down the progress of the pandemic in India prevented 1429 lakh cases and 3778 thousand deaths. He said In the beginning of the pandemic itself by imposing countrywide lockdown India successfully blunted the aggressive progression of COVID. India has been able to limit its cases and deaths per million to 3328 cases per million and 55 deaths per million population respectively which is one of the lowest in the world as compared to similarly affected countries he said. The minister further said that no funds were allocated to the states specifically for testing and treatment. Initially the testing equipment and kits were procured by the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR and provided to the states he added. https://in.news.yahoo.com/countrywide-lockdown-successfully-blunted-aggressive-170337827.html 15th Sep 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Australias Victoria state on Wednesday said the daily rise in infections in its coronavirus hot spot of Melbourne has eased further putting it on course to relax an extended hard lockdown in the city by the end of the month. Average cases over the last two weeks in Melbourne the states largest city fell below 50 health authorities said the benchmark the state set to start easing curbs. Construction sites manufacturing plants warehouses and childcare facilities can reopen allowing more than 100000 workers to return to their jobs if the 14day rolling average is under 50 cases as of Sept. 28. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-australia-state/australias-covid-19-hotspot-on-track-for-easing-lockdown-idUKKBN2663IW?il=0 16th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Washington Post Joe Biden on Wednesday expressed reservations about whether a coronavirus vaccine approved by the Trump administration would be safe raising doubts about the presidents ability to put the health of Americans before politics. Biden said Americans should trust a coronavirus vaccine developed under the Trump administration only if the president gives honest answers to questions about its safety effectiveness and equitable distribution. I trust vaccines. I trust scientists. But I dont trust Donald Trump Biden said. And at this point the American people cant either. Biden also raised the possibility of President Trump pressuring agency officials to sign off on a vaccine that scientists are not yet confident in to gain an electoral advantage. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-trump-coronavirus-vaccine/2020/09/16/2ffbea6a-f831-11ea-a275-1a2c2d36e1f1_story.html 17th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Times We are living through the worst infectious disease pandemic since 1918. While the human and economic costs have been very high the global response to this threat has been remarkable. Nearly a million deaths have been reported but mortality would have been far higher had the world not adopted measures that would have seemed inconceivable just a year ago. Throughout policy has been guided by the work of thousands of clinicians and scientists across the world. The data collected by researchers in China gave the rest of the world invaluable insight into the threat we faced. While the early response in China was imperfect as hospitals in Wuhan were overwhelmed China locked down. I was sceptical that lockdown would succeed. But China controlled their epidemic https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lockdown-sceptics-are-distorting-the-science-xvzcm2sr5 16th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian The Andrews government is facing three classaction lawsuits over the lockdowns imposed during Melbournes second wave of coronavirus with potentially thousands of plaintiffs seeking damages. Victoria reported 42 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday and eight people died of Covid in the preceding 24 hours. This week a Melbourne legal firm Carbone Lawyers filed a claim on behalf of workers who had lost income or suffered psychological damage due to strict social distancing laws. The managing partner Tony Carbone told Guardian Australia more than 100 plaintiffs had signed on prior to Wednesday. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/16/hundreds-seek-damages-as-victoria-faces-multiple-class-action-lawsuits-over-melbournes-covid-lockdown 16th Sep 2020

Partisan Exits

RNZ Lawyer Andrew Borrowdale had argued in the High Court that the DirectorGeneral of Health went beyond his powers when he put the country into lockdown in March. Last month the High Court ruled that in the nine days from 26 March the requirement for people to stay at home was justified but unlawful. Dr Borrowdale now says he is appealing to the Court of Appeal. He said the High Court judgement raises vital issues about human rights and constitutional law which should be assessed by a senior court. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/426226/covid-19-level-4-lockdown-case-heads-to-court-of-appeal 16th Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Australia reported its lowest oneday rise in novel coronavirus infections in nearly three months on Monday as authorities began to ease restrictions aimed at slowing its spread. Thirtynine people were found to be infected with the virus in the past 24 hours the lowest oneday increase in new cases since June 26 when 37 infections were detected. With dwindling numbers of new infections the epicentre of Australias latest outbreak Victoria state has begun easing restrictions allowing people to leave their homes for longer periods for exercise and shortening a curfew at night. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-australia-int-idUSKBN2650NK 16th Sep 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Australias Victoria state on Wednesday said the daily rise in infections in its coronavirus hot spot of Melbourne has eased further putting it on course to relax an extended hard lockdown in the city by the end of the month. Average cases over the last two weeks in Melbourne the states largest city fell below 50 health authorities said the benchmark the state set to start easing curbs. Construction sites manufacturing plants warehouses and childcare facilities can reopen allowing more than 100000 workers to return to their jobs if the 14day rolling average is under 50 cases as of Sept. 28. The state has set a much tougher target of a 14day average of five cases for lifting a nightly curfew allowing people out of home for more than two hours a day and reopening more businesses in Melbourne from Oct 26. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-australia-state-int/australias-victoria-state-reports-42-new-covid-19-cases-eight-deaths-idUSKBN2663IU 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Asia One The knockon effects of the coronavirus pandemic have halted and reversed global health progress setting it back 25 years and exposing millions to the risk of deadly disease and poverty a report by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation warned on Tuesday Sept 15. Because of Covid19 extreme poverty has increased by 7 per cent and routine vaccine coverage a good proxy measure for how health systems are functioning is dropping to levels last seen in the 1990s the report said. Its a huge setback Mr Bill Gates cochairman of the foundation and a leading philanthropic funder of global health and development told a media briefing on the reports findings. https://www.asiaone.com/world/covid-19-has-set-global-health-progress-back-25-years-says-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Business Line This has raised concerns over the safety of drugs that have not completed standard testing. China is inoculating tens of thousands of its citizens with experimental coronavirus vaccines and attracting international interest in their development despite expert concerns over the safety of drugs that have not completed standard testing. China launched a vaccine emergency use programme in July offering three experimental shots developed by a unit of state pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical Group Sinopharm and USlisted Sinovac Biotech. A fourth Covid19 vaccine being developed by CanSino Biologics was approved for use by the Chinese military in June. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/in-covid-19-vaccine-race-china-inoculates-thousands-before-trials-are-completed/article32617575.ece 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters on MSN.com South Korea said on Tuesday it plans to spend 146 million to procure coronavirus vaccines initially aiming to secure a supply for 30 million people or 60 of its population as it battles persistent outbreaks of new cases. The population target is higher than a World Health Organization WHO goal for the early purchase of supplies for 20 of the worlds most vulnerable people and at least 40 agreed by European Union nations Britain and EU partners for their populations. While South Korean authorities would like to inoculate the entire population of 52 million uncertainty around any vaccines safety efficacy and development was limiting investment Prime Minister Chung Syekyun told a cabinet meeting. https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/wellbeing/south-korea-to-secure-coronavirus-vaccines-for-60-25-of-population/ar-BB192F3q 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Turkey began final Phase III trials of an experimental Chinese coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday the health minister said. The first administration of the Sinovac vaccine was started with three healthcare workers at Hacettepe University who volunteered to take part in the trials Fahrettin Koca told a news conference. The vaccine will be administered to between 1200 and 1300 health workers over 10 days and a second dose will be given 14 days after the first broadcasters CNN Turk and Haberturk reported earlier. The results of the trial will be sent the World Health Organization WHO. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-turkey-trial/turkey-begins-phase-iii-trials-of-chinese-coronavirus-vaccine-minister-idUKKBN2671S3 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Nasdaq Japan said on Tuesday it has committed 17.2 billion yen 165 million in funds for its participation in the World Health Organizations COVID19 vaccine programme. The programme known as COVAX is aimed at helping buy and fairly distribute vaccination shots against the novel coronavirus around the world. But some countries which have secured their own supplies through bilateral deals including the United States have said they will not join. The funds are part of a 1.64 trillion yen reserve intended to bolster the governments response to the virus a government document showed. Japan has also pursued independent arrangements with global pharmaceutical companies to secure vaccines with the government pledging to have enough supply for the whole population by the first half of 2021. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/japan-commits-%24165-mln-to-whos-global-coronavirus-vaccine-programme-2020-09-15 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail I might say this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against covid than when I take a vaccine Dr Robert Redfield said before a Senate committee. Wearing a face mask has been shown to cut a persons risks of contracting COVID19 by up to 65 and coverings reduce the spread of infectious particles. It remains unclear how much protection a coronavirus vaccine will offer. FDA regulators set the minimum efficacy for a shot they would approve at 50. Some people may not have an immune response to a future vaccine and there is not yet substantial data on shots because they are not yet in use. It comes as a CDC playbook said federal agencies plan to distribute a COVID19 vaccine broadly and for free to Americans by January. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8741071/CDC-director-says-masks-guaranteed-protect-COVID-19-vaccine.html 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Contagion Live In May Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro famously or infamously referred to COVID19 as the little flu. Clearly the grim figures on deaths attributed to the virusin his country and elsewherehave proved him wrong but research presented during the European Respiratory Society International Congress on September 7 should also cause him to take note. Together the 2 studies suggest that COVID19 patients may suffer longterm lung and heart damagealthough for many it resolves over time. For the first paper researchers working in a COVID19 hotspot in Austria recruited their first 86 consecutive patients in May and early June they now have more than 150 enrolled. The patients returned for evaluation 6 12 and 24 weeks following their discharge from St. Vinzenz Hospital in Zams and underwent clinical examination laboratory test analysis of the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in arterial blood lung function tests FEV1 and DLCO computed tomography CT scans and echocardiograms at each visit. https://www.contagionlive.com/news/ers-studies-highlight-longterm-effects-of-covid19 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Once an effective vaccine is discovered we will need open sharing of the technological process so that as many suppliers as possible can make it to ensure an adequate supply across the world. This is not a time for monopolies. While governments leave big pharma in the driving seat there will be vaccine scarcity and the global race to hoard vaccines will deplete global stocks leaving very little if any for the WHO to supply to poorer countries. This is not just morally wrong it is also counterproductive because we will only be safe if everyone is safe. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/15/beware-of-big-pharma-in-rush-for-vaccine 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

pharmaphorum Adding Eli Lillys rheumatoid arthritis drug Olumiant baricitinib and Gilead Sciences remdesivir reduces recovery time in COVID19 patients compared to remdesivir alone says a new trial. The ACTT2 trial funded by the US government and run by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases NIAID involved COVID19 patients who had been hospitalised because of severe symptoms. It showed that the median time to recovery for the combination was roughly a day shorter than with remdesivir alone which was a modest but statistically significant improvement. Lilly now intends to discuss an emergency use authorisation EUA for Olumiant with the FDA and other regulators and says that because the drug is already approved it should be made available through commercial channels. https://pharmaphorum.com/news/trial-backs-lillys-olumiant-plus-remdesivir-as-combo-covid-19-therapy/ 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian As the world battled the first wave of coronavirus infections scientists and doctors pulled together in an unprecedented global effort to explore the virus the illness it causes and the drugs and vaccines that might bring it under control. But as many countries face a resurgence in cases what have we found out about Covid19 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/16/what-we-actually-know-about-covid-19 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian Restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus in the UK has driven stress anxiety and depression far above normal levels and may do again in coming months if widespread lockdowns are reimposed researchers say. A major study into the mental health impact of the pandemic found that in the early stages of lockdown 57 of those who took part reported symptoms of anxiety with 64 recording common signs of depression. While the mental health problems improved as restrictions eased scientists warn they may worsen again as infections rise and more aggressive nationwide lockdowns are considered over the autumn and winter. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/16/stress-anxiety-and-depression-levels-soar-under-uk-covid-19-restrictions 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Contagion Live A new article though seeks to address the lockdown in India as public health officials from the Indian Public Health Association the Indian Association of Epidemiologists and the Indian Association of Social and Preventive Medicine all joined for a joint statement to push the government to end the lockdowns. Moreover this group emphasized that these restrictions should be replaced with widespread testing efforts. In their call to action the joint statement noted that the nationwide lockdown which began in March has been disjointed as it was relaxed but still upheld in several cities. Moreover the country is focusing testing strategies on tracking and testing contacts of 80 of new COVID cases. Recently this was 76000 per day. This approach was widely criticized by public health leaders as both impractical but also limited in its approach. With over 3.76 million cases recorded in India and nearly one million people currently under medical care for the disease the seriousness of the outbreak in India is painfully obvious. https://www.contagionlive.com/contributor/saskia-v-popescu/2020/09/lockdowns-should-they-continue 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Swedens sevenday average for coronavirus was 108 as of Tuesday. The figure is its lowest since March 13 when it decided not to impose lockdown. France Spain the UK and the Czech Republic all have higher case numbers. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8736063/Sweden-records-lowest-number-covid-cases-March-108-did-not-impose-lockdown.html 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Government experts believe a second wave of coronavirus wouldnt be as bad. They suggest local lockdowns and social distancing would reduce the impact There are also hopes that a vaccine could be ready by as early as next spring https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8737035/Experts-say-new-treatments-local-lockdowns-coronavirus-better-control.html 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Public Health England data reveals 23.4 cases are now diagnosed for every 100000 people aged 40 to 49. In comparison the Covid19 infection rate for the same age group in England was 12.4 at the end of August. Fears of a second wave are growing as number of daily cases has topped 3000 for the first time since May Ministers have also been spooked by spiralling outbreaks in Spain and France and rising hospital admissions. Covid19 Hospital admissions have doubled in England over the past ten days government figures also show. More than 150 patients required NHS treatment on Sunday up from a rolling average of 56 the week before https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8738315/Covid-19-cases-people-40s-50s-risen-90-end-August.html 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Times of India During a Corona Awareness Dialogue online programme presided b chief ministers on Tuesday leading doctors like Dr Naresh Trehan Dr SK Sarin and Dr Devit Shetty stated that the state must launch shortterm and longterm campaigns by taking the communities into confidence. Sarin advocated the need for regulated social policing for the strict compliance of masks whle suggesting Gehlot that society needs to be brought in. Campaigns like No Masks No Entry should be started across the state. If everyone is involved and its followed for four weeks the case curve will flatten https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/awareness-not-lockdown-will-flatten-curve/articleshow/78135259.cms 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Newstalk ZB In Australia federal governmentfunded research has revealed far more people have potentially been exposed to the coronavirus than anticipated. Researchers from the Australian National University have now developed a new test which picks up previous Covid19 infection in a patients blood. The study indicates eight in 3000 healthy and previously undiagnosed Australians had likely been infected with the virus. This suggests that instead of 11000 cases we know about from nasal swab testing about 70000 people had been exposed overall Associate Professor Ian Cockburn said. The researchers claim the test will help authorities get a better grasp of the spread of the illness and can help demonstrate whether or not herd immunity exists. https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/ian-cockburn-blood-test-finds-60-000-undetected-covid-19-cases-in-australia/ 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Sydney Morning Herald Research by some of the nations most senior scientists has found that more than 60000 cases of coronavirus in Australia could have gone undetected potentially adding to calls to ease restrictions sooner. The federal governmentfunded study by a team of researchers including Australias Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth estimates that by July before Victorias peak in cases 71400 people may have contracted the virus. At the time there were only 11190 officially confirmed cases in Australia. https://www.smh.com.au/national/60-000-more-people-may-have-had-covid-19-than-detected-study-20200915-p55vx8.html 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Africa The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought herd immunity to the public consciousness kindling hope the phenomenon can help slow or even end the outbreak. Herd immunity refers to a large portion of a community developing a degree of immunity to a virus thereby reducing persontoperson spread. As a result the whole community gains protection not just those who are immune. https://af.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-herd-immunity-expl-idAFKBN2670G9 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The BMJ Any root cause analysis into the excess deaths from covid19 in the UKs care homes must consider the decisions taken by policy makers over the past three decades which may have created the optimal conditions for the virus to spread among older people in institutional settings. Those decisionstaken by long departed government ministersled to the intentional creation of a market in social care the consequential casualisation of the social care workforce and the treatment of some care home residents as a source of income and revenue for international private financiers. Take for example the emerging evidence which suggests that the size of a care home maybe a causal factor in the rates of infection from covid and patient deaths. Research from NHS Lothian published on a preprint appears to show a correlation between the size of the home and the spread of the virus thus in homes containing fewer than 20 residents the chance of an outbreak was 5 but in homes with 60 to 80 residents the likelihood increased to between 83 and 100. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/09/14/the-root-cause-of-excess-covid-infections-in-the-care-home-sector-30-years-of-market-driven-policies/ 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Mirror Online Chief biosafety expert Guizhen Wu said she was injected with a potential vaccine in April and has had no side effects though Chinas approach to inoculation has come under scrutiny. Some of the coronavirus vaccinations being developed by China could be ready for public use by November a medical chief has claimed. Guizhen Wu the chief biosafety expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC said she was injected in April and has had no side effects. It comes following news China has been inoculating tens of thousands of its citizens with experimental Covid vaccines. This is despite expert concerns over the safety of the drugs that have not completed standard testing. The East Asian communist country where the virus originated last year launched a vaccine emergency use programme in July. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/coronavirus-vaccine-should-ready-general-22689965 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

First Word Pharma Pfizer said that subjects in its Phase III study of BNT162b2 a candidate mRNAbased vaccine against SARSCoV2 have so far exhibited only mildtomoderate side effects with fatigue being the most common. The company which is developing the vaccine as part of a collaboration with BioNTech noted that over 12000 participants have now received a second dose of BNT162b2. So far there has been no safety signal reported remarked Mikael Dolsten Pfizers chief scientific officer. The drugmaker noted that more than 29000 people have been recruited into the study which has a target enrolment of 44000. https://beta.firstwordpharma.com/story/5107225 16th Sep 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

WHO Schooling in the time of COVID19 Towards a consensus on schooling in the European Region during the COVID19 pandemic This working paper serves as a reference point for national education and health authorities as they seek to plan and implement effective schooling during the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. Originally prepared to inform the highlevel meeting on Schooling in the time of COVID19 held on 31 August 2020 it seeks to provide a general framework and upstream considerations for decisionmakers. https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/technical-guidance/2020/who-europe-background-document-in-preparation-to-the-high-level-virtual-briefing-for-ministers-of-health-on-schooling-during-the-covid-19-pandemic 31st Aug 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian The first official cases of coronavirus arrived at Niramaya hospital in Mumbai in early May but they did not come as much of a surprise to Dr Amit Thadhani. Thadhani the hospital director had suspected for weeks that the virus was being virulently transmitted in Indias financial capital home to 20 million people after seeing a steady stream of patients with unseasonable viral symptoms. But strict testing restrictions and a vehement government denial of community transmission meant he had no way to prove or prevent it. Our limitations in availability in testing back then is partially responsible for the infections we have now as we could have picked up a lot more early cases he said. Five months on Mumbai has 1.8 million coronavirus cases and on Thursday India crossed the dubious threshold of reporting more than5 million cases nationwide. With the fastest rate of infection in the world and no signs of the country hitting its peak any time soon many predict India will eventually overtake the US currently on 6.6 million to report the most cases worldwide. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/its-getting-worse-by-the-day-indias-covid-battle-rages-on 17th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

YAHOO! The first European pandemic travel bubble created in May by Estonia Latvia and Lithuania burst on Friday as Latvia said it was mandating a 14day quarantine on everyone arriving from Estonia. Estonia has had 21 novel coronavirus infections per 100000 population over the previous two weeks according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control passing the 16 threshold set by Latvia for mandatory quarantine. Latvia which has one of the lowest levels of infection in the European Union has rejected the European Commissions recommendation to raise threshold for quarantine to 25 new cases per 100000 population over two weeks. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/first-european-travel-bubble-ends-143310783.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail India recorded 90123 new coronavirus cases and 1290 fatalities on Wednesday Takes the total to five million with 997180 of those infections in the last 11 days Despite the large numbers Indias authorities have ruled out a second lockdown The fatality rate is 1.6 similar to the 1.5 in the UK and far lower than 3 in US https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8738251/India-hits-FIVE-MILLION-coronavirus-cases-Country-sees-extra-million-just-11-days.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The World Health Organization warned on Wednesday that COVID19 the illness caused by the novel coronavirus is spreading at a worrying pace in some parts of the northern hemisphere a few months away from the winter influenza season. We are starting to see worrying trends in some countries Maria Van Kerkhove WHO technical lead for COVID19 said during a social media webcast. We are seeing increases in hospitalisations in intensive care units particularly in Spain France Montenegro Ukraine and some states of the United States. That is worrying because we have not seen the flu season yet. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-who-int-idUSKBN2672XK 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Tameside General Hospital saw a surge of Covid19 deaths last week. The 18 Covid19 deaths accounted for a third of those across England. Some of the victims are thought to have caught Covid19 in hospital. They all had underlying health issues or were elderly the hospital said https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8738621/Manchester-NHS-hospital-saw-18-Covid-19-deaths-week-fights-outbreak.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News The UK recorded 20 deaths of people with confirmed cases of COVID19 today according to government figures. There were 3991 new daily confirmed cases of coronavirus compared with 3105 yesterday the figures show. That is the highest daily figure for new cases since 8 May when there were 4649 reported according to Reuters. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-uk-records-20-deaths-of-people-with-covid-19-and-3-991-new-daily-cases-12073468 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail The sevenday average is now 3286 compared with 2358 last Wednesday a 40 per cent rise. Infections have soared in the past fortnight after schools and workplaces began to return to normality. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended the failing coronavirus testing system today. He said it is trying to meet a colossal spike in demand as official draw up testing priority plans. It comes as official data shows cases among people in their 40s and 50s have risen by 90 since August. Public Health England data reveals 23.4 cases are now diagnosed for every 100000 people aged 40 to 49. In comparison the Covid19 infection rate for the same age group in England was 12.4 at the end of August. Fears of a second wave are growing as number of daily cases has topped 3000 for the first time since May https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8739493/UK-announces-Covid-19-deaths.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Liverpool Echo Liverpools soaring Covid19 infection rate has now tipped over the worrying threshold of 100 cases per 100000 people and the city is now awaiting inevitable lockdown measures. Latest figures show that the rate per 100000 is 106.4 and in just one week 713 September there were 530 positive cases. Mayor Joe Anderson said he now fully expects new lockdown restrictions to be imposed on the city later this week. He said he would not be surprised if the government brought in measures for Liverpool the whole of Merseyside and perhaps the entire North West region. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-infection-rate-tips-over-18943965 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Boris Johnson has defended the creaking testing system saying there has been huge huge demand. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has admitted that Covid tests will have to be rationed amid shambles. He is drawing up a priority list while conceding that the current shortages is set to drag on for weeks. Schools have warned that it might be unsustainable to stay open as so many are off with symptoms. Experts warn that 500000 people a day display Covidstyle symptoms even in year where no pandemic https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8738505/Warning-lockdown-default-Hancock-faces-fury-testing-shambles.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Week Stricter sanitary measures have been announced in Frances southwestern region NouvelleAquitaine on Monday for public events and nursing homes to contain a spike in coronavirus cases. With the country facing a resurgence in coronavirus cases and reaching recordlevels of 10000 new cases over the last weekend the government has promised to speed up tests and toughen measures in highinfection zones. https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2020/09/16/towns-in-france-impose-restrictions-to-contain-covid-19-bordeaux-is-running-out-of-icu-beds.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN Dealing with the first wave was like a sprint the second will be more like a marathon. Thats how Dr. Olivier JoannesBoyau head of the intensive care unit at University Hospital in the southwestern city of Bordeaux describes the resurgence of Covid19 in France. After young French people took advantage of the lifting of lockdown and summer months to socialize freely Covid19 hospitalizations have risen in large cities like Paris Bordeaux and Marseille on the Mediterranean coast. French hospitals are now preparing for the long slog. The last time University Hospital dealt with a rise in Covid19 cases it put aside all other emergency procedures to deal the crisis. This time it is trying to keep the rest of its services going too. Just like the wider country it is adapting to a virus that looks like it is here to stay. Hospital staff are more experienced than they were when the coronavirus first swept through France and Bordeaux University Hospital is now armed with steroids to reduce Covid19 symptoms and improved ventilators both of which can reduce intubation rates. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/16/europe/france-bordeaux-coronavirus-hospitals-intl/index.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Wall Street Journal As a second wave of coronavirus infections gathers momentum across Europe the Continents governments are determined to avoid largescale lockdowns and instead seek less disruptive ways to live with the new disease. France and Spain are on the leading edge of a resurgence in Covid19 cases across Europe in the wake of the summer travel season in some cases reaching levels of incidence on par with those in the U.S. https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-coronavirus-rebounds-europe-rejects-new-lockdowns-11600251871 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Independent Indias confirmed coronavirus infections passed 5 million on Wednesday still soaring and testing the feeble health care system in tens of thousands of impoverished towns and villages. The worlds secondmost populous country has added more than 1 million cases this month alone and is expected to become the pandemics worsthit country within weeks surpassing the United States where more than 6.6 million people have been infected. Indias Health Ministry reported 90123 new cases in the past 24 hours raising the total to 5020359 about 0.35 per cent of the nations nearly 1.4 billion people. Its record daily high of 97570 cases was reported on 11 September. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/coronavirus-india-cases-covid-update-us-infections-b451592.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard Indias confirmed Covid19 cases has surpassed five million as the soaring numbers continue to test the countrys health care system. Officials reported 90123 new cases in the past 24 hours raising the nations confirmed total to 5020359 about 0.35 per cent of its nearly 1.4 billion population. They said 1290 more people died in the past day for a total of 82066. The countrys total coronavirus caseload is closing in on the United States highest tally of more than 6.6 million cases and expected to surpass it within weeks. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/india-coronavirus-infections-top-five-million-mark-a4548351.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Business Insider India Earlier this month a 42year old journalist Pandurang Raikar succumbed to Covid19 in pune after the hospital delayed admission over advanced payment. There have been many cases where even affluent patients have failed to find space in hospitals. The benefits of the lockdown ie adding beds before infections spike have fallen short of the requirement https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/-indias-surging-covid-19-infections-is-testing-the-health-infra-once-again/articleshow/78143000.cms 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Boris Johnson has imposed Rule of Six in bid to curb rise in coronavirus cases and avoid new lockdown. Ministers warning they are ready to take even tougher action if it doesnt work or is ignored by the public. Government determined schools wont close over effect on childrens prospects if they have to stay at home https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8738205/Britons-face-TOUGHER-lockdown-TWO-WEEKS-unless-Rule-Six-works.html 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Israel on Tuesday began a weeklong campaign of night curfews and school closures in dozens of towns and neighbourhoods with high coronavirus counts hoping to stem a spike in cases as its publichealth chiefs were quarantined for exposure. Most of the 40 zones subject to the partial lockdowns are identified with Israeli Arabs or ultraOrthodox Jews minorities where crowding has helped spread the pandemic. Israel with a population of 9 million has recorded 135288 cases of the novel coronavirus and 1031 deaths. The discovery that a worker at a Health Ministry project for combating the virus had contracted it prompted senior staff who had been exposed to him to selfisolate as a precaution. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-israel-int-idUSKBN25Z2NG 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Myanmar authorities are racing to build a field hospital in the commercial capital of Yangon to cope with a surge of coronavirus infections that doctors fear threatens to overwhelm the countrys fragile health system. The Southeast Asian nation reported 307 new cases of COVID19 on Tuesday its highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic in March and another 134 on Wednesday morning taking the total to 3636 cases and 39 deaths. Myanmar had gone weeks without a case of local transmission before an outbreak in midAugust in the western region of Rakhine that has spread across the country. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-myanmar/myanmar-races-to-build-field-hospital-as-coronavirus-surge-stretches-health-system-idUKKBN2671HG 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Canadas health minister on Tuesday said she could not rule out another full lockdown if needed amid a surge in new COVID19 cases but added Ottawa was significantly more prepared to manage the virus than during the first wave. Patty Hajdus comments followed a pledge she made late Monday to take a surgical approach to tackling outbreaks. Canada reported 1351 new cases on Sept. 14 the highest single daily addition since May 1 amid school reopenings and flareups tied to group gatherings. We see those numbers rising but a full economic shutdown would be very difficult for this country. Not to rule it out because ... listen we will protect the health of Canadians and we will do what it takes Hajdu told reporters on Tuesday. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-canada/canada-not-ruling-out-lockdown-amid-covid-19-surge-but-eyes-surgical-approach-idUSKBN2662QM 16th Sep 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Cases of coronavirus in England are doubling every seven to eight days research has revealed in the latest figures to show a resurgence of Covid19. The study known as React1 is a population surveillance study that began in May and uses swabs from about 120000 to 160000 randomly selected people in England across 315 local authority areas each month to track the spread of coronavirus using PCR analysis the have you got it now test. The prevalence of the virus in the population is increasing. We found evidence that it has been accelerating at the end of August and beginning of September said Steven Riley professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College London and a coauthor of the work. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/11/coronavirus-cases-in-england-doubling-every-eight-days-study-shows 11th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

BBC Almost two million people in northeast England are expected to face local restrictions as coronavirus cases rise. Areas including Newcastle Sunderland and County Durham are due to be subject to new measures. These are expected to include restrictions on households mixing and pubs being ordered to close earlier. Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said it was hoped the temporary measures would prevent a full lockdown. BBC Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt said MPs from the area had met Health Minister Nadine Dorries earlier. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-54166256 16th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

BBC Health Minister Vaughan Gething announces a local lockdown for Rhondda Cynon Taf from 1800 BST on Thursday to tackle a rapid rise in cases. This will include a 2300 BST curfew for pubs bars and restaurants going further than the lockdown in Caerphilly. Earlier Mr Gething said up to five extra mobile testing units would be deployed to Covid19 hotspots in Wales this week. People seeking tests have spoken of their frustration over the time it takes to book distance to travel and long waits on arrival https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-wales-54176265 16th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

BBC UK PM Boris Johnson has also defended the testing system saying there has been a colossal spike in demand for tests. Johnson tells MPs that a second national lockdown would be disastrous for UK economy. There are ongoing reports of people struggling to get tests and results being delayed around the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54173415 16th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

BBC A second county in Wales will go into lockdown because of the rate of coronavirus cases. The 240000 people living in Rhondda Cynon Taf RCT will have restrictions imposed on their daily lives. From 1800 BST on Thursday people will not be able to enter or leave the area without a reasonable excuse such as travel for work or education. All licensed pubs bars and restaurants will have to shut by 2300 every day once the lockdown comes into effect. People will also be banned from meeting people outside their own households indoors. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54093100 16th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

EL PAS in English Sources close to the Madrid regional premier Isabel Daz Ayuso backtracked on Wednesday after her deputy health chief Antonio Zapatero announced that stricter coronavirus measures would be introduced in parts of the region this coming weekend in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Speaking this morning Zapatero told reporters that action is needed as soon as possible adding that new decisions are being taken to restrict mobility and the concentration of people. The health chief added that more drastic measures were needed in line with what people could understand as selective lockdowns according to basic healthcare areas or healthcare areas with higher infection rates he said referring both to the capital city and the Madrid region as a whole. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-09-16/chaos-in-madrid-as-regional-government-denies-health-chiefs-announcement-of-new-lockdowns.html 16th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK The Madrid region one of the worst hit in Spain is to introduce targeted lockdowns and other restrictions on movement on Friday in areas with high COVID19 cases local authorities said on Wednesday. Madrid accounts for around onethird of active coronavirus cases in Spain with a higher incidence in highdensity and lowincome neighbourhoods mainly in the south of the city. We are taking measures but it is not enough ... Nothing will work if we are not responsible Antonio Zapatero head of COVID19 response in Madrid told reporters. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-spain-madrid/madrid-to-toughen-covid-19-measures-on-friday-with-targeted-lockdowns-idUKL8N2GD295 16th Sep 2020

New Lockdown

Olive Press In Ibiza the centre of San Antonio and Ibiza Town will face similar restrictions that were laid down in Mallorca from Friday. This includes a complete control over mobility impacting some 22700 residents. The Balearic Ministry of Health said San Antonio and Ibiza are now labelled as hot zones due to the highest number of Covid19 infections in the region https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/09/16/ibiza-follows-spains-palma-de-mallorca-in-enforcing-partial-lockdown-to-halt-covid-19-infections/ 16th Sep 2020