28th Oct 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=126 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

iNews New Zealand has been held up as an example by the World Health Organisation of how to effectively tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The remote Pacific island has less than 2000 Covid19 cases and 25 deaths from a population of about five million. That is roughly the same size as Scotland which for comparison has recorded more than 59000 cases and above 2700 deaths. So what is New Zealands secret to success In short locking down early and keeping the virus stamped out. https://inews.co.uk/news/world/new-zealand-covid-how-beat-coronavirus-free-lockdown-quarantine-coronavirus-cases-739493 27th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

Voice of America SYDNEY One of the worlds longest COVID19 lockdowns is coming to an end in the Australian city of Melbourne. Beginning Tuesday all shops cafes and restaurants can reopen and strictstayat home orders will be lifted. The lockdown was imposed in ... https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/long-covid-19-lockdown-ends-australias-second-most-populous-city 27th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

RNZ Melbournes five million citizens will be able to leave their homes from midnight and all cafes restaurants bars shops and hotels will be allowed to reopen. Australias second largest city has been under strict Covid19 restrictions for the past 15 weeks but after the state recorded its first 24 hour period without any new coronavirus infections since 9 June authorities say its time for the city to open up. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018770156/covid-19-lockdown-lifts-for-melbourne 27th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

New Zealand Herald There is one new Covid19 case in managed isolation director general of health Ashley Bloomfield says. The new case a young boy aged between 14 arrived in New Zealand from the UK. There have been no new community cases for six days in a row and the cluster connected to the Sofrana Surville ship and a marine engineer who worked on it has so far been contained to three people. Seven more cases have now recovered so the active cases are 68 Bloomfield said today https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-19-coronavirus-one-new-case-in-managed-isolation-health-chief-ashley-bloomfield/JJO3Y46KNVZ5FEGYXF4QVC524M/ 27th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC Melbournes grinding second coronavirus lockdown began in the chill of winter. In early July the nights were long and dark and Australias cultural capital was confronting the terrifying reality of another deadly wave of infections. More than 110 days later experts say it is emerging as a world leader in disease suppression alongside places including Singapore Vietnam South Korea New Zealand and Hong Kong. Raina McIntyre a biosecurity professor at the University of New South Wales Kirby Institute told the BBC that Australias response had been light years ahead of the US and the UK. It is just thoroughly shocking. When we think of pandemics we dont think that wellresourced highincome countries are going to fall apart at the seams but that is exactly what we have seen she said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-54654646 27th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Melbournes liberation from its COVID19 lockdown has boosted hopes of crowds attending some of Australias major sporting events in the countrys secondbiggest city. The Australian mens cricket team is slated to host India in the traditional Boxing Day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from Dec. 26 while the worlds top tennis players are due to play the Australian Open 2021s first Grand Slam in January. Restaurants pubs and retail businesses in Melbourne home to 5 million people will reopen from Wednesday after more than three months under a stringent lockdown. Authorities will also allow limited social visits to houses. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-australia-sport/end-of-melbourne-lockdown-paves-way-for-crowds-at-cricket-tennis-idUKL1N2HI02Y 27th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Nicola Sturgeon said the move would allow licensed premises in level two of the countrys new fivetier system to serve alcohol with a meal until 2000. In level three areas likely to be much of the central belt they can reopen until 1800 but cannot serve alcohol. The new rules will start on Monday. The level that each of the 32 council areas in Scotland will fall under is expected to be confirmed on Thursday. The new system will add two levels to the threetier system currently in use in England adding a level zero at the bottom where life can return almost to normal and strict measures similar to a full lockdown in level four. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54697056 27th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Melbournes hospitality industry begins its transition from a long slumber to welcoming customers but strict density limits may delay the opening of some businesses as they adjust to the new rules. Roughly half of cafes and restaurants on Melbournes famous Chapel Street shopping strip will be able to open their doors on Wednesday as businesses hurriedly rework their premises to allow outdoor dining. Chrissie Maus general manager of the Chapel Street Precinct Association was extraordinarily relieved and excited when premier Daniel Andrews announced hospitality could reopen but said its an absolute pipe dream to think that the majority of our businesses will just be able to transition to outdoor dining. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/27/its-better-than-having-the-doors-closed-density-caps-pose-reopening-challenge-for-melbourne-businesses 27th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Evening Standard Boris Johnson faced growing pressure today to set out a clearer exit strategy from the coronavirus pandemic. A call by more than 50 Conservative MPs for a route map out of the lockdowns clamped on Northern cities was echoed by pleas in the south and London for more clarity. More regions woke up today to find themselves being put into the toughest level of restrictions Tier 3 meaning 8.2 million people in England face complete bans on households mixing. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-lockdown-exit-strategy-london-a4573108.html 27th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

The Independent Its early October and Elizabeth Stokes and Jonathan Pearce of New Zealand indierock band the Beths are in Raglan a small surf town on the west coast of the countrys north island. In an empty Sprinter van sitting snugly sidebyside so as to better squeeze in the laptops camera frame they flip the camera to show off their view a mountainringed suburban neighbourhood on a lovely quiet sunny afternoon. Its their second day on the road in support of new album Jump Rope Gazers. The night before they played Raglans Yot Club and ended up hanging with inebriated members of the New Zealand national cricket team. The batsman Martin Guptill and the bowler Kyle Jamieson just happened to be at the venue and the proprietor of the place an absolutely classic New Zealand bloke Pearce explains shaggy hair shorts so loose made all parties hang out. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/new-zealand-jacinda-ardern-coronavirus-covid-concerts-social-distancing-b1248374.html 27th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Thomson Reuters Foundation News Downtown is deserted and happy hour is history the pandemic has upended urban life for billions and futurologists expect a changed cityscape to emerge in the postviral world. From home to office park to pub all corners of city life have undergone some sort of reboot during COVID19. More than 43 million people have been infected by the virus and the death toll tops 1.1 million according to a global tally by Johns Hopkins University. After months in lockdown second waves of the novel coronavirus have forced new travel curbs and a messy mosaic of lockdown laws from Madrid to Melbourne. Experts agree cities will never look the same. https://longreads.trust.org/item/Cities-adapting-coronavirus-pandemic-world 27th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC Young and ethnic minority workers were more likely to be made unemployed postfurlough according to a new report. A survey of about 6000 adults by the Resolution Foundation found 19 of 1824 year olds who were furloughed during lockdown were unemployed in September. For black Asian and minority ethnic workers the figure was 22 compared to 9 for the general population. The Treasury said its wage support schemes had helped to protect millions of jobs. The governments Job Retention Scheme initially covered up to 80 of an individuals wages if they were placed on furlough and unable to work. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54714896 27th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

WAtoday A social media post by Premier Mark McGowan congratulating Victoria for recording zero new cases of COVID19 has prompted speculation WA could be preparing to relax its strict border lockdown. Well done Victoria thanks to you Australias future looks bright Mr McGowan wrote on Facebook after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a loosening of Melbournes pandemic restrictions which have been in place since June. https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/is-mark-mcgowan-about-to-go-soft-on-wa-s-hard-border-lockdown-20201026-p568tn.html 26th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

TASS Russian Ambassador to Greece Andrey Maslov has informed the Greek Health Ministrys expert committee about the Russian vaccine against the novel coronavirus a senior Greek health official told reporters late on Tuesday. Today we had a meeting with the Russian ambassador here at the Health Ministry. He told us about the hope for a Russian vaccine developed by a major vaccine research institution. There is hope said Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases Sotiris Tsiodras who is in charge of Greeces response to the coronavirus pandemic. https://tass.com/world/1217213 28th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

New York Times Hundreds of demonstrators in several Italian cities protested new government coronavirus restrictions on Monday. https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/europe/100000007417616/italy-virus-lockdown-protests.html 27th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

Sky News Italys government is facing a backlash against the latest measures put in place to tackle COVID19. In the last 24 hours thousands of protestors turned out in Italian cities and towns to object ... https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-lockdown-protesters-in-italy-throw-bottles-and-smoke-bombs-as-stricter-rules-come-in-12115886 27th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

CNN Protesters have clashed with police in northern Italy as demonstrations erupted across the country over government restrictions aimed at quelling a second wave of Covid19. CNNs Ben Wedeman https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/10/27/italy-coronavirus-covid-19-protests-restrictions-aftermath-wedeman-ctw-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn 27th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

POLITICO.eu The Italian mafia are doing all they can to prevent coronavirus from harming their business including orchestrating violence at antilockdown protests. According to Italian authorities the mob planned and directed demonstrations in Naples that descended into violence and attacks on police on Friday. Similar protests have taken place across the country for the past four days with bar and restaurant owners expressing concerns that tighter measures brought in by the government to counter a surge in coronavirus cases in the country will destroy their businesses. While the economic turmoil caused by the crisis has presented opportunities for the mafia to snap up stricken firms curfews and lockdown restrictions are bad news because increased police checks curtail the mobs freedom to operate. Police estimate that with the closure of nightlife in Italy the Camorra mafias drugs revenue will be hit by as much as 60 percent. https://www.politico.eu/article/mafia-italy-violent-anti-lockdown-protests/ 27th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian The Italian government is preparing to unveil a funding package for businesses penalised by the latest coronavirus restrictions as it scrambles to quell growing unrest. The prime minister Giuseppe Conte is under pressure to act quickly after hundreds of people protested in towns and cities across the country on Monday night against measures that include the 6pm closure of bars and restaurants and the complete closure of gyms swimming pools cinemas and theatres. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/27/italy-to-unveil-lockdown-relief-package-as-protests-continue 27th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

AlJazeera Protests against new restrictions designed to stem the coronavirus have broken out across Italy with violence reported in Turin and Milan in the countrys north. On Monday night some protesters in Turin broke away from a peaceful demonstration smashing shop windows ransacking luxury shops and clashing with police who fired tear gas in return. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/27/protests-flare-up-in-italy-against-new-coronavirus-restrictions 27th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

San Francisco Chronicle Washington Oregon and Nevada will join California to independently review any coronavirus vaccine before distributing it to the public. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that the three states would identify their own public health experts to participate in the scientific review committee he announced last week which was charged with ensuring that any vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is safe and effective. California has also formed a second committee to develop guidelines for the ethical distribution of vaccines Newsom said addressing questions about who should receive the first doses and how to allocate potentially limited supplies. https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Three-Western-states-join-California-in-screening-15678867.php 27th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

iPolitics The partial pandemic lockdown that has closed bars restaurants gyms cinemas museums libraries and casinos in Quebecs red zones mainly in and around Montreal and Quebec City will continue until Nov. 23. Premier Franois Legault announced on Monday that the closures which were supposed to be lifted on Oct. 29 will remain in effect. This is because after nearly four weeks Quebec has reached a plateau of 800 to 1000 new COVID19 cases daily but has still failed to slow the viruss spread. We have 10 deaths today the premier said. Im not used to that. Our fathers our mothers our brothers our sisters. One death is one too many he added. We have to stick together more than ever. https://ipolitics.ca/2020/10/27/quebec-to-stay-in-partial-lockdown-for-another-four-weeks/ 27th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian Babies and toddlers from poorer backgrounds have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic with less access to books and outdoor space during lockdown than children growing up in wealthier families research has found. The developmental impact of the coronavirus crisis on children aged 03 has been largely undocumented but early findings from the new study suggest young children from disadvantaged backgrounds have missed out on activities during lockdown which play a vital part in child development. The study conducted by researchers at five UK universities and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council surveyed more than 500 parents of children under three about the sort of activities they enjoyed with their child before and during lockdown. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/27/covid-toddlers-from-uks-poorest-families-hit-hardest-by-lockdown 27th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Guardian The UK governments policy of allowing children in detention in England and Wales to be locked alone in their cells for up to 23 hours a day under emergency Covid19 measures is extreme and inhumane and could lead to lifelong mental health damage according to the UN special rapporteur on torture and leading child health experts. Since March facilities have been able to keep children as young as 12 confined alone in their cells for all but around 40 minutes a day. The measures which were put in place to stop potential Covid19 outbreaks affect around 500 under 18yearolds in youth detention and another 4000 1821yearolds held in adult prisons. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/27/uk-covid-policy-for-children-in-detention-cruel-and-inhumane-says-un-expert 27th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

YAHOO! The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday extended the guidelines for reopening from the coronavirus lockdown until November 30. The guidelines were issued last month on September 30 and were meant to be applicable until October 31. https://in.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-guidelines-reopening-lockdown-extended-160908477.html 27th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

NPR Nobody wants to see more restrictions but this is deemed to be necessary in order to protect Londoners lives London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the London Assembly. Taking away the welcome mat is key to cutting off the path of the coronavirus. From the beginning of the pandemic cities states and countries have banned each other. And now eight months into lockdowns that have led to immense stress and fatigue among people some places around the world are introducing even more draconian measures. The path toward recovery continues to be inherently antisocial and runs counter to how humans interact live lives and conduct their business. This unwelcome policy which has already harmed families societies and economies has the potential to lead to a tectonic shift in how the world functions in the foreseeable future. https://www.npr.org/2020/10/26/927064268/youre-not-welcome-here-how-social-distancing-can-destroy-the-global-economy 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK Vaccine Taskforce Chair Kate Bingham said on Tuesday that the first generation of COVID19 vaccines is likely to be imperfect and that they might not work for everyone. However we do not know that we will ever have a vaccine at all. It is important to guard against complacency and overoptimism Bingham wrote in a piece published in The Lancet medical journal. The first generation of vaccines is likely to be imperfect and we should be prepared that they might not prevent infection but rather reduce symptoms and even then might not work for everyone or for long she added. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-vaccines-int/uk-vaccines-taskforce-chair-says-early-covid-19-vaccines-may-be-imperfect-the-lancet-idUSKBN27D01Z 28th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! The Russian Direct Investment Fund RDIF has submitted applications to the World Health Organization for an Emergency Use Listing and prequalification of its coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V Russias sovereign wealth fund said on Tuesday. Russia was the first country to grant regulatory approval for a novel coronavirus vaccine and did so before largescale trials were complete stirring concerns among scientists and doctors about the safety and efficacy of the shot. An Emergency Use Listing EUL is meant to make a vaccine available globally faster while a WHO prequalification is a global quality tag that ensures vaccines are safe and effective. https://news.yahoo.com/russia-applies-emergency-tag-covid-030925093.html 28th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

South China Morning Post Manufacturing limits a nations health care system and intellectual property rights could all affect which countries receive vaccines and how quickly. Of 16 billion doses manufacturers expect to make next year over 8 billion have already been committed to countries https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3107262/production-covid-19-vaccine-could-top-16-billion-doses-delivery 28th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times Children should not be given a Covid19 vaccine until there is more data to ensure it is safe experts have warned the US regulator as the first group of American teenagers were dosed with a potential treatment for the disease. Top vaccine scientists on an advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration said the disease develops so differently in children that any approval should not rely on data from adults. Most children get no or only mild symptoms so the riskbenefit calculations of giving them a vaccine are different from those for adults. Yet a small proportion develop a serious condition called multiinflammatory syndrome which can be fatal. https://www.ft.com/content/10240274-c479-41c3-8383-d5a29f37d3cd 28th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian One of the worlds leading Covid19 experimental vaccines produces an immune response in older adults as well as the young its developers say raising hopes of protection for those most vulnerable to the coronavirus that has caused social and economic chaos around the world. Neither Oxford University nor its commercial partner AstraZeneca would release the data from the early trials showing the positive effects which are being submitted to a peerreviewed journal. But AstraZeneca confirmed the basic findings about the vaccine it calls AZD1222 which were shared at a closed academic meeting. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/27/covid-vaccine-uk-oxford-university-astrazeneca-works-in-all-ages-trials-suggest 28th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Means health officials will review data as it becomes available in real time Normally takes years for vaccines to be greenlit for approval by the MHRA Modernas jab candidate called mRNA1273 one of the global frontrunners https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8885619/Covid-vaccine-pharma-giant-Moderna-fast-tracked-approval-process-UK.html 28th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Financial Times The proportion of people in Britain with antibodies that protect against Covid19 declined over the summer according to research that adds to evidence that natural immunity can wane in a matter of months. The number of people with antibodies fell by a quarter from 6 per cent of the population in June to 4.4 per cent in September according to a study of hundreds of thousands of people one of the largest of its kind to date. The results from researchers at Imperial College London are the latest sign that immunity to Covid19 may be shortlived and cast further doubt on the idea that any population could develop herd immunity naturally. The study suggests that the immune systems response to the virus is similar to its reaction to influenza and other coronaviruses such as the common cold which can be contracted annually. https://www.ft.com/content/f75418a9-9ef5-4684-9222-758635e906b1 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC The risk of COVID19 transmission onboard a plane is reduced to very low levels Harvard researchers concluded. The onboard ventilation systems coupled with measures such as masks frequent cabin cleaning and distancing during boarding and deplaning help keep the virus from spreading. This layered approach reduces the risk of SARSCoV2 transmission onboard aircraft below that of other routine activities during the pandemic such as grocery shopping or eating out the report stated. The Aviation Public Health Initiative APHI comprised of faculty and scientists at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published its Phase One report Tuesday analyzing gatetogate travel onboard planes. It has not been peerreviewed. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/covid-19-risk-planes-low-proper-measures-harvard/story?id=73836566 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Further proof that vitamin D could protect people from coronavirus emerged today after a study found deficiencies in the sunshine nutrient are four times as common among hospitalised patients. A mountain of research from around the world has painted a clear picture infected patients who do not have enough vitamin D are more likely to end up in hospital. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8884139/amp/Eight-10-Covid-19-hospital-patients-vitamin-D-deficient-study.html 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Financial Times Pfizers chief executive has urged patience in the last mile of Covid19 vaccine development after the timeline for an early look at whether a latestage trial shows its vaccine works was poised to slip into November. Albert Bourla said on Tuesday that he was still cautiously optimistic about the vaccine which could be the first submitted for US emergency approval. He noted that stress levels around the world were rising as the worst fears come true with Covid19 spreading in Europe the US and around the globe. But the trial which has enrolled over 42000 participants with 36000 having received their second dose has not yet hit the threshold at which it is allowed to do an initial analysis on whether the vaccine works. https://www.ft.com/content/e2ae1466-9eca-470b-82a7-3f7c88b5d43e 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail A breath test can rapidly distinguish Covid19 from other respiratory conditions Covidinfected patients have an abundance of certain chemicals in their breath Scientists say their breath tests could replace more invasive methods like PCR https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8884855/Breath-test-diagnose-Covid-19-one-minute.html 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail Dr Anthony Fauci cautioned that early COVID19 vaccines are aimed at preventing symptoms during Yahoo Finances All Markets Summit on Monday If the vaccine allows you to prevent initial infection that would be great he said. But the primary endpoint is to prevent clinically recognizable disease At least four vaccine candidates are currently in latestage clinical trials Fauci has said he is cautiously optimistic that a vaccine will arrive by year end But he warned that early vaccines may only be 50 to 60 percent effective https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8884031/Dr-Fauci-warns-early-COVID-19-vaccines-prevent-symptoms-not-block-infection.html 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Aberdeen Evening Express A noninvasive Covid19 breath test that could deliver results within one minute is being developed by UK scientists. The technology which was originally developed as part of a project known as TOXITriage would use breath signatures to rapidly distinguish Covid19 from other respiratory conditions. The researchers said their findings published in The Lancets EclinicalMedicine journal could dramatically improve the experience of taking a coronavirus test as well as play a part in restarting the economy. https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/uk/breath-test-can-diagnose-covid-19-within-one-minute/ 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Hampstead Highgate Express The Royal Free NHS Trust has joined a cuttingedge governmentbacked project to speedup the development of treatments and vaccines for Covid19. The trust is now part of the Human Challenge Programme which will investigate how transmission of the coronavirus works by looking at exposing healthy volunteers to small amounts of the virus. https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/health/royal-free-study-covid-19-human-challenge-vaccines-treatment-1-6902660 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters on MSN.com South Koreas food and drug ministry said on Tuesday it had begun a preliminary review of a COVID19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca PLC for potential fasttrack approval. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said in a statement that it had formed a screening team to review the vaccine candidate with an application for formal approval expected in 90 days under its rapid approval programme for COVID19 treatments and vaccines. https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/wellbeing/south-korea-begins-preliminary-review-of-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-candidate/ar-BB1aqKIH 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNBC Novavax on Tuesday delayed the start of a latestage U.S. trial of its experimental coronavirus vaccine by roughly a month to the end of November citing delays in scaling up the manufacturing process. Data from an earlytomid stage or phase 2 trial of the vaccine is now expected on Friday the company said. Earlystage data had showed the vaccine produced high levels of antibodies against the novel coronavirus. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/27/novavax-delays-us-trial-of-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-to-november-.html 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Forbes Novavax one of the biotech firms that received funding from the Trump administrations Operation Warp Speed to produce a coronavirus vaccine announced Tuesday it plans to begin phase 3 clinical trials in the United States and Mexico by the end of November. https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/10/27/novavax-will-launch-us-phase-3-trials-of-coronavirus-vaccine-by-end-of-november/ 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN In August Russian state media rolled out the red carpet for a bombshell announcement President Vladimir Putin from his residence outside Moscow unveiled what he said was the worlds first registered coronavirus vaccine meant to bring Russia closer to the end of a devastating pandemic. Putin who is famously secretive about his family said one of his daughters had already been inoculated as part of the earlystage trials and felt well to bulk up the vaccines safety claims. Now as the second wave of Covid19 hits the country with record numbers of new infections and deaths the vaccine named Sputnik V is far from being widely available to the general public. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/27/health/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-sputnik-v-reality-check/index.html 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Washington Post Vaccine trials need Black people. And the Black economic recovery needs a vaccine. The economic downturn from the novel coronavirus has had a staggering financial impact on Blacks. Job losses from the pandemic have overwhelmingly affected lowwage minority workers. Black men and women are among those taking the longest time to regain their employment. Black Americans account for about 13 percent of the U.S. population but 24 percent of coronavirus deaths the Pew Research Center reported in June. But when I ask the Black folks I know if theyre going to take a coronavirus vaccine most without hesitation say No I will not. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/10/27/covid-vaccine-trials-need-blacks/ 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Drugmaker Pfizer Inc PFE.N said on Tuesday it does not yet have data from the latestage trial of the COVID19 vaccine it is developing with Germanys BioNTech SE 22UAy.F and provided a timeline that makes its release unlikely ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election.Pfizer said there had not yet been enough infections in the 44000volunteer trial to trigger an analysis of whether or not the vaccine works. An independent panel will conduct the first analysis when it reaches 32 infections. https://uk.reuters.com/article/pfizer-results/update-6-pfizer-says-no-covid-19-vaccine-data-yet-could-be-week-or-more-before-it-reports-idUKL4N2HI2W3 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Becker's Hospital Review Eli Lilly has ended a trial of its COVID19 antibody drug bamlanivimab that tested the drugs effectiveness in treating hospitalized COVID19 patients a month after an interim analysis suggested the drug helped the virus leave patients systems sooner. The drug was shown to have no effect on recovery times or survival rates for patients hospitalized with advanced COVID19 but it will continue to be tested for other COVID19 patients. A timeline of Eli Lillys development of bamlanivimab https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/eli-lilly-ends-one-of-its-covid-19-antibody-drug-trials-a-timeline.html 27th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times A vaccine considered a frontrunner in the race to protect the global population from Covid19 has produced a robust immune response in elderly people the group at highest risk from the disease according to two people familiar with the finding. The discovery that the vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca triggers protective antibodies and Tcells in older age groups has encouraged researchers as they seek evidence that it will spare those in later life from serious illness or death from the virus. https://www.ft.com/content/b15446e5-66f7-4e6a-947a-1b638769ff79 26th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Sky News The grieving daughter of a nurse who died three weeks after being diagnosed with coronavirus is urging people to act responsibly saying the second wave must be taken seriously. Denilee Vianzons mother Emma was only 57 when she lost her life two weeks ago in intensive care in the Nightingale Hospital in Belfast. Im furious and angry that people think that this is nonexistent when it very much is said Denilee who is 28 and lives in London. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-daughter-of-nurse-who-died-after-contracting-covid-19-warns-second-wave-is-very-real-12115819 27th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC Europes daily Covid deaths rose by nearly 40 compared with the previous week the World Health Organization WHO has told the BBC. WHO spokeswoman Dr Margaret Harris said France Spain the UK the Netherlands and Russia accounted for the majority of cases which increased by a third. The concern... is that intensive care units in hospitals are now beginning to fill with very ill people she warned. Russia reported a daily record of 320 deaths pushing the tally to 26589. There has been a sharp increase in Italy too with 221 fatalities announced in the past 24 hours. The total number of fatalities in Austria went above 1000 on Tuesday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54704677 27th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Washington Post The team of city police officers had been assigned to look for coronavirus rulebreakers so one evening last week they parked their cars in the middle of one of Romes liveliest neighborhoods and walked from one restaurant to the next. In 90 minutes on patrol they didnt find a single violator. What they found instead was nightlife that conformed to the rules but nonetheless posed risks for spreading the novel coronavirus. Italy had imposed a mandate for maskwearing outdoors but it didnt apply to the people eating at packed alfresco tables. The country had banned dining in groups of seven or more but there were plenty of tables of four five and six under mood lighting on the cobblestone streets. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/covid-italy-second-wave/2020/10/26/467c5f0e-123f-11eb-a258-614acf2b906d_story.html 27th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Washington Post When the novel coronavirus first reached Argentina Andrs Bonicalzi steeled himself for the sacrifices to come. A lawyer in Buenos Aires he started working from home canceled his weekly visits with his parents and vowed to keep his son inside. The government announced one of the worlds strictest lockdowns. The next few weeks would be difficult. But those hard weeks have turned into seven months and much of Argentinas lockdown believed to be the worlds longest is still dragging on. So much sacrifice Bonicalzi sometimes thinks and for what The South American country has become one of the coronaviruss most explosive breeding grounds. In early August fewer than 200000 Argentines had contracted the virus. That number has since surged to 1.1 million 1 out of every 44 people and 28000 are dead. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/coronavirus-argentina-million-quarantine-lockdown/2020/10/26/65eefde2-149c-11eb-bc10-40b25382f1be_story.html 27th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Germanys health system could hit breaking point if coronavirus infections continue to spiral after bringing forward highlevel talks to decide on new restrictions to break the second wave of the pandemic. Massselling daily Bild reported that Merkel told party colleagues that the number of new cases is doubling every seven to eight days while the number of occupied intensive care beds is doubling every 10 days. It just needs to double again four more times and the system will be at a breaking point Bild quoted Merkel as saying adding that she wanted to reduce the number of contacts people had. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany-infections/german-minister-warns-of-20000-new-daily-virus-cases-within-days-idUKKBN27C115 27th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian People in most of 25 countries around the world think governments and leaders failed to respond either well or fast enough to the coronavirus crisis a new global survey shows. YouGovs globalism survey of about 26000 people in countries from Australia to Sweden designed with the Guardian and carried out by the YouGovCambridge Globalism Project between July and August before the second wave hit in Europe and elsewhere showed striking variations in approval for governments handling of the pandemic which has killed nearly 1.1 million people. A record four in five respondents in Denmark which locked down very early in March as the first wave hit and has managed to limit Covid deaths to 119 per million inhabitants thought their government had done very or fairly well. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/27/global-survey-shows-widespread-disapproval-of-covid-response 27th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters UK The United States Russia France and many other countries are setting records for coronavirus infections as a tidal wave of cases washes over parts of the Northern Hemisphere forcing some countries to impose new curbs. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-europe/second-covid-wave-swells-across-u-s-and-europe-as-winter-looms-idUKKBN27B11C 26th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Metro US The Belgian government will convene on Friday to decide on a potential new national lockdown with the country now suffering the highest rate of coronavirus infections per 100000 citizens according to official data. The nation of 11 million people had 1390 new COVID19 infections per 100000 residents over the past two weeks data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control showed on Tuesday. https://www.metro.us/belgium-faces-decision-on/ 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Medical Xpress Germans were preparing themselves Tuesday for tough new measures to tame a surge in coronavirus infections with media reporting that a concerned Chancellor Angela Merkel is pushing for a lockdown light. Merkel is due to hold crisis talks on Wednesday with the leaders of Germanys 16 states where she is expected to warn of a dire winter ahead as case numbers climb to record highs and hospital beds fill up. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-germany-braces-lockdown-virus-cases.html 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters The wineproducing region of La Rioja on Tuesday ordered the closure of restaurants and bars in its two largest towns for a month as part of widening restrictions across Spain to curb the coronavirus outbreak. The number of cumulative infections rose by 18418 to nearly 1.12 million and the health ministry added 267 deaths from Monday the highest toll in the second wave of the pandemic bringing the total to 35298. Daily deaths during the first wave in late March peaked at almost 900. A nationwide curfew has been in place since Sunday while a growing number of regions have banned people from entering or exiting their territory. Deputy head of the Madrid regional government Ignacio Aguado said on Tuesday he backed such a lockdown for his central region. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-spain-la-rioja/spains-rioja-wine-region-bans-wining-dining-as-pandemic-curbs-grow-idUKKBN27C1V2 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

EL PAS in English Aragn Asturias and the Basque Country join Navarre and La Rioja in sealing their territory while Catalonia is considering weekend home confinements https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-10-26/spains-new-state-of-alarm-two-more-regions-close-their-borders.html 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Deutsche Welle The French government is holding emergency meetings on Tuesday over the growing coronavirus crisis. Officials are warning of potential new lockdowns as the country sees soaring case numbers and hospitalizations. We must expect difficult decisions Interior Minister Darmanin told France Inter radio ahead of the meetings. President Emmanuel Macron is holding a Cabinet meeting to address the pandemic while Prime Minister Jean Castex is meeting with lawmakers unions and business lobbies. https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-france-faces-lockdown-amid-surging-cases/a-55407644 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Slovakia may be able to avoid harsher anticoronavirus measures as a result of its plans for nationwide testing scheduled to start this weekend Prime Minister Igor Matovic said on Monday. Authorities conducted pilot testing in four badly hit regions over the weekend with more than 90 of people participating producing an infection rate just below 4 of those tested. The country will conduct wideranging testing over the next two weekends. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-slovakia/slovakias-blanket-covid-19-testing-may-prevent-tighter-lockdown-pm-says-idUKKBN27B2FM?il=0 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Belgiums federal government should decide by this weekend whether a return to a nationwide lockdown is required as the country grapples with a resurgence in novel coronavirus cases and hospitals risk running out of beds an official said. New infections in Belgium among the hardesthit countries in Europe hit a peak of more than 18000 on Oct. 20 almost a 10fold increase from the high of a spring wave of the pandemic. Health Ministry spokesman Yves Van Laethem told Belgian broadcaster RTBF on Monday evening that a decision on returning to lockdown would need to be taken by the end of the week. https://www.reuters.com/article/healthcoronavirus-belgium/belgium-faces-decision-on-possible-new-lockdown-by-weekend-official-idUSL4N2HI2FF 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Gilles Pialoux an infectious diseases specialist at the Tenon hospital in Paris urged the government on Tuesday to impose a new national lockdown to tackle a resurgence of COVID19 cases. I think we clearly need to lock down the country he told BFM TV as President Emmanuel Macrons government prepares to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss new measures to tackle the virus. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france-lockdown/leading-french-medic-pialoux-calls-for-new-national-lockdown-to-tackle-covid-idUKKBN27C0WS?il=0 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Britain announced wider coronavirus restrictions on Monday which will take the number of people under Englands highest category of alert to nearly 8 million as the government battles a sharp rise in cases. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-warrington/more-english-cities-face-tightest-covid-lockdown-rules-idUKKBN27B1ZX 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Chancellor Angela Merkel in planning a lockdown light that will focus on closing bars restaurants and public events to slow a second wave of COVID19 infections in Germany Bild newspaper reported on Monday. Shops will stay open with some restrictions under the plan and schools will keep operating apart from in areas with particularly high numbers of cases the massselling daily reported. A government spokesman neither confirmed nor denied the report and said no final decisions had been made. Infections have almost doubled in the past week in Germany and cases are also rising across Europe and large parts of the Northern Hemisphere. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-lockdown-idUKKBN27B1FG 27th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters The French government is envisaging a monthlong national lockdown to combat a rise in coronavirus infections which could take effect from midnight on Thursday Frances BFM TV reported on Tuesday. French President Emmanuel Macron is due to make a televised address on Wednesday. His office did not comment on whether Macron would announce such a measure then. BFM TV added the lockdown under consideration would be more flexible than the strict restrictions on movement imposed in France in March this year. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-lockdown-idUSKBN27C316 27th Oct 2020