12th Jun 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=29 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

BBC The government is expected to apply much less rigorous EU border checks on imports than it initially had planned after the Brexit transition period finishes at the end of this year. The Financial Times reports ministers have abandoned plans to introduce full checks after pressure from businesses. A government source told the BBC it would take a pragmatic and flexible approach due to coronavirus. The UK had committed to introduce import controls on EU goods in January. But the source said ministers recognised the impact the virus was having on businesses and so pragmatism and flexibility on imports made sense to help business adjust to the changes that were now imminent. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53018020 12th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Jakarta Post The heightened postlockdown anxiety has become a matter of central government concern as domestic media report a spate of suicides by young people. It has also led to unprecedented measures by schools and local governments to focus on student mental health a topic that like suicide has often been taboo in Chinese society. There have been some heartbreaking incidents as schools reopened Yan Wu vice mayor of the southern city of Zhuhai said at Chinas annual parliamentary meeting last month. This highlights the importance and urgency of promoting mental health development in young students he said. At the parliamentary meeting at least four delegates put forward proposals for more attention to be paid to students psychological needs. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/06/11/in-post-lockdown-china-student-mental-health-in-focus-amid-reported-jump-in-suicides.html 11th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Yahoo News UK Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday the capital will embark on a largescale COVID19 testing effort as the centerpiece of its plan to reopen its economy diverging from the federal governments strategy which has shunned widespread testing as a waste of resources. The goal will be performing some 100000 tests per month by July and with those results trying to detect and isolate new infections as quickly as possible Sheinbaum said in a news conference. It will be paired with an intensive information campaign. The sprawling city of 9 million with an equal number or more in the suburbs has confirmed more than 32000 infections and more than 3200 deaths both considered to be undercounts because of limited testing. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mexico-city-increase-covid-19-213115370.html 11th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Mirror Online Just 0.08 per cent of the UKs cases came directly from China where Covid19 originated with the majority coming from the likes of Spain France and Italy all holiday destinations favoured by Brits a study shows https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/most-uk-coronavirus-cases-traced-22173229 11th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

YAHOO! Peruvian surfers are returning to their nations worldfamous waves after three months spent in lockdown due to the coronavirus. Wearing masks and carrying their boards the surfers this week descended onto Limas rocky beaches for the first time since the pandemic shutdown. It was about time no said a smiling Alessandro Currarino sporting a black wetsuit and matching face mask after hitting the waves. Peru has some of the best waves in the world and we need to take advantage of them. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/quarantined-surfers-return-perus-famous-202136211.html 11th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

VOA News Mexico City is launching a massive COVID19 testing program as it aims to begin reopening the capital citys economy. Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced Wednesday that officials intend to conduct 100000 tests a month by July with the help of an aggressive information campaign. Mexico Citys approach is counter to that of President Andres Manuel Lpez Obradors administration which dismissed mass testing as a waste of money. Mexico federal Assistant Health Secretary Hugo LpezGatell praised Mexico Citys effort but he made no mention of expanding federal coronavirus testing. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/mexico-city-launch-aggressive-coronavirus-testing-campaign 11th Jun 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Norway will no longer require airlines to leave middle seats on planes empty a measure previously introduced to reduce the risk of contamination with the novel coronavirus the countrys transport minister said on Thursday. The Nordic country which advised its citizens in March not to travel abroad is to open its borders for tourists coming from Denmark and plans to update travel advice for other countries by June 15. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-norway-airlines/norway-allows-airlines-to-fly-full-planes-again-minister-idUSKBN23I25U 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Times The Oxford team has already recruited about 10000 volunteers in the UK who were split into two groups. One got the vaccine the other a placebo. The scientists are now looking for evidence that the vaccinated cohort has been protected. An ideal result would see none of the vaccinated individuals becoming infected. But to prove that the jab works it is also necessary for unvaccinated volunteers the number will be set by regulators and depend in part on the size of the cohort to develop Covid19. The likelihood of people becoming infected determines how long it takes to get a result. If its low its going to take you ages Trudie Lang director of the Global Health Network at Oxford Universitys Nuffield Department of Medicine said. If there is little virus circulating your trial may run aground leaving you without answers. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/oxford-vaccine-testers-chase-coronavirus-to-brazil-where-it-is-rampant-bld67t262 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg Britains coronavirus contact tracers failed to track down a third of the cases referred to them in England in the first week of an operation aimed at stemming the pandemic. Among 8117 people who tested positive for the virus 5407 were reached and asked to provide details about their contacts with others the Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement on its website on Thursday. Contact tracers then reached some 85 of people identified as having been exposed to the infection and advised them to selfisolate. For the first week of a scale citizen service this is good performance Dido Harding the chair of NHS Improvement who is overseeing the Test and Trace Service told reporters Thursday. Clearly it can and needs to and will get better. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-11/england-s-contact-tracers-fail-to-reach-a-third-of-new-cases 12th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Washington Post Favelas have long been cradles of activism. Many have been overrun by violent criminal gangs that impose restrictions on who can enter and leave. Cut off from government services informal communities have often created parallel institutions including mail Internet and sanitation systems and supplemented weak health and education systems. That tradition of creative problemsolving has spread during the outbreak. When the people of Rio de Janeiros Complexo do Alemo favela saw that the citys coronavirus statistics were leaving out cases from slums they created their own database to track the disease. The residents association in Rios Cantagalo community joined with a local nongovernmental organization to spray disinfectant. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/coronavirus-brazil-favela-sao-paulo-rio-janeiro-bolsonaro/2020/06/09/8b03eee0-aa74-11ea-9063-e69bd6520940_story.html 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

BBC A report containing measures to protect ethnic minority groups from coronavirus has been drawn up for government BBC News has learned. Public Health England PHE published a review last week confirming coronavirus kills people from ethnic minorities at disproportionately high rates. But a senior academic told BBC News a second report containing safeguarding proposals to tackle this also existed. And PHE now says this report will be published next week. Labour described the decision not to immediately publish the second report as scandalous and a tragedy. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53002968 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

AllAfrica.com Rwanda has started mass testing and sampling for the novel coronavirus Covid19 targeting its peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan UNMISS. The testing spearheaded by the Ministry of Health started on Tuesday in Malakal where Rwanda Formed Police UnitOne FPU1 hybrid contingent of 239 officers is deployed. Rwanda FPU1 lost one of its membersPolice Constable PC Enid Mbabaziwho succumbed to Covid19 on June 2 at the King Faisal Hospital after she was evacuated back home for further treatment. Rwanda National Police RNP spokesperson Commissioner of Police CP John Bosco Kabera said that the testing which started in Malakal was inline with the prevention measures against the spread of coronavirusCovid19 and the exercise will continue to all Rwandan peacekeepers serving in South Sudan. https://allafrica.com/stories/202006110123.html 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

CBC.ca Toronto plans to make face coverings mandatory on its public transit system a rule that could go into effect starting July 2. Mayor John Tory announced the updated regulations for the Toronto Transit Commission TTC on Thursday. This will help to stop the spread of COVID19 in our city Tory said. As the restart and reopening begins we know that more people will be back on the TTC at the same time physical distancing will become a greater and greater challenge. The TTC board will need to approve the recommendation at its meeting next week though TTC CEO Rick Leary has already said he supports the plan. I want to make sure people know our system is safe for both customers and employees Leary said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-in-toronto-june-11-1.5607504 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Times of Israel Egypt will reopen select tourist destinations to international charter flights starting July 1 its cabinet said Thursday allowing travelers from around the world to return to parts of the country less hardhit by the coronavirus. The government hopes to draw tourists to popular yet remote attractions that have been spared the ravages of the virus. Those include the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula home to the major resort and beach destination of Sharm el Sheikh the Red Sea resort areas of Hurghada and Marsa Alam as well as Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast. https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-to-reopen-tourist-destinations-less-hard-hit-by-virus/ 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

The Associated Press In New Delhi a sprawling capital region of 46 million and home to some of Indias highest concentration of hospitals a pregnant womans death after a frantic hunt for a sickbed was a worrying sign about the countrys ability to cope with a wave of new coronavirus cases. She kept begging us to save her life but we couldnt do anything Shailendra Kumar said after driving his sisterinlaw Neelam and her husband for hours only to be turned away at eight public and private hospitals. Two and a half months of nationwide lockdown kept numbers of infections relatively low in India. But with restrictions easing in recent weeks cases have shot up rising by a record of nearly 10000 on Thursday raising questions about whether authorities have done enough to avert catastrophe. https://apnews.com/5796860d5384b0903d30d03b580f968d 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Bloomberg Houstonarea officials are getting close to reimposing stayathome orders and are prepared to reopen a Covid19 hospital established but never used at a football stadium as virus cases expand in the fourthlargest U.S. city. The announcement by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Thursday came a day after the Lone Star state recorded its highest oneday tally of new cases since the pandemic emerged. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-11/houston-may-reopen-virus-hospital-at-stadium-as-cases-expand 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Germany is in close contact with countries outside Europe including Turkey over whether travel warnings in place due to the coronavirus pandemic can be lifted Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Thursday. Lifting the warnings would depend on factors like the number of infections and capacity levels at local health systems Maas said after talks with ministers from several popular holiday destinations for Germans. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-germany-maas/germany-in-close-contact-with-turkey-over-travel-warning-minister-idUKKBN23I1ZT 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Channel NewsAsia Singapore Britains Department of Health said its coronavirus tracing system contacted 31794 people between 28 May and 3 Jun and of those it was able to reach 26985 or 85 per cent and advise them to selfisolate. The governments test and trace system is seen as key to helping to ease lockdown measures. The 31794 people were contacts of a group of 5407 people who had tested positive for coronavirus and provided details of those they had met to the system said the Department of Health on Thursday Jun 11. However only twothirds of the 8117 people who tested positive for the virus during the period provided details of recent contacts to the system with the remaining number not able to be reached. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/britain-s-test-and-trace-system-reaches-26-985-in-first-week-12827150 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Thomson Reuters Foundation News The Kremlin denied on Thursday there was anything untoward with Russias official coronavirus death data after the World Health Organisation said this week that Russias low death rate was difficult to understand. Russia has reported more than half a million cases of the new coronavirus the third largest caseload in the world and 6532 deaths a number that is many times lower than other countries with serious outbreaks. Asked if the Kremlin thought the data was strange spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no but that Russias consumer health regulator would be ready to explain the data to the World Health Organisation. https://news.trust.org/item/20200611090426-zu2ea/ 11th Jun 2020

Exit Strategies

Roll Call Internal Federal Emergency Management Agency data show that the governments supply of surgical gowns has not meaningfully increased since photos first emerged in March of nurses wearing trash bags for protection. The demand for gowns outpaces current U.S. manufacturing capabilities a document released Tuesday says. The document confirms the fears of nurses and other health care providers. After months of pressure on federal officials to use wartime powers to mobilize U.S. plants the documents slides show that domestic manufacturing of gowns and surgical masks has ticked up by a few thousand per month since the pandemic hit falling far short of need. The United States still does not manufacture any nitrile rubber gloves. https://www.rollcall.com/2020/06/09/internal-document-reveals-federal-plan-to-ask-nurses-to-reuse-masks/ 9th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

Politico The Swedish governments decision to go its own way on coronavirus just got political. In the first party leaders debate in parliament since the pandemic began opposition politicians went after Prime Minister Stefan Lfven on Wednesday saying Swedens spiking death rate from COVID19 and inability to protect residents of elderly care homes represented serious failures. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/11/sweden-coronavirus-312838 11th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters British health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday people should not attend large demonstrations for public health reasons after protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement attracted tens of thousands over the last week. I understand that people want to show their passion for a cause that they care deeply about but this is a virus that thrives on social contact regardless of what your cause may be he said at a daily news conference. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-hancock/british-health-minister-urges-protesters-not-to-attend-rallies-idUSKBN23I2OD 11th Jun 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian A supporter of Brazils farright president Jair Bolsonaro has desecrated a beachside memorial to Covid19 victims as the countrys coronavirus death toll rose above 40000. Activists from civil society group Rio de Paz dug 100 symbolic shallow graves on Copacabana beach before dawn on Thursday to represent the Brazilian lives lost. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/11/bolsonaro-supporter-destroys-brazil-beach-memorial-40000-coronavirus-victims 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Sydney Morning Herald Indonesias coronavirus case count could double to more than 60000 infections in the next two weeks as testing becomes more widespread according to Professor Amin Soebandrio the director of Jakartas Eijkman Institute of Microbiology. Australias near neighbour recorded more than 1000 cases for two days in a row a new record a little more than two weeks after the major religious holiday of Idul Fitri. The spike in cases has prompted epidemiologists to call on the national government to rethink the easing of social restrictions. https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/indonesia-coronavirus-cases-could-double-to-60k-in-two-weeks-20200611-p551ke.html 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

FRANCE 24 At least 170 police officers in Peru have died after contracting the coronavirus while enforcing the South American nations pandemic lockdown the interior minister said Thursday. Almost 10000 officers have been infected with the disease as they enforced social distancing measures during Perus 12 weeks of stayathome orders. We have 9900 infected personnel and 170 deceased personnel. That is the figure that we currently have despite the efforts being made Interior Minister General Gaston Rodriguez told reporters. A further 4000 police personnel deemed vulnerable for reasons of age and health were complying with mandatory quarantine he said https://www.france24.com/en/20200611-170-police-officers-die-of-coronavirus-in-peru-minister 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Radio Havana Cuba Perus Health Ministry has confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed 200000 with 5738 deaths. A spokesman for the ministry said there were now a total of 203736 coronavirus cases. The country registered its first case on March 6 and has seen a surge amid a rigorous testing regime but also high levels of poverty and informal labor complicating selfisolation efforts. Some Peruvian hospitals have run out of oxygen to treat COVID19 patients. http://www.radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/225345-peru's-cases-of-coronavirus-surpass-200000 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

AlJazeera Mexico has reported a record daily rise of more than 4800 cases of the coronavirus and more than 15300 people there have died. Doctors and nurses on the front lines have been protesting over a lack of training and protective equipment as they treat patients. Al Jazeeras John Holman reports from an intensive care unit in Mexico City. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/mexican-intensive-care-unit-battling-covid-19-200611105052107.html 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

CNN In response to CNNs request for comment regarding allegations of improper PPE gear the federal agencies that manage the paramedics said proper equipment is provided. They declined to provide numbers on how many staff have contracted Covid19 or have died from it. CNN interviewed seven paramedics and one doctor who work in Mexico City public ambulances belonging to two different sections of the countrys Health Ministry. All eight said they feel a sense of betrayal because they argue the government has not helped to keep them safe. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/11/americas/mexico-coronavirus-paramedics-intl/index.html 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it had approved an additional 111.06 million disbursement to Rwanda to address the effects of the COVID19 pandemic on the countrys economy. Rwandas economic outlook has worsened since the approval of the first Rapid Credit Facility request on April 2 2020 leading to a further downward revision in the 2020 GDP growth forecast from 5.1 to 2.0 percent due to deepening of the COVID19 impact the IMF said in a statement. The funding brings total IMF COVID19 support to Rwanda to 220.46 million it said and will help finance the countrys urgent balance of payments and budget needs. The central African country implemented one of Africas strictest lockdowns to try to stem the spread of COVID19 the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus including shuttering some businesses closing borders and schools. Authorities have since begun to gradually open up the economy although some restrictions remain. https://uk.reuters.com/article/healthcoronavirus-rwanda-economy/update-1-imf-approves-additional-111-06-mln-to-rwanda-to-address-covid-19-pandemic-idUKL8N2DO5XW 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

The National Already ravaged by war and famine Yemen is suffering another blow to its future as the coronavirus kills off dozens of the countrys top public servants academics and the most educated. While a lack of widespread testing is masking the true scale of the crisis scores of doctors academics engineers politicians judges lawyers and business leaders as well as highranking members of the Houthi militia are thought to be among the dead as the virus spreads. It is a devastating blow for a county that has already suffered six years of civil war further scuppering hopes for recovery as the government and institutions will struggle to fill the skills gap. The loss of leading members of society has also taken a toll on public morale. https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/in-yemen-coronavirus-is-killing-off-the-educated-elite-1.1032368 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International At first there were many volunteer doctors and nurses around remembers Dr Nizar Jahlan but when they knew that cases were coming to the hospital they all disappeared. This is how the story of COVID19 began in Sanaa the capital of Yemen where Mdecins Sans Frontires MSF is supporting the Ministry of Health to run the citys principal centre to treat the new coronavirus and is planning to expand that support in the coming weeks. At the beginning we faced many difficulties the hospital lacked almost everything that it needed but we brought in what we could in terms of drugs and personal protective equipment to start activities said Dr Jahlan who is MSFs Medical Activity Manager for the project. But then we faced problems in finding enough doctors and nurses willing to work in the hospital. https://www.msf.org/covid-19-has-made-yemen-health-system-collapse-complete 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

FRANCE 24 The speed the new coronavirus jumped from 100000 to 200000 confirmed cases in Africa shows just how quickly the pandemic is accelerating on the continent the World Health Organization said Thursday. According to an AFP tally Africa topped the 200000 mark on Tuesday. It took 98 days to reach the first 100000 cases and only 18 days to move to 200000 cases Doctor Matshidiso Moeti the WHOs regional director for Africa told a video briefing hosted by the UN press association in Geneva. https://www.france24.com/en/20200611-who-warns-pandemic-accelerating-in-africa 11th Jun 2020

Continued Lockdown

News18 Africa will have a steady increase in COVID19 cases until a vaccine is developed and strong public health measures are needed in current hotspots in South Africa Algeria and Cameroon the World Health Organization WHO said on Thursday. Until such time as we have access to an effective vaccine Im afraid well probably have to live with a steady increase in the region with some hotspots having to be managed in a number of countries as is happening now in South Africa Algeria Cameroon for example which require very strong public health measures social distancing measures to take place Matshidiso Moeti WHOs Africa regional director told a Geneva briefing. https://www.news18.com/news/world/africas-coronavirus-hotspots-in-south-africa-algeria-cameroon-who-2664501.html 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Axios Why it matters Pinpointing the cells in the bodys immune response would help speed the development of treatments and vaccines. It also offers insights into inflammation which underlies diseases ranging from cancer to arthritis to heart disease. How it works Different molecules cytokines and antibodies for example and cells white blood cells T cells macrophages and others in different pathways control the inflammation response that kicks in when the body is injured or infected. But inflammation can also persist due to disease and turn the bodys immune system against itself as in the case of autoimmune conditions like lupus and diabetes causing damage. Inflammation is a doubleedged sword says Yuan Tian a computational immunologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-symptoms-cells-inflammation-dc249065-4641-4663-83c1-778c173c686d.html 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian There was no patient zero in the UKs Covid19 epidemic according to research showing that the infection was introduced on at least 1300 occasions. The findings from the Covid19 Genomics UK consortium have prompted further criticism that opportunities to suppress the spread of infection in February and March were missed. The study by the consortium which was set up to sequence the viruss genetic code shows that introduction of the virus into the UK peaked in midMarch at a time when infection rates were surging in European countries but before the government clamped down on nonessential travel. Had travel restrictions and quarantine requirements been introduced a week earlier overall case numbers in the UK may have been far lower critics say. The analysis which has yet to be peer reviewed also suggests that very few cases were introduced from China where the pandemic started with the vast majority coming from Spain France and Italy. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/11/british-clampdown-on-non-essential-travel-came-a-week-too-late 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BBC More than 31000 close contacts of people with coronavirus were identified during the first week of the test and trace system in England figures show. Of those 85 were reached and asked to selfisolate for 14 days. This was from 8000 people testing positive for the virus. Two thirds of them gave details of close contacts. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was the publics civic duty to follow instructions given by contact tracers. Speaking at the daily coronavirus briefing he added he was not ruling out enforcement measures to make people selfisolate for 14 days if asked to do so. About 25000 contact tracers were recruited in England and started work at the end of May. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53006938 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BioSpace Moderna announced it had finalized the Phase III clinical trial structure for its COVID19 vaccine mRNA1273. The companys messenger RNA vaccine has been generally the furthest ahead in clinical development. It dosed the first patient in its Phase I trial with the National Institute of Allergy Infectious Diseases NIAID on March 16 with a second dosethe vaccine requires two doseson April 23. mRNA1273 is an mRNA vaccine against SARSCoV2 that encodes for a prefusion stabilized form of the Spike S protein. The mRNA vaccine is a new type of technology where the vaccine contains a section of messenger RNA that codes for a protein associated with the virus. The vaccine is injected into a person and the mRNA moves into the test subjects cells where the cells then churn out the protein. The bodys immune system should then treat the protein like the virus and attack it developing an immune response that it will then use if it comes into contact with the actual virus. https://www.biospace.com/article/moderna-finalizes-phase-iii-trial-for-covid-19-vaccine-to-begin-in-july/ 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP Regeneron will conduct placebocontrolled trials of REGNCOV2 at multiple sites in four different populations hospitalized COVID19 patients nonhospitalized patients with COVID19 symptoms uninfected people in highrisk groups such as healthcare workers and uninfected people in close contact with infected patients. The first two trials will focus on virologic safety and clinical end points in hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/06/regeneron-begin-trials-covid-19-antibody-cocktail 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Paediatricians and health officials in the worlds fourth most populous country said the high number of child deaths from a disease that mostly kills the elderly was due to underlying factors in particular malnutrition anaemia and inadequate child health facilities. COVID19 proves that we have to fight against malnutrition Achmad Yurianto a senior health ministry official told Reuters. He said Indonesian children were caught in a devils circle a cycle of malnutrition and anaemia that increased their vulnerability to the coronavirus. He compared malnourished children to weak structures that crumble after an earthquake. It also recorded more than 380 deaths among 7152 children classified as patients under monitoring meaning people with severe coronavirus symptoms for which there is no other explanation but whose tests have not confirmed the infection. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-indonesia-children/indonesias-hundreds-of-suspected-child-virus-deaths-highlight-danger-idUSKBN23I1D7 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The New York Times The European Commission is seeking a mandate from EU countries to buy promising COVID19 vaccine candidates in advance from pharmaceutical firms as long as they are not produced solely in the United States officials said. The EU executive wants to pay for up to six potential vaccines in deals where the makers would commit to providing doses when and if they become available. It will ask EU health ministers at a video conference meeting on Friday to back the plan which has been swiftly devised as the bloc fears it may not have access to enough shots should a vaccine be developed. All vaccines in clinical trial this year are in principle eligible for advance purchases but not those which are produced exclusively in the United States because Washington has signalled it will not allow sales abroad before its own needs are met the EU officials told a news conference. https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/11/us/11reuters-health-coronavirus-eu-vaccine.html 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The New York Times The coronavirus pandemic is accelerating in Africa spreading to rural areas after international travellers brought it to capital cities the World Health Organization said on Thursday. But the WHO said there was no indication that large numbers of severe cases and deaths were being missed nor has the virus caused significant infections in refugee camps across the continent. Ten countries are driving Africas epidemic accounting for 75 of the some 207600 cases on the continent said Matshidiso Moeti WHOs Africa regional director. About 5000 deaths have been reported. South Africa which last month began a phased easing of the lockdown is the hardesthit accounting for a quarter of all cases she said. https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/11/world/africa/11reuters-health-coronavirus-africa.html 11th Jun 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

TIME On June 11 biotech company Moderna announced it had finalized plans for phase 3 testing of its COVID19 vaccine candidate. The latestage trial will include 30000 participants and is expected to begin in July. https://time.com/5852032/moderna-vaccine-phase-3/ 11th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Associated Press Just weeks ago South Korea was celebrating its hardwon gains against the coronavirus easing social distancing reopening schools and promoting a techdriven antivirus campaign President Moon Jaein has called Kquarantine. But a resurgence of infections in the Seoul region where half of South Koreas 51 million people live is threatening the countrys success story and prompting health authorities to warn that action must be taken now to stop a second wave. South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday reported 45 new cases a daily rise that has been fairly consistent since late May. Most have been in the Seoul metropolitan area where health authorities have struggled to trace transmissions. https://apnews.com/830d27c967bf4fb0e3c32e4e490bb211 11th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Charleston Post Courier There is no single reason for the surges. In some cases more testing has revealed more cases. In others local outbreaks are big enough to push statewide tallies higher. But experts think at least some are due to lifting stayathome orders school and business closures and other restrictions put in place during the spring to stem the viruss spread. The virus is also gradually fanning out. It is a disaster that spreads said Dr. Jay Butler who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its not like theres an entire continental seismic shift and everyone feels the shaking all at once. That is also happening globally. Places that suffered early on such as China Italy and Spain have calmed down but Brazil India and other countries that were spared initially are seeing large increases. The world is seeing more than 100000 newlyconfirmed cases every day according to data from Johns Hopkins University https://www.postandcourier.com/ap/alarming-rise-in-us-virus-cases-seen-as-states-roll-back-lockdowns/article_a789960e-ac05-11ea-9e98-07db710e9337.html 11th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Dawn Referring to the WHO letter Special Assistant to the Prime Minister SAPM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said Pakistan had been making appropriate policy choices from the beginning keeping in view its national context. We started early and took preventive measures with regard to entry of virus from outside through stringent screening at our airports. Our first case was confirmed on Feb 26 while the epidemic was in full swing among our two immediate neighbours many weeks before i.e. China and Iran. While we had 26 cases our prime minister called a meeting of National Security Committee and announced major lockdowns many of which are still enforced e.g. ban on mass gatherings closure of educational institutions marriage halls sports events etc he said in a statement issued here on Wednesday. https://www.dawn.com/news/1562761/pms-aide-downplays-dire-who-warning 11th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNBC Nashville Mayor John Cooper said he intends to curb the citys next reopening phase after reporting a slightly elevated average in Covid19 cases over the last two weeks. Phase three reopening would allow for restaurants and retail stores to operate at full capacity and bars clubs karaoke bars tours live entertainment and transportainment businesses to operate at 50 capacity. Nashvilles local health department reported 6627 total confirmed Covid19 cases on Thursday an increase of 56 cases since Wednesday. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/11/nashville-mayor-delays-next-stage-of-reopening-after-coronavirus-cases-rise.html 11th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Kazakhstan has locked down several towns and villages and tightened restrictions in one of its provinces following a spike in fresh COVID19 cases authorities said on Thursday a month after ending a nationwide state of emergency. In the central Karaganda region retailers and public transit will work shorter hours and private cars will be banned from moving at night from June 13 the government said in a statement. Several towns and villages will be locked down again and 70 of public sector employees in the province will work from home it said adding that many local residents and businesses were disregarding social distancing rules. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-kazakhstan/kazakhstan-locks-down-several-towns-after-spike-in-covid-19-cases-idUSKBN23I2A9 11th Jun 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera Malaysia follows Indonesia in not allowing its citizens to visit Mecca and Medina for the annual pilgrimage. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/malaysia-bars-citizens-hajj-coronavirus-fears-200611102426334.html 11th Jun 2020