"COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis" 2nd Aug 2021
Overnight News RoundUp
Broadway to require vaccinations, masks for audience members
- Broadway theatregoers will need to prove they've been vaccinated for COVID-19 and masks will be required when theatres reopen in the coming weeks, producers announced Friday.
- Audience members will have to wear face coverings and show proof they are fully vaccinated by an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine when they enter theatres until at least the end of October, the Broadway League said in a news release.
- 'Get vaccinated, and we'll see you in the fall,' tweeted Broadway and TV star Jeremy Jordan. Composer Jason Robert Brown also agreed with the move: 'That's right. That's where we're at.'
- There will be exceptions to the vaccine rule for children under 12, who are not yet eligible for any of the approved shots, and for people with a medical condition or religious belief that prevents vaccination, the theatre operators said. Those individuals will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Masks are required for the audience except while eating or drinking in designated locations.
- The League said theatre owners anticipate a review of safety policies in September and may include a relaxation of certain provisions if the science dictates after October.
- 'This is what we have as a community on Broadway decided and then we're going to re-evaluate it in October. It's still fluid,' Bonnie Comley, board president of The Drama League, told The Associated Press. 'This should be a positive thing. All these different unions that don't always agree have come together to be able to do this before people come into the theatre.'
- The move comes a day after the Actors' Equity Association, the union which represents nearly 52,000 actors and stage managers, said it would require cast and crew members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Company members who are not vaccinated, including those under the age of 12, must continue to wear masks, practice physical distancing when possible and undergo testing at least twice a week. The protocols apply to both Broadway productions and Equity-backed shows across the nation.
- Bruce Springsteen's one-man show is the only performance currently running on Broadway. Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's 'Pass Over' is set to open Wednesday at the August Wilson Theatre. Most other theatres will open in September or October after being shuttered since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020.
- Ticket holders for performances scheduled through October 31 will be notified of the vaccination policy, Broadway League officials said. For performances in November 2021 and beyond, the theatre operators will review the policy and make changes if the science dictates it, they said.
- 'As vaccination has proven the most effective way to stay healthy and reduce transmission, I'm pleased that the theatre owners have decided to implement these collective safeguards at all our Broadway houses,' Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin said in a statement.
The Associated Press - 30 July
Broadway to require vaccinations, masks for audience members
Broadway to require vaccinations, masks for audience members
Broadway theatergoers will need to prove they’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19 and masks will be required when theaters reopen in the coming weeks, producers announced Friday. Audience members will have to wear face coverings and show proof they are fully vaccinated by a FDA or WHO authorized vaccine when they enter the theaters until at least the end of October, the Broadway League said in a news release. “Get vaccinated, and we’ll see you in the fall,” tweeted Broadway and TV star Jeremy Jordan. Composer Jason Robert Brown also agreed with the move: “That’s right. That’s where we’re at.”
CDC study shows 74% of people infected in Massachusetts Covid outbreak were fully vaccinated
CDC study shows 74% of people infected in Massachusetts Covid outbreak were fully vaccinated
About three-fourths of people infected in a Massachusetts Covid-19 outbreak were fully vaccinated, according to new data published Friday by the CDC. The new data, published in the U.S. agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, also found that fully vaccinated people who get infected carry as much of the virus in their nose as unvaccinated people.
Delta variant rampant in Asia; Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia post record COVID infections
Delta variant rampant in Asia; Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia post record COVID infections
The Olympics host city Tokyo, as well as Thailand and Malaysia, announced a record number of COVID-19 infections on Saturday, mostly driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant of the disease. Cases surged in Sydney as well, where police cordoned off the central business district to prevent a protest against a strict lockdown that will last until the end of August.
Germany could make unvaccinated pay for COVID tests — report
Germany could make unvaccinated pay for COVID tests — report
The German government plans to end free coronavirus tests once enough Germans are vaccinated, according to a newspaper report. Although 51% of the population is fully inoculated, the pace is slowing.
Britain to offer vaccine booster shots for 32 million next month
Britain to offer vaccine booster shots for 32 million next month
Britain will offer COVID-19 booster vaccines to 32 million Britons starting early next month with up to 2,000 pharmacies set to deliver the programme, The Telegraph reported on Sunday. The campaign could start as soon as Sept. 6, which would see the rollout completed by early December if it goes to plan, the report added.
First Swedish doses delivered through COVAX
First Swedish doses delivered through COVAX
As part of a pledge to deliver at least three million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, the first doses donated by Sweden have been delivered to countries this week, with shipments arriving in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. Per Olsson Fridh, Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden: “Sweden supports a robust multilateral response to the COVID-19 pandemic through COVAX. We have provided over USD 280 million, making Sweden the largest contributor to COVAX per capita.” Dr Seth Berkley, CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: “The Government of Sweden is one of the original six donors to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and has steadily increased its support to global vaccination over the past 20 years. In addition to its already-substantial funding of COVAX, Sweden’s dose donations will help COVAX reach some of those in urgent need of protection against COVID-19.”
More than 100K vaccine breakthroughs identified in US: report
More than 100K vaccine breakthroughs identified in US: report
There have been more than 100,000 breakthrough cases, or cases where fully vaccinated individuals contracted the coronavirus, identified in the U.S., according to a Bloomberg analysis. Bloomberg has gathered data from 35 states since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped tracking all breakthrough cases and found that more than 111,000 breakthrough cases have occurred in those states within the past two months. There are more than 164 million Americans fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Ireland overtakes ‘nearest neighbour’ UK with 72.4% of adults vaccinated, says Taoiseach
Ireland overtakes ‘nearest neighbour’ UK with 72.4% of adults vaccinated, says Taoiseach
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland has overtaken the UK when it comes to vaccine rollout. He said Ireland now had 72.4 per cent of adults fully vaccinated while the UK had 72.1 per cent. “The vaccine rollout is continuing at great pace. Today we edged ahead of our nearest neighbours - a brilliant effort by everyone involved,” he said. Earlier, Mr Martin praised the “positive uptake” of vaccinations at walk-in centres which are open across the country this bank holiday weekend.
Bring in the kids: Estonian city targets youths for jabs
Bring in the kids: Estonian city targets youths for jabs
With her father in tow, 13-year-old Gloria Raudjarv marched through a vaccination center inside a sports hall in Estonia’s second-largest city and up to a nurse for her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Pfizer and Moderna raise prices for COVID-19 vaccines in EU
Pfizer and Moderna raise prices for COVID-19 vaccines in EU
Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc have raised the prices of their COVID-19 vaccines in their latest European Union supply contracts, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The new price for the Pfizer shot was 19.50 euros ($23.15)against 15.50 euros previously, the newspaper said, citing portions of the contracts seen.
Lebanon restricts cafes, beaches to the vaccinated or COVID tested
Lebanon restricts cafes, beaches to the vaccinated or COVID tested
Lebanon is to limit entry to restaurants, cafes, pubs and beaches to people holding COVID-19 vaccine certificates or those who have taken antibodies tests, the tourism ministry said on Friday. Non-vaccinated employees of these establishments would be required to conduct a PCR test every 72 hours, it added. The move comes amidst a surge in infections with around 1,104 positive cases registered on Thursday compared to a few hundred a day in previous months.
Covid-19: Biden tells states to offer $100 vaccine incentive as cases rise
Covid-19: Biden tells states to offer $100 vaccine incentive as cases rise
US President Joe Biden has called for states to offer $100 (£71) to the newly vaccinated in an effort to address flagging jab rates amid virus surges. The president also issued a strict new vaccine requirement for US federal workers, the nation's largest workforce with some two million people. The order requires employees to show proof of vaccination or be subjected to mandatory testing and masking. Just under half of the US is fully vaccinated, according to official data.
Israel's president gets third COVID-19 shot, urges boosters for over-60s
Israel's president gets third COVID-19 shot, urges boosters for over-60s
Israeli President Isaac Herzog received a third shot of coronavirus vaccine on Friday, kicking off a campaign to give booster doses to people aged over 60 as part of efforts to slow the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Covid-19: Shapps backs businesses who want workers to get jabbed
Covid-19: Shapps backs businesses who want workers to get jabbed
The transport secretary has backed workplaces that want to force staff to get vaccinated but said Covid passports will not need to be shown by customers in shops and pubs. Grant Shapps said that it was a “good idea” that employers demand their workers show certification before going back into the office.
Thailand renews COVID-19 vaccination drive for monks at risk
Thailand renews COVID-19 vaccination drive for monks at risk
Thailand began a renewed drive to vaccinate Buddhist monks and other temple workers in Bangkok against the coronavirus on Friday, as the country battles its most deadly surge in infections since the pandemic began. Officials said they planned to provide AstraZeneca vaccines to 221 temples in the Thai capital, before beginning distribution in other parts of the country.
Perspex screens ‘may increase Covid-19 transmission risk if wrongly positioned’
Perspex screens ‘may increase Covid-19 transmission risk if wrongly positioned’
Covid secure” perspex screens in workplaces may increase risk of virus transmission if they are placed in positions that block airflow or cause poor circulation, scientists advising the Government have warned. In an undated document released on Friday by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), the experts said there is very little overall evidence on the effectiveness of these barriers at reducing infection transmission through droplets.
Federal officials warn of fourth COVID-19 wave driven by Delta variant if reopening is too fast
Federal officials warn of fourth COVID-19 wave driven by Delta variant if reopening is too fast
Canada is in a race against the clock to vaccinate enough people to avoid the worst-case scenarios of a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant. Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam and her deputy Howard Njoo presented the monthly modelling update at a news conference on Friday, showing an uptick in COVID-19 cases. They outlined the potential for numbers to surge in the next month past those seen in the last wave of the pandemic, even if vaccinations increase. However, they said the increase may not lead to a comparable surge in hospitalizations and deaths.
Europe has caught up to the U.S. on coronavirus vaccinations — and is deploying near-mandates to get further
Europe has caught up to the U.S. on coronavirus vaccinations — and is deploying near-mandates to get further
It wasn't quite a mandate, but the announcement landed with nearly the same power. After Italy said last week that its coronavirus health passport would be required to go to the movies or dine indoors, daily bookings for inoculations soared. A new kind of patient started arriving at vaccination centers: people who had been wavering or reluctant. In one waiting room in Rome, Federica Puccetti, 19, said she still didn’t want the shot. But she had plans to go to the island of Sardinia. Inoculation had become the path to a normal vacation.
Boris Johnson faces Tory revolt over 'discriminatory' vaccine passport
Boris Johnson faces Tory revolt over 'discriminatory' vaccine passport
Boris Johnson is facing a mounting revolt from Tory MPs over vaccine passports
Some Tory figures believe requiring proof of jab domestically is 'discriminatory'
Came as Grant Shapps said requiring workers to be double-jabbed is 'good idea'
Boris Johnson backs plans to ALLOW thousands of Chinese and Russian jabbed delegates to Cop26
Boris Johnson backs plans to ALLOW thousands of Chinese and Russian jabbed delegates to Cop26
PM gives green light for officials to attend conference in Glasgow later this year. Many have only received unregulated Sinovac, Sinopharm and Sputnik V jabs
But plans for an 'amber watch list' for holidays have sparked uproar in Whitehall
Ministers warned that the scheme could wreck the hopes of millions of Britons
It would see tourists warned while abroad that amber spots could go on red list
Spain and Italy could both be placed into the new category as soon as next week
Residents: Myanmar leaders use pandemic as political weapon
Residents: Myanmar leaders use pandemic as political weapon
With coronavirus deaths rising in Myanmar, allegations are growing from residents and human rights activists that the military government, which seized control in February, is using the pandemic to consolidate power and crush opposition. In the last week, the per capita death rate in Myanmar surpassed those of Indonesia and Malaysia to become the worst in Southeast Asia. The country’s crippled health care system has rapidly become overwhelmed with new patients sick with COVID-19.
Supplies of medical oxygen are running low, and the government has restricted its private sale in many places, saying it is trying to prevent hoarding. But that has led to widespread allegations that the stocks are being directed to government supporters and military-run hospitals.
Study: Vaccinated people can carry as much virus as others
Study: Vaccinated people can carry as much virus as others
In another dispiriting setback for the nation’s efforts to stamp out the coronavirus, scientists who studied a big COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts concluded that vaccinated people who got so-called breakthrough infections carried about the same amount of the coronavirus as those who did not get the shots. Health officials on Friday released details of that research, which was key in this week’s decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the delta variant is fueling infection surges. The authors said the findings suggest that the CDC’s mask guidance should be expanded to include the entire country, even outside of hot spots.
Fauci says he expects no new U.S. lockdowns despite surging Delta cases
Fauci says he expects no new U.S. lockdowns despite surging Delta cases
President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Sunday he does not expect the United States will return to lockdowns, despite the growing risks of COVID-19 infections posed by the Delta variant. "I don't think we're going to see lockdowns," Fauci, who is also director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on ABC's "This Week."
U.S. CDC internal report says Delta variant as contagious as chickenpox - report
U.S. CDC internal report says Delta variant as contagious as chickenpox - report
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described the Delta variant of the coronavirus as being as transmissible as chickenpox and cautioned it could cause severe disease, the Washington Post said, citing an internal CDC document.
CDC study shows three-fourths of people infected in Massachusetts coronavirus outbreak were vaccinated but few required hospitalization
CDC study shows three-fourths of people infected in Massachusetts coronavirus outbreak were vaccinated but few required hospitalization
A sobering scientific analysis published Friday found that three-quarters of the people infected during an explosive coronavirus outbreak fueled by the delta variant were fully vaccinated. The report on the Massachusetts cases, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers key evidence bolstering the hypothesis that vaccinated people can spread the more transmissible variant and may be a factor in the summer surge of infections. The data, detailed in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, helped persuade agency scientists to reverse recommendations on mask-wearing and advise that vaccinated individuals wear masks in indoor public settings in some circumstances.
SAGE: Next Covid variant could kill one in three people
SAGE: Next Covid variant could kill one in three people
SAGE today warns a future Covid mutant strain could be as deadly as MERS. No10's expert panel say coronavirus mutates most when it is in high prevalence. Group warns strains could become more resistant to vaccines and antivirals
Delta variant raises fears of worsening mutations
Delta variant raises fears of worsening mutations
The rapid spread of the delta variant is raising concerns among scientists that the coronavirus could mutate into more transmissible or deadlier strains. The fresh fears come as the U.S. vaccination rate has largely plateaued and with much of the world still unvaccinated. Such a large number of people without even one vaccine dose gives the virus more chances to spread, replicate and potentially develop mutations. Experts say that while mutations are not a certainty, the odds will remain high unless more vaccines are administered. And they warn that the highly transmissible delta variant, which came from mutations, could seem tame in comparison to future strains.
First case of delta variant detected in El Salvador
First case of delta variant detected in El Salvador
The country of El Salvador on Saturday said it had confirmed its first coronavirus infection caused by the highly transmissible delta variant, with the country’s president warning that the true number of cases of the strain could already be much higher. El Salvador’s health minister, Francisco Alabi, announced the news in a press conference, according to a tweet shared by the government official. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele retweeted the news, noting that the infection did not appear to come from abroad and that the delta variant could have already circulated among local communities.
Pfizer says immunity can drop to 83% within four months in people who got its COVID-19 shot, further bolstering the company case for a booster
Pfizer says immunity can drop to 83% within four months in people who got its COVID-19 shot, further bolstering the company case for a booster
The effectiveness of Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot can drop to 83.7% within four to six months after getting the second dose of its vaccine. This is the latest indication that vaccine-induced immunity to the virus can wane and some kind of boost may be necessary in the future.
If we want kids back in school and the economy to prosper, more of the US needs to get vaccinated, expert says
If we want kids back in school and the economy to prosper, more of the US needs to get vaccinated, expert says
The United States is facing a pivotal moment in the coronavirus pandemic, given that the Delta variant is spurring surges in cases and hospitalizations: It must increase vaccinations or risk magnifying the impact, the surgeon general said. "If we want to keep our kids in school, if we want to protect the economy, if we want our country to get through this pandemic, we have to leave no stone unturned in making sure people get vaccinated," US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Thursday.
West African health officials race to vaccinate amid spikes
West African health officials race to vaccinate amid spikes
A resurgence of coronavirus cases in West Africa is hitting the region hard, inundating cemeteries where funeral numbers are rising and hospitals where beds are becoming scarce. Those visible shifts are also pushing a reluctant population to seek out the vaccines in larger numbers at a time when shipments of doses are arriving from multiple sources after nearly grinding to a halt in recent months. Thousands of new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region in the past few weeks amid low vaccination rates and the spread of the delta variant, with some countries seeing their highest numbers since the pandemic began.
Florida has more new Covid cases than ever before
Florida has more new Covid cases than ever before
Florida reported 21,683 new cases of Covid-19, the state’s highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, according to federal health data released Saturday. The state has become the new national epicenter for the virus, accounting for around a fifth of all new cases in the U.S. Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccine requirements, and along with the state Legislature, has limited local officials’ ability to impose restrictions meant to stop the spread of Covid.
Hundreds of staffers at two San Francisco hospitals test positive for COVID-19
Hundreds of staffers at two San Francisco hospitals test positive for COVID-19
At least 233 staffers at a pair of San Francisco hospitals have tested positive for COVID-19, the majority of whom were fully vaccinated but became infected with the delta variant. Fifty-five cases were discovered among staff members at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital as of July 31, Cristina Padilla, a public relations officer at the hospital, told The Hill. Of those who tested positive, roughly 75 to 80 percent were fully vaccinated, according to The New York Times. More than 7,000 staff members reportedly work at the facility.
Kenya suspends in-person meetings to curb COVID-19 spread
Kenya suspends in-person meetings to curb COVID-19 spread
Kenya's health minister said on Friday the government had suspended all in-person meetings and public gatherings to try to contain COVID-19, whose spread in the country he now attributes to the more infectious Delta variant. Mutahi Kagwe said in a televised address that the government had asked public and private-sector employers to allow their workers to work from home, unless they were classified as essential services.
India reports most new COVID cases in three weeks
India reports most new COVID cases in three weeks
India reported 44,230 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the most in three weeks, the latest evidence of a worrying trend of rising cases that has forced one state to lock down amid fears of another wave of infections.
Covid-19 pandemic: Japan widens emergency over 'frightening' spike
Covid-19 pandemic: Japan widens emergency over 'frightening' spike
Japan is extending a state of emergency in Tokyo and expanding it to new regions as the Olympic Games host faces a surge in Covid-19 cases. The restrictions are being imposed in areas surrounding the capital as well as in the city of Osaka. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga warned infections were spreading at an unprecedented rate, urging the country to watch the Games from home. New cases are being fuelled by the more infectious Delta variant.
Pregnant women urged to get Covid jab amid rise in hospital admissions
Pregnant women urged to get Covid jab amid rise in hospital admissions
England’s top midwife is urging expectant mums to get the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible, as new data suggests a worrying rise in Covid-19 hospital admissions among unvaccinated pregnant women in the UK. There is also evidence that the Delta variant poses a significantly greater risk to pregnant women than previous strains. The data suggests that the overwhelming majority (98%) of 171 pregnant women hospitalised with coronavirus symptoms since mid-May had not received a Covid-19 vaccine, compared to just three women who had received a first dose, and no fully vaccinated pregnant women.
Data suggests Russia's COVID-19 death toll is far higher than reported
Data suggests Russia's COVID-19 death toll is far higher than reported
At the start of June, St. Petersburg’s local administration stopped publishing information about how many COVID-19 patients had been hospitalized in the Russian city. The sudden disappearance of the previously daily reported figures happened to coincide with the opening of one the city‘s most prestigious annual events, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The forum, a gathering of Russia’s elite and a showcase for its biggest companies, has become a flagship event under President Vladimir Putin. Over five days, 13,000 people were expected to attend the event, where Putin told the audience that life was "gradually returning to its normal routine” after the pandemic. But the forum was opening just as St. Petersburg was seeing a terrifying surge in COVID-19 cases, as a third wave fueled in part by the delta variant bore down on the country. The last bulletin before the numbers vanished had shown St. Petersburg hospitalizing 500 people a day -- a record number and one that meant the city would run out of hospital beds within days.
Delta Variant Tests China’s Covid-19 Strategy
Delta Variant Tests China’s Covid-19 Strategy
China’s coronavirus controls, which have largely succeeded in keeping Covid-19 at bay over the past year, are facing a fresh test as the highly infectious Delta variant spreads quickly within the country. The cluster of cases, which has infected at least 200 people, is modest by global standards. But infections have spread quickly to at least 26 cities in 16 provinces since the cluster was first detected on July 20 during a routine test of nine airport cleaners in Nanjing, a city of 9.3 million people in eastern China. The rapid spread of infections by people with no symptoms—or only very mild ones—in the latest cluster poses a challenge to China, which has strictly controlled its borders for more than a year while implementing a regimen of mass testing and quarantine domestically. Many of the cases have remained undetected for days before they were found through contact tracing or during mass testing.
Pakistan's largest city to undergo partial lockdown to curb virus spread
Pakistan's largest city to undergo partial lockdown to curb virus spread
Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, is to undergo a week-long partial lockdown starting Saturday to curb the spread of the coronavirus Delta variant, as the city’s hospitals are close to saturation levels, the provincial chief minister said on Friday.
Philippines to place Manila area in lockdown to curb Delta variant
Philippines to place Manila area in lockdown to curb Delta variant
Lockdown aims to prevent case surge, overcapacity in hospitals. Travel ban for 10 countries extended to mid-August. Philippine shares close down 3.5% at nine-week low. Lockdown could cost the economy over $4 bln - minister
Coronavirus: EU vaccine drive picks up pace while US stalls
Coronavirus: EU vaccine drive picks up pace while US stalls
The EU's once-faltering vaccine rollout has now overtaken that of the United States, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing figures compiled by Our World in Data. But figuring out who is ahead in the race to protect their citizens from COVID-19 depends largely on how one crunches the numbers. The US newspaper pointed to data released on Thursday showing that the bloc had administered 103.32 doses per 100 people, compared to 102.67 in the United States. It shows that the EU's vaccination drive has certainly picked up pace after initially being hindered by supply and distribution problems.
Baton Rouge children's hospital nears capacity, braces for surge in Covid cases ahead of the school year
Baton Rouge children's hospital nears capacity, braces for surge in Covid cases ahead of the school year
A children's hospital in Louisiana is experiencing a wave of Covid-19 hospitalizations as the Delta variant pervades the region. Dr. Trey Dunbar, president of Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital, said the spike in Covid-19 cases right now is twice what they saw in the pandemic's initial surge last year.
"We've seen over the past couple of weeks a pretty dramatic increase," Dunbar told CNN by phone Friday. "A good number more of children are requiring hospitalization."