"COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis" 12th Aug 2020
News Highlights
Auckland back in lockdown as coronavirus returns to New Zealand
After being coronavirus-free for 102 days, New Zealand reported four new cases of Covid-19 in Auckland and placed the city under lockdown. The country had won global acclaim for its successful efforts to control the pandemic, but the news of fresh cases sent panic across the nation as people rushed to the supermarkets to stock up and businesses prepared to shut.
Russia approves coronavirus vaccine despite ongoing testing
Russia became the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine, despite limited testing and clinical trials which are still ongoing. President Vladimir Putin announced the news, stating that one of his daughters had received the vaccine already. Experts around the world are concerned about the lack of data regarding the vaccine's efficacy and warned that an ineffective vaccine would make the situation worse.
Global coronavirus cases double to 20 million in just 45 days
It took about six months for the world to record the first 10 million cases of Covid-19 since the outbreak first started in China late last year. However, it only took a little over six weeks for that count to double to 20 million cases, with more than half the numbers being reported from the U.S., India and Brazil. Health officials believe the count is even higher than this number, due to testing limitations, and the high number of asymptomatic cases.
Bhutan orders national lockdown after rise in cases
Bhutan has managed to avoid the worst of the pandemic, and with only 113 Covid-19 cases it has the lowest numbers of any South Asian country. However, authorities ordered a nationwide lockdown on Tuesday after an infected resident came into close contact with people in the capital, despite having been cleared after being in quarantine for three weeks.
Lockdown Exit
Coronavirus: Pupils in Scotland begin returning to school
Scotland's pupils have returned to classes for the first time since lockdown began nearly five months ago. Borders and Shetland schools are the first to reopen with most others following on Wednesday. Physical distancing among students will not generally be required but hygiene and safety measures such as one-way systems have been put in place. Except for children of key workers, most of the country's 700,000 pupils have not been in class since 20 March.
Coronavirus: How the pandemic is hitting Britain's poorest communities
2020 has become one of the hardest years the charity has seen in its long history.
In the basement of their headquarters on Wood Street there is a dedicated team sorting donations and stock in a purpose-built modern space, but the basement is where 300 street children would have crammed in for overnight shelter over a century ago. The friendly staff are trying their best to juggle the demand – more and more families are being referred to them.
Coronavirus: UK to nosedive into recession after COVID-19 triggers record slump
Britain is to be officially declared in recession for the first time since the financial crash with figures set to show the COVID-19 crisis triggered a record economic slump. The dramatic 21% downturn between April and June - the worst in western Europe - is expected to be confirmed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday after a 2.2% fall in the first three months of 2020. A recession is defined as two successive quarters of decline in gross domestic product (GDP), which has not been seen in the UK since the financial crisis back in 2008.
Coronavirus England: Infection rates are rising in under-65s
Coronavirus infection rates among all age groups under 65 have been on the rise since lockdown was eased, official data shows. Among people aged 15 to 44 in England, the rate has increased by 35 per cent since July 5 - a day after 'Super Saturday' when bars, restaurants and cinemas reopened and a large chunk of the workforce returned to work. A total of 11.9 people per 100,000 population in the age group caught the virus in the week ending August 2, compared to 8.8 per 100,000 five weeks ago. A combination of people having more social interactions and a ramping up of widespread testing is likely behind the rise, experts say.
The latest Public Health England data shows weekly infections have jumped by 40 per cent in infants during the same time period. But cases in this age group are still relatively rare, with just 3.8 youngsters per 100,000 being diagnosed per week compared to 2.7 at the start of July. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline the reopening of nurseries and pre-schools could be to blame.
Exit Strategies
Russia to start mass use of its Covid-19 vaccine in coming weeks
Russia has become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a vaccine against Covid-19, with mass production and immunisation of key workers to begin in the next few weeks. The move, the first time a Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for civilian use, comes after just two months of human trials and underscores Moscow’s desire to rush the vaccine through testing and trial procedures at breakneck speed in an attempt to beat western pharmaceutical companies. “This morning, for the first time in the world, a vaccine against the coronavirus infection has been registered,” announced President Vladimir Putin at a televised meeting with government officials on Tuesday.
Now UK will publish THREE separate Covid-19 death tolls
Now UK will publish THREE separate Covid-19 death tolls amid statistics confusion after Public Health England alleged fiasco which saw it count anyone who had ever tested positive
GP services charge for 'free' Covid-19 test consultations
Some GP services have been charging for consultations for Covid-19 tests despite health service guidelines saying they should be free of charge. KDoc, the out of hours GP service for Kildare and West Wicklow, reportedly charged a number of people, who were concerned they had symptoms, for phone consultations over the weekend.
NHS appeal for those who have had Covid-19 to donate their blood plasma
The NHS is calling for people who have had Covid-19 to donate their blood plasma as a possible treatment for those suffering from the virus. The process, which is similar to giving blood, only takes 45 minutes and can be used to help treat patients who aren’t producing enough of their antibodies to fight Covid-19. Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Consultant Haematologist Professor Mike Murphy told Adil Ray and Kate Garraway: "We still need to confirm the effectiveness of the treatment in randomised clinical trials. They are the gold standard where some patients receive plasma, some patients don’t and we compare the results in the two, so we are urgently appealing for anyone who has suffered from coronavirus and recovered to come forward and donate plasma so that we have enough for the clinical trials and we can scale up production so there is enough to treat the patient and many more patients if the trials demonstrate that plasma is really effective."
Trump considers blocking Americans who may have Covid-19 from coming home
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a measure to block US citizens and permanent residents from returning home if they are suspected of being infected with coronavirus. A senior US official told Reuters that draft regulation, which has not been finalized and could change, would give the government authorization to block individuals who could “reasonably” be believed to have contracted Covid-19 or other diseases. Donald Trump has instituted a series of sweeping immigration restrictions since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, suspending some legal immigration and allowing US border authorities to rapidly deport migrants caught at the border without standard legal processes.
Coronavirus: Brazil becomes second country to pass 100,000 deaths after US
Brazil’s coronavirus death toll has surpassed 100,000, with the country’s affliction showing no signs of abating as most cities reopen shops and restaurants. The nation became the second in the world to reach the grim milestone by official counts
Boris Johnson sets date for next round of lockdown easing in England
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced when he will set out the next stage of lockdown easing for England. It comes after measures which were due to come into force on August 1 were delayed. Instead parts of the country went into local lockdown and planed national easing measures were delayed for at least two weeks. The measures included reopening skate rinks, bowling alleys and casinos as well as allowing wedding receptions of up to 30 people - and expanding the trial of live audiences at sporting events and live performances. Those measures are currently on hold.
Will there be a second wave of coronavirus in the UK? If cases of Covid-19 could surge again in UK as Boris Johnson issues Europe warning
Lockdown restrictions around the world have continued to lift, but could a second wave of the virus hit the UK? This is everything you need to know about a potential second wave of coronavirus infections as lockdown restrictions begin to lift around the world.
Coronavirus: Spanish Health Minister ‘Not Ruling Out’ New Lockdowns where Necessary to Control Outbreaks
THE director of the Centre for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), Fernando Simón, warned last night that, among the measures to deal with the coronavirus, the possibility of imposing new confinements where necessary to control transmission still remain. At the press conference to assess the evolution of the pandemic, Simón pointed out that confinement is one of the responses that can be given to the increase in infections in a given place, apart from carrying out PCR tests and quarantining the contacts of people who have been infected.
North Korea's Red Cross deploys thousands of volunteers to help cope with coronavirus, floods
North Korea’s Red Cross has deployed 43,000 volunteers to help communities prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus and provide flood assistance, an official with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Monday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared an emergency last month and imposed a lockdown on Kaesong, near the inter-Korean border, after a man who defected to the South in 2017 returned to the city showing coronavirus symptoms. Heavy rain and flooding in recent days have also sparked concern about crop damage and food supplies in the isolated country.
Coronavirus fears in North Korea as thousands of volunteers deployed to prevent outbreaks
North Korea's Red Cross has deployed 43,000 volunteers to help communities prevent coronavirus outbreaks after fears the country had its first recorded case.
It comes two weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un placed the city of Kaesong in lockdown over the suspected coronavirus infection. He declared an emergency after a man who defected to South Korea in 2017 returned to the city showing suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
Spain defends pandemic response as case numbers overtake Britain
Spain’s government defended its response to the coronavirus pandemic on Monday after official data showed the country had overtaken Britain to register the highest total number of cases in Western Europe. “Appropriate measures are being taken to control the pandemic in coordination” with the regions, the government said in a statement, after experts questioned its policies. “The data shows that we are being very active in tracking and detecting the virus.” Health ministry data showed 1,486 new cases were diagnosed in the past day, bringing the cumulative total to 322,980, compared with 311,641 in Britain. The disease claimed 65 lives in Spain over the past seven days. More than 28,000 people have died from the disease in Spain, while more than 46,000 have died in Britain. The government also said it had tested nearly 7.5 million people since the start of the pandemic, with over 400,000 tested in the past week alone.
Papua New Guinea to lift lockdown despite surge in COVID-19 cases
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is pressing ahead with plans to lift lockdown measures in the Pacific nation this week, even as a recent sharp spike in coronavirus infections worries health officials. Marape said a two-week lockdown in the capital of Port Moresby would be lifted from Wednesday, despite the country’s reported cases of COVID-19 doubling over the past week. “Whilst the spread is there, we have to adapt to living with COVID-19 this year, instead of taking on drastic measures,” Marape told a news conference on Monday.
Partisan Exits
Ireland's Strange Rule Punishing those Unemployed by COVID-19 Going Abroad
Irish workers who have become unemployed due to the Coronavirus pandemic are facing a kick in the teeth from their Government – which has said that they will also lose their welfare payments if they travel abroad against public guidance. While the Irish Government’s guidance is to avoid non-essential overseas travel, it has not banned movement in or out of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, in mid-July, the Government quietly introduced a new rule whereby those receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) – an enhanced social welfare payment for those unable to work because of the Coronavirus – would lose this income if they travelled abroad. This, in effect, has created a two-tier system – with the majority of the population able to travel freely, while those on PUP banned from doing so.
Coronavirus UK: Anti-lockdown activists storm Morrisons
A group of anti-mask activists has staged a protest inside a Morrisons, urging food shoppers to ‘resist the new world order agenda’. StandUp X members told the public to ‘ask questions’ and refuse to consent to coronavirus lockdowns, as they demonstrated inside the supermarket in Peckham, south London two weeks ago. The footage emerges after masks were made mandatory in more indoor settings – including museums, cinemas and places of worship – in England and Scotland on Friday. Demonstrators shouted ‘your masks are so bad for you’, while others claimed the British people were being ‘conditioned’, as customers looked on in Morrisons.
Continued Lockdown
France extends ban on mass gatherings to October 30: PM
The renewed spread of coronavirus in France could become harder to control without a collective effort to stop a rise in the infection rate, its prime minister said on Tuesday. The public was becoming careless, Jean Castex warned, speaking shortly before health authorities said new daily infections were up by 1,397 over 24 hours, almost twice as much as Monday, to reach 204,172. “If we don’t act collectively, we expose ourselves to the heightened risk that the rebound in the epidemic becomes hard to control,” Castex said during a visit to a hospital intensive care ward in southern France. A health ministry statement also reported 15 new deaths in hospital due the disease, compared to an increase of 16 over a three-day period between Monday and Saturday, with the total death toll standing at 30,354.
Bhutan in virus lockdown for the first time
Bhutan has been largely shielded from coronavirus but on Tuesday, the remote Himalayan kingdom famous for measuring gross national happiness went into lockdown for the first time. The country of 800,000 people between India and China has recorded just 113 novel coronavirus cases and is one of the few nations to report zero deaths. The lockdown ordered in the early hours of Tuesday allows only essential services for an initial five to six days, said Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, a doctor who continues to practise on weekends.
Bhutan orders first coronavirus lockdown as cases hit 113
Bhutan ordered its first nationwide lockdown on Tuesday after a returning resident tested positive for coronavirus after being discharged from quarantine and coming into close contact with people in the capital Thimphu. The case took the total in the tiny Himalayan kingdom to 113, still the lowest in South Asia, and it has yet to record a fatality. Bhutan, which is heavily reliant on high-end tourists, banned tourism in March after an American visitor tested positive for the virus, and ordered a three week mandatory quarantine for everyone returning from abroad. The lockdown was ordered after a 27-year-old Bhutanese woman, who returned from Kuwait and was discharged from quarantine after testing negative, tested positive at a clinic on Monday.
Bhutan in virus lockdown for the first time
Bhutan has been largely shielded from coronavirus but on Tuesday, the remote Himalayan kingdom famous for measuring gross national happiness went into lockdown for the first time. The country of 800,000 people between India and China has recorded just 113 novel coronavirus cases and is one of the few nations to report zero deaths. The lockdown ordered in the early hours of Tuesday allows only essential services for an initial five to six days, said Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, a doctor who continues to practise on weekends.
Scientific Viewpoint
J&J eyes one billion doses of potential COVID-19 shot in 2021, weighs challenge trials
Johnson & Johnson could produce 1 billion doses of its potential COVID-19 vaccine next year if it proves successful and would consider injecting healthy volunteers with the novel coronavirus if there are not enough patients for final trials,
Antibody drugs could be key tools against Covid-19. But will they matter?
From the moment Covid-19 emerged as a threat, one approach to making drugs to treat or prevent the disease seemed to hold the most promise: They’re known as monoclonal antibodies. Now, scientists are on the brink of getting important data that may indicate whether these desperately needed therapies could be safe and effective. Clinical trials involving a pair of antibodies developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals will read out early results in September. A separate effort from Eli Lilly could yield data later in the fall. Despite experts’ eagerness to see the data, however, there remains a debate over just how significant a role any antibody treatment might play in changing the course of the pandemic.
Dr. Fauci fears the 'convergence' of COVID-19 and the flu this fall could be a 'very difficult time'
Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Americans of the possibility that the COVID-19 pandemic could converge with flu season this year. Fauci said such a situation could prove to be a 'difficult time' for citizens. He added that there should be a 'universal wearing of masks' as schools are reopened across the country. Fauci said photos of packed school hallways with very few people wearing face masks was 'disturbing'
Fauci urged Americans to follow public health guidelines to curb the virus' spread
Asthma patients not at higher risk of Covid-19 complications, research suggests
Patients with asthma do not seem to be at risk from complications associated with being hospitalised with Covid-19 disease, in sharp contrast to other viral infections say French researchers. In a group of 768 patients hospitalised from March to April, 37 patients (4.8%) had asthma – a broadly similar proportion to the general population of the same age in France. The patients were generally younger than non-asthmatic patients hospitalised for Covid-19 and far more likely to be female, the researchers reported in the European Respiratory Journal. None of the patients with asthma experienced a severe asthma attack warranting specific treatment on admission to hospital and their asthma therapy was unchanged, supporting previous research that Covid-19 is less likely to exacerbate asthma than other respiratory viral infections, the researchers concluded.
Global Coronavirus Cases Top 20 Million, Doubling in 45 Days
The number of coronavirus cases topped 20 million on Tuesday, more than half of them from the U.S., India and Brazil. Health officials believe the actual number is much higher than that tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, given testing limitations and the fact that as many as 40% of those who are infected have no symptoms. It took six months or so to get to 10 million cases after the virus first appeared in central China late last year. It took just over six weeks for that number to double. An AP analysis of data through Aug. 9 showed the U.S., India and Brazil together accounted for nearly two-thirds of all reported infections since the world hit 15 million coronavirus cases on July 22.
Putin says Russia has registered world's first COVID-19 vaccine
President Vladimir Putin said Russia cleared the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine for use and hopes to begin mass inoculation soon, even before clinical testing has finished. “The first registration has taken place,” Putin said Tuesday at a televised government meeting, adding that one of his daughters has already been given the vaccine. “I hope that we can soon begin mass production.” The move paves the way for widespread use of the vaccine among Russia’s population, with production starting next month, although it may take until January to complete trials. Medical workers could begin receiving the drug by the end of the month, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said at the meeting. The announcement represents a propaganda coup for the Kremlin amid a global race to develop vaccines against the coronavirus pandemic and accusations that Russian hackers sought to steal international drug research. The disease has killed nearly 750,000 people, infected more than 20 million and crippled national economies. Companies including AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna Inc. are still conducting final-stage trials of their vaccines in studies that are expected to soon yield results.
Philippines' Duterte has 'huge trust' in Russia vaccine, volunteers for trial
Russia on Tuesday became the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for mass domestic inoculation even as the final stage of clinical trials continue. Russia has offered to supply or co-manufacture the vaccine in the Philippines, which said it was ready to work with Moscow on trials, supply and production. The Philippines has among Asia's highest case numbers, which rose by 2,987 to 139,538 on Tuesday. "I will tell President (Vladimir) Putin that I have huge trust in your studies in combating COVID and I believe that the vaccine that you have produced is really good for humanity," Duterte said late on Monday. The global race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine has raised concern that speed and national prestige could compromise safety.
Coronavirus: Philippine president Duterte offers to be ‘injected in public’ with Russian vaccine to dispel safety concerns
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has offered to be “injected in public” with a Russian coronavirus vaccine, as Vladimir Putin announced the jabs had been approved for launch by his health ministry despite international scepticism. Mr Duterte declared he had “huge trust” that the vaccine would be “really good for humanity” despite safety concerns raised by virologists and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Russian ambassador to Manila said last week Vladimir Putin’s government would be willing to supply the vaccine to the Philippines as Covid-19 infections surge in the Southeast Asian nation.
Russia's coronavirus vaccine has 'rather little detail' and an unfit jab could cause 'collateral damage', experts worry
Russia has become the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine after less than two months of human testing. President Vladimir Putin has announced the jab was officially registered with the Russian Health Ministry after it brought about “stable” immunity “quite effectively”. Putin added one of his two daughters received the vaccine and is doing well.Russia’s deputy prime minister Tatyana Golikova has said vaccination will begin among medical staff in August, before being rolled out to the public as part of a mass campaign in early 2021. Some experts, however, are wary about the lack of data demonstrating the jab’s efficacy. One warned the “collateral damage” of introducing a “less than safe and effective” vaccine could exacerbate the world’s “current problems insurmountably”.
Coronavirus updates: Russia becomes 1st country to approve COVID-19 vaccine
Over 20 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some national governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their outbreaks.
Philippines' Duterte has 'huge trust' in Russia vaccine, volunteers for trial
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has lauded Russia’s efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine and is willing to personally participate in trials, as he welcomed a supply offer from Moscow that he expects will be free of charge. Russia on Tuesday became the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for mass domestic inoculation even as the final stage of clinical trials continue. Russia has offered to supply or co-manufacture the vaccine in the Philippines, which said it was ready to work with Moscow on trials, supply and production. The Philippines has among Asia’s highest case numbers, which rose by 2,987 to 139,538 on Tuesday. “I will tell President (Vladimir) Putin that I have huge trust in your studies in combating COVID and I believe that the vaccine that you have produced is really good for humanity,” Duterte said late on Monday.
Coronavirus: Local Covid-19 tracing 'needs more resources'
Joint working between local and national teams on coronavirus testing and contact tracing should be properly funded, says a public health official. Deputy director of public health for Luton Lucy Hubber said more resources should be allocated to councils to cover the costs of finding people. It comes after the government said it will provide councils with with "ring-fenced teams" of the contact tracers. Initial trials of joint working has improved the success of the system.
Coronavirus Resurgence
Why a second wave of coronavirus cases in Greece has prompted new restrictions
Greece has formally entered a second wave, following a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. The country had become a top destination for British holidaymakers following the changes to quarantine guidelines for people visiting Spain, who now have to isolate for two weeks on their return to the UK. But the Greek government has now imposed new restrictions and curfews on bars and restaurants coming into effect on Tuesday across major tourist areas, including the islands, while holidaymakers from certain countries will now need proof of a negative Covid-19 test before entering.
Spain fears strict new coronavirus restrictions as infections rise
There are fears that tough coronavirus restrictions will be reimposed in Spain following a surge in positive cases. Latest official figures released by Spanish health officials reveal the country has overtaken the UK to record the highest number of cases in Europe. Nervous tourist bosses are concerned that any tightening of rules to prevent an escalation of the virus could effectively end any hopes of kickstarting the season during what remains of summer. This applies especially in resorts already hard-hit by a lack of British tourists following UK government guidelines against all-but-essential travel to the country.
Coronavirus infections stabilise in Australia's virus epicentre
Australia’s second-most populous state reported only a small rise in new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, boosting hopes that case numbers are stabilising after a second wave forced authorities to put the city of Melbourne back into lockdown. Victoria state, which currently accounts for nearly all of Australia’s new cases, detected 331 COVID-19 infections and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, up from 322 infections and the same number of fatalities a day earlier, health officials said. Daily infections in Victoria peaked at 725 on Aug. 5 and have been trending lower in recent days, following the imposition of a hard lockdown in Melbourne on July 19.
Sweden's daily coronavirus case increases are lower than Victoria where there's a Stage 4 lockdown
Sweden's daily increase in COVID-19 has been lower than Victoria in lockdown.
Scandinavian nation number lower in four out of five days since start of August.
In one example, Sweden had 169 new cases compare with 725 in Victoria
Coronavirus is leaving Australians feeling angry over COVID-19 restriction breaches, worried for loved ones
From the stress not being able to hold the hand of an elderly loved one, to rage at attempts to force a state to open its borders — Australians are experiencing an array of emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a sample of how hundreds of readers from across the country feel:
Coronavirus infections stabilise in Australia's virus epicentre
Australia’s second-most populous state reported only a small rise in new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, boosting hopes that case numbers are stabilising after a second wave forced authorities to put the city of Melbourne back into lockdown. Victoria state, which currently accounts for nearly all of Australia’s new cases, detected 331 COVID-19 infections and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, up from 322 infections and the same number of fatalities a day earlier, health officials said.
Daily infections in Victoria peaked at 725 on Aug. 5 and have been trending lower in recent days, following the imposition of a hard lockdown in Melbourne on July 19.
While the lockdown has caused significant economic harm, authorities said the restrictions that will run until September are bearing fruit. “We continue to see numbers coming down. Exactly how long that takes and to what the lowest number is we can get to, only time will tell,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.
French hospitals see first rise in COVID-19 patients since end of lockdown
The French health ministry on Monday reported the first significant rise in the number of people in hospital due to the new coronavirus since the end of the country’s lockdown, reversing a trend seen since mid-April. The ministry said the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 had increased by 34 to 5,045 compared with Friday. It was the first significant increase since the number began falling steadily from a high of 32,292 on April 14. The number of people in intensive care also increased again, rising by 13 from Friday to 396.
New Lockdown
Australia’s state by state coronavirus lockdown rules and restrictions explained
What are the restrictions within Victoria and the border closures with NSW and Queensland? How far can I travel, and how many people can I have over at my house? Untangle Australia’s Covid-19 laws and guidelines with our guide
Coronavirus: Australia's Northern Territory extends border restrictions for virus hotspots
Australia's remote Northern Territory (NT) will keep its borders closed to coronavirus-affected states for at least another 18 months, officials say. Australia is battling a second wave in its south-east, with about 8,000 active cases in Melbourne and smaller clusters in Sydney. But elsewhere around the country, the virus has effectively been eliminated. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said interstate travel restrictions will likely persist until Christmas. Last week, Queensland re-closed its borders to New South Wales - which includes Sydney - and the Australian Capital Territory.
Coronavirus in New Zealand: Auckland to lock down as cases are found
New Zealand’s largest city has been sealed off after new coronavirus cases shattered the country’s claim to have eliminated Covid-19. The confirmation of four cases in Auckland comes three days after Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister, launched her re-election campaign on a platform of beating the virus. The country votes on September 19.
Lockdown reimposed in New Zealand after first outbreak in 102 days
Coronavirus has broken out again in New Zealand after 102 days without any new cases. Four members of the same household have tested positive for Covid-19 in Auckland, forcing the city back into lockdown as officials begin contact tracing.
New cases end New Zealand's 'COVID-free' status; Auckland back in lockdown
New Zealand announced on Tuesday it was shutting down its largest city, Auckland, after four new cases of COVID-19 were discovered in the city, the first evidence of domestic transmission after being coronavirus-free for 102 days. New Zealand’s successful fight against COVID-19 was hailed globally and the Pacific island nation of 5 million was seen as one of the safest places, as the pandemic raged globally.
Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the four cases were within one family in South Auckland. One person is in their 50s. They had no history of international travel. Family members have been tested and contact tracing is under way. News of the cases sent panic across the country with media reporting people rushing to supermarkets to stock up, and businesses preparing to shut.
New Zealand moves fast to lock down Auckland after return of COVID after 102 days
New Zealand’s biggest city Auckland will be shut down from midday on Wednesday after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned four new cases of coronavirus had emerged. The country had achieved a record 102 days of no new transmissions and has been widely held up internationally as the model on how to beat the virus with the strictest regulations in the world. Citizens in Auckland will be expected to work from home unless they are essential workers, and schools will close, as will bars, cafes and restaurants until the end of the week. Ardern said in a televised press conference, “We’re asking people in Auckland to stay home to stop the spread
Covid 19 coronavirus: Second Christchurch retirement village goes into lockdown
A second Christchurch retirement village has gone into lockdown and residents are being tested for Covid-19. Brookhaven Retirement Village in Woolston has reportedly tested eight of its residents and put them in isolation after they displayed flu-like symptoms. Emergency-only visits were being accepted, and those visiting were asked to wear masks and use hand sanitiser, a nurse told Stuff. It was revealed this afternoon that the Village Palms Retirement Community in Shirley had advised family members in a letter that it was in lockdown after residents began displaying symptoms of a respiratory illness.
New Zealand retirement home in lockdown to test for COVID-19
A New Zealand retirement village has gone into lockdown after residents displayed symptoms of respiratory illness, the New Zealand Herald reported on Tuesday. The Village Palms retirement village in Christchurch advised of the lockdown in a letter to family members today, the newspaper said. No further details were immediately available. New Zealand, which has managed to largely contain the spread of the coronavirus, has gone more than 100 days without community transmission of COVID-19.