30th Oct 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=128 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Sky News Paris has seen hundreds of miles of traffic jams as people tried to leave the city ahead of Frances new national lockdown. Crowded scenes on the roads and railways came as the World Health Organisation warned that Europe has become the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic once again. The region accounted for nearly half of the 2.8 million new COVID19 cases reported worldwide last week WHO said. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-europe-is-epicentre-of-pandemic-once-again-who-chief-warns-after-deaths-rise-by-35-12118418 30th Oct 2020

Lockdown Exit

YAHOO! Australias COVID19 hotspot state Victoria reported only one new infection on Thursday a day after it lifted a four month lockdown in the city of Melbourne. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said that while there were three positive cases of COVID19 detected in the past 24 hours two may be old infections. This is another good day Andrews told reporters in Melbourne. Victoria which accounts for more than 90 of the 905 deaths nationally did not record any new deaths from the virus in the past 24 hours. Melbourne a city of some five million people on Wednesday emerged from a stringent lockdown credited with ending a COVID second wave allowing restaurants cafes and shops to reopen. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/australias-covid-19-hotspot-state-023501477.html 29th Oct 2020

Exit Strategies

Sky News The Eat Out to Help Out scheme caused a significant rise in new coronavirus infections a new study suggests. According to the University of Warwick the sharp increase in COVID19 infection clusters emerged a week after the scheme began. The governments initiative was designed to boost the economy after the national lockdown and allowed pubs and restaurants to offer heavily discounted meals on Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-eat-out-to-help-out-accelerated-second-wave-of-covid-19-study-says-12118285 30th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

BBC President Donald Trump has urged states to shun lockdowns as his Democratic rival Joe Biden said the pandemic could not be stopped by flipping a switch. Continuing a whirlwind schedule of rallies in battleground states Mr Trump also mocked mask mandates. Mr Biden said Mr Trumps handling of Americas worsening coronavirus crisis was an insult to its victims. The Democrat has a solid national lead over the Republican president six days before the 3 November election. But Mr Bidens advantage is narrower in the handful of US states that could vote either way and ultimately decide who wins the White House. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-54727919 29th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent The founder of Pret a Manger and Itsu has said society will not recover if the UK enters a second lockdown for the sake of a few thousand lives of old and very vulnerable people. Julian Metcalfe whose fortune is estimated at 215m said a lockdown would be impossible. He told the Daily Mail The young people of this country will be paying for this for the next 20 to 30 years. Its terrible whats happening. Just because France does this with its socialist government doesnt mean we have to. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/pret-a-manger-itsu-founder-lockdown-shut-save-lives-julian-metcalfe-b1421643.html 29th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Angela Merkel said Germans had the chance to show Covid19 you have chosen the wrong host as she defended her governments second soft lockdown to shouts and heckles in parliament. Citing an interview with the German science writer Mai Thi NguyenKim which she said reflected her own attitude towards the pandemic the chancellor said If the virus could think it would think Ive got the perfect host here. These people live all over the planet. They are globally networked and are social creatures they cant live without social contacts. They have a hedonistic inclination they like to party it couldnt be any better. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/29/merkel-heckled-by-german-mps-as-she-defends-second-soft-covid-lockdown 29th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

USA TODAY European leaders are ratcheting up pandemic restrictions as a second wave of COVID19 cases batters Italy Spain and other countries. French President Emmanuel Macron announced a full nationwide lockdown starting Thursday and lasting until Dec. 1 though he said schools would remain open. In Germany officials imposed a partial fourweek lockdown Wednesday. We must act and now to avoid an acute national health emergency said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/10/28/covid-europe-imposing-new-restrictions-us-surge-goes-unchecked/6054009002/ 29th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

Otago Daily Times A rightwing television host in the US has spread misinformation about New Zealands response to the Covid19 pandemic sharing an old clip of Jacinda Ardern and claiming the Government is throwing people into quarantine camps. Laura Ingraham host of Fox News The Ingraham Angle made the claims on her show yesterday joining a growing number of rightwing pundits overseas who are casting New Zealands response as a threat to freedom. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/terrifying-new-response-us-hosts-bizarre-take-nzs-covid-strategy 29th Oct 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday blasted European countries for adopting strict lockdowns to stem the spread of coronavirus suggesting they smacked of authoritarianism. Germany and France were on Wednesday preparing to announce restrictions approaching the level of springs blanket lockdowns as COVID deaths across Europe surged. National or local authorities have already imposed nighttime curfews in several European countries including France Spain Italy and the Czech Republic. Speaking at a regular news conference Lopez Obrador voiced regret at the measures being taken in Europe and urged governments to show more faith in their populations. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-politics-europe/mexican-president-slams-european-coronavirus-lockdown-measures-idUSKBN27D2SC 28th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

Hindustan Times The Maharashtra government on Thursday extended the ongoing lockdown by another month as cases of the coronavirus disease Covid19 continue to rise in the state. It will now remain in effect till November 30 officials said. While nationwide tally is witnessing a drop in daily cases Maharashtra continues to be the worstaffected state by the Covid19 in the country with 130286 active cases. As of Wednesday morning the death toll in the state stood at 1486926. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/maharashtra-extends-ongoing-covid-19-lockdown-till-november-30/story-kMc8fh278SbLcclFsA19gJ.html 29th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

Business Insider Australia recorded zero new coronavirus cases in Victoria the epicenter of its outbreak on Monday and Tuesday. Victoria imposed aggressive lockdown measures in July as cases began to climb. For 111 days Melbourne residents were only allowed to leave home for essential purposes like exercising or grocery shopping. The city also imposed fines on people who held large gatherings traveled to and from work without a permit and didnt wear a mask in public. Many of those restrictions were lifted on Wednesday. https://www.businessinsider.com/australia-extreme-lockdown-paid-off-zero-coronavirus-cases-2020-10 29th Oct 2020

Continued Lockdown

New Zealand Herald A drop in infant immunisation rates during the Covid19 lockdown has health workers scrambling to catch up. They fear fake news about vaccinations during the election campaign could add to the problem. The rate of vaccination among 6 month olds dropped 2.4 per cent to 76.2 per cent in the April to June quarter which captured most of the level 4 lockdown and gradual lowering of restrictions compared to the same time last year. The latest Ministry of Health data showed there was also a 4.4 per cent drop in those with the greatest socioeconomic deprivation and a 5.6 per cent decline in Maori infants. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-lockdown-blamed-for-immunisation-rate-drop/LURQT6IHSBRQCH2NYOXO2VZ2DA/ 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! Drugmaker Pfizer Inc said on Tuesday it does not yet have data from the latestage trial of the COVID19 vaccine it is developing with Germanys BioNTech SE and provided a timeline that makes its release unlikely ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election.Pfizer said there had not yet been enough infections in the 44000volunteer trial to trigger an analysis of whether or not the vaccine works. An independent panel will conduct the first analysis when it reaches 32 infections. Chief Executive Albert Bourla said after it has enough data for the analysis it typically takes 5 to 7 days before the company can publicly release the data meaning it is likely to happen after the election. https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/pfizer-not-yet-ready-release-115316798.html 30th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Washington Post State health officials are expressing frustration about a lack of federal financial support as they face orders to prepare to receive and distribute the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine by Nov. 15 even though one is not likely to be approved until later this year. The officials say they dont have enough money to pay for the enormous and complicated undertaking. State officials have been planning in earnest in recent weeks to get shots into arms even though no one knows which vaccine will be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration what special storage and handling may be required and how many doses each state will receive. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/29/covid-vaccine-states-need-money/ 30th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Channel NewsAsia Singapore A coronavirus strain that emerged in Spain in June has spread across Europe and now makes up a large proportion of infections in several countries researchers said highlighting the role of travel in the pandemic and the need to track mutations. The variant which has not been found to be inherently more dangerous was first identified among farm workers in the eastern Spanish regions of Aragon and Catalonia. Over the last two months it has accounted for close to 90 per cent of new infections in Spain according to the research paper authored by seven researchers with backing by Swiss and Spanish publicsector science institutions. It was posted on a socalled preprint server and is yet to be peer reviewed for publication in a scientific journal. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/scientists-identify-prolific-covid-19-europe-strain-spain-13406668 30th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Washington Post The World Health Organizations Europe director said Thursday that the 53country region has again reached a new weekly record for confirmed cases with more than 1.5 million confirmed last week and more than 10 million since the start of the pandemic. During a meeting with European health ministers WHO European regional director Dr. Hans Kluge said hospitalizations have risen to levels unseen since the spring and that deaths have risen by more than 30 in the last week. Europe is at the epicenter of this pandemic once again Kluge said. At the risk of sounding alarmist I must express our very real concern. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/who-europe-now-has-more-than-10-million-covid-19-cases/2020/10/29/b1fa1fe8-1a12-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Pandemics will emerge more often spread faster cost more and kill more people than COVID19 without bold action to halt the habitat destruction that helps viruses hop from wildlife to humans according to a study published on Thursday. The findings www.ipbes.netpandemics suggest that moves to protect tropical forests and other rich ecosystems to help slow climate change and save animal bird and plant species could also prevent pandemics. It turns out that by doing something about pandemics we are also doing something about climate change and biodiversity and thats a good thing Peter Daszak a zoologist who chaired the study by 22 international experts told Reuters. The group found that about half of an estimated 1.7 million undiscovered viruses in nature might be able to infect people. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-biodiversity-idUSKBN27E2NK 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Russia has temporarily paused the vaccination of new volunteers in its COVID19 vaccine trial staff at eight of 25 trial clinics said with some citing high demand and a shortage of doses. However the vaccines developer said the uptake of new participants had only slowed. At eight of the 25 Moscow clinics hosting the trial and inoculating volunteers staff told Reuters the vaccination of new participants was temporarily on hold and several said they had used up the doses allocated to their clinics referencing a large influx of volunteers. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-russia-vaccine-exc/exclusive-russias-covid-19-vaccine-trial-slows-as-focus-shifts-to-second-dose-idUSKBN27E2KE 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Birmingham Post A new coronavirus symptom has been discovered by Covid19 researchers. Typically the three symptoms carried by experts and health services are a sudden loss of taste or smell persistent new cough and high temperature or fever. But over the course of the year more and more telling signs of coronavirus have emerged especially among Long Covid sufferers. Analysts who are conducting studies on the signs and symptoms of the deadly bug continue to unearth new findings. And now a new Covid toes symptom has been discovered in research by the International League of Dlogical Societies and the American Academy of Dermatology. They found some patients had chilblainlike inflammation on their feet sometimes lasting for months at a time. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/new-coronavirus-symptom-found-covid-19183875 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Science Magazine Last week a panel of leading scientists appointed by the Indian government delivered a startlingly optimistic message The worlds second largest COVID19 epidemic has rounded a corner. Indias daily number of daily new cases has almost halved the past six weeks and a new mathematical model suggests we may have reached herd immunity some members of the panel wrote in a paper published online by The Indian Journal of Medical Research. Assuming measures such as social distancing wearing masks and hand washing remain in place the group said the pandemic could be controlled by early next year. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/indias-covid-19-cases-have-declined-rapidly-herd-immunity-still-far-away-scientists-say 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNBC A new variant of the coronavirus identified as 20A.EU1 by researchers from Switzerland and Spain was first observed in Spain in June. It has been recorded in Spain at frequencies of above 40 since July the study said. Elsewhere the new variant of the coronavirus has increased from very low values prior to July 15 to 40 to 70 in Switzerland Ireland and the U.K. in September. It was also found to be prevalent in Norway Latvia the Netherlands and France. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/29/coronavirus-variant-seen-spreading-across-europe-research-says.html 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters UK Britain should act sooner rather than later if it is going to follow Germany and France and take nationwide steps to slow a second wave of the coronavirus said Steven Riley author of an Imperial College study into the spread of the disease. I think we need decide to if were going to end up using those restrictions that have been brought in elsewhere in Europe today and yesterday. And if were if were going to do that then we should think about timing. And sooner is better than later for these Riley a professor of infectious disease dynamics told the BBC. The spread of the coronavirus continues to increase across all parts of England with cases doubling every nine days according to the new study by Imperial College. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-riley/uk-covid-researcher-says-any-lockdown-should-come-sooner-not-later-idUKKBN27E0ZI?il=0 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Moderna Inc on Thursday said it is on track to report early data from a latestage trial of its experimental COVID19 vaccine next month offering the clearest timeline yet for when the world will know whether it is effective. The company one of the frontrunners in the global race to produce vaccines to protect against COVID19 said an independent data monitoring committee is expected to conduct an interim review of its ongoing 30000person trial in November. Its shares rose 3. The company said it is preparing to distribute the vaccine known as mRNA1273 and expects to be able to produce 20 million doses by the end of the year and between 500 million and 1 billion in 2021. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-moderna/moderna-on-track-to-report-late-stage-covid-19-vaccine-data-next-month-idUSKBN27E1TB 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Motley Fool As part of the agreement Novavax agreed to create a dedicated supply chain in the U.K. for the production of that countrys order. The company will be required to deliver those 60 million doses to the U.K. government before using that supply chain to fulfill orders for any other parties unless the U.K. government gives it permission. Once the initial order is fulfilled Novavax will be able to take orders from other parties using that portion of its production capacity but the U.K. government will retain the right to request additional batches to match the thirdparty sales on a prorata basis. https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/10/29/novavax-sells-60-million-doses-of-its-coronavirus/ 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN CNNs Matt Rivers visits Neolpharma a Mexican pharmaceutical company that says it plans to eventually produce millions of coronavirus vaccine doses. https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/10/29/mexico-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-rivers-dnt-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Times of Israel Israel has started producing its new coronavirus vaccine. Will it work Boaz Kolodner and 80 other Israelis have volunteered their immune systems to find out https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-covid-vaccine-starts-trials-im-giving-my-body-but-no-big-deal/ 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

YAHOO! Brazil expects to have a vaccine against COVID19 approved and ready for use in a national inoculation program by June the head of the countrys health regulator Anvisa Antonio Barra Torres said on Thursday. With the worlds worst outbreak of coronavirus after the United States and India Brazil has become a key testing ground and has approved late stage clinical trials for four vaccines that are under development. Torres told Reuters that Anvisa has not decided on the minimum efficacy to require but he said the agency has approved vaccines in the past with less than 50 effectiveness. Health authorities in Europe are debating whether to accept a socalled efficacy rate of less than 50 to be able to deliver a vaccine sooner the Wall Street Journal reported this week. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/exclusive-brazil-covid-19-vaccine-192027852.html 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Pharma Times Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline have signed a statement of intent with Gavi to provide 200 million doses of their COVID19 vaccine available to the COVAX Facility. The COVAX Facility is a global risksharing mechanism aim at securing COVID19 vaccines for equitable distribution. The doses of Sanofi and GSKs adjuvanted recombinant proteinbased COVID19 vaccine will be used to support COVAXs ambition to ensure successful shots reach those in need once they obtain the appropriate approvals. To address a global health crisis of this magnitude it takes unique partnerships. The commitment we are announcing today for the COVAX Facility can help us together stand a better chance of bringing the pandemic under control said Thomas Triomphe executive vice president and global head of Sanofi Pasteur. http://www.pharmatimes.com/news/sanofi_and_gsk_to_provide_covid-19_vaccine_doses_to_covax_facility_1355255 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Hargreaves Lansdown One of the frontrunners in the global efforts to acquire a vaccine against Covid19 said it was on track to report on the preliminary results of its clinical studies in November. Moderna said earlystage data on the clinical trial was expected during the following month and that two months of safety data would be available in the second half of November. The latter was the minimum required to file for emergency use authorisation wit the top US health regulator the Food and Drug Administration. The US biotechnology outfit also said that it was working with the World Health Organisation on a tiered pricing model for access to its vaccine. https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/stock-market-news/company--news/moderna-says-covid-19-vaccine-trial-data-on-track-for-november 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Mirror Online Britain has already stocked up on 20 million doses from six different candidate vaccines but senior government officials reportedly claim Downing Street is confident PfizerBiontech will win the race https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/verdict-coronavirus-vaccine-expected-christmas-22923100 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Financial Times Moderna has received more than 1bn in deposits from governments for its potential Covid19 vaccine highlighting how the pandemic has transformed the fortunes of the lossmaking US biotech. Contracts from countries for its vaccine candidate helped Moderna to turn cash flow positive in the third quarter for the first time in its 10year history. The Bostonbased company now expects net cash of between 100m and 300m in the fourth quarter. Stphane Bancel Modernas chief executive said 2021 would be the most important inflection year in the companys history proving that its platform technology could deliver other vaccines and treatments. https://www.ft.com/content/ad4572ff-9ad9-4320-b48d-2c08bf8307a6 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Mint In a set back to Vladimir Putins mega plan to roll out shots by the end of the year Russia has temporarily stopped coronavirus vaccine trial due to shortage of doses news agency Reuters said. Its related to the fact that theres colossal demand for the vaccine and they are not producing enough to keep up said the representative of Crocus Medical the contract research organisation that is helping run the trial in Moscow together with Russias health ministry Reuters reported. Staff in eight of the 25 Moscow clinics hosting the trial told Reuters the vaccination of new participants in the Phase III study had been temporarily paused https://www.livemint.com/science/health/russia-temporarily-stops-covid-19-vaccine-phase-iii-trial-says-report-11603982484519.html 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Fidelity International The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Few people cannot have heard of AstraZeneca AZN. Its the pharmaceuticals company whose name is fastbecoming synonymous with the Coronavirus and is probably destined to either forever be known as the company that created The Vaccine or for failing to. With the latest talk of a vaccine possibly being made available to healthcare workers possibly at the end of this year and the potential for a nationwide roll out in the second or third quarter of 2021 there is a lot riding on AstraZenecas shoulders right now. Assuming it is the AstraZeneca vaccine thats being talked about. https://www.fidelity.co.uk/markets-insights/investing-ideas/shares/hope-riding-high-astrazenecas-covid-vaccine-breakthrough/ 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters If all goes well the first doses of a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine will likely become available to some highrisk Americans in late December or early January Dr. Anthony Fauci the top U.S. infectious diseases expert said on Thursday. Based on current projections from vaccine frontrunners Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc Americans will likely know sometime in December whether or not we have a safe and effective vaccine Fauci director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said in a live chat on Twitter and Facebook. The first interim look at trial results should be we hope within the next few weeks he said. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-fauci/fauci-says-first-us-covid-19-vaccines-could-ship-late-december-or-early-january-idUSL1N2HK2PT 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

BGR The coronavirus is spreading like wildfire across dozens of states in the U.S. And with colder weather already settling in not to mention the impending arrival of flu season experts warn that a massive spike in coronavirus cases hospitalizations and deaths may be inevitable. The U.S. however isnt the only country currently dealing with a resurgence of coronavirus infections. Several countries across Europe including France Poland Germany Portugal and the Netherlands now find themselves in a similar predicament. Indeed some countries in Europe similar to some states in the U.S. have already started implementing tighter restrictions in an effort to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further. https://bgr.com/2020/10/29/coronavirus-vaccine-russia-not-working-fauci-opinoin/ 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

CNBC Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier told CNBC on Thursday that drugs to treat or prevent Covid19 arent a silver bullet solution to the pandemic. People will need to wear masks and practice social distancing measures well into 2021 he predicted. Frazier said hes very optimistic that in the near future there will be positive results coming from latestage clinical trials for coronavirus vaccines and therapeutics. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/29/covid-merck-ceo-says-vaccine-wont-be-a-silver-bullet-predicts-mask-use-for-the-forseable-future.html 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

DER SPIEGEL International Edition Several coronavirus vaccine candidates could soon be approved and German Health Minister Jens Spahn has begun making plans to inoculate millions of people. But the challenges remain immense and the virus will be with us for quite some time to come. https://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/the-challenges-we-face-once-a-coronavirus-vaccine-is-found-a-3f076abd-6b3b-4a45-a619-f03699397ce6 29th Oct 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Science Magazine On 8 October the company inked an agreement to supply the European Union with its drug remdesivir as a treatment for COVID19a deal potentially worth more than 1 billion. Two weeks later on 22 October the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA approved remdesivir for use against the pandemic coronavirus SARSCoV2 in the United Statesthe first drug to receive that status. The EU and U.S. decisions pave the way for Gileads drug into two major markets both with soaring COVID19 cases. But both decisions baffled scientists who have closely watched the clinical trials of remdesivir unfold over the past 6 monthsand who have many questions about remdesivirs worth. At best one large welldesigned study found remdesivir modestly reduced the time to recover from COVID19 in hospitalized patients with severe illness. A few smaller studies found no impact of treatment on the disease whatsoever. Then on 15 Octoberin this months decidedly unfavorable news for Gileadthe fourth and largest controlled study delivered what some believed was a coup de grce The World Health Organizations WHOs Solidarity trial showed that remdesivir does not reduce mortality or the time COVID19 patients take to recover. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/very-very-bad-look-remdesivir-first-fda-approved-covid-19-drug 28th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC No areas of Scotland are to be placed in the highest level of the countrys new fivetier coronavirus restrictions system. The Scottish government had been considering putting both North and South Lanarkshire in level four. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has now confirmed they will both be placed in level three instead along with the rest of the central belt and Dundee. Much of the rest of the country has been put in level two. But the Highlands Orkney Shetland the Western Isles and Moray which have far fewer cases of the virus have been moved down to level one. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54731245 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC The number of patients in hospital with coronavirus in Wales has grown again up nearly a quarter on last week. Latest NHS Wales figures show 1110 Covid19 patients in hospital beds which is more than 80 of the level at the pandemics peak in April. Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board has nearly 100 more patients in its hospitals compared with last week. There have been rises elsewhere with numbers doubling in Hywel Dda which had only 33 Covid patients a week ago. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54732469 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times As coronavirus cases have shot through the roof waiting times for tests and results have grown so lengthy that the health authorities have considered sending samples to labs in Abu Dhabi. Contact tracing divided among 25 competing contractors has never gotten off the ground. After months of discouraging the use of masks saying they promote a false sense of security the government just did an about face calling for them to be worn in all public spaces. And topping it all off the royal family ignoring the governments advice to travel as little as possible flew off to their luxurious holiday home in Greece adding to growing mistrust and resentment at home. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/world/europe/covid-19-netherlands.html 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Europe began counting the cost of sweeping restrictions on social life imposed to contain a surge in coronavirus infections while Britain continued to hold out against following Germany and France in ordering a second lockdown. As the pandemic raced ahead across the continent Europe has moved back to being an epicentre of the global pandemic facing the prospect of a prolonged economic slump alongside a public health crisis which has so far seen more than 44 million infections and 1.1 million deaths worldwide. The total number of confirmed cases has moved from 7 to 9 million in just 14 days and today Europe exceeded the 10millioncase milestone Hans Kluge regional director for Europe at the World Health Organization WHO told an emergency meeting of European health ministers on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus/britain-resists-covid-lockdown-as-europe-counts-cost-idUSKBN27E1RD 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Financial Times A government minister on Thursday rejected calls for a national lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus even as a new report indicated that the rate of infections in England was in excess of government targets. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said broad differences in infection rates across the country meant that a one size fits all approach was not appropriate. His comments came after one of the largest studies into the prevalence of Covid19 in England found the R rate the average number of new cases generated by an infected individual was 1.6. The government has set a goal to keep it below 1. https://www.ft.com/content/97a3be56-4b65-46ac-af32-993f0c0eeb98 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg Italy could tighten restrictions on movement including targeted lockdowns as virus cases spiral and European peers take more stringent measures. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte wants to use next week to assess the efficacy of the most recent set of curbs before taking further decisions government officials said. The country could go into a nearfull lockdown as soon as Nov. 9 if infection figures continue spiking according to daily Il Messaggero. The next wave of curbs could include a new series of red zones in the country ringfencing some of the mostaffected cities and their surrounding areas one of the officials said. Milan the countrys financial center and Naples have been hit hardest. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-29/italy-weighs-new-curbs-as-cases-rise-and-neighbors-lock-down 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English Eleven of Spains regions as well as the North African cities of Ceuta and Melilla have announced that they will be closing their borders ahead of the All Saints holiday on Monday thus limiting the usual travel of some Spaniards across the country on such a long weekend. The move comes as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread throughout the country with new cases having grown 71 in 15 days according to the latest report from the Health Ministry with the 14day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100000 inhabitants at 453 another record high during this second wave. Asturias Aragn Castilla y Len CastillaLa Mancha Cantabria the Basque Country Madrid Murcia Navarre La Rioja and Andalucia have all confirmed that they will be implementing a perimetral confinement something that they can do under the state of alarm that was declared on Sunday by the central government and was being debated on Thursday in the Congress of Deputies. Catalonia and the Valencia region are also considering the same restrictions. https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020-10-29/nearly-all-of-spains-regions-set-to-close-their-borders-ahead-of-long-weekend.html 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English Spain like most of Western Europe has been introducing increasingly tough restrictions in a bid to contain the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. But the Spanish government has stopped short of ordering all residents to remain at home as it did when it introduced a total lockdown during the first wave in March. As cases continue to rise and hospitals come under growing pressure authorities instead are considering a range of solutions from the recently declared national curfew to weekend home confinement which has been proposed by the Catalan government. These are intermediate measures that reduce mobility without stopping it completely and it is not clear how effective they are nor when they will start to reduce contagions. This has prompted a debate in Europe over whether short but total lockdowns are more effective than longterm and staggered restrictions. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-10-29/is-spain-heading-toward-a-repeat-of-marchs-total-lockdown.html 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

POLITICO.eu The Spanish prime minister is pushing for a sixmonth state of alarm to fight coronavirus but unlike during the first wave he wants regional leaders to make the hard choices. The number of new confirmed daily cases in Spain has shot up from around 8000 at the beginning of September to over 18000 and health experts warn that the targeted restrictions taken in recent weeks including shutting down bars and restaurants in parts of the country and limiting gatherings are having minimal impact. Political tensions are rising too. There was a furious public reaction to pictures of four ministers attending a glamorous awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday just as the country reentered the state of alarm. Many on social media saw it as evidence of a political class out of touch with ordinary people struggling under strict anticoronavirus measures even though the event organizers said they had followed the rules. https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-coronavirus-pedro-sanchez-adopts-more-hands-off-approach-second-wave/ 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

FRANCE 24 One by one Spains regions have announced regional border closures in the hope of avoiding a new lockdown like in France but the move may not be enough. On Sunday the government unveiled a state of emergency to give regional authorities the tools to impose curfews and to close their borders to anyone moving without just cause. Most of the countrys 17 regions including Madrid Catalonia and Andalusia have taken advantage of the measure to impose a socalled perimetral or interregional lockdown affecting threequarters of Spains 47 million citizens. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201029-spain-regions-seal-off-perimeter-to-avoid-new-lockdown 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera Coronavirus cases in India have crossed the eight million mark with the worlds secondworst hit country now bracing for a possible second wave ahead of winter. With 49881 new reported infections on Thursday India now has 8040203 COVID19 cases and 120527 deaths according to the latest government figures. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/29/india-crosses-grim-landmark-of-8-million-coronavirus-cases 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Times of India President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday there were no plans to introduce a nationwide lockdown in Russia as the country set a record for new coronavirus infections and fatalities. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/putin-says-no-plans-for-lockdown-despite-record-cases/articleshow/78933051.cms 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Kyodo News Plus Japans cumulative total of confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 100000 on Thursday according to a tally based on official data amid a recent uptick in the number of new infections coinciding with a resumption of economic activity. The singleday number of new cases across the country reported Thursday was 809 eclipsing the 800 mark for the first time since Aug. 29 as some clusters of infections have been detected since early this month. The total figure includes about 700 cases aboard the Diamond Princess a cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February. There have been more than 1700 deaths in the country attributed to the virus. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/10/6e8e31145684-breaking-news-japan-reaches-100000-confirmed-coronavirus-cases.html 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Guardian Chinas largest coronavirus outbreak in months appears to have emerged in a factory in Xinjiang linked to forced labour and the governments controversial policies towards Uighur residents. More than 180 cases of Covid19 documented in the past week in Shufu county in southern Xinjiang can be traced back to a factory that was built in 2018 as part of government poverty alleviation efforts a campaign that researchers and rights advocates describe as coercive. Under the initiative Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in the farwestern region are tracked and given work placements that they have little choice but to take up. An official in nearby Kashgar told Caixin that the plant Shuchang Garment was a satellite factory for producing clothing curtains and bedding. Previous state media reports about the factory said it employed about 300 villagers mostly women who could earn as much as 90 yuan about 10 a day. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/29/large-covid-outbreak-in-china-linked-to-xinjiang-forced-labour 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Poland wants to avoid a full lockdown as it fights the coronavirus pandemic Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday as the country reported a fresh record in COVID19 cases and deaths. The country of 38 million reported 20156 news cases and 301 deaths related to COVID19. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-poland-idUSKBN27E231 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Axios The U.S. reported 83718 new coronavirus cases on Saturday marking the second day in a row that the country topped 80000 daily infections according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Why it matters The coronavirus is surging across the U.S. and threatening to overwhelm hospitals especially in rural areas. The governments top infectiousdisease expert Anthony Fauci told MSNBC earlier this month the U.S. is facing a whole lot of trouble as it heads into the winter with cold weather likely to contribute to further spread of the virus. https://www.axios.com/covid-infections-80k-53c96834-706b-4f0f-b87d-ae96b39cedeb.html 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Britain will do everything it can to avoid ordering a second national COVID19 lockdown because it believes it will do more harm than good to the country a minister said on Thursday. Coronavirus cases are surging in every region of Britain which suffered the worst death toll in Europe and the deepest contraction of any G7 leading economy after it delayed a lockdown when the first wave of the pandemic hit in March. But as France and Germany ordered new national closures housing minister Robert Jenrick said the British governments clear policy was to use the tough local restrictions that were recently imposed on swathes of northern England. The judgement of the government today is that a blanket national lockdown is not appropriate would do more harm than good he told Times Radio. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain/uk-doing-everything-it-can-to-avoid-national-lockdown-minister-says-idUSKBN27E0YN 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Europe began counting the cost of sweeping restrictions on social life imposed to contain a surge in coronavirus infections while Britain continued to hold out against following Germany and France in ordering a second lockdown. As the pandemic raced ahead across the continent Europe has moved back to being an epicentre of the global pandemic facing the prospect of a prolonged economic slump alongside a public health crisis which has so far seen more than 44 million infections and 1.1 million deaths worldwide. The total number of confirmed cases has moved from 7 to 9 million in just 14 days and today Europe exceeded the 10millioncase milestone Hans Kluge regional director for Europe at the World Health Organization WHO told an emergency meeting of European health ministers on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus/britain-pressed-to-follow-french-and-german-lockdowns-as-covid-rates-surge-idUKKBN27E1QR 29th Oct 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Independent More than 10000 Covid19 patients are now being treated in UK hospitals nearly 1000 of them ventilators according to latest daily figures from the government. The number has risen in recent days but has yet to reach the 20000 seen at the height of the first wave of the pandemic earlier this year. However figures have continued to grow beyond those seen during the first peak in isolated regions. Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust had the highest number of beds occupied by coronavirus patients in England on Tuesday at 450 according to new NHS England data followed by Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust in Greater Manchester which had 290. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-uk-cases-second-wave-hospital-update-new-today-b1426877.html 28th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Daily Mail Thousands of Parisians caused massive traffic jams as they tried to flee the French capital for the country. Huge numbers of locals attempted a mass exodus in a bid to avoid the start of the second national lockdown. Many were enjoying their final night of freedom in France ahead of new lockdown restrictions from Friday Draconian measures will see people needing documents to show their reasonable excuse for leaving home. Europe has seen rising infections with France recording 47637 new infections in 24 hours and 235 deaths https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8895437/Coronavirus-France-Gridlock-thousands-try-flee-Paris-ahead-new-month-long-lockdown.html 30th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Metro US Greece will impose regional lockdowns on its secondlargest city of Thessaloniki and two other regions from Friday after a spike in cases of COVID19 the government said. The country has recorded significantly lower numbers of COVID19 than other countries in Europe but cases have been rising rapidly since early October. Testing has also increased. https://www.metro.us/greece-introduces-regional-lockdown/ 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Associated Press A new wave of lockdowns and business closings swept across France Germany and other places in Europe on Wednesday as surging coronavirus infections there and in the U.S. wipe out months of progress against the scourge on two continents. The resurgence and the resulting clampdown sent a shudder through Wall Street. The SP 500 fell 3.5 its biggest drop since June and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 943 points or 3.4. French President Emmanuel Macron declared a new nationwide lockdown starting Friday saying the country has been overpowered by a second wave. Many doctors had urged the move given that 58 of the nations intensive care units are now taken up by COVID19 patients. In Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a fourweek shutdown of bars restaurants and theaters. We must act and now to avoid an acute national health emergency she said. https://apnews.com/article/europe-us-shutdowns-virus-surge-covid-19-a8b0d7b63fde5b9d289cabf06ae367bf 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered their countries back into lockdown on Wednesday as a massive second wave of coronavirus infections threatened to overwhelm Europe before the winter. World stock markets went into a dive in response to the news that Europes biggest economies were imposing nationwide restrictions almost as severe as the ones that drove the global economy this year into its deepest recession in generations. The virus is circulating at a speed that not even the most pessimistic forecasts had anticipated Macron said in a televised address. Like all our neighbours we are submerged by the sudden acceleration of the virus. https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN27D1J0 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Daily Mail Merkel told the Bundestag today that Germany faces a difficult winter ahead Comments come a day after Germany rolled out a series of lockdown measures These included the closure of bars and restaurants and limits on social contacts In the past day Germany reported 16744 new confirmed cases of coronavirus In the same time period the Robert Koch Institute said 89 Germans had died https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8893025/Germany-faces-difficult-winter-Angela-Merkel-admits-defending-new-lockdown-measures.html 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

The Scotsman Covid cases and deaths continue to surge in Europe forcing France and Germany to reinstate some form of national lockdown in an effort to bring infection rates back under control. The World Health Organisation WHO warned that European governments are well behind in the fight against Covid19 with the continent becoming an epicentre for the disease. However executive director of the WHOs health emergencies programme Dr Michael Ryan said that if tougher measures were imposed it should be possible to stay ahead of transmission rates providing public health surveillance is in place. https://www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/some-european-countries-are-reinstating-national-lockdown-could-uk-follow-3018543 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

The Hindu Bars restaurants and nonessential businesses will be forced to close but unlike during the twomonth lockdown imposed last spring students will continue to go to school Macron said during a televised address. French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday a new lockdown aimed at halting an alarming acceleration of Covid19 cases to take effect from Thursday night until at least December 1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/france-braces-for-possible-lockdown-as-coronavirus-deaths-mount/article32963502.ece 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

The Guardian French authors booksellers and publishers are imploring the French government to allow bookshops to stay open because reading is essential as the country enters a national fourweek lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. Frances second lockdown announced on Wednesday evening by president Emmanuel Macron begins at midnight on Thursday. Macron said he hoped it would put a brutal brake on the infection rate as France is submerged by the acceleration of the spread of the virus. All nonessential businesses including bars and restaurants are to close while individuals will require sworn declarations to leave home. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/29/french-bookshops-ask-to-be-treated-as-essential-services-during-new-lockdown 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

South China Morning Post Neighbourhoods cordoned off shops closed after 100 infections confirmed in village on outskirts of city. Local woman says situation not as bad as in July as people have learned to cope the restrictions https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3107433/coronavirus-kashgar-lockdown-health-authorities-analyse-47 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Frances new national lockdown aimed at curbing the resurgence of COVID19 may have to be extended beyond its initial deadline of Dec. 1 government scentific adviser Professor JeanFranois Delfraissy said on Thursday. President Emmanuel Macron said late on Wednesday that France might start to ease back lockdown measures once COVID infections fell back to about 5000 per day from around 40000 per day at present. But Delfraissy said he did not think that could be achieved by Dec. 1. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france-outlook/new-french-covid-lockdown-may-have-to-go-beyond-december-1-government-adviser-idUKKBN27E0XK?il=0 29th Oct 2020

New Lockdown

FRANCE 24 Stores and businesses across France were filled Thursday by people racing to get supplies and maybe a lastminute haircut ahead of a new coronavirus lockdown coming into effect at midnight. Essentials like pasta and toilet paper were in high demand as were printer ink and electronics for working from home while yoga mats were no longer to be found at many sporting goods stores. Im stocking up since we dont know when this will end said Catherine Debeaupuis while shopping at an electronics retailer in central Paris. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201029-toilet-paper-and-pasta-france-girds-for-second-virus-lockdown 29th Oct 2020