18th Nov 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=142 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Financial Times China is zeroing in on cold chain goods to prevent any outbreaks of Covid19 after packaging of frozen Argentine beef German pork and Indian cuttlefish tested positive for the virus. Cities across China the worlds largest importer of beef and pork have pledged to strengthen screening and sterilisation of imports. The latest campaign to safeguard Chinas borders against any reintroduction of Covid19 began after officials in the northeastern city of Tianjin one of the countrys largest ports tied an infection of a worker in a warehouse to frozen pork imports from Germany last week. In the following days food packaging tested positive for coronavirus in cities ranging from eastern Jining to southern Xiamen and central Zhengzhou. https://www.ft.com/content/4efc158c-7482-4141-aa20-183a7de7fd59 17th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

Stuff.co.nz As 2020s finishing post shuffles into view a casual query among friends about what they fear the most in the lead up to Christmas elicits a unanimous reflexive response. Lockdown. A regional or nationwide Level 3 or 4 plunge right on the holiday doorstep knocking the stuffing out of your Christmas turkey. Hopefully the spectre of such bad tidings wont play out but its clear that we still have many months of maintaining our heightened defensive posture in repelling the menace of this pandemic from taking root in the community. https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/christmas/300159515/wash-hands-use-the-app-and-avoid-a-christmas-lockdown 17th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Insurers are trying to escape liability for pandemicrelated business losses with counterintuitive arguments that go against the essential purpose of insurance Britains markets watchdog told the UK Supreme Court on Tuesday. A lawyer for the Financial Conduct Authority FCA which brought a test case against insurers on behalf of policyholders said insurers had reached an extraordinary conclusion that business losses were largely uncovered during the coronavirus pandemic because of the widespread havoc it has caused. Insurers are saying We insure perils but not ones that are going to cost us a huge amount of money. We never contemplated that. Well that isnt an answer Colin Edelman the FCAs lawyer told the second day of a fourday appeal watched by thousands of businesses brought to their knees during the pandemic. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-insurers-court/insurers-are-trying-to-escape-covid-19-liability-watchdog-tells-uk-supreme-court-idUKKBN27X2LM 17th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The British government did not properly document key decisions nor was it open enough about billions of pounds of contracts handed out during the COVID19 pandemic its spending watchdog has said as critics accuse ministers of running a chumocracy. The National Audit Office NAO said on Wednesday there had been a lack of transparency and a failure to explain why certain suppliers were chosen or how any conflict of interest was dealt with over 18 billion pounds in procurement deals made between March and the end of July often with no competition. The report comes amid growing criticism some multimillion pound contracts were awarded during the coronavirus crisis to companies with links to ministers lawmakers and officials. While we recognise that these were exceptional circumstances it remains essential that decisions are properly documented and made transparent if government is to maintain public trust that taxpayers money is being spent appropriately and fairly NAO head Gareth Davies said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-procuremen/watchdog-criticises-uk-government-for-covid-procurement-amid-chumocracy-claims-idUKKBN27Y00D 17th Nov 2020

Lockdown Exit

CNN The limbs of a lifeless body hang off a stretcher in a hospital ward as coronavirus patients battle for their lives just a few feet away. An elderly woman gasps for breath her desperate panting a grim soundtrack to one of many disturbing cellphone videos emerging from hospitals across Russia. This is how our nights look horrifying says a male voice narrating the footage given to CNN by a prominent oppositionlinked Russian doctors union Doctors Alliance which says it was recorded in midOctober by a hospital staff member in Ulyanovsk a city around 500 miles east of Moscow. Two more down in our ward he says while filming a corpse. This is how Covid19 is killing everybody. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/17/europe/russia-coronavirus-pandemic-excess-deaths-intl/index.html 17th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

The Scotsman With Christmas fast approaching all eyes are fixed on the UK government to see if the second national lockdown introduced to control the spread of Covid will end in December. It has nearly been two weeks since prime minister Boris Johnson introduced the latest round of restrictions to combat rising coronavirus infections and hospital admissions across England. https://www.scotsman.com/read-this/englands-national-lockdown-should-end-2-december-what-happens-next-3038838 17th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

iNews As the current end date for Englands second national lockdown approaches peoples minds will be on what type of Christmas they will enjoy. Announcing the strict measures lasting from 5 November to 2 December Boris Johnson told the nation Christmas is going to be different this year very different but it is my sincere hope and belief that by taking tough action now we can allow families across the country to be together. https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/christmas-2020-lockdown-covid-restrictions-over-holidays-uk-rules-761067?ITO=msn 17th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters American Airlines British Airways and the oneworld alliance will launch a coronavirus testing trial this month aimed at convincing the U.S. and UK governments to introduce testing so that transatlantic travel can restart. BA was operating 84 flights per week between London Heathrow and New York JFK prior to the pandemic but last week operated just 21. BA CEO Sean Doyle said that without a travel testing regime Britain was being left behind countries such as Germany. Alongside its partners BA plans to collect data from at least 500 passengers on flights from three U.S. cities to London Heathrow by asking them to take three free COVID19 tests as part of their journey one before departure one on landing and one three days after their arrival. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-british-airways-idUSKBN27X2OS?taid=5fb42f4849698f00019c40b8&amputm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 17th Nov 2020

Exit Strategies

National Herald It is almost a year that the news of first case of COVID19 in Wuhan in China became known to the world. There has been much research since than about how this virus has grown to spread as a Pandemic. There have been blames and counter blame that this has been grown in China to be used as a biological weapon. But this has not been substantiated with evidence till date. In our country first case was reported on 30th January 2020 in the state of Kerala when a student from Wuhan came back. Laxity and unpreparedness on the part of the government at that time led to several problems and increase in the number of cases. https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/covid-19-complexities-pose-new-challenges-to-govt-much-depends-on-success-and-availability-of-vaccines 16th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

ABC German officials have cited security concerns in their decision to ban a series of protests planned Wednesday outside the federal parliament by people opposed to coronavirus lockdown measures. The unusual move comes amid fears that extremist groups could try to use a rally initially planned for Wednesday to attack the Bundestag echoing an unsuccessful attempt to storm the parliament building during a similar demonstration in August. The Interior Ministry said Tuesday it had rejected 12 requests to hold rallies within a specially designated zone around parliament. Unlike elsewhere in Germany protesters have to seek permission to stage demonstrations within the security perimeter surrounding certain federal buildings. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/germany-eyes-ban-anti-lockdown-protest-parliament-74251457 17th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

The Associated Press German officials have cited security concerns in their decision to ban a series of protests planned Wednesday outside the federal parliament by people opposed to coronavirus lockdown measures. The unusual move comes amid fears that extremist groups could try to use a rally initially planned for Wednesday to attack the Bundestag echoing an unsuccessful attempt to storm the parliament building during a similar demonstration in August. The Interior Ministry said Tuesday it had rejected 12 requests to hold rallies within a specially designated zone around parliament. Unlike elsewhere in Germany protesters have to seek permission to stage demonstrations within the security perimeter surrounding certain federal buildings. https://apnews.com/article/europe-berlin-germany-coronavirus-pandemic-cb2042b3cc979862d5bd9b8c3560f82a 17th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Cops called amid reports youngsters were flouting national covid restrictions Video shows maskfree influencers jumping into pool from roof of Marbella villa Spains state of emergency limits public and private gatherings to six people https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8956863/Spanish-cops-raid-Instagram-influencers-anti-lockdown-party-Marbella-villa-evict-40-people.html 17th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent Zero Covid which seeks to lock down cases rather than whole countries has been used across East Asian and Pacific nations and has to a large degree succeeded in eliminating the virus https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/zero-covid-lockdown-east-asia-pacific-b1724229.html 17th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

Channel4.com This programme has seen exclusive evidence of the dramatic increase in the price of PPE being paid by the government when the pandemic crisis first hit in April and May. https://www.channel4.com/news/questions-arise-over-dramatic-increase-in-ppe-costs-paid-by-government-during-pandemic 17th Nov 2020

Partisan Exits

The Hill The head of the National Institutes of Health NIH is urging the public to abide by safety guidelines and socially distance saying that while recent results for COVID19 vaccine candidates are encouraging people must take extra precautions for at least a few more months. The comments from NIH director Francis Collins come as pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna recently announced that their vaccine candidates were shown to be more than 90 percent effective at preventing the coronavirus. Collins told Judy Woodruff on PBS NewsHour on Monday that he felt extremely encouraged by the results and said were pretty optimistic that were on a good path. https://thehill.com/homenews/news/526388-head-of-nih-masks-are-lifesaving-medical-instrument-not-invasion-of-your 17th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Frances health minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday the country was regaining control over the coronavirus but was not ready to ease the second national lockdown imposed to rein in the disease. After curfew measures applied in major French cities in midOctober failed to produce the results the government had hoped for it enforced a onemonth lockdown on Oct. 30 though it was less strict than the one that ran from March 17 to May 11. If we let up our efforts too early if we are less compliant with the lockdown we might be subject to a new epidemic surge that would undo all the hard work done by the French people for several weeks Veran told BFM TV. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france/france-regaining-control-over-coronavirus-but-caution-still-needed-minister-idUKKBN27X0MX 17th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Daily Mail National lockdown imposed on October 30 was due to run until December 2 But Health Minister confirmed today that he could no longer commit to that date Olivier Veran said this despite claiming France was past the peak on Sunday Number in hospital for Covid19 dropped Sunday for first time since midAugust https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8956843/amp/French-lockdown-set-EXTENDED-Closures-remain-original-December-2-deadline.html 17th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday said most of the countrys current coronavirus lockdown measures must remain in place through midDecember despite a recent decline in the number of new cases. Its nice what weve achieved together Rutte said at a press conference after health officials reported that new cases had declined 15 percent in the past week. But if you look around in Europe the picture is pretty sombre he said with most countries strengthening rather than loosening measures. Earlier on Tuesday the National Institute for Health RIVM said in its weekly update there were 37706 new cases in the week to Nov. 17 the smallest number since early October. https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-netherlands/dutch-pm-to-keep-coronavirus-lockdown-measures-as-cases-ease-idUSKBN27X1SL 17th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK The coronavirus situation in Germany is still very serious even though infection numbers are not rising so fast Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday after federal and state leaders postponed until Nov. 25 a decision on further lockdown measures. Merkel said she would have preferred to have agreed stricter rules at a meeting with federal and state leaders on Monday adding she was very worried about the uncontrolled spread of coronavirus in some places including the capital Berlin. Infection numbers arent growing exponentially anymore but are still far too high. So we have to reduce contacts reduce contacts reduce contacts Merkel told a business event organised by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany/germanys-merkel-would-have-preferred-tighter-lockdown-idUKKBN27X0UX 17th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK French Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday he could not give a date for the end of the national lockdown. The countrywide restrictions were imposed on Oct. 30 initially for a onemonth period. Veran told BFM that travel restrictions would not be lifted on Dec. 1 repeating what Prime Minister Jean Castex said last week. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-lockdown/french-health-minister-says-he-cannot-give-date-for-end-of-lockdown-idUKKBN27X0NX 17th Nov 2020

Continued Lockdown

Reuters UK Total shopper numbers across British retail destinations plummeted 57.7 in the week to Nov. 14 yearonyear reflecting the impact of Englands second national lockdown market researcher Springboard said on Monday. Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland enacted new COVID19 health restrictions last month and England began a onemonth lockdown on Nov. 5 to curb a second wave of the pandemic that has left the United Kingdom with Europes highest death toll. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-retail-springboard/uk-shopper-numbers-down-57-7-as-english-lockdown-hits-idUKKBN27W12R?il=0 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Sinovac Biotechs experimental COVID19 vaccine CoronaVac triggered a quick immune response but the level of antibodies produced was lower than in people who had recovered from the disease preliminary trial results showed on Wednesday. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-sinovac/sinovacs-covid-19-vaccine-induces-quick-immune-response-study-idUKKBN27Y041?il=0 18th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

USA Today A new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association found that the coronavirus is infecting children now more than at any time during the pandemic. The number of U.S. infants children and teens diagnosed with COVID19 has surpassed 1 million accounting for 11.5 of all cases in states reporting cases by age according to the data. The total hit nearly 1.04 million kids on Nov. 12 including nearly 112000 new cases last week. That was the highest weekly total of any previous week in the pandemic the academy said. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/17/covid-19-over-1-million-kids-infected-study/6324129002/ 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian on MSN.com Pfizer has launched a pilot delivery program for its experimental Covid19 vaccine in four US states as the drugmaker seeks to address distribution challenges posed by its ultracold storage requirements. The US drugmaker said it had selected Rhode Island Texas New Mexico and Tennessee for the program because of their differences in overall size diversity of populations and immunisation infrastructure as well as the states need to reach individuals in varied urban and rural settings. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/pfizer-launches-covid-19-vaccine-delivery-trial-in-four-us-states/ar-BB1b5BbA 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian The successful uptake of any vaccine for Covid19 a crucial step in returning a sense of normalcy after a year ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic could be hindered by widespread contamination from a range of chemicals used in everyday products. Small amounts of per and polyfluoroalkyl or PFAS chemicals are commonly found in the bodies of people in the US as well as several other countries. These manmade chemicals used in everything from nonstick pans to waterproof clothes to pizza boxes have been linked to an elevated risk of liver damage decreased fertility and even cancer. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/17/chemicals-found-in-everyday-products-could-hinder-covid-19-vaccine 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Forbes A study recently published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases from thirtyseven countries found that nearly 300000 healthcare workers had been infected with Covid19. In addition to the high number of infections over 2500 healthcare workers died from the virus as of August 15th. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2020/11/17/the-infection-of-hundreds-of-thousands-of-healthcare-workers-worldwide-poses-a-threat-to-national-health-systems/ 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Daily Mail The University of California Irvine is launching a study to examine if lockdowns and stayathome orders have impacted memory. Researchers say the monotony of working from home makes it difficult to distinguish events that occur daybyday Lockdowns have also increased isolation which does not allow us to stimulate the brain through social interaction. Not going outside and trying to find our way home or elsewhere prevents the ability to exercise the part of the brain associated with memory and learning https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8957791/California-scientists-launch-study-test-lockdowns-impacted-memory.html 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC News Without urgent interventions more young people will die from pandemicrelated mental ill health than coronavirus one of the countrys top mental health experts Professor Ian Hickie has warned. Around the country all the markers of our mental health are worsening. Emergency presentations are up helplines are running hot and incidents of self harm are increasing but Professor Hickie a former Mental Health Commissioner says its worse in Victoria. The shadow pandemic as hes termed it wont peak until the second half of next year. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-17/covid-related-mental-illness-wont-peak-until-mid-next-year/12891862 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Brisbane Times Queenslands suicide rate did not change during lockdowns however the pandemic contributed to a handful of people taking their own lives research has found. The stress of pandemic lockdowns forced many people to face mental health issues for the first time or exacerbated existing conditions. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/lockdown-has-not-led-to-more-queensland-suicides-research-finds-20201117-p56fgf.html 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg In early January about the only thing the worlds scientists knew for sure about the novel coronavirus was its genetic profile. Now some 300 days later vaccine developers are on the brink of a major victory against a pathogen thats inflicted untold personal and economic damage. Virus specialists including Anthony Fauci the top U.S. infectious disease doctor predicted in early 2020 that it would take a year to 18 months to develop a vaccine to confront the contagion. Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc.s collaboration with BioNTech SE are poised to beat that forecast if preliminary positive results from their vaccine trials hold up. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-17/covid-shots-barrel-toward-finish-line-in-300-day-science-feat?utm_medium=social&ampcmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amputm_source=twitter&amputm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amputm_content=business 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Johnson Johnsons chief scientist said the drugmaker is recruiting over 1000 people per day for the latestage trial of its experimental COVID19 vaccine and expects to have all the data needed to seek U.S. authorization by February or earlier. By the end of the year or around the end of the year we should have 60000 people in the study Dr. Paul Stoffels JJs chief scientific officer said in an interview ahead of this weeks Reuters Total Health conference. And efficacy endpoint should be there in the first few weeks or months January or February of the new year he added. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-johnson-johnson-idUSKBN27X2R7?taid=5fb43c4d5ee68d0001b51b30&amputm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Roche Holding AG has completed early tests of its ability to produce large quantities of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Incs COVID19 antibody treatment putting it on track to begin manufacturing the drug once it is authorised by regulators Regenerons president said on Tuesday. The experimental therapy was used to treat United States President Donald Trump in October. The companies aim to be able to make two million doses of the antibody cocktail next year but are awaiting clearance from regulators. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/11/17/regeneron-roche-tested-manufacture-of-covid-drug-trump-used 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Overthecounter mouthwash can kill coronavirus within 30 seconds of exposure a study has found. Scientists at Cardiff University discovered mouthwash containing at least 0.07 percent cetylpyridinium chloride CPC showed promising signs of reducing transmission of the virus. Their preliminary report which is yet to be peerreviewed supports a study published last week that found mouthwash containing CPC helps in reducing the viral load of people infected with the coronavirus. It comes ahead of a clinical trial on patients at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to find out whether mouthwash can reduce coronavirus in a patients saliva. The findings are expected to be published in early 2021. Dentyl is the only UK mouthwash brand that is part of the clinical trial led by Professor David Thomas from Cardiff University. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/17/coronavirus-30-seconds 17th Nov 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Phase three trials of Indias first vaccine against COVID19 has started in what is the largest human trials to be conducted with about 26000 participants Bharat Biotech announced on Monday. The Hyderabadbased company has been developing the vaccine Covaxin in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR Indias premier medical research body. The first doses of the vaccine were administered to volunteers at the Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences NIMS in Hyderabad on Monday as part of the trial which will be monitored over the next year. Covaxin has shown promising safety and immunogenicity data in trials done during phase one and phase two the company said. The India trial comes a day after the US biotech firm Moderna Inc said preliminary data from a continuing phase three study of its experimental COVID19 vaccine showed it to be 94.5 percent effective. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/17/coronavirus-phase-3-trials-of-india-made-vaccine-begins 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Spains death toll from the coronavirus rose by 435 to 41688 on Tuesday the steepest daily increase in the second wave of contagion but new infections continued to slow health ministry data showed. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-spain-idUSKBN27X2KW 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC Americans may have tuned out of coronavirus news as they focused on the outcome of the presidential election but the pandemic has quietly been getting worse in the country. The number of infections in the US has reached new heights in recent days surpassing 160000 cases in one day for the first time since the outbreak began. Dr Anthony Fauci the top US infectious diseases expert has warned that the country faces a very challenging and ominous situation as it approaches winter. So how bad is the situation and how much does it vary across the country https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-54966531 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times California and Michigan moved to shut down indoor dining and Philadelphia severely limited indoor gatherings. With more than 150000 virus cases daily the nation is shutting down again. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/16/us/coronavirus-lockdowns-restrictions.html 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC Michigan Washington and California are the latest US states to bring in strict measures to try to curb the spread of Covid19 as cases top 11 million. High schools and colleges are to halt onsite teaching while restaurants are prohibited from offering indoor dining in Michigan from Wednesday. Indoor restaurant dining is also banned in Washington State and gyms cinemas theatres and museums will close. And much of California will return to its most severe restriction level. On average more than 1000 people a day are dying with the virus and the overall death toll is close to 250000. Hospital admissions have also reached record levels with nearly 150000 new cases across the US on Monday. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54955093 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

National Post Sweden whose unorthodox pandemic strategy garnered global attention has registered 15084 new coronavirus cases since Friday Health Agency statistics showed on Tuesday. The number comes after Sweden hit a new daily record of 5990 new cases last Friday with the number of people testing positive rising by about 50 per cent a week. https://nationalpost.com/news/world/lockdown-u-turn-in-sweden-as-covid-19-cases-soar-and-herd-immunity-hopes-falter 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

EL PAS in English The coronavirus data sent by Spains regions to the central Health Ministry showed a clear improvement on Monday according to the daily report that is published each weekday. Compared with the data released on Friday all Spanish territories apart from Asturias and Cantabria have registered a fall in the 14day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100000 inhabitants one of the key indicators being used to track the progress of the epidemic. https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-11-17/spain-reports-38273-new-coronavirus-cases-and-adds-484-victims-since-friday.html 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNBC New lockdowns and tough social restrictions were reintroduced across numerous European countries in October in an effort to contain the second wave. The latest numbers suggest these steps seem to be working. Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that the restrictions were causing case numbers to stabilize somewhat but too slowly. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/17/covid-19-infections-in-europe-appear-to-slow-down-after-new-lockdowns.html 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

YAHOO!News French health authorities on Monday reported 9406 new COVID19 infections over the past 24 hours a more than onemonth low and a figure sharply down from Sundays 27228 and way below the alltime high of 86852 reached on Nov 7. Health minister Olivier Veran had said earlier in the day that recent data had shown some encouraging signs from the second national lockdown albeit lighter than the first one put in place on Oct 30. Nonetheless the number of people hospitalised for the new coronavirus was up by 416 to reach a new alltime high of 33497. And COVID19 fatalities increased by 506 to 45054 versus a sevenday moving average of 581. https://news.yahoo.com/frances-covid-19-hospitalisations-hit-191408978.html 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

India TV News With the number COVID19 cases witnessing a surge in Delhi again the Arvind Kejriwal government on Tuesday sought the Centres approval to allow it to shut markets that may emerge as COVID19 hotspots for a few days. The Delhi has already confirmed that the city is witnessing a third wave of COVID19 adding that it has already peaked out. AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleri in an exclusive interaction with India TV listed out several reasons behind the spike in coronavirus cases in the national capital. Due to the festival season people were seen flouting the COVID19 protocols. Markets witnessed huge rush of people. It is quite likely that some events acted like superspreader Dr Guleria said. https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/delhi-covid-cases-aiims-randeep-guleria-lockdown-again-coronavirus-vaccine-latest-news-665481 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Time Out The northernmost island in Japan Hokkaido is a popular destination for local and international tourists famed for its cool summer abundant snowfall in winter and exceptional seafood. Since last Thursday November 12 however the prefecture has been making headlines for its rising coronavirus cases. It reported a record 236 new Covid19 cases on that day and a daily tally of over 200 new cases through to Sunday. Yesterday Monday November 16 there were 189 new infections. When news of Hokkaidos upward trend in case numbers broke there was speculation that the prefecture might be taken off the enticing Go to Travel domestic tourism campaign which sees the government subsidising up to half of your travel costs. However according to The Japan Times Prime Minister Suga has said that the Go to Travel subsidy will continue as is. https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/with-coronavirus-cases-rising-in-hokkaido-is-the-prefecture-going-into-a-lockdown-111720 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Australian authorities conducted mass tests on Tuesday and about 4000 people were confined to quarantine in the hope of stifling a new cluster of cases of the novel coronavirus after hopes it had been largely eradicated. The state of South Australia reimposed social distancing restrictions on Monday after detecting 21 cases of the coronavirus most of which were acquired locally. The cases were the first local transmissions of the virus in Australia in nine days. South Australia Premier Steven Marshall said testing had identified five new cases in the past 24 hours while 14 people were suspected to be infected and were awaiting test results. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-australia/australia-scrambles-to-contain-new-covid-19-cluster-idUKKBN27W32E 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

CTV News Saskatoon Saskatchewan Union of Nurses president Tracy Zambory joined CTV News at Five anchor Jeremy Dodge to explain why she thinks the provinces new COVID19 rules dont go far enough and how a novel approach taken in Australia could help stop the spread of coronavirus in Saskatchewan. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. So last week you spoke to us here at CTV News about some of your concerns. And they proved not to be unfounded with you know over 400 cases of COVID19 being confirmed on the weekend. Of course the impact on the healthcare system has been felt by nurses and everybody on the front lines. Now the government has taken some action with new restrictions what are your thoughts on where we stand https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/sask-nurses-union-head-pitches-short-term-circuit-break-lockdown-to-help-turn-back-tide-of-new-covid-19-cases-1.5192015 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail Jacinda Ardern has hit back at claims from China that traces of coronavirus were detected in frozen meat imported from New Zealand. The Prime Minister is now seeking official clarification from China in a determined bid to get to the bottom of the matter after claims emerged from the eastern province of Shandong. Health authorities in the Chinese city of Jinan claimed coronavirus was detected on beef tripe and product packaging from Brazil Bolivia and New Zealand. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8955759/amp/Jacinda-Ardern-refutes-Chinas-claims-coronavirus-meat-imported-New-Zealand.html 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

swissinfo.ch Each country is trying to find a route through winter which will disrupt life as little as possible while still safeguarding health. Theres also a wish as the UKs Prime Minister put it to save Christmas. And each country has a slightly different approach. Here in Switzerland the government has opted for a slowdown rather than a lockdown. Neighbouring France has gone into another confinement with strict rules around movement. To our east Austria is beginning a hard lockdown with schools closed and a daytime as well as a nighttime curfew. There is increasing debate and confusion about which measures are most successful. In most parts of Switzerland we can still go out for dinner. Our friends in France cannot. But since the introduction of the Swiss slowdown and the French confinement cases of Covid19 in both countries have begun to fall https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/learning-the-lessons-of-covid-19/46165130 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

RNZ The weak positive case reported yesterday has been confirmed as a community case with two more cases also reported at New Zealands border. In a statement the Health Ministry said the weak positive result from a neighbour of this weeks community case in Auckland reported yesterday has now had a third test that returned a positive result. These test results indicate that this new case is a very recent infection. This case has been in the Auckland quarantine facility since 12 November the ministry said. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/430657/covid-19-weak-positive-case-confirmed-to-be-community-infection 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters India Beiruts popular Sabra market teemed with shoppers this week some of them unmasked in apparent defiance of a full national lockdown imposed on Saturday to stem a resurgence of coronavirus infections. The Lebanese government ordered the twoweek restrictions including a 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew on Sundays as new daily infections rose above 1000. Lebanon reported 1016 new infections on Monday bringing its total to 106446 cases and 827 deaths since Feb. 21. After city streets and roads emptied on Sunday pedestrians were back on Monday and some motorists could be seen flouting a reimposed oddeven licence plate alternate day driving rule. https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-lebanon-lockdown/crisis-weary-beirut-residents-defy-new-lockdown-despite-covid-surge-idINKBN27X1XA?il=0 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Bloomberg Sweden is bumping up against the limits of a strategy that has so far relied on recommendations rather than rules to stop people transmitting the coronavirus. The country famously avoided a lockdown earlier this year arguing instead that citizens would voluntarily do the right thing. But this week Prime Minister Stefan Lofven took what he called the unprecedented step of banning public gatherings larger than eight people amid signs that Swedens softer approach is falling short. On Tuesday state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said Swedes appear to be paying less attention to social distancing guidelines now than when the pandemic first erupted. Thats despite warnings from Lofven that Sweden faces a really dark winter with the virus. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-17/sweden-tests-limit-of-controversial-covid-strategy-as-cases-soar?utm_content=business&amputm_source=twitter&amputm_campaign=socialflow-organic&ampcmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amputm_medium=social 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Evening Standard The UK has recorded a further 598 coronavirus deaths the highest daily increase since May 12. It brings the total official death toll to 52745 since the outbreak began according to figures from the Department of Health and Social Care. Separate figures published by the UKs statistics agencies for deaths where Covid19 has been mentioned on the death certificate together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days show there have now been 68000 deaths involving Covid19 in the UK. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/uk-coronavirus-cases-deaths-latest-b72498.html?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1605644107 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Tokyo is preparing to raise its coronavirus alert level to the highest of four levels as the number of positive cases in the Japanese capital creeps up the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday. As part of the move the metropolitan government is considering asking some businesses to shorten their hours again the paper said citing multiple unnamed sources. The announcement will be made on Thursday the Nikkei said. Tokyo authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-japan/tokyo-to-raise-coronavirus-alert-level-to-highest-of-4-levels-nikkei-idUKKBN27X33W 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters France on Tuesday became the first European country to surpass 2 million coronavirus cases despite an Oct. 30 nationwide lockdown that has led to a sharp decline in new infections according to a Reuters tally. France is fourth in the number of infections reported with 2036755 behind the United States India and Brazil. With a death toll topping 45000 France ranks seventh in COVID19 deaths globally. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france-record/france-becomes-first-european-country-to-top-two-million-covid-19-cases-reuters-tally-idUKKBN27X2QE 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera South Korea will tighten physical distancing rules for Seoul and its surrounding areas from Thursday the government saying its anticoronavirus efforts are facing a crisis as it works to contain increases in new cases in and around the capital. The tougher measures including limits on public gatherings of 100 or more people as well as the numbers able to attend religious services and sporting events will come into force on Thursday Yonhap news agency reported. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/17/facing-a-crisis-south-korea-moves-to-tighten-covid-19-curbs 17th Nov 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Wall Street Journal Pervasive spread in smaller communities fuels nationwide case record though mortality rates are lower than in the spring. With a third surge of the Covid19 pandemic hitting the U.S. many publichealth authorities are warning the coronavirus is now so widespread that it will take pervasive new measures to contain it. https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-covid-surge-u-s-restrictions-11605466754?mod=e2tw 16th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

heraldscotland.com School closures should be on the cards in the 11 local authority areas including Glasgow that face Scotlands toughest Covid restrictions on Friday. The level four rules will see the closure of nonessential shops pubs restaurants and gyms. Now the Educational Institute of Scotland EIS the countrys largest teaching union has said schools in Level Four should be allowed to implement blended or remote learning contingency measures https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18878099.teachers-say-scots-school-closures-cards-level-4-lockdown-imposed-11-council-areas/ 17th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Forbes Italys spring lockdown one of the longest and strictest in Europe gifted extraordinary experiences and photos of the countrys iconic tourist attractions devoid of people. As Italys latest COVID rules see regional borders closing and international travel continues to be restricted these tourist hotspots are once more emptying. The situation is bittersweet. Many businesses particularly those dependent on tourism wonder if theyll manage to survive a second travel hiatus. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccahughes/2020/11/17/italys-covid-lockdown-empties-tourist-hotspots-again/ 17th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

FRANCE 24 Austria will introduce a national lockdown on Tuesday in a bid to bring its soaring coronavirus infections under control Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Saturday confirming an earlier Reuters report based on a draft government decree. https://www.france24.com/en/video/20201117-austria-returns-to-lockdown-to-limit-rise-in-covid-19-cases 17th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Canadas remote Arctic territory of Nunavut is suffering its first community outbreak of COVID19 and will close all nonessential services as well as schools for at least two weeks officials said on Monday. This is an outbreak Michael Patterson Nunavuts chief public health officer told a news conference streamed online from the territorys capital Iqaluit. There has been community transmission occurring in Arviat in the last little while. COVID19 outbreaks in Canadas northern territories are particularly concerning because healthcare services are limited and because there are often numerous people living under the same roof which facilitates the spread of the virus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-canada-nunavut-idUSKBN27W2RT 17th Nov 2020

New Lockdown

Daily Mail In Scotland Nicola Sturgeon today announced parts of Scotland that are home to millions of people will be moved into its toughest coronavirus level at the end of the week as she warned infection rates remain stubbornly high. The First Minister said 11 council areas which include the city of Glasgow will be subject to Level Four restrictions from 6pm on Friday. The areas have a combined population of approximately 2.3million people. People living in Level Four areas are banned from meeting with other households indoors while all nonessential shops must close. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8958053/Nicola-Sturgeon-announces-11-council-areas-moving-level-four.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailUK 17th Nov 2020