COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis - 19th Apr 2021 19th Apr 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=282 lockdown_exit White House turns its attention to COVID19 variants
White House turns its attention to COVID-19 variants
CIDRAP Today the US government announced a new initiative in the next phase of fighting the pandemic investing 1.7 billion in genomic sequencing efforts that will help identify COVID19 variants. Our ability to spot variants as they emerge and spread is vital particularly as we aim to get ahead of dangerous variants before they emerge as they are in the Midwest right now Andy Slavitt a senior White House pandemic adviser said today during a COVID19 briefing. Slavitt said vaccination is still the main tool to end the pandemic and he encouraged all Americans to get the vaccine beginning Monday when more states will make those 16 and older eligible. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/04/white-house-turns-its-attention-covid-19-variants 16th Apr 2021 Biden administration to invest 1.7bn to fight COVID19 variants
White House turns its attention to COVID-19 variants
Al Jazeera English The United States will invest 1.7bn to help states and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fight COVID19 variants that are spreading rapidly across the US. The investment is part of President Joe Bidens 1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and will improve detection monitoring and mitigation of these variants by scaling up genomic sequencing efforts the White House said on Friday. The original strain of COVID19 comprises only about half of all cases in America today. New and potentially dangerous strains of the virus make up the other half the White House said in a statement. In early February US laboratories were sequencing about 8000 COVID19 strains per week. Since then the administration has invested nearly 200m to increase genomic sequencing to 29000 samples per week an effort that will get a boost with the new funding. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/16/biden-administration-to-invest-1-7bn-to-fight-covid-19-variants 16th Apr 2021 We did need to throw a lot of spaghetti against the Covid window a biotech analyst on pandemic drug development
‘We did need to throw a lot of spaghetti against the Covid window’: a biotech analyst on pandemic drug development
STAT News The pandemic has shined a spotlight on the biopharmaceutical industry proving its value through the speed of vaccine development to a society that ranked it even lower in its esteem than the federal government. But when it comes to drugs for Covid19 how has the industry performed Josh Schimmer has been analyzing the industry for decades now with the firm Evercore ISI and he was early to flag the risks of this new virus in the beginning of 2020. He wrote in a research note very mixed feelings about how the biotech industry delivered during the pandemic. We were intrigued by that so we invited Schimmer to The Readout LOUD to have a conversation. https://www.statnews.com/2021/04/16/we-did-need-to-throw-a-lot-of-spaghetti-against-the-covid-window-a-biotech-analyst-on-pandemic-drug-development/ 16th Apr 2021 Half of US adults have received at least one COVID19 shot
Positive Vaccination News
The Associated Press Half of all adults in the U.S. have received at least one COVID19 shot the government announced Sunday marking another milestone in the nations largestever vaccination campaign but leaving more work to do to convince skeptical Americans to roll up their sleeves. Almost 130 million people 18 or older have received at least one dose of a vaccine or 50.4 of the total adult population the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Almost 84 million adults or about 32.5 of the population have been fully vaccinated. The U.S. cleared the 50 mark just a day after the reported global death toll from the coronavirus topped a staggering 3 million according to totals compiled by Johns Hopkins University though the actual number is believed to be significantly higher. https://apnews.com/article/politics-anthony-fauci-coronavirus-pandemic-infectious-diseases-coronavirus-vaccine-6e3b18b44a05d1e49ed35337ec7ce969 18th Apr 2021 Alaska to offer tourists COVID19 vaccines starting June 1
Positive Vaccination News
Associated Press Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Friday that COVID19 vaccines would be made available at key airports in the state starting June 1 in unveiling plans aimed at bolstering the states pandemicbattered tourist industry. Dunleavy a Republican outlined plans for a national marketing campaign aimed at luring tourists using federal aid money and said the vaccine offering is probably another good reason to come to the state of Alaska in the summer. Dunleavy and other state leaders have been pushing to allow large cruise ships to return to Alaska after COVID19 restrictions kept them away last year hitting hard businesses and communities particularly in southeast Alaska that rely heavily on summer tourism. https://apnews.com/article/alaska-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-504eb7541894d24203586a28817ff99b 16th Apr 2021 UK delivers more than 600000 vaccines in 24 hours
Positive Vaccination News
Reuters UK More than 600000 first and second doses of coronavirus vaccine were administered in Britain in the space of 24 hours according to data released on Saturday. Official figures showed that 119306 first doses were given on Friday and 485421 second doses. The data also showed a further 35 people had died from the virus within 28 days of a positive test and 2206 people had tested positive. In the last seven days daily deaths were down 29 from the previous week while cases were down 6.5. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-delivers-more-than-600000-vaccines-24-hours-2021-04-17/ 17th Apr 2021 US administers 205.9 mln doses of COVID19 vaccines
Positive Vaccination News
Reuters The United States has administered 205871913 doses of COVID19 vaccines in the country as of Saturday morning and distributed 264499715 doses the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday. Those figures are up from the 202282923 vaccine doses the CDC said had gone into arms by April 16 out of 258502815 doses delivered. The agency said 129494179 people had received at least one dose while 82471151 people are fully vaccinated as of Saturday. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-administers-2059-mln-doses-covid-19-vaccines-2021-04-17/ 17th Apr 2021 Qatar Seeks Covid19 Vaccinations for All World Cup Visitors
Positive Vaccination News
Bloomberg Qatar said its in talks with coronavirus vaccine makers to ensure all 2022 soccer World Cup visitors are vaccinated. Right now there are programs under development to provide vaccination to all the attendees of the World Cup Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Friday during a virtual conference. We will be able hopefully to host a Covidfree event. The Gulf state has seen a resurgence in Covid19 cases despite pushing ahead with its inoculation program forcing a lockdown to be reimposed. Qatar has administered 1.2 million jabs enough for 21.6 of its people according to Bloombergs vaccine tracker. Qatar one of the richest countries on the planet per capita is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on infrastructure construction ahead of the FIFA event fueling an oversupply in property. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-17/qatar-seeks-covid-19-vaccinations-for-all-world-cup-visitors 17th Apr 2021 Pfizer chief Bourla raises likely need for annual COVID shots teeing up vaccine sales for years to come
Pfizer chief Bourla raises 'likely' need for annual COVID shots, teeing up vaccine sales for years to come
Fierce Pharma Pfizer was first to market in the U.S. with its BioNTechpartnered COVID19 vaccine and by and large its avoided the safety and supply concerns plaguing some of its pandemic peers. Now to hear CEO Albert Bourla tell it its increasingly likely the 2021 revenue boon will continue for years to come. Patients will likely need a third dose of Pfizer and BioNTechs COVID19 vaccine as the shots protection wanes CEO Albert Bourla said in a recent interview with CVS Health Live. And after receiving a third shot people should expect revaccination every year he said. That could spell extra sales for Pfizer in the short term and turn its mRNAbased vaccine Comirnaty into a revenue spring for years to come. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/pfizer-chief-bourla-raises-likely-need-for-annual-covid-vaccinations-teeing-up-comirnaty 16th Apr 2021 Nextgeneration Covid19 vaccines are supposed to be better. Some experts worry they could be worse
Next-generation Covid-19 vaccines are supposed to be better. Some experts worry they could be worse
STAT News With Covid19 vaccines the world hopes to beat back the virus that causes the disease. But some scientists are increasingly concerned that because of a quirk of our own biology future iterations of the vaccines might not always be quite as effective as they are today. The concerns stem from a phenomenon that is known as imprinting sometimes called original antigenic sin which is believed to affect how we respond to some pathogens. In short when your body is introduced to a particular threat for the first time either through infection or a vaccine that encounter sets your immune systems definition of that virus and what immune weapons it needs to detect and protect against it in the future. https://www.statnews.com/2021/04/16/next-generation-covid-19-vaccines-are-supposed-to-be-better-some-experts-worry-they-could-be-worse/ 16th Apr 2021 South African variant may break through Pfizer vaccine protection but vaccine highly effective Israeli study says
South African variant may 'break through' Pfizer vaccine protection, but vaccine highly effective, Israeli study says
Reuters The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can break through the protection provided by Pfizer Inc and BioNTechs COVID19 vaccine to some extent a realworld data study in Israel found. However the variants prevalence in Israel is very low and the vaccine remains highly effective. The study was released on the medRxiv preprint site on April 9 and has not been peer reviewed. It compared almost 400 people who had tested positive for COVID19 after they received one or two doses of the vaccine against the same number of unvaccinated patients with the disease. It matched age and gender among other characteristics. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/south-african-variant-may-break-through-pfizer-vaccine-protection-vaccine-highly-2021-04-18/ 18th Apr 2021 Britain is investigating variant originating in India
Britain is investigating variant originating in India
KELO LONDON Reuters British health officials are investigating a COVID19 variant originating in India but as yet they do not have enough evidence to classify it is as a variant of concern Susan Hopkins of Public Health England PHE said on Sunday. https://kelo.com/2021/04/18/britain-is-investigating-variant-originating-in-india/ 19th Apr 2021 COVID19 Indian variant could scupper easing of UK coronavirus lockdown rules warns expert
COVID-19: Indian variant could 'scupper' easing of UK coronavirus lockdown rules, warns expert
Sky News The Indian coronavirus mutation could scupper the UKs march to freedom a leading scientist has warned. It comes despite the lockdown and vaccine programme leading to cases falling to a sevenmonth low. COVID19 infections across the UK dropped to the lowest level since the autumn according to the latest figures. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-indian-variant-could-scupper-easing-of-uk-coronavirus-lockdown-rules-warns-expert-12277830 17th Apr 2021 Fresh concerns over imported Covid19 cases in London
COVID-19: Indian variant could 'scupper' easing of UK coronavirus lockdown rules, warns expert
Evening Standard Concerns grew today over imported Covid19 cases as seven out of nine new infections announced yesterday in one London borough were international travellers from ambertype list countries The Standard reveals. The finding in Kensington and Chelsea came as a senior MP called for Britain to have the tightest possible border restrictions to stop another wave of coronavirus cases. Ministers are considering how to relax restrictions to allow foreign travel from late spring and summer. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/concerns-imported-covid19-cases-london-borough-international-travellers-b930077.html 17th Apr 2021 Vaccine immunity wont just disappear in face of Covid variants JCVI expert
Vaccine immunity ‘won’t just disappear’ in face of Covid variants – JCVI expert
Evening Standard Imported coronavirus variants are unlikely to set lockdown easing back to square one because immunity from vaccines wont just disappear according to a key figure on the UKs immunisation committee. Professor Adam Finn a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI said he expected a gradual erosion of vaccine protection as the virus evolves but not enough to scupper the Prime Ministers road map as one leading scientist had predicted. On Friday Imperial Colleges Danny Altmann said we should be terribly concerned after 77 cases of a potentially vaccinebusting Covid19 mutation first discovered in India were identified in Britain. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/india-england-brazil-downing-street-asian-b930189.html 17th Apr 2021 Weekend shutdown in Delhi as fears of double mutant strain grips India
The New India COVID-19 Surge
Free Malaysia Today New Delhi went into a weekend lockdown Saturday as India faces a ferocious new coronavirus wave with more than 200000 fresh daily cases and families clamouring for drugs and hospital beds. Hopes that South Asian countries might have beaten the pandemic have been dashed with India seeing over two million new cases this month alone and Bangladesh and Pakistan imposing shutdowns. Indias percapita rates remain low by international comparison raising the prospect that infection numbers fuelled possibly by a virulent new double mutant may explode further. A national lockdown a year ago led to hundreds of deaths and one of the worst slumps of any major economy the Indian government is desperate to avoid a second stoppage. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2021/04/17/weekend-shutdown-in-delhi-as-fears-of-double-mutant-strain-grips-india/ 17th Apr 2021 India Reports Another Record Daily Rise in COVID19 Infections
The New India COVID-19 Surge
U.S. News & World Report India reported a record daily increase of 234692 COVID19 infections over the last 24 hours health ministry data showed on Saturday. It was the eighth record daily increase in the last nine days. Total cases reached nearly 14.5 million second only to the United States which has reported more than 32 million infections. Indias deaths from COVID19 rose by 1341 to reach a total of 175649 the data showed. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-04-17/india-reports-another-record-daily-rise-in-covid-19-infections 17th Apr 2021 India Oxygen shortage in Maharashtra as COVID cases soar
The New India COVID-19 Surge
Al Jazeera English As Maharashtra Indias richest state grapples with ferociously rising COVID19 cases patients such as Pawar are struggling to find hospital beds and oxygen support. The states daily oxygen usage has touched 1500 metric tonnes according to Health Minister Rajesh Tope. This is much more than its daily production of 1250 tonnes. While other states are contributing to plug the shortfall transportation by road takes time. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has now requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deploy the National Disaster Management Authority to airlift oxygen for rapid movement. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/17/india-maharashtra-grapples-with-oxygen-shortage-as-covid-cases 17th Apr 2021 Frightening Weekend shutdown in Delhi as COVID grips India
The New India COVID-19 Surge
Al Jazeera English New Delhi went into a weekend lockdown on Saturday as India faces a ferocious new coronavirus wave with daily cases hitting another record increase of 234692 nationwide and families clamouring for drugs and hospital beds. The health ministry said the latest number is the eighth record high in the last nine days. Total cases have gone past 14.5 million second only to the United States which has reported more than 32 million infections. Indias deaths from COVID19 rose by 1341 to reach a total of 175649 the data showed. Hopes that South Asian countries might have beaten the pandemic have been dashed with India seeing more than two million new cases this month alone and Bangladesh and Pakistan imposing shutdowns. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/17/frightening-weekend-shutdown-in-delhi-as-covid-grips-india 17th Apr 2021 Telanganas second Covid19 wave sees cases spike in older populations
The New India COVID-19 Surge
The Indian Express Telangana recorded a new highestever spike in the daily average of fresh coronavirus infections on Thursday when 3840 active patients were added to the cumulative caseload. At the peak of the pandemic last year the state had reported 3018 new cases on August 25. Even as the number of daily infections has already breached the 3000mark three times this month the health department has warned of a rapid rise in the caseload for the next four to six weeks in the state. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/telanganas-second-covid-19-wave-sees-cases-spike-in-older-populations-7277270/ 17th Apr 2021 Delhi COVID19 cemetery running low on space as deaths mount
The New India COVID-19 Surge
Reuters India Beating the earth with his fists a young man wails as the body of his father who died after contracting COVID19 is taken from an ambulance and lowered into a hastilydug grave in Indias capital New Delhi. You told me not to go outside but I didnt listen he cries. Its my fault he shouts over and over. Im sorry. The citys main Muslim graveyard for victims of COVID19 is running out of space according to authorities as cases in Delhi and across the country run out of control following the relaxation of almost all curbs on movement last year https://www.reuters.com/world/india/delhi-covid-19-cemetery-running-low-space-deaths-mount-2021-04-16/ 16th Apr 2021 Dire need of beds oxygen Indias capital under siege from COVID19
The New India COVID-19 Surge
The Star Indias capital New Delhi recorded 25500 coronavirus cases in a 24hour period with about one in three people tested returning a positive result its chief minister said urging the federal government to provide more hospital beds to tackle the crisis. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2021/04/18/india-reports-another-record-daily-rise-in-coronavirus-infections 19th Apr 2021 India coronavirus Desperate Covid19 patients turn to black market for drugs
The New India COVID-19 Surge
BBC News Akhilesh Mishra started getting a fever and a cough last Thursday but he initially thought it was just the flu. Akhilesh began to worry the next day when his father Yogendra developed similar symptoms. The two men decided to get Covid RTPCR tests done and tried to book a slot online but the next available appointment was three days later. They finally managed to get a slot on Sunday. In the meantime Yogendra was running a very high fever and his doctor advised him to look for a hospital bed which turned out to be another daunting task. They were turned away by many private hospitals in the city of Noida and also in the capital Delhi. The family finally managed to get a bed for him in a private hospital in Delhi and he is now recovering. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56757405 17th Apr 2021 India migrant workers leave cities as COVID measures bite
The New India COVID-19 Surge
Al Jazeera English Migrant workers are piling into rail stations in Indias financial capital Mumbai to head back to their home villages now that coronaviruscontrol measures have dried up work in the hardhit region. What do I do now asked Ramzan Ali whod been earning up to 500 rupees 7 per day as a labourer but has been out of work for two weeks. He arrived at Kurla railroad station on Friday morning and joined a long line to buy a ticket to board a train for Balrampur his village in northern Uttar Pradesh state. Ali 47 hopes to find some work in the village to feed his wife and four children. Similar scenes were also starting in New Delhi where some migrant workers were worried they might get stuck if a lockdown was declared. The government of Maharashtra state home to Mumbai imposed lockdownlike curbs on Wednesday for 15 days to check the spread of the virus. It closed most industries businesses and public places and limited the movement of people but didnt stop bus train and air services. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/4/16/india-migrant-workers-leave-cities-as-covid-measures-bite 16th Apr 2021 India Vaccine exclusion fears over digital ID face recognition
The New India COVID-19 Surge
Al Jazeera English Millions of vulnerable people are at risk of missing out on COVID19 vaccines as India uses its national digital identity for registration and pilots facial recognition technology at inoculation centres rights groups and experts said. Amid a surge in coronavirus cases authorities are testing a facial recognition system based on the Aadhaar ID for authentication in the eastern state of Jharkhand and plan to roll it out nationwide a senior official said last week. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/16/india-vaccine-exclusion-fears-over-digital-id-face-recognition 16th Apr 2021 Pfizer halts corona vaccine shipments to Israel after failure to pay
Vaccine Manufacture and Supply
The Jerusalem Post Pfizer has halted shipments of coronavirus vaccines to Israel in outrage over the country failing to transfer payment for the last 2.5 million doses it supplied to the country The Jerusalem Post has learned. Senior officials at Pfizer have said they are concerned that the governmentintransition will not pay up and the company does not want to be taken advantage of. They said that they do not understand how such a situation can occur in an organized country. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/banana-republic-pfizer-outraged-israel-failed-to-pay-for-covid-vaccines-664140 17th Apr 2021 Japanese leader asks Pfizer for additional vaccine supply
Vaccine Manufacture and Supply
The Independent Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga asked the U.S. drug maker Pfizer Inc. for additional supplies of the COVID19 vaccine to speed up the inoculation drive that lags behind many other countries. Suga after holding talks with President Joe Biden at the White House wrapped up his Washington visit on Saturday with a phone call to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. Suga requested Burla for additional supplies of the vaccine that would cover all eligible recipients by September as well as to ensure the stable and prompt delivery of the ongoing vaccine shipments Japanese officials said Sunday. No details were released. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/japanese-leader-asks-pfizer-for-additional-vaccine-supply-pfizer-japanese-tokyo-covid-joe-biden-b1833283.html 17th Apr 2021 India pledges massive boost in vaccine output as COVID19 cases surge
Vaccine Manufacture and Supply
Reuters India India pledged on Friday to raise monthly production of its own COVID19 vaccine about tenfold to nearly 100 million doses by September as immunisations have slowed in the country despite a surge in new infections. After donating and selling tens of millions vaccine doses abroad India has suddenly found itself short of Covaxin its only domestically made shot. The government is now trying to raise production at manufacturer Bharat Biotech and fasttrack imports of other vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-vaccinations-fall-peak-infections-hit-record-2021-04-16/ 16th Apr 2021 Moderna cuts COVID19 vaccine deliveries to Canada U.K. amid European supply struggles
Vaccine Manufacture and Supply
Fierce Pharma The global COVID19 vaccine supply is about to take another hit but this time from Moderna. The mRNA drugmaker warned Friday that supply problems are forcing it to cut back deliveries to a number of countries including the U.K. and Canada. Moderna which has partnered with Switzerlands Lonza to manufacture its vaccine known as mRNA1273 pinned the reduction on deficits in its European supply chain specifically to human and material resources needed to meet its production goals. The trajectory of vaccine manufacturing rampup is not linear and despite best efforts there is a shortfall in previously estimated doses a Moderna spokesperson told Fierce Pharma in an email adding that it is maintaining close contact with national governments to plan deliveries https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/moderna-cuts-covid-19-vaccine-deliveries-to-canada-u-k-amid-european-supply-struggles 16th Apr 2021 Indias COVID vaccine maker urges Biden to lift exports embargo
Vaccine Manufacture and Supply
Al Jazeera English The Serum Institute of India SII the worlds biggest vaccine maker has urged President Joe Biden to lift an embargo by the United States on the exports of raw materials that is hurting its production of COVID19 shots. Respected @POTUS if we are to truly unite in beating this virus on behalf of the vaccine industry outside the U.S. I humbly request you to lift the embargo of raw material exports out of the US so that vaccine production can ramp up SII Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla said in a tweet on Friday. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/16/indias-covid-vaccine-maker-urges-biden-to-lift-exports-embargo 16th Apr 2021 As mask mandates end Oregon bucks trend with permanent rule
As mask mandates end, Oregon bucks trend with permanent rule
The Associated Press As states around the country lift COVID19 restrictions Oregon is poised to go the opposite direction and many residents are fuming about it. A top health official is considering indefinitely extending rules requiring masks and social distancing in all businesses in the state. The proposal would keep the rules in place until they are no longer necessary to address the effects of the pandemic in the workplace. Michael Wood administrator of the states department of Occupational Safety and Health said the move is necessary to address a technicality in state law that requires a permanent rule to keep current restrictions from expiring. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-oregon-6f7f919d27644d02c330da5a8648af95 17th Apr 2021 Denmark speeds up reopening of economy as new virus cases ease
Reopening Plans
Reuters Denmark said on Friday it would reopen the economy sooner than expected as COVID19 infections decrease allowing indoor service at restaurants and cafes and football fans to cheer from the stands from April 21 weeks earlier than originally planned. Denmark has avoided a third wave of the COVID19 epidemic after imposing wide lockdown measures in December which slowed the epidemic considerably to between 500700 daily infections from several thousands in December. Most of the planned reopening schemes are contingent on the use of a socalled coronapassport which shows whether the holder has been vaccinated has previously been infected or has taken a test within the last 72 hours. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/denmark-speeds-up-reopening-epidemic-stabilises-2021-04-16/ 16th Apr 2021 Englands COVID19 epidemic estimated to be shrinking more quickly health ministry
Reopening Plans
Reuters UK The COVID19 epidemic in England is estimated to be shrinking more quickly compared to last week the health ministry said on Friday adding that the closely watch reproduction R number might also be lower. The daily growth rate of COVID19 infections was estimated between 6 and 1 down from 4 and 0 last week. The estimated range for the R number was 0.7 to 1.0 meaning on average every 10 people infected will infect between 7 and 10 other people. Last week it was estimated at 0.8 to 1.0 https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/englands-covid-19-epidemic-estimated-be-shrinking-more-quickly-health-ministry-2021-04-16/ 16th Apr 2021 Pandemic destroyed fewer US businesses than feared Fed study shows
Reopening Plans
Reuters Fewer than 200000 businesses in the United States may have failed during the first year of the COVID19 pandemic a lighter toll than initially feared and one that may have had relatively little impact on unemployment according to Federal Reserve research. The figure contrasts with the early forecasts that the pandemic would leave AmericasMain Street desolate as well as with polls that continue to show large percentages of U.S. small business owners are worried about their survival. https://www.reuters.com/business/pandemic-destroyed-fewer-us-firms-than-feared-fed-study-shows-2021-04-16/ 16th Apr 2021 Northern Ireland accelerates lockdown exit plans
Reopening Plans
Reuters Northern Ireland will open outdoor dining from the end of April and hotels from late May the British regions government said in an acceleration of its lockdown exit plans that will see it reopen its economy far faster than neighbouring Ireland. All retail outdoor restaurant and bar services and gyms will open on April 30 the Northern Ireland Executive said after earlier indicating they would open later in May. Indoor dining and hotels will follow suit on May 24 subject to COVID19 infection rates the executive said in a statement. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/northern-ireland-accelerates-lockdown-exit-plans-2021-04-15/ 17th Apr 2021