26th May 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=335 lockdown_exit

Social media heavyweights wooed for Pfizer smear campaign

ABCNews.go.com Social media influencers in France with hundreds of thousands of followers say a mysterious advertising agency offered to pay them if they agreed to smear Pfizers COVID19 vaccine with negative fake stories https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Business/wireStory/social-media-heavyweights-wooed-pfizer-smear-campaign-77893574 25th May 2021

U.S. FDA may not review new COVID-19 vaccine EUA requests during pandemic

Reuters The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday it may decline to review and process new emergency use authorization EUA requests for COVID19 vaccines for the rest of the pandemic if a company has not already begun discussions. So far vaccines from Pfizer Inc Moderna Inc and Johnson Johnson have been authorized for emergency use in the United States. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-may-not-review-new-covid-19-vaccine-eua-requests-during-pandemic-2021-05-25/ 26th May 2021

America’s largest school systems announce full-time return to in-person learning this fall

The Washington Post The two largest school systems in the United States will fully reopen for inperson learning this fall officials announced Monday a major step in the countrys pandemic recovery. The public school districts in New York City and Los Angeles which together educate more than 1.6 million students became the latest to announce their planned transitions away from virtual learning which will also allow parents who have been supervising their childrens online classes to go back to work. New York City will eliminate its remotelearning option and all students and adults will have to wear masks unless guidance from federal health officials changes. In Los Angeles school district leaders said they expect most students teachers and staff to be present every day but an online option will be available. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/05/24/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/ 25th May 2021

Explainer: What is 'black fungus' that is hitting India's COVID-19 patients?

Reuters A rapid rise in cases of mucormycosis also known as black fungus has added to the challenges faced by Indias healthcare system as it deals with a massive second wave of COVID19 infections. Mucormycosis is a fungal infection that causes blackening or discoloration over the nose blurred or double vision chest pain breathing difficulties and coughing blood. The disease has a close link to diabetes and conditions which compromise the immune system. Experts have said that an overuse during the COVID19 pandemic of certain drugs which suppress the immune system could be causing the surge. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-is-black-fungus-that-is-hitting-indias-covid-19-patients-2021-05-24/ 25th May 2021

Covid-19: Rich countries are putting “relationships with big pharma” ahead of ending pandemic, says Oxfam

The BMJ Some rich countries are continuing to put their relationships with big pharma ahead of ending this pandemic Oxfams health policy adviser has said in response to commitments made by G20 leaders at the Global Health Summit. Anna Marriott described the action agreed at the end of the summit which was cohosted by the European Commission and Italy on 21 May as the equivalent of throwing a bucket of water on a forest fire. World leaders at the summit reaffirmed their support for the Access to Covid19 Tools ACT Accelerator launched by the World Health Organization just over a year ago to accelerate the development of tests treatments and vaccines and to ensure their equitable distribution. However a year onand as the global death toll from the virus surpasses three millionthere is still a funding gap of 18.5bn 13.1bn 15.1bn for the accelerator. Covax the initiative that distributes vaccines to low income countries also has little stock. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1342 25th May 2021

Hong Kong could soon throw away millions of unused vaccine doses

AlJazeera Hong Kong may soon have to throw away millions of coronavirus vaccine doses because they are approaching their expiry date and not enough people have signed up for the jabs an official has warned. Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world fortunate enough to have secured more than enough doses to inoculate its entire population of 7.5 million people. But swirling distrust of the government as it stamps out dissent combined with online misinformation and a lack of urgency in the comparatively virusfree city has led to entrenched vaccine hesitancy and a dismal inoculation drive. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/25/hong-kong-could-soon-throw-away-millions-of-unused-vaccine-doses 25th May 2021

Coronavirus: Vaccine roll-out faces turmoil

Cyprus Mail After making steady progress in recent weeks Cyprus vaccination rollout faces turmoil as health officials move to shore up public confidence pending clarification over whether the death of a woman from a thrombotic episode was linked to the AstraZeneca jab. The health ministry has said there is no evidence so far that the vaccine was to blame for the death and reiterated the importance of vaccines to prevent a fourth coronavirus surge. It has taken pride in the fact that Cyprus has managed to administer at least one jab to close to 50 per cent of the population attributing the muchimproved epidemiological situation to the rollout. However the womans death has prompted concern and confusion compounded by the fact that different countries in the EU implement different age criteria for the specific vaccine. https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/05/25/coronavirus-vaccine-roll-out-faces-turmoil/ 25th May 2021

Schools try pep-rally tactics to get students vaccinated

Associated Press A growing number of public schools are using mascots food trucks and prize giveaways to create a peprally atmosphere aimed at encouraging students to get vaccinated against the coronavirus before summer vacation. Districts from California to Michigan are offering free prom tickets and deploying mobile vaccination teams to schools to inoculate students 12 and up so everyone can return to classrooms in the fall. They are also enlisting students who have gotten shots to press their friends to do the same. Officials are concerned that once school lets out it will be even tougher to get enough teens vaccinated in time to guarantee widespread immunity on campuses. https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-418fe38201db53d2848e0138a28ff824 25th May 2021

Spain to receive 94 mln Pfizer vaccine doses from December under EU deal

Reuters Spain will receive nearly 94 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech between December 2021 and June 2023 as part of a European Union purchase the government spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Maria Jesus Montero said the total was equivalent to twice the target population in Spain where around 8.1 million people have already received a full course of vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/spain-receive-94-mln-pfizer-vaccine-doses-december-under-eu-deal-2021-05-25/ 25th May 2021

Mexico’s long delay of vaccines for Latin America nears end

Associated Press Mexicos top diplomat said Tuesday that shipments of a longdelayed lot of AstraZeneca vaccines will finally be sent to Argentina this weekend. Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said about 800000 doses will be flown to Argentina. Mexico will get a similar amount and he expressed hopes that later shipments can be sent to other Latin American countries. The effort to fill and finish the vaccines at a Mexican plant took almost three months longer than originally expected. Ebrard acknowledged Tuesday it had been a long complex hazardous process adding we now finally at last have this vaccine available. https://apnews.com/article/mexico-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-373c66d9d31d153a1fe3f26eca30f395 25th May 2021

White House encourages COVID-19 vaccine incentives

CIDRAP Today Andy Slavitt the White House senior advisor for COVID19 response said during a White House press briefing on the pandemic that he was inspired by Ohios VaxAMillion lottery which will award 1 million to a person each week for 5 weeks with winners drawn at random with proof of vaccination. Slavitt said since the program was announced by Gov. Mike DeWine the state has seen a 55 increase in 20 to 49yearolds getting vaccinated and in several counties rates of vaccination have doubled. In other words this program is working Slavitt said. Maryland New York and Oregon have announced similar programs and Slavitt said the Biden administration via the American Rescue Plan is encouraging states to get creative in offering cash incentives lottery winnings or other prizes as a way to draw attention to the vaccine. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/05/white-house-encourages-covid-19-vaccine-incentives 25th May 2021

WHA to hold pandemic treaty talks in November

CIDRAP Country delegates at the World Health Assembly WHA today came to a consensus on holding a special session in November to consider an international treaty on pandemic preparedness with the goal of shoring up political commitment in the battle against infectious disease outbreaks. In other global developments US officials issued new warnings that recommend against travel to Japan as it grapples with a COVID19 surge ahead of the Olympics and Indias daily case total dropped to its lowest level in 6 weeks. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/05/wha-hold-pandemic-treaty-talks-november 25th May 2021

More than 77,000 NHS staff in England have caught Covid, shows research

The Guardian At least 77000 hospital staff in England caught coronavirus during the pandemic while there were nearly a quarter of a million absences for Covidrelated reasons Guardian research has revealed. However the true totals are likely to be much higher because out of the 142 acute and specialist trusts in England sent freedom of information requests only 55 78 provided figures on staff who were infected while 60 85 gave data on time off for sick leave related to the virus. The responses which cover the year following 1 March 2020 offer the first official data on Covids impact on frontline workers who risked their own health while caring for the more than 400000 patients who have ended up seriously ill in hospital. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/25/more-than-77000-nhs-staff-in-england-have-caught-covid-shows-research 25th May 2021

Covid-19: Are high rates of B.1.617.2 linked to vaccine hesitancy?

The BMJ Last week Englands health and social care secretary Matt Hancock linked high rates of infection and hospital admissions of people with the B.1.617.2 variant of covid19 first identified in India to vaccine hesitancy. Giving an update to the House of Commons on 17 May Hancock said that most of the 19 people admitted to hospital with the variant in the hotspot area of Bolton Greater Manchester were eligible for a covid19 vaccine but had not had it. Hancock said In Bolton 19 people are now in hospital with coronavirus the majority of whom are eligible for a vaccine but have not yet had one. That shows that the new variant is not tending to penetrate into older vaccinated groups and underlines again the importance of getting the jabespecially but not only among the vulnerable age groups. He added The majority of people in the Royal Bolton hospital with coronavirus were eligible for the jab but had chosen not yet to have it and have ended up in hospitalsome of them in intensive care. Vaccines save lives. They protect you they protect your loved ones and they will help us all get out of this pandemic. Was Hancock right to frame the situation in this way https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1345 25th May 2021

In NYC’s furthest flung neighborhood, vaccine a tough sell

Associated Press If theres one place where people could fear the coronavirus more than a vaccination needle its the Far Rockaway section of Queens Nearly 460 residents of the seaside neighborhood have died of COVID19. Thats one out of every 146 people who live there making for one of New York Citys highest death rates. And yet no other place in the city has a lower percentage of vaccinated people. As of Monday only 29 of people living Far Rockaways ZIP code 11691 had received even one vaccine dose according to data from the New York City Health Department. That compares to a rate of 49 citywide and nationally. The situation in the community of around 67000 people illustrates the challenges facing health officials in many places as they try to overcome hesitancy fueled by mistrust misinformation and fear. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-religion-3acd79bb82e1110492c47218b83849ae 25th May 2021

UK accused of reintroducing virus restrictions on the sly

Associated Press The British government faced accusations Tuesday that it was reintroducing local lockdowns on the sly after it published new guidelines for eight areas of England that it says are hot spots for the coronavirus variant first identified in India. Lawmakers and local public health officials expressed shock that they hadnt been made aware of the changes to the guidelines to travel and social interaction that the Conservative government published online last Friday. They also said the guidelines werent mandatory and that the mixed messaging could undermine efforts to keep a lid on the virus by creating unnecessary confusion. In last weeks updated guidance the government recommended that people within eight localities including Hounslow in west London the city of Leicester and the northwest towns of Blackburn and Bolton shouldnt meet up indoors or travel outside their areas unless it is for an essential matter such as going to work. https://apnews.com/article/europe-coronavirus-pandemic-health-7f0d4ed49831f871fbe4d63852a047bb 25th May 2021

Des youtubeurs français incités à dénigrer le vaccin contre le Covid-19 de Pfizer-BioNTech

Le Monde French Health Minister Olivier Veran called a marketing campaign that targeted the PfizerBioNTech vaccine pathetic irresponsible and dangerous. French Youtubers had been approached by a communications agency with a view to producing videos spreading false information about the covid vaccines. The agency offered famous French Youtuber Dirtybiology a massive budget to pull apart the Pfizer vaccine for an anonymous client. Two other video content makers received similar offers. https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2021/05/24/des-youtubeurs-francais-incites-a-denigrer-le-vaccin-contre-le-covid-19-de-pfizer-biontech_6081312_4408996.html?fbclid=IwAR1dCwGdZ6byoO1u3tbUDbLcFahInDiVq6tK21A8q0pWFZmPyq2CICk9Prw 24th May 2021

UK's COVID 'Disaster' to Be Laid Bare by PM Johnson's Ex-Chief Adviser

U.S. News & World Report British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons former chief adviser will on Wednesday cast his former boss as a dithering leader surrounded by fools whose ineptitude led to a disastrous response to the most devastating global pandemic in decades. With almost 128000 deaths the United Kingdom has the worlds fifth worst official COVID toll and Johnson was slow to appreciate the significance of the threat from the virus in early 2020 as it spread from China towards Britains shores. Dominic Cummings the strategist behind the 2016 Brexit campaign and Johnsons landslide election win in 2019 will be quizzed by British lawmakers from 0830 GMT on the lessons that can be learned from the pandemic. Cummings who left the government late last year has said the British health ministry was a smoking ruin that Western governments failed during the crisis and that the secretive British state was woefully unprepared for the pandemic. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-05-25/uks-covid-disaster-to-be-laid-bare-by-pm-johnsons-ex-chief-adviser 26th May 2021

Vietnam expands lockdown measures as infections hit record

Reuters Vietnam widened lockdown measures in its industrialised north on Tuesday to combat its biggest COVID19 outbreak so far as authorities reported a daily record in new cases that was more than double the previous high. The health ministry announced 457 new COVID19 infections on Tuesday the biggest jump since the 190 cases seen on May 16 driven by clusters in factory zones in two northern provinces. Bac Ninh home to production facilities of Samsung Electronics started a curfew and other travel restrictions from Tuesday state media reported. That followed the temporary closure of four industrial parks including three with Foxconn facilities by authorities in neighbouring Bac Giang province. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-vietnam-idUSL3N2NC2LB 25th May 2021

In India, Drugs for COVID Are Being Tested, Approved in Ways That Should Worry Us

The Wire Science Since the start of the COVID19 pandemic last year researchers around the world have evaluated scores of drugs and therapeutic techniques for the disease. Even according to the Clinical Trial Registry of India CTRI researchers in the country are testing everything from inhaled camphor and ajwain to Viagra. This may be desperation given the brutality of Indias second COVID19 outbreak. It is also worthwhile in more ways than one to repurpose existing drugs to treat COVID19. However in most cases a substantial profit motive isnt too far away. Together with Indias opaque drug regulation apparatus and its propensity to approve substances on little to no evidence especially during the pandemic itself these clinical trials warrant a closer look. https://science.thewire.in/health/india-dcgi-drugs-approval-subject-expert-committee-approvals-rejections/ 25th May 2021

Pfizer in talks with India for COVID-19 vaccine supplies

Reuters India Pfizer is in talks with the Indian government over supplies of its COVID19 vaccine the U.S. drugmaker said on Tuesday as New Delhi scrambles to bridge shortfalls having pledged to fasttrack approvals for overseas vaccines. Pfizer remains committed to continuing our engagement with the government of India towards making the Pfizer BioNTech Covid19 vaccine available for use in the country a spokeswoman told Reuters in an emailed statement. Last week Reuters reported Pfizer was in talks with the government to defuse tension over supplies. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/pfizer-talks-with-india-covid-19-vaccine-supplies-2021-05-25/ 25th May 2021

Moderna says its Covid-19 vaccine is safe and appears effective in adolescents

CNN Modernas Covid19 vaccine is safe and appears to be effective in adolescents the company said Tuesday. In a Phase 23 trial of 3732 children ages 12 to 17 in the United States blood tests showed that the vaccine produced an immune response that was equivalent to earlier findings in adults. The trial wasnt designed to look specifically at efficacy. However initial observations found that none of the children who received the vaccine got sick with Covid19 starting 14 days after their second dose. Four of the children who received the placebo tested positive for Covid19 which Moderna says is consistent with a vaccine efficacy of 100. https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/25/health/moderna-vaccine-adolescent-trial-results/index.html 25th May 2021

When Will We Have a Flu/COVID-19 Vaccine Combo?

The Motley Fool Novavax was one of the top stocks in the entire stock market in 2020 running up from 4 a share on Jan. 2 all the way to 119 a share by Dec. 31. It had this magnificent run as Wall Street became more and more convinced that the companys COVID19 vaccine would make a lot of money. And while Novavaxs vaccine still hasnt been approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA many investors remain bullish that it will be soon. The stock market however is a forwardlooking mechanism. So whats in the pipeline Novavax also has a flu vaccine with great phase 3 data. Investors are expecting that drug to also win FDA approval. But whats tantalizing for longterm shareholders are the companys plans for vaccination over the next decade. In this video from Motley Fool Live recorded on May 14 Corinne Cardina healthcare and cannabis bureau chief at Fool.com and Motley Fool writer Taylor Carmichael discuss the prospects for a COVID19Flu combo shot. https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/05/25/when-will-we-have-a-flucovid-19-vaccine-combo/ 25th May 2021

Pfizer begins testing use of pneumococcal vaccine along with COVID-19 booster shot

Reuters Pfizer Inc said on Monday it began testing fully vaccinated adults over 65 in a new study that uses the companys 20valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 20vPnC candidate with a third dose of the PfizerBioNTech COVID19 shot. The aim of the study is to understand if the combination of the vaccines is safe and the immune response after adding the pneumonia vaccine to the existing COVID19 vaccine Pfizer said. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pfizer-begins-testing-use-pneumococcal-vaccine-along-with-covid-19-booster-shot-2021-05-24/ 25th May 2021

Nanoparticle based shot could boost efficacy, accelerate production of seasonal flu vaccines

BioPharma-Reporter.com Seasonal flu vaccines typically work 4060 of the time according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. An experimental recombinant protein nanoparticle vaccine that stimulates a strong immune response is hoping to address that inefficiency. https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/05/25/Nanoparticle-based-shot-could-boost-efficacy-accelerate-production-of-seasonal-flu-vaccines 26th May 2021

Op-Ed: The Jury Is Out on COVID Boosters — Scientific evidence, not vaccine makers, must drive vaccine decisions

MedPage Today Vaccine makers have suggested that we will need boosters and the Biden administration is reportedly working to ensure they will be available if necessary. And although it is absolutely right to prepare for the possibility that we may need boosters in reality we dont yet know if well need them and if so when. It appears that COVID19 vaccines licensed in the U.S. provide excellent protection against mild and severe disease and against hospitalization and death and the protection offered by both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines reportedly lasts for many months. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19vaccine/92761 24th May 2021

Pfizer-funded vaccine research centre launches in Bristol

Business Live A centre of excellence for studying vaccinepreventable diseases has been launched in Bristol. The centre is funded by coronavirus vaccine manufacturer Pfizer and is the second of a global network of sites to launch and the first outside the US. The Pfizer Centre of Excellence for Epidemiology of Vaccinepreventable Diseases based at the University of Bristol will undertake research to support the design development and use of nextgeneration vaccines. The pharmaceutical company said it had invested an initial 4.6m into the centre to conduct surveillance studies in hospitals and the community to identify and measure the burden of specific vaccinepreventable infectious diseases affecting adults including the elderly as well as children. The centre will be led by Adam Finn professor of paediatrics at the university as well as director of the Bristol Vaccine Centre and lead at Bristol UNCOVER Bristol Covid Emergency Research Group. UK Government Health Secretary Matt Hancock visited the centres research laboratories on Tuesday to meet virologists Dr Andrew Davidson and Dr David Matthews. https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/pfizer-funded-vaccine-research-centre-20676242 25th May 2021

Moderna says its COVID-19 shot works in kids as young as 12

STAT News Moderna said Tuesday its COVID19 vaccine strongly protects kids as young as 12 a step that could put the shot on track to become the second option for that age group in the U.S. With global vaccine supplies still tight much of the world is struggling to vaccinate adults in the quest to end the pandemic. But earlier this month the U.S. and Canada authorized another vaccine the shot made by Pfizer and BioNTech to be used starting at age 12. Moderna aims to be next in line saying it will submit its teen data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other global regulators early next month https://www.statnews.com/2021/05/25/moderna-says-covid19-shot-works-in-kids-as-young-as-12/ 25th May 2021

Moderna COVID vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 12-17

TexasNewsToday.com The modelna vaccine is 93 effective against COVID19 in children aged 12 to 17 years after the first dose and 100 effective 2 weeks after the second dose among vaccinated participants. No cases have been reported. In addition data from the companys Phase 23 clinical trial released Tuesday showed no significant safety concerns. According to the company more than 3700 adolescents participated in the study twothirds vaccinated and onethird vaccinated with placebo. https://texasnewstoday.com/moderna-covid-vaccine-is-safe-and-effective-for-children-ages-12-17/285175/ 25th May 2021

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine aces trial in teens, teeing up back-to-school FDA approval

FiercePharma Teens across the U.S. started getting COVID19 vaccines this month after Pfizers shot. With new data released Tuesday Modernas shot could soon be available to kids too. In a phase 3 trial in kids ages 12 to 18 Modernas vaccine posted 100 efficacy after two doses. Investigators enrolled 3700 participants and randomly assigned twothirds to receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine. The remaining third received two doses of placebo. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/moderna-s-covid-19-vaccine-aces-trial-teens-teeing-up-filing-age-group-next-month 25th May 2021

One of two Americans have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine - CDC

Reuters Nearly one out of two Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID19 vaccine as of Tuesday while half the citizens above the age of 18 in the country have been fully vaccinated according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency said 164378258 people or 49.5 of the total U.S. population had received at least one dose while 131078608 people or 50 of the adult population in the country are fully vaccinated. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/one-two-americans-have-received-least-one-dose-covid-19-vaccine-cdc-2021-05-25/ 25th May 2021

Masks, social restrictions return to Australia's Melbourne after fresh outbreak

Reuters Australias second largest city Melbourne reinstated COVID19 restrictions on Tuesday as authorities scrambled to find the missing link in a fresh outbreak prompting New Zealand to pause a travel bubble with the state of Victoria. Amid worries the cluster which has grown to nine cases in two days could spark a major outbreak Victoria imposed social restrictions and made face masks mandatory in hotels restaurants and other indoor venues from 6 p.m. 0800 GMT on Tuesday until June 4. https://www.reuters.com/world/australia-reinstates-covid-19-curbs-melbourne-after-fresh-outbreak-2021-05-25/ 25th May 2021

Anger simmers in Malaysia as COVID-19 surge strains healthcare system

Reuters Five medical workers in white protective gear battle to resuscitate a coronavirus patient in a quarantine centre on the edge of the Malaysian capital but eventually fail. The struggle caught in a minutelong video clip on social media exemplifies for many Malaysians their governments latest misstep in its efforts to combat the pandemic as daily infections and deaths hit a record high in the past week. Our boat is sinking. The captain is out of touch one Twitter user commented on last weekends video that used the hashtag KerajaanGagal or failed government which has been employed for weeks by Malaysians to voice their anger. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/anger-simmers-malaysia-covid-19-surge-strains-healthcare-system-2021-05-25/ 25th May 2021

U.S. reports lowest number of new COVID-19 cases in nearly a year

Reuters The United States last week reported the lowest number of new COVID19 cases in nearly a year with new infections dropping 26 from the previous seven days to just under 180000 according to a Reuters analysis of state and county data. Deaths from COVID19 fell 5 to 3969 in the week ended May 23 the fewest deaths in a week since March 2020. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-reports-lowest-number-new-covid-19-cases-nearly-year-2021-05-24/ 25th May 2021

Covid-19 hospital admissions 'triple' in Indian variant hotspot

Birmingham Live Covid19 hospitalisations have reportedly tripled in an Indian variant hotspot within the last three weeks. Hospital admissions have TRIPLED in Bolton within 21 days. 43 Covid patients have been hospitalised and are in the towns NHS trust. On May 10 that figure was 12. Yesterday business owners in the town blamed families failing to self isolate on returning from India for the rise. Mohammed Khan owner of a travel agency in the Greater Manchester town told MailOnline Its very selfish. People just think about themselves and their own pleasure. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/covid-19-hospital-admissions-triple-20670380 25th May 2021

Brazil nears 450000 COVID-19 deaths, says Health Ministry

Reuters Brazils Healthy Ministry on Monday registered 790 new COVID19 deaths in the past 24 hours and 37498 new cases of coronavirus. The country has confirmed 449858 deaths from the virus out of more than 16 million confirmed cases since the pandemic began according to ministry data. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-nears-450000-covid-19-deaths-says-health-ministry-2021-05-24/ 25th May 2021

US warns against travel to Japan as country grapples COVID surge

AlJazeera The United States has warned its citizens not to travel to Japan blaming the growing risk of COVID19 just two months before the longdelayed Tokyo Olympics are due to open. Japan has avoided the largescale outbreaks suffered by many other nations but a fourth wave has led to states of emergency in Tokyo Osaka and eight other regions across the nation of 125 million people. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/25/us-warns-against-travel-to-japan-as-covid-bites-ahead-of-olympics 25th May 2021

World’s most vaccinated country still struggles with high Covid case rate

Evening Standard The worlds most vaccinated country is still struggling with a huge Covid case rate. More than 93 per cent of the Seychelles population have had their first vaccine dose and 82 per cent have had both The Telegraph reported. However its seven day case rate remains 1624 per 100000. For comparison the UKs seven day case rate is 23.2 as of May 19. This means that the Seychelles remains on the UKs red list. The islands economy relies heavily on tourism. In 2019 nearly 40000 people visited the island four times more than its population of 97625. Despite the current high case rate the island had been largely spared the ravages of the pandemic with just 35 deaths recorded. The current high case rate has been attributed to people letting their guard down over Easter according to the countrys tourism board. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/seychelles-covid-case-rate-vaccine-b937069.html?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1621940405-1 25th May 2021

Canada virus hotspot Manitoba flies patients out as infections surge

Reuters Canadas latest COVID19 hotspot of Manitoba said on Tuesday it was planning to fly additional critically ill patients to other provinces as infections multiply even as Quebec and British Columbia announced plans to ease restrictions. A third wave reached Manitoba later than other provinces and pushed up its rate of daily cases to 233 people per 100000 during the past week the highest in Canada and triple the national average mainly due to spread in the city of Winnipeg. https://www.reuters.com/world/canadian-covid-19-hotspot-manitoba-flies-patients-out-infections-multiply-2021-05-25/ 25th May 2021