19th Jul 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=409 lockdown_exit

England’s Covid unlocking is threat to world, say 1,200 scientists

The Guardian Government advisers in New Zealand Israel and Italy were among those who sounded alarm bells about the policy while more than 1200 scientists backed a letter to the Lancet journal warning the strategy could allow vaccineresistant variants to develop. An adviser to New Zealands government told the summit he and his colleagues were astounded at the approach being taken in England. In New Zealand we have always looked to the UK for leadership when it comes to scientific expertise which is why its so remarkable that it is not following even basic public health principles said Michael Baker a professor of public health at the University of Otago and a member of the New Zealand ministry of healths Covid19 technical advisory group. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/16/englands-covid-unlocking-a-threat-to-the-world-experts-say 17th Jul 2021

Scientists round on UK over plan to end COVID curbs

Al Jazeera English I believe that the strategy of herd immunity is actually murderous US scientist William Haseltine said as the UK prepares to lift most restrictions on public gatherings businesses and nightclubs. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/16/scientists-round-on-uk-over-plan-to-end-covid-curbs 17th Jul 2021

Just 5% think 'Freedom Day' will mark return to normal as Brits stay cautious

The Mirror A new poll shows 85 of Brits will keep on social distancing and nearly 40 believe its too soon to lift Covid19 restrictions https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/just-5-think-freedom-day-24557576 17th Jul 2021

UK govt plan to end virus orders queried as cases top 50,000

Associated Press The U.K. recorded more than 50000 new coronavirus cases for the first time in six months Friday amid a warning from the British governments top medical adviser that the number of people hospitalized with COVID19 could hit quite scary levels within weeks. Government figures showed another 51870 confirmed lab cases the highest daily number since mid January. Infections have surged in recent weeks mainly among unvaccinated younger people as a result of the far more contagious delta variant and the continued easing of lockdown restrictions. Despite the increase the British government plans Monday to lift all remaining legal restrictions on social contact in England and to ditch social distancing guidelines as well as the legal requirement for people to wear masks in most indoor settings including shops trains buses and subways. https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-10e385eed02524f41f2cf7129350cdaa 17th Jul 2021

C.D.C. Director Warns of a ‘Pandemic of the Unvaccinated’

The New York Times As the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus fuels outbreaks in the United States the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Friday that this is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Cases hospitalizations and deaths remain far below last winters peak and vaccines are effective against Delta but the C.D.C. director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky urged people to get fully vaccinated to receive robust protection pleading Do it for yourself your family and for your community. And please do it to protect your young children who right now cant get vaccinated themselves. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/16/health/covid-delta-cdc-walensky.html 17th Jul 2021

CDC director warns of 'pandemic of the unvaccinated' as cases rise

The Hill Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Director Rochelle Walensky ROCHELLE WALENSKY Overnight Defense Milley reportedly warned Trump against Iran strikes Pulitzer Prizewinning photographer killed in Afghanistan 70 percent of activeduty military at least partially vaccinated Overnight Health Care CDC director warns of pandemic of the unvaccinated Biden says social media platforms killing people Florida accounts for 20 percent of new cases Biden Social media platforms killing people MORE warned of rising cases on Friday stating that COVID19 is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated and that vaccinated people are protected against severe disease. The highly transmissible delta variant is fueling expanding outbreaks but they are centered in parts of the country with lower vaccination rates. This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated Walensky said during a White House press briefing. We are seeing outbreaks of cases in parts of the country that have low vaccination coverage because unvaccinated people are at risk. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/563391-cdc-director-warns-of-pandemic-of-the-unvaccinated-as-cases-rise 16th Jul 2021

South Africa footballers test positive for Covid-19 in Tokyo Olympic Village

The Guardian Team GBs preparations for the Olympics have been plunged into chaos after six athletes and two staff members from the athletics squad were forced to selfisolate after coming into close contact with a member of the public who had Covid19 on their flight to Tokyo. The news which broke late on Sunday afternoon in Yokohama after the athletes had finished training for the day stunned officials who immediately rushed to ensure that the athletes and staff members were confined to their rooms. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/18/south-africa-footballers-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-tokyo-olympic-village 18th Jul 2021

U.S. COVID-19 vaccine doses going to Ukraine, Bangladesh

Reuters The United States sent 2 million doses of Modernas COVID19 vaccine to Ukraine via the COVAX international vaccinesharing program on Friday a White House official said and plans to send 3.5 million Moderna doses to Bangladesh over the weekend. The doses for Bangladesh will arrive on Monday the official said. The doses are part of President Joe Bidens promise to share doses of U.S. vaccine with other countries around the world via COVAX or directly. https://www.reuters.com/world/us-covid-19-vaccine-doses-going-ukraine-bangladesh-2021-07-16/ 17th Jul 2021

Covid:-19 Decision on vaccinations for under-18s 'within days'

BBC News The evidence we have received so far is compelling and ministers are going to make a decision armed with the advice in the coming days. If it does get the goahead those just short of their 18th birthday are likely to be invited to have a vaccine first https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57876608 18th Jul 2021

COVID-19: Cautionary tale from the Netherlands' coronavirus unlocking - what lessons can the UK learn?

Sky News As the UKs nations prepare to ease coronavirus restrictions another European nation is reimposing curbs on its citizens. The Dutch celebrated their Freedom Day two weeks ago only to find COVID19 cases soaring to unprecedented levels. The spike in case rates led the Dutch prime minister to concede that coronavirus restrictions had been lifted too soon. While the epidemiological situation varies between the two countries and direct comparisons are difficult is there anything the UK could learn from the Dutch experience https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-can-the-uk-avoid-reimposing-coronavirus-restrictions-after-theyre-lifted-12355210 16th Jul 2021

African countries to receive first U.S. donated COVID-19 vaccines in days - Gavi

Reuters 49 African countries to receive 25 mln COVID19 vaccine doses. First deliveries soon to Burkina Faso Djibouti Ethiopia. Africa recorded a 43 jump in COVID19 deaths last week https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/african-countries-receive-first-us-donated-covid-19-vaccines-days-gavi-2021-07-16/ 16th Jul 2021

As Delta drives COVID surge, vaccines, strategies under scrutiny

Al Jazeera English Malaysias health ministry has announced that it will stop using the COVID19 vaccine produced by Chinas Sinovac once its supplies end while other Southeast Asian countries have said they are looking to mix and match the Chinesemade shots with those from western manufacturers amid a surge in cases driven by the highlytransmissible Delta variant. Malaysian Health Minister Adham Baba announced on Thursday that about half its 16 million doses of Sinovac have already been distributed and the remainder will be used to cover second doses. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/16/how-effective-are-chinas-sinovac-and-sinopharm-vaccines 16th Jul 2021

A Louisiana doctor's COVID plea: 'If you don't choose the vaccine, you're choosing death'

The Advocate A Baton Rouge infectious disease specialist gave a stark account Friday of the dangers of the coronavirus delta variant circulating through Louisiana saying that its causing children to lose their parents pregnant women to lose their babies and that choosing vaccination is the only option to avoid more deaths. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/coronavirus/article_e17a5142-e655-11eb-ae97-774a2f5935d3.html 16th Jul 2021

World leaders pledge to focus on global vaccination efforts

Al Jazeera English Leaders of the AsiaPacific trade group APEC including US President Joe Biden Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping pledged on Friday to work to expand sharing and manufacturing of COVID19 vaccines to fight the global pandemic. The leaders struggling to tame outbreaks exacerbated by the Delta variant said they would encourage the voluntary transfer of vaccine production technologies on mutually agreed terms as the region prepared for future health shocks. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/16/world-leaders-pledge-to-focus-on-global-vaccination-efforts 16th Jul 2021

Covid 19: More than one third of Londoners unvaccinated

BBC News More than one third of Londoners have not had their first vaccine dose making it the area with the lowest uptake in England latest figures show. The data from NHS England also shows 55 have not had a second dose. Across England 88 of people have had a first dose and 68 the second. Figures also show the city has one of the lowest rates of Covid19 cases with 298 per 100000. Sadiq Khan said everything possible was being done to vaccinate everyone. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-57874402 18th Jul 2021

Covid-19: PM and chancellor to self-isolate in U-turn

BBC News In UTurn UKs Johnson to Quarantine After COVID19 ContactU.S. News World ReportCoronavirus latest news Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak reverse decision to not selfisolate after getting pingedTelegraph.co.ukBoris Johnson and Rishi Sunak WILL selfisolate after being pingedEvening StandardView Full coverage on Google News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57879730 18th Jul 2021

Johnson to press ahead with lifting Covid rules despite ‘worry’ over case numbers

The Guardian Boris Johnson is set to lift Covid restrictions across England on Monday despite Downing Street conceding concerns over rapidly rising case numbers as more than 1200 international scientists and health experts urged the government to scrap the dangerous experiment of freedom day. New daily infections in the UK broke the 50000 threshold on Friday for the first time since midJanuary and official figures showed one in 95 people in England are estimated to have the virus more than quadruple the rate in the middle of June when the prime minister set 19 July for lifting most of the countrys last infection control measures. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jul/16/johnson-to-press-ahead-with-lifting-covid-rules-despite-worry-over-case-numbers 17th Jul 2021

Olympic village tests first COVID case days before Tokyo Games

Al Jazeera English The Tokyo Olympics has registered its first COVID19 case in the Olympic Village six days before the Games open the organisers have said. Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto confirmed on Saturday that a visitor from abroad who is involved in organising the Games had tested positive. He would not reveal the persons nationality citing privacy concerns. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/17/olympic-village-tests-first-covid-case-six-days-before-tokyo-game 17th Jul 2021

Freedom or folly? UK's end to mandatory masks sows confusion

Associated Press For many its common courtesy or a sensible precaution. For others its an imposition a daily irritation. The face mask a highly charged source of debate confusion and anger around the world during the coronavirus pandemic is now dividing people as the crisis eases. Britain is bracing for acrimony on Monday when the government lifts a legal requirement to wear face coverings in most indoor settings including shops trains buses and subways. Donning a mask in many places will stop being an order and become a request. Already people are split over how to respond. https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-europe-health-government-and-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-105efe9f913055d7b60cd2c1fd5e8adb 16th Jul 2021

Violent unrest in South Africa imperils COVID-19 response

Al Jazeera English A sixmonthold baby shot in the head during a crossfire was among the patients treated by Dr Suhayl Essa at central Johannesburgs Hillbrow Clinic on Sunday. Later that day four foreign nationals each stabbed in the chest in suspected bouts of xenophobic violence arrived in the space of half an hour followed a man whose eyeball was left almost hanging from its socket after being struck by a rubber bullet. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/16/violent-unrest-in-south-africa-imperils-covid-19 16th Jul 2021

Bangladesh plans to vaccinate Rohingya against COVID: Official

Al Jazeera English Bangladesh plans to start rolling out inoculations against COVID19 for the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya living in crowded refugee camps next month says a senior official. Subject to availability of the doses we will begin administering the jabs among Rohingya anytime in August Shah Rezwan Hayat chief of Bangladeshs Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission told DPA news agency on Friday. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/16/bangladesh-vaccine-rohingya-refugees-covid 16th Jul 2021

New poll finds confidence in science has plunged among some groups

The Hill Forty five percent of Republicans have either a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in science. More than 40 years ago Republicans had more confidence in science than Democrats. The average adult at 33 percent either has a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in public institutions. https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/education/563498-new-poll-finds-confidence-in-science-has-plunged-among 16th Jul 2021

Thailand expands lockdown areas as COVID-19 cases surge

Reuters The Thai government on Sunday announced plans for a tighter lockdown in Bangkok and highrisk provinces next week suspending most domestic flights and expanding curfew areas after the country reported a third straight day of record COVID19 case numbers. Thailand reported 11397 infections and 101 deaths on Sunday bringing the cumulative total to 403386 cases and 3341 fatalities the vast majority from an outbreak since early April that is being fuelled by the highly transmissible Alpha and Delta COVID19 variants. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-expands-lockdown-areas-covid-19-cases-surge-2021-07-18/ 18th Jul 2021

Opera singers are teaching long-term Covid-19 patients to breathe again

CNN Covid19 shoved Jeff Sweat into a medical coma for three weeks last winter face down on a ventilator on deaths trap door. I took care of him when he was literally near death said Dr. Nida Qadir a pulmonologist and codirector of the Intensive Care Unit at UCLA Medical Center. He has no memory of meeting me. But now the pair are well acquainted the lung specialist and the 49yearold married father with three teenagers as he sings his way to recovery in a unique therapy program at UCLA. Sweat and several other patients with serious medical complications caused by the virus attend weekly opera classes via video conference conducted by members of the Los Angeles Opera and music educator Rondi Charleston. https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/18/us/therapists-opera-treat-covid-patients/index.html 18th Jul 2021

British ministers decide against mass vaccination for teens

Reuters UK Britain has opted against mass COVID19 vaccinations for all children and teenagers with ministers instead preparing to offer doses to vulnerable 12 to 15yearolds and those about to turn 18 the Telegraph newspaper reported late on Saturday. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/british-ministers-decide-against-mass-vaccination-teenagers-telegraph-2021-07-17/ 18th Jul 2021

Long covid might strike half a million people during current wave, Neil Ferguson warns

The Independent Around half a million people can be expected to develop long Covid during the current wave of coronavirus epidemiologist Neil Ferguson has warned. The Imperial College London scientist said it was almost inevitable that daily infection rates will hit a record 100000 within weeks and said the pandemic could spike at more than 200000 positive cases a day. Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick agreed that the wave driven by the Delta variant of Covid19 will be challenging and could last into September but said the government would do everything we can to avoid further lockdown restrictions. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/long-covid-uk-neil-ferguson-b1886076.html?utm_term=Autofeed&amputm_medium=Social&amputm_content=Echobox&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1626598310 18th Jul 2021

China Zhifei's COVID shot largely retains effect against Delta variant-lab study

Reuters A COVID19 vaccine developed by a unit of Chinas Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products largely retained its neutralising effect against the Delta variant but there was a slight reduction Chinese researchers found in a laboratory study. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/china-zhifeis-covid-shot-largely-retains-effect-against-delta-variant-lab-study-2021-07-17/ 17th Jul 2021

Boris Johnson pursuing Covid policy of mass infection that poses ‘danger to the world’, scientists warn

The Independent Boris Johnsons government has come under pressure to urgently reconsider its plan to end Covid restrictions in England on Monday as international scientists warned that the move poses a danger to the world. More than 1200 scientists from around the globe have condemned the prime ministers decision to forge ahead with socalled freedom day on 19 July describing it as unscientific and unethical. Some of the experts convened an emergency summit on Friday warning that the UK governments decision to lift its rules on social distancing and masks amounted to a murderous policy of herd immunity by mass infection. The group of scientists who all signed a recent letter to The Lancet warning against the plans fear next weeks reopening in England will allow the Delta variant to spread rapidly around the world. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-covid-scientists-warning-b1885305.html 17th Jul 2021

Children's viruses that disappeared during pandemic lockdowns are back, doctors say

CBC.ca As children emerge from their homes after COVID19related lockdowns common viruses that all but disappeared during the pandemic are reemerging too doctors say. This time of year in pediatric hospitals its usually quiet said Dr. Fatima Kakkar a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at CHU SainteJustine in Montreal. But now were seeing a surge of respiratory infections. The level of nonCOVID illnesses is what Kakkar usually sees in the fall she said when children are out and about in daycares or schools. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/kids-viruses-returning-after-covid-19-lockdown-1.6104389 17th Jul 2021

FDA grants priority review to Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine; decision on approval expected by January 2022

CNN Pfizer and BioNTech said Friday that the US Food and Drug Administration has granted priority review designation to their application for full approval of their Covid19 vaccine and an FDA official said the decision will come soon. The FDA official told CNN on Friday that a decision on full approval is likely to come within two months. The agency considers this matter a priority said the official who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/16/health/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-fda-priority-review/index.html 16th Jul 2021

Pfizer’s Covid-19 Vaccine Generated 10 Times More Antibodies Than China’s Sinovac Shot, Hong Kong Study Shows

Forbes People who were inoculated with the PfizerBioNTech Covid19 vaccine had ten times the amount of antibodies compared to those who had received the Chinesedeveloped Sinovac vaccine a Hong Kong study has shown likely offering evidence about the varying levels of protection offered by different Covid jabs. https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/07/16/pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-generated-10-times-more-antibodies-than-chinas-sinovac-shot-hong-kong-study-shows/ 16th Jul 2021

Studies elucidate poorly understood long COVID

CIDRAP Three new studies detail longhaul COVID19 one finding 203 symptoms involving 10 organ systems another showing that more than five coronavirus symptoms in the first week of infection portends a long disease course and one finding few longhaullike symptoms in children. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/07/studies-elucidate-poorly-understood-long-covid 16th Jul 2021

Did an Eid al-Fitr mass exodus kick-start Indonesia’s COVID chaos?

Al Jazeera English In the runup to the holiday the Indonesian authorities banned people from returning to their hometowns a process known as mudik usually involving some 20 million people in a move designed to halt the spread of COVID19. Roadblocks were set up toll roads barricaded and checkpoints erected to prevent what was deemed unnecessary travel from May 6. But despite the ban clandestine routes called jalan tikus rat runs mushroomed as travellers flouted the restrictions and went home anyway. Others were allowed to travel because of work or other reasons. By sheer coincidence the Eid alFitr holiday the date of which changes every year in line with the lunar calendar coincided with Ascension Day a Christian holiday. As a result on May 13 a double holiday was celebrated by Indonesias Christian minority and Muslim majority communities across the archipelago. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/16/did-an-idul-fitri-mass-exodus-kickstart-indonesias-covid-chaos 16th Jul 2021

Senegal's daily COVID-19 cases double overnight, new restrictions likely

Reuters Senegals daily COVID19 cases nearly doubled overnight to its highest since the outbreak began the health ministry said just one day after President Mackey Sall threatened to reimpose strict safety measures if cases continued to increase. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/senegals-daily-covid-19-cases-double-overnight-new-restrictions-likely-2021-07-17/ 18th Jul 2021

Doctors and health officials say their latest Covid-19 hospital patients are unvaccinated and increasingly younger

CNN Covid19 is putting younger healthy and mostly unvaccinated people in hospitals at higher rates as cases continue to climb in much of the US health experts say. Over the past week 48 states saw an increase in Covid19 cases with 30 reporting a more than 50 increase data from Johns Hopkins University shows. Low vaccination rates in some areas and increased spread of the more contagious Delta variant are making an already deadly virus even worse especially for younger healthy people Dr. Catherine ONeal an infectious disease specialist at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge Louisiana told CNNs Erin Burnett on Friday. https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/18/health/us-coronavirus-sunday/index.html 18th Jul 2021

Nigeria puts six states on COVID-19 red alert, curbs gatherings

Reuters Nigeria has put six states on red alert after seeing a worrisome rise in COVID19 infections a government official said urging people to curb gatherings and hold prayers outside mosques during this weeks Muslim festival EidelKabir. Nigeria Africas most populous nation is like most parts of the continent now facing a COVID19 third wave after detecting the more transmissible Delta variant. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-puts-six-states-covid-19-red-alert-curbs-gatherings-2021-07-18/ 18th Jul 2021

Indonesia reports record number of doctor deaths from COVID-19 in July

Reuters Deaths of doctors from COVID19 in Indonesia rose sharply in the first half of July according to the professions association as the Delta variant of the coronavirus fuelled a surge in infections across the country. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/indonesia-reports-record-number-doctor-deaths-covid-19-july-2021-07-18/ 18th Jul 2021

Covid cases could hit 100,000 ‘in two weeks’ with lockdown needed ‘by September’

Metro The UKs third wave of coronavirus could last well into the autumn one of the governments scientific advisers has warned. Professor John Edmunds a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies Sage suggested the current wave will be quite long and drawn out after lockdown is lifted in England next week. The socalled freedom day on Monday will see the majority of the remaining legal restrictions dropped meaning the end of social distancing measures the return of largescale events and workers beginning to head back into the office. https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/17/covid-cases-could-hit-100000-in-two-weeks-with-lockdown-needed-by-september-14944202/ 18th Jul 2021

‘Wembley variant’: England fans report soaring Covid cases after gathering for Euro 2020 final

iNews Swathes of England football fans have reported testing positive for coronavirus following the Euros final on Sunday night as Public Health England PHE issued renewed calls for regular testing ahead of the lifting of restrictions on Monday. Some fans said that pretty much everyone they knew who headed to the stadium had contracted the virus or was selfisolating. The large numbers of fans reporting positive Covid tests following the match has led people to dub the illness the Wembley variant. The final at Wembley which was part of a Government trial to test the safety of large events saw 60000 fans attend with no social distancing or masks after producing a negative test result. However thousands more congregated outside and dozens of ticketless fans stormed the stadium. https://inews.co.uk/news/wembley-variant-covid-cases-england-fans-euro-2020-final-1107370 18th Jul 2021

Sydney lockdown shock as Gladys Berejiklian admits NSW has failed to ‘quash’ Covid outbreak

The Guardian Lockdown restrictions in Greater Sydney will be drastically tightened after the New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian conceded measures introduced three weeks ago were failing to stop an outbreak of more than 1000 cases. Berejiklian made the changes after repeatedly denying in the past week that there was any need to harden restrictions saying people could use their common sense to decide whether they were an essential workplace that had to stay open. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/17/sydney-lockdown-shock-as-gladys-berejiklian-admits-nsw-has-failed-to-quash-covid-outbreak 17th Jul 2021

UK has nine times more Covid cases than France as country moves to 'amber plus' list

The Mirror The UK has extended quarantine rules for France despite Britain having almost nine times as many Covid cases. British holidaymakers coming home from France after Monday will still have to continue to quarantine for 10 days officials have announced. The requirement will be dropped for all other amber list countries as long as returning Brits have been doublejabbed. Many travellers have questioned why the rules are continuing for France when it has a comparatively low number of new Covid infections. The UK recorded a further 244691 cases in the 7 days to July 14 while France only had 27713 infections over the same period according to Our World in Data. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-nine-times-more-covid-24553824 17th Jul 2021

Indonesia overtakes India as Asia's new Covid-19 epicenter

CNN Indonesia reported 54517 new cases of Covid19 authorities said Wednesday a singleday national record and dire warning sign for the worlds fourthmost populous country. The island nation home to about 270 million people is now reporting more cases a day than hardhit India making Indonesia the new epicenter for the pandemic in Asia. If the spread continues unabated experts say it could push Indonesias health care system to the brink of disaster. Some fear the situation may be worse than the numbers show because not enough people are getting tested for the virus. A survey published Saturday found that nearly half of the 10.6 million residents of Jakarta may have contracted Covid19. https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/14/asia/indonesia-covid-intl-hnk/index.html 16th Jul 2021

COVID-19 crisis could return quickly as infections surge, UK adviser warns

Reuters Chief Medical Officer England not out of COVID19 woods. Daily case numbers highest since January. England set to end legal restrictions on July 19. Selfisolation vexes businesses as full reopening nears https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-restrictio/end-of-covid-19-curbs-should-come-with-caution-englands-chief-medical-officer-says-idUSKBN2EL2PE 16th Jul 2021

US COVID-19 cases climb steadily all week

CIDRAP Today in a White House news briefing public health officials spotlighted the COVID19 surges appearing across the country and reiterated the urgency for people to get vaccinated. Not only has the moving 7day average of new daily cases increased every day this week but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Director Rochelle Walensky MD MPH said that 10 of US counties were recently reclassified as high transmission risk areas and 7 moved into the substantial risk category. Many of these areas she added corresponded with low vaccination rates. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/07/us-covid-19-cases-climb-steadily-all-week 16th Jul 2021

India orders 660 mln vaccine doses amidst warnings over shortages - media

Reuters India The Indian government has ordered 660 million vaccine doses for AugustDecember its largest procurement local news reports said on Friday as state authorities and health experts warned that shortages could leave millions vulnerable if coronavirus infections surge again. The federal government aims to inoculate all of the countrys estimated 944 million adults by December a target health experts have said is ambitious as only 8 of that number is currently vaccinated with the mandatory two doses. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-daily-covid-19-infections-rise-by-38949-2021-07-16/ 16th Jul 2021

UAE's Abu Dhabi announces partial lockdown effective July 19 -tweet

Reuters The United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee announced on Thursday a partial lockdown and new entry requirements in the emirate starting July 19 from midnight until 5 a.m. as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID19 variants the media office reported in a tweet. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/uaes-abu-dhabi-announces-partial-lockdown-effective-july-19-tweet-2021-07-15/ 16th Jul 2021

Thailand weighing up more lockdown measures as COVID-19 cases surge

Reuters Thailand is considering bringing in tighter coronavirus curbs in a bid to contain soaring infections as authorities reported on Friday a record number of cases despite imposing partial lockdowns in Bangkok and nine other provinces this week. Since Monday areas considered high risk in Thailand have been under the toughest restrictions in more than a year with new curbs on movement and gatherings the closure of malls and some businesses and curfews between 9 pm to 4 am https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-reports-daily-record-coronavirus-infections-2021-07-16/ 16th Jul 2021

White House slams Facebook as conduit for COVID-19 misinformation

Reuters Facebook is not doing enough to stop the spread of false claims about COVID19 and vaccines White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday part of a new administration pushback on misinformation in the United States. Facebook which owns Instagram and WhatsApp needs to work harder to remove inaccurate vaccine information from its platform Psaki said. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-surgeon-general-warns-over-covid-19-misinformation-2021-07-15/ 16th Jul 2021