9th Aug 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=440 lockdown_exit

Early signs COVID-19 vaccines may not stop Delta transmission, England says

Reuters UK There are early signs that people who have been vaccinated against COVID19 may be able to transmit the Delta variant of the virus as easily as those who have not scientists at Public Health England PHE said on Friday. The findings chime with those from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which last week raised concerns that vaccinated people infected with Delta could unlike with other variants readily transmit it https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/england-says-delta-infections-produce-similar-virus-levels-regardless-vaccine-2021-08-06/ 6th Aug 2021

These top US chains are reinstating their mask requirements

CNN Top US retail and food chains have updated their mask policies since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that fully vaccinated people should wear masks indoors in areas with substantial Covid19 transmission. That designation includes more than twothirds of US counties. The CDC changed its guidance in response to the rising spread of the new highly transmissible Delta variant and low vaccination rates in many areas of the country. https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/07/business/retailers-restaurants-mask-rules/index.html 8th Aug 2021

Indonesia's Covid disaster: Delta variant killing 150 children a week

Channel 4 News Indonesia the worlds fourth most populous country has marked a sombre milestone in its battle with Covid with total deaths now officially exceeding 100000 although epidemiologists believe the true figure could be two and a half times that. The rapid spread of the Delta variant is alarming Indonesian paediatricians who say one in eight of those infected are children. https://www.channel4.com/news/indonesias-covid-disaster-delta-variant-killing-150-children-a-week 8th Aug 2021

COVID19 - Delta variant ravages St Lucia

MENAFN On Saturday August 7 2021 the Ministry of Health and Wellness MOH confirmation of 66 new cases of COVID19 from a total of 246 samples taken during the period August 4 2021 to August 6 noting that a spike in the COVID19 cases which was anticipated given the increase in social activities over the past couple of weeks short of saying that the general election carnival style campaign and the general adhoc protocolpolicy is the attributing factor coupled with the Delta variant that is unofficially on the island. https://menafn.com/1102587128/COVID19-Delta-variant-ravages-St-Lucia 8th Aug 2021

In England, hundreds of vaccinated people hospitalised with Delta

AlJazeera Hundreds of fully vaccinated people in England have been hospitalised with the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant scientists said on Friday. In their latest COVID19 update Public Health England PHE experts also warned there were early signs that people who have been inoculated may be able to transmit the Delta strain as easily as those who have not received any jabs. From July 19 to August 2 55.1 percent of the 1467 people hospitalised with the Delta variant were unvaccinated PHE said while 34.9 percent or 512 people had received two doses. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/6/nearly-35-percent-of-uk-delta-hospitalisations-fully-vaccinated 8th Aug 2021

Some in U.S. Getting COVID-19 Boosters Without FDA Approval

TIME When the delta variant started spreading Gina Welch decided not to take any chances She got a third booster dose of the COVID19 vaccine by going to a clinic and telling them it was her first shot. The U.S. government has not approved booster shots against the virus saying it has yet to see evidence they are necessary. But Welch and an untold number of other Americans have managed to get them by taking advantage of the nations vaccine surplus and loose tracking of those who have been fully vaccinated. https://time.com/6088422/covid-booster-shots/ 7th Aug 2021

Head of notorious Wuhan lab warns more COVID-19 mutations are coming

The Hill Shi Zhengli told Chinese state media that the virus will continue to mutate. The delta variant was first discovered in India and is now the dominant strain of COVID19. Scientists are also monitoring the lambda variant which is becoming a prominent strain in South America. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/566762-head-of-notorious-wuhan-lab-warns-more-covid-19 7th Aug 2021

Why are government experts holding off vaccinating under-16s in the UK?

The Guardian The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI announced this week that everyone in the UK aged 16 and 17 should be offered the Covid19 vaccine. Just two weeks ago it said the vaccine wouldnt be offered to nonvulnerable people aged 1217. The change in position is welcome but the reasons for the committees twoweek delay and its decision to not extend the vaccine to 12 15yearolds are unclear. Unlike the US Centers for Disease Control CDC the committee has offered no quantitative analysis of the risks associated with vaccinating people in this younger age group. Delaying the rollout of the vaccine to adolescents is risky. Recent figures show that 1 of 1019s were being diagnosed with Covid19 a week. Waiting for further data on vaccine safety when infections are ripping through younger age groups isnt cautious its reckless. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/06/uk-government-experts-vaccinating-under-16s 6th Aug 2021

Six EU states overtake UK Covid vaccination rates as Britain’s rollout slows

The Guardian Six EU states have now fully inoculated a larger share of their total populations with a coronavirus vaccine than the UK after the blocs dire initial rollout took off while Britains impressive early jab rate has slumped. According to government and health service figures collated by the online science publication Our World In Data Malta Belgium Spain Portugal Denmark and Ireland have all overtaken the UK in terms of the percentages of their populations who are fully vaccinated. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/06/six-eu-states-overtake-uk-covid-vaccination-britain-rollout-slows?utm_term=Autofeed&ampCMP=twt_gu&amputm_medium&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1628257037 6th Aug 2021

US reaches 50% fully vaccinated against COVID

CIDRAP White House officials today said 50 of Americans have now been fully vaccinated against COVID19 with immunization levels up 11 from last week as the nations Delta B1617.2 variant activity surges. Concerns over the more transmissible Delta variant and renewed pressure to get people vaccinated have pushed vaccination levels up. Cyrus Shahpar the White Houses COVID19 data director said on Twitter that vaccination levels have increased 44 over the past 2 weeks. Meanwhile a new study suggests that vaccination offers higher protection than previous COVID19 infection according to findings from Kentucky published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/08/us-reaches-50-fully-vaccinated-against-covid 6th Aug 2021

California to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for health workers

The Independent California will require all of its roughly 2.2 million health care workers and long term care workers to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30 as the nations most populous state is losing ground in the battle against new infections of a more dangerous coronavirus variant. The order issued Thursday by the California Department of Public Health is different than what Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said last month https://www.independent.co.uk/news/california-to-mandate-covid19-vaccines-for-health-workers-california-gavin-newsom-sacramento-oregon-democratic-b1897887.html 6th Aug 2021

COVID-19: Young people told to get jabbed or 'miss out on the good times' as vaccine take up slows

Sky News Young people are being told not to miss out on the good times by getting both of their COVID19 jabs in the latest government move to drive up vaccination rates. The major advertising campaign on billboards and social media will focus on the freedoms that vaccinations allow from nightclubbing to foreign travel. It comes as clubs are set to encourage young people to get a COVID19 jab with one being used as a vaccine centre. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-nightclubs-join-vaccine-drive-as-young-people-told-to-get-jabbed-or-miss-out-on-the-good-times-12373844 6th Aug 2021

As delta variant surges, trust in the media plummets

The Hill Were a long way from 1976 or even 2005 arent we Because in 1976 in the postWatergate era of journalism trust in the Fourth Estate was 72 percent according to Gallup. Thats right Nearly three of four Americans trusted that what they read what they heard were the facts with no narrative or cause or agenda being advanced. In 2005 72 percent became 50 percent in terms of trust in the media. A 22point drop sure but a respectable number when compared to just how bad things have become for an institution once revered for icons such as Cronkite Brinkley Mudd Reasoner Wallace Jennings Koppel and Russert. https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/566698-as-delta-variant-surges-trust-in-the-media-plummets 6th Aug 2021

Protesters mass in France against Macron's Covid health pass

International Business Times UK Almost a quarter of a million people took to the streets across France on Saturday for the biggest protests yet against a coronavirus health pass needed to enter a cafe or travel on an intercity train two days before the new rules come into force. Similar but smaller protests were held in Italy. Championed by President Emmanuel Macron the French regulations make it obligatory to have either a full course of vaccination against Covid19 a negative test or be recently recovered from the virus to enjoy routine activities. https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/protesters-mass-france-against-macrons-covid-health-pass-1693217 8th Aug 2021

They rejected coronavirus shots in vaccine-rich countries. In the hospital, they changed their minds.

The Washington Post The fit and healthy bodybuilder in England. The religious woman from Canada. A conservative talk radio host in Tennessee. All chose not to get vaccinated against the coronavirus despite living in countries where doses are plentiful. But after contracting the disease and falling severely ill they have since expressed an overwhelming sense of regret and urged others not to make the same mistakes they did some just days before they died. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/06/covid-vaccine-hesitant-voice-regrets/ 6th Aug 2021

Vietnam's capital to extend COVID-19 curbs as new clusters emerge

Reuters Vietnams capital Hanoi will extend coronavirus restrictions until Aug. 22 its health ministry said on Friday after authorities warned of new clusters of infections detected in the city of more than 8 million people. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnams-capital-hanoi-extend-covid-19-curbs-until-aug-22-2021-08-06/ 6th Aug 2021

Delta spreads in Sydney as Australia widens COVID-19 restrictions

Reuters Sydney reports record infections for second day in a row. Victoria enters sixth pandemic lockdown. Queensland optimistic of easing lockdown rules https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-victoria-reports-six-local-covid-19-cases-first-day-lockdown-2021-08-05/ 6th Aug 2021

Why has the CDC stopped collecting data on breakthrough Covid cases?

The Guardian Its difficult to answer these questions because theres a dearth of rigorous data on breakthrough cases in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC tracks only breakthrough cases that lead to hospitalization and death which it does by gathering data from state health departments. Only 25 states report some data on breakthroughs and only 15 of those states update it regularly according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of state data. Encouragingly this data suggests that breakthrough cases among the fully vaccinated are extremely rare well below 1 in states collecting this information. Note that undercounts are expected since people with breakthrough infections may not know they are sick or bother to get tested. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/06/cdc-covid-coronavirus-data-breakthrough-cases 6th Aug 2021

Beyond Delta, scientists are watching new variants

ABS-CBN News The continued spread of the SARSCoV2 virus has spawned a Greek alphabet of variants a naming system used by the World Health Organization to track new mutations of the virus that causes COVID19. Some have equipped the virus with better ways of infecting humans or evading vaccine protection. Scientists remain focused on Delta now the dominant variant rising rapidly around the world but are tracking others to see what may one day take its place. https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/08/08/21/beyond-delta-scientists-are-watching-new-variants 8th Aug 2021

What experts are learning about Lambda, a coronavirus ‘variant of interest’

East Bay Times As the coronavirus pandemic continues infections caused by the Lambda variant have been emerging in the United States including in Texas where Houston Methodist Hospital last month reported its first case. Genomic sequencing has identified 1060 cases of Covid19 caused by the Lambda variant in the United States so far according to the independent datasharing initiative GISAID. While that number is a far cry from the surge in cases caused by the Delta variant representing about 83 of new cases in the US infectious disease experts have said that Lambda is a variant they are watching closely. The Lambda variant was first identified in Peru in December. The World Health Organization designates Delta as a variant of concern. Lambda is designated a degree lower as a variant of interest. https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/08/08/what-experts-are-learning-about-lambda-a-coronavirus-variant-of-interest/ 8th Aug 2021

Covid variants could be named after star constellations if Greek alphabet is used up, says WHO epidemiologist

The Independent New coronavirus variants could be named after star constellations when the 24 letters in the Greek alphabet are used up the Covid19 technical lead for the World Health Organisation WHO has said. Maria Van Kerkhove revealed the body was considering how the naming rule for mutations of interest and concern should change amid concerns new variants will continue to emerge in the coming months. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-variants-greek-alphabet-star-constellations-b1899020.html 8th Aug 2021

America shouldn’t be sending unvaccinated kids back to school

The Guardian The Delta variant is the latest setback on our path toward a new normal. This is the fourth major Covid19 wave and theres a palpable sense of morbid familiarity. We know the drill cases rise hospitals are pushed to their limit and then the deaths start piling up. We have grown numb to the ongoing mass casualty event even as friends and neighbors share their stories of debilitating chronic symptoms. But data from around the world signal that the Delta variant is different particularly when it comes to children. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/08/america-children-unvaccinated-covid-schools 8th Aug 2021

Is the delta variant more dangerous for children? A growing number of kids are very sick

NBC News The surge in pediatric infections worries doctors especially on the cusp of flu season saying Covids potential impact on kids is beyond what flu would ever do. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/delta-variant-more-dangerous-children-growing-number-kids-are-very-n1276035 8th Aug 2021

Doctors fear Delta variant may be more dangerous for children: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’

The Independent on MSN.com Stories of hospitals becoming overwhelmed with very sick children are emerging in the Covid19 hotspots of Louisiana Texas and Florida. But despite the anecdotal evidence pediatricians said it was too soon to say if the Delta variant was more dangerous for children than earlier strains of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr Rochelle Walensky said it was examining data to see if the Delta variant was causing more serious illness in children. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/doctors-fear-delta-variant-may-be-more-dangerous-for-children-e2-80-98i-e2-80-99ve-never-seen-anything-like-it-e2-80-99/ar-AAN21PD 8th Aug 2021

Novavax plans to trial combined flu and COVID super jab in Australia

Sydney Morning Herald Novavax is yet to confirm when it expects to complete applications to get its coronavirus vaccine approved in Australia but the biotech is already planning new local research into a combined influenza and COVID19 shot. The vaccine developer has again pushed out timelines for the approval of its vaccines in the US. It told investors on an earnings call overnight it now expects to file for emergency use approval with the Food and Drug Administration during the last three months of this year. Novavax won a US1.75 billion contract to develop its vaccine for the US market but its quarterly report revealed on Thursday the federal government may withhold funding until the company can resolve concerns about its processes. https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/novavax-plans-to-trial-combined-flu-and-covid-super-jab-in-australia-20210806-p58gfk.html 6th Aug 2021

Moderna says Covid vaccine durable for at least six months

FRANCE 24 Moderna said Thursday that protection from its Covid19 vaccine remained strong for at least six months and the variantspecific boosters shot it is testing generated a robust antibody response to Delta. In a final analysis from its Phase 3 or final stage clinical trial Modernas Covid vaccine showed 93 percent efficacy at six months following the second dose. The company is also carrying out clinical trials on three different Covid19 boosters with all of them producing high antibody levels against the original coronavirus strain and variants of concern including Delta originally identified in India. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210805-moderna-says-covid-vaccine-durable-for-at-least-six-months 6th Aug 2021

Study ties COVID vaccines to lower transmission rates

CIDRAP COVID19 vaccines appear to help prevent transmission between household contacts with secondary attack rates dropping from 31 to 11 if the index patient was fully vaccinated according to a Eurosurveillance study yesterday. The populationbased data looked at the Netherlands from February to May when the Alpha variant B117 was dominant and the available vaccines were by PfizerBioNTech AstraZenecaOxford Moderna and Johnson Johnson. This finding underscores the importance of full vaccination of close contacts of vulnerable persons the researchers write. Further research is needed to determine whether the observed differences between the different vaccines are due to the small sample size or have real public health relevance. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/08/study-ties-covid-vaccines-lower-transmission-rates 6th Aug 2021

From vaccine halo to liability? Reputation tracker says COVID-19 shot makers now dinged for safety, supply issues

FiercePharma COVID19 vaccine makers time in the sun is over according to one reputation tracker. The reputation boost ignited by the rush to find solutions during the pandemic have not only faded but now is turning into a liability says Alva citing its latest research. Pharma is now split into vaccine makers and everyone else said Alastair Pickering cofounder and chief marketing officer at Alva market intelligence group. Vaccine owners notched big negative scores in its MarchMay research. Johnson Johnson landed at 39 and AstraZeneca at 25 mostly on reports and conversations around shots being linked to blood clots. https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/from-vaccine-halo-to-liability-reputation-tracker-says-covid-19-shot-makers-now-dinged 6th Aug 2021

'Goldilocks virus': Delta vanquishes all variant rivals as scientists race to understand its tricks

The Washington Post The variant battle in the United States is over. Delta won. Since late last year the country has been overrun by a succession of coronavirus variants each with its own suite of mutations conferring slightly different viral traits. For much of this year the alpha variant officially known as B.1.1.7 and first seen in the United Kingdom looked like the clear winner accounting for the majority of cases by April. In second place was iota B.1.526 first seen in New York City. A few others made the rogues gallery of variants gamma beta epsilon. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/delta-variant-most-prevalent/2021/08/08/d1017f0e-f558-11eb-9068-bf463c8c74de_story.html 8th Aug 2021

Covid-19 nasal spray vaccines in development in Thailand

The Thaiger The National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology known as BIOTEC believes that the solution to Covid19 vaccination may be right under our noses. Thai virologists at BIOTEC have 2 nasal spray options currently in development for domestic production that may act as a substitute for Covid19 vaccines in needle form. They believe a nasal spray or inhaler may provide additional benefits as well. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/covid-19-nasal-spray-vaccines-in-development-in-thailand 7th Aug 2021

Novavax seeks COVID-19 vaccine use in India ahead of US

The Independent Vaccine maker Novavax announced Thursday it has asked regulators in India Indonesia and the Philippines to allow emergency use of its COVID19 vaccine offering its shot to developing countries before vaccineflush rich ones. U.S.based Novavax partnered with the Serum Institute of India to apply in the three countries and plans later this month to also seek the World Health Organization review needed to be part of the COVAX global vaccine program. Novavax CEO Stanley Erck called the submissions an important step toward access to millions of doses of a safe and effective vaccine for countries with an urgent need to control the pandemic. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/novavax-seeks-covid19-vaccine-use-in-india-ahead-of-us-vaccine-india-philippines-indonesia-britain-b1897824.html 6th Aug 2021

Get Vaccinated Even If You've Gotten COVID-19, Study Suggests

Infection Control Today Even those whove had COVID19 should be vaccinated suggests data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. A study in the CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report MMWR shows 2.3 times the number of reinfections with natural immunity compared to breakthrough infections in those who are vaccinated. CDC investigators examined data from Kentucky residents infected with COVID19 in 2020. They compared the vaccination status of those reinfected in May and June 2021 to residents who had not been reinfected. May and June were selected because of vaccine supply and eligibility requirement considerations this period was more likely to reflect resident choice to be vaccinated rather than eligibility to receive vaccine the study states. Control participants were Kentucky residents with laboratoryconfirmed SARSCoV2 infection in 2020 who were not reinfected through June 30 2021. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/get-vaccinated-even-if-you-ve-gotten-covid-19-study-suggests 8th Aug 2021

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine rebranding to 'Vaxzevria' ahead of international travel restart

ABC News AstraZeneca has become a household name but its COVID19 vaccine will soon be rebranded to help smooth the pathway for millions of Australians hoping to travel overseas once the international border reopens. The vaccine was originally called COVID19 Vaccine AstraZeneca but has now been officially renamed Vaxzevria and approved by Europes drug regulator the European Medicines Agency. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-06/astrazeneca-vaccine-rebrand-vaxzevria-covid-9/100356980 6th Aug 2021

J&J applies for emergency use approval of COVID-19 vaccine in India

Reuters Johnson Johnson has applied for emergency use approval of its coronavirus vaccine in India the U.S. pharmaceutical giant said on Friday moving a step closer to supplying the first singledose COVID19 shot to the country. The shot will be brought to India through a supply agreement with homegrown vaccine maker Biological E Ltd JJ said in an emailed statement. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-johnson-johnson-india-idUSKBN2F70UA 6th Aug 2021

Antibody findings spark ideas for pan-coronavirus vaccine

Medical Xpress Three epidemic or pandemic coronavirusesSARSCoV MERSCoV SARSCoV2have spilled over from animals to cause deadly illness in humans in the past 20 years. Virus researchers are determined to discover a means to broadly safeguard people from the continuing threat of emerging coronaviruses. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-antibody-ideas-pan-coronavirus-vaccine.html 6th Aug 2021

Japan COVID cases hit 1 million as infections spread beyond Tokyo

Reuters Japan reached the milestone of one million coronavirus cases on Friday domestic media reported as infections surged in Olympic host Tokyo to other urban areas and the country grapples with an unprecedented speed of spread of the Delta variant. A driver of Finance Minister Taro Aso had caught COVID19 the Ministry of Finance said prompting Aso to selfquarantine at home. Aso has shown no symptom but had a PCR test results of which will be known on Saturday Kyodo news wire reported. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-covid-cases-hit-1-million-infections-spread-beyond-tokyo-2021-08-06/ 6th Aug 2021

More deadly Delta Variant virus cases confirmed in Cambodia as Covid-19 cases and death toll keep rising

The Star Online Cambodias Ministry of Health MoH announced on Sunday that another 58 new cases of the Delta Covid19 variant were detected taking the kingdoms total number of the Delta variant cases to 385. Laboratory testing conducted by the Pasteur Institute in Cambodia found the Delta variant on 51 local people including four health workers and seven laborers returning from neighboring Thailand the MoH said in a statement. The local infections were spotted in capital Phnom Penh and the provinces of Preah Vihear Oddar Meanchey Banteay Meanchey Siem Reap Battambang Kandal Kampong Thom and Ratanakiri it added. https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2021/08/08/more-deadly-delta-variant-virus-cases-confirmed-in-cambodia-as-covid-19-cases-and-death-toll-keep-rising 8th Aug 2021

Fears as more children falling ill in latest US Covid surge and school approaches

The Guardian Amid increased fears that children are now both victims and vectors of the latest Covid19 variant surge National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins signaled on Sunday that increasing numbers of children are falling ill in the US. His comments also came as one of Americas largest teachers unions appeared to shift its position on mandatory vaccinations for teachers. With around 90 million adult Americans remaining unvaccinated and vaccines remaining unauthorized for 12 years and under Collins told ABC News This Week with George Stephanopoulos that the largest number of children so far in the whole pandemic right now are in the hospital 1450 kids in the hospital from Covid19. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/08/us-children-covid-delta-latest-surge 8th Aug 2021

Seven die after outbreak of Colombian variant of COVID-19 at Belgian nursing home

Reuters Seven residents of a nursing home in Belgium have died after being infected with a lineage of the coronavirus first detected in Colombia despite being fully vaccinated the virology team that conducted tests said on Friday. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/seven-die-after-outbreak-colombian-variant-covid-19-belgian-nursing-home-2021-08-06/?taid=610d3bb843b80f000127e06f&amputm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 6th Aug 2021

U.S. nurses' COVID-19 grief pours out online: 'I just don't want to watch anyone else die'

Reuters Nichole Atherton couldnt take it anymore. The intensive care nurse watched helplessly last year as COVID19 sufferers died in her Mississippi hospital slowly painfully and alone. Then in July she was again confronted with a wave of deathly ill patients even though almost all likely could have saved themselves by getting the coronavirus vaccine. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-nurses-covid-19-grief-pours-out-online-i-just-dont-want-watch-anyone-else-die-2021-08-06/ 6th Aug 2021

U.S. COVID-19 cases reach six-month high, Florida grapples with surge

Reuters Daily new COVID19 cases have climbed to a sixmonth high in the United States with more than 100000 infections reported nationwide as the Delta variant ravaged Florida and other states with lower vaccination rates. The sevenday average of new reported cases reached nearly 95000 a fivefold increase in less than a month Reuters data through Wednesday showed https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-covid-19-cases-hit-six-month-high-over-100000-reuters-tally-2021-08-05/ 6th Aug 2021

China sees highest daily figure of COVID-19 patients in current outbreak

Reuters China reported on Friday its highest daily count of new COVID19 patients in an outbreak that began in late July fuelled by a surge in locally transmitted infections. Officials blamed the latest clusters mainly on the highly transmissible Delta variant though it has not led to widespread infection in some cities while cases in some areas show initial signs they could ease. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-124-new-coronavirus-cases-aug-5-vs-85-day-ago-2021-08-06/ 6th Aug 2021

NIH Director: Some Evidence Child Hospitalizations Increasing And Kids ‘More Seriously Ill,’ But U.S. Lacking ‘Rigorous Data’

Forbes National Institutes of Health NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told ABC News on Sunday he has been alerted by pediatricians that children are being hospitalized at a higher rate and with more serious illnesses amid the U.S.s most recent deltafueled coronavirus surge. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/08/08/nih-director-some-evidence-child-hospitalizations-increasing-and-kids-more-seriously-ill-but-us-lacking-rigorous-data/ 8th Aug 2021

S.Korea extends social distancing curbs to reduce COVID-19 cases

Reuters South Korea will extend its social distancing curbs by two weeks as the government contends with outbreaks nationwide and more people fall severely ill Prime Minister Kim Bookyum said on Friday. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-extends-social-distancing-curbs-reduce-covid-19-cases-2021-08-06/ 6th Aug 2021

Alabama ICU beds almost full as COVID hospitalizations continue rapid rise

Alabama Daily News Critical care units in Alabama hospitals are nearing capacity due to increasing numbers of COVID19 patients but recent deaths from the virus still remain relatively low. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said Friday that about 93 of Alabamas ICU beds are occupied as the more transmissible COVID19 delta variant continues to spread in the state and vaccination rates remain low. As of Saturday there were 1968 Alabamians hospitalized from COVID19 according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. A month ago just 235 people were hospitalized. Most of those patients are unvaccinated Harris said. https://www.aldailynews.com/alabama-icu-beds-almost-full-as-covid-hospitalizations-continue-rapid-rise/ 8th Aug 2021

Senegalese doctors, cemetery workers battle COVID-19 surge

Reuters At Dalal Jamm hospital in Dakar only the whooshing sound of a ventilator and beeps from a monitor indicated that the pregnant COVID19 patient in the intensive care bed was still alive. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/senegalese-doctors-cemetery-workers-battle-covid-19-surge-2021-08-06/ 6th Aug 2021

Japan's Kanagawa prefecture sets to report record new COVID-19 cases of more than 2000 - NHK

Reuters Japans Kanagawa prefecture which borders Tokyo is set to report record new COVID19 cases of more than 2000 public broadcaster NHK said. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-kanagawa-prefecture-sets-report-record-new-covid-19-cases-more-than-2000-2021-08-06/ 6th Aug 2021

Manila residents crowd vaccination centers in rush before lockdown

CNN Residents in the Philippine capital are rushing to get Covid19 vaccines crowding into vaccination centers and waiting in long lines outside ahead of a twoweek lockdown that goes into effect Friday evening. Restrictions will be imposed across greater Manila an urban sprawl of 16 cities that is home to 13 million people. The nearby province of Laguna and the cities of Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro will also be placed under lockdown. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/06/asia/manila-philippines-vaccine-lockdown-intl-hnk/index.html 6th Aug 2021