3rd Jul 2020 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=44 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The New York Times After the devastating financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 the United States recovered much more quickly than Europe which suffered a doubledip recession. This time many economists say that Europe may have the edge. The main reason America did well was the rapid response of the government and the flexible nature of the American economy quick both to fire workers but also to hire them again. Europe with builtin social insurance tries to keep workers from layoffs through subsidies to employers making it harder to fire and more expensive to rehire. But this is a different kind of collapse a mandated shutdown in response to a pandemic driving down both supply and demand simultaneously. And that difference creates the possibility that the European response freezing the economy in place might work better this time. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/world/europe/coronavirus-europe-usa.html 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

FRANCE 24 Uruguays president was recently photographed surfing in the early morning ahead of a cabinet meeting symbolizing his governments relief that a policy of freedom with responsibility in containing the COVID19 pandemic is succeeding. Photos of 47yearold Luis Lacalle Pou emerging from the South Atlantic in a wetsuit with a board under his arm and a smile on his lips hit the newsstands on Tuesday as Europe reopened its borders to 15 countries. The list included only one Latin American country Uruguay. With less than 1000 registered novel coronavirus cases and just 27 deaths the country of 3.4 million is a notable exception in a region that has become the epicenter of the global health crisis. Uruguay currently has just 83 active cases while its giant neighbor Brazil is the worlds worsthit country after the United States. https://www.france24.com/en/20200702-uruguay-rides-out-covid-threat-without-imposing-a-lockdown 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Business Insider India Swedens prime minister has ordered an inquiry into the countrys decision not to impose a coronavirus lockdown after the country suffered thousands more deaths than its closest neighbours. We have thousands of dead Swedish PM Stefan Lofven said at a press conference on Wednesday while admitting the countrys handling had exposed Swedens shortcomings The Times reported. The question now is how Sweden should change not if https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/swedens-prime-minister-orders-an-inquiry-into-the-failure-of-the-countrys-no-lockdown-coronavirus-strategy/articleshow/76751451.cms 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Japan Times COVID19 is increasingly a disease of the young with the message to stay home for the sake of older loved ones wearing off as the pandemic wears on. The dropping age of the infected is becoming one of the most pressing problems for local officials who continued Wednesday to set curfews and close places where the young gather. U.S. health experts say that they are more likely to be active and asymptomatic providing a vast redoubt for the coronavirus that has killed almost 130000 Americans. In Arizona half of all positive cases are people from the ages of 20 to 44 according to state data. The median age in Florida is 37 down from 65 in March. In Texass Hays County people in their 20s make up 50 percent of the victims. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/02/world/young-americans-partying-coronavirus/ 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Age Victorias Chief Health Officer will review the planned reopening of schools within Melbournes lockeddown suburbs as new evidence of recent studenttostudent transmission of COVID19 emerges. Professor Brett Sutton said he still expected schools in the lockdown zones to return to facetoface learning at the start of term three but that he wanted a reduction in transmission rates. It will certainly be reviewed on a daytoday basis. I will give as much notice as I can around the resumption of school in those restricted postcodes Professor Sutton said. The Chief Health Officer said there was evidence of studenttostudent and especially teachertoteacher transmission. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/return-to-class-to-be-reviewed-day-by-day-as-school-spread-widens-20200702-p558da.html 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

BBC New Zealands health minister has resigned after criticism of the governments response to coronavirus and his own breaches of lockdown rules. David Clark had already been demoted after breaking rules to take his family to the beach. He said continuing in his role was distracting from the governments overall response to the pandemic. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed on Thursday that she had accepted his resignation. New Zealand has been hailed as a success story when it comes to tackling the coronavirus. The country has recorded 1528 confirmed or probable coronavirus cases and 22 people have died. Last month all Covid19 restrictions were lifted and the nation was declared virus free. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53259236 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Australian Broadcasting Corporation New Zealands health minister has resigned following a series of personal blunders during the coronavirus pandemic. David Clark had earlier described himself as an idiot for breaking the nations lockdown measures and then last week appeared to blame a respected health official for border lapses generating an angry response from the public. Announcing his resignation Mr Clark said he had put all his energy into the job. But it has become increasingly clear to me that my continuation in the role is distracting from the governments overall response to COVID19 he said. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-02/coronavirus-new-zealand-health-minister-david-clark-resigns/12415410 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

The Guardian New Zealands health minister has resigned after a series of major missteps during the coronavirus crisis which saw him draw the ire of the public and the prime minister. Dr David Clark has held the health portfolio since Labour was elected in 2017 but has largely been viewed as an ineffectual minister who has struggled to make an impact during his term. During New Zealands lockdown Clark was twice discovered breaching the strict stayathome rules once by going mountain biking and a second time when he took his family for a beach trip 23km from his Dunedin home. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/02/new-zealand-health-minister-david-clark-quits-over-handling-of-covid-19-outbreak 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Daily Mail Anthony Fauci has warned that Americas coronavirus lockdown was lifted too soon was never strict enough in the first place and that young people are driving a second wave that has seen daily infections top 50000. Dr Fauci the White Houses top virus adviser said the very disturbing new rise in cases is being caused in part by the fact that the US never got its first wave under control only locking down around 50 per cent of the country compared to 97 per cent as happened in most of Europe where daily infections are now very low. That meant that when the economy started to reopen the virus began spreading rapidly almost immediately because there were still a large number infected people to pass the disease along he told BBC Radio 4 in the UK. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8482593/Lockdown-eased-soon-never-strict-warns-Dr-Fauci.html 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK The Swedish border town of Stromstad is paying a heavy price for Swedens decision not to lock down its economy like neighbouring Norway and other Nordic nations to halt the spread of COVID19. Stromstad is just a twohour drive from Oslo and popular with Norwegians who shop for cheaper consumer goods in Sweden but Norways lockdown imposed in midMarch put a stop to that. And now though Norway has lifted its lockdown following a sharp fall in COVID19 cases it still quarantines people returning from Sweden which has registered more than four times the combined number of deaths in Norway Denmark and Finland. When Norway closed its borders Stromstad went overnight from full activity to total stillness said Kent Hansson the towns mayor. The border retail trade it is still completely dead. The large supermarkets close to the border are completely deserted. Sweden kept most businesses and schools open when the COVID19 pandemic struck bucking the international trend. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-norway-sweden/border-town-pays-price-for-swedens-no-lockdown-as-norway-reopens-idUKKBN2431A9 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK The end of the coronavirus lockdown in Spain failed to bring a surge in employment as government data showed that the 900000 jobs lost at the pandemics peak had not been regained while the tourism sector has not yet returned to regular activity. The number of people in Spain registering as jobless rose by 0.13 in June from a month earlier or by 5017 people leaving 3.86 million people out of work Labour Ministry data showed on Thursday. The number of registered jobless people had risen in May by 0.68. Overall there were 847197 more jobless people in June than in the same month a year ago. A net 99906 jobs were lost in June. According to data from the Social Security Ministry on average 68208 new jobs were registered in June compared to May but 161500 people were fired on the last day of the month. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-spain-economy-jobless/end-of-lockdown-fails-to-boost-jobs-market-in-spain-idUKKBN2430TN 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK Indias coronavirus infections surpassed 600000 on Thursday with 17834 deaths as authorities battled to contain the pandemic while easing lockdown rules officials and the health ministry said. Fresh challenges to protect people from the virus emerged for disaster management officials in the northeast state of Assam amid torrential rainfall where floods and landslides killed 57 people this week and more than 1.5 million were forced to flee their homes. Assams health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state had started testing aggressively to identify coronavirus cases among villagers forced to take shelter in community halls schools and government buildings. We were isolating new coronavirus hotspots the situation is very critical Sarma told Reuters. The increase in infections presents a severe challenge for Indias strained medical capacity and overburdened health system. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india/indias-coronavirus-cases-cross-600000-amid-easing-of-lockdowns-idUKKBN2430HB 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters UK The Nigerian state of Kano ended its novel coronavirus lockdown on Thursday the local ministry of health said months after an outbreak of what was originally called a mysterious disease killed hundreds of citizens. The easing comes weeks after other parts of Nigeria relaxed restrictions and marks an effort to resume everyday life in Kano the commercial and cultural heart of predominantly Muslim northern Nigerian. In April and early May roughly 500 people died in the state a government probe found saying the deaths were likely due to coronavirus. Local authorities did not acknowledge the outbreak at the time. Kanos health ministry on its official Twitter account did not provide details of the state lockdown ending except to say civil servants would return to work from July 6. The end of Kanos lockdown and other policies to relax restrictions come as coronavirus cases mount in Africas most populous country. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-nigeria/lockdown-ends-in-nigerias-kano-where-coronavirus-killed-hundreds-idUKKBN24330Z 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

TODAYonline Travellers to Switzerland from 29 countries will from July 6 have to register with the authorities and go into selfisolation to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus the government said on Thursday. The list includes the United States Sweden Brazil and Russia which have been designated as countries with a high risk of infection. https://www.todayonline.com/world/swiss-restrict-entry-29-countries-prevent-coronavirus-spread 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

CNA A large Indian city badly hit by the coronavirus has recorded a sharp rise in deaths not attributed to the outbreak according to official data and burial records highlighting how the pandemic has affected general healthcare. The spike in deaths in Ahmedabad the most populous city in western Gujarat state is due to patients with serious illnesses either not able to go to hospitals or being afraid to visit them because of the virus doctors said. The numbers contain ominous signals for the rest of the country said Dr Rajib Dasgupta a professor of community health at New Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/other-deaths-increase-indian-city-ravaged-by-covid-19-12894316 2nd Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Peru entered the final stage of its economic reopening on Wednesday after ending a monthslong lockdown to try and contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The government said in a decree that phase 3 of economic reactivation which includes 96 of production activities will restart all mining activities industrial sectors and commerce though they must comply with health protocols for the pandemic. Restaurants and shops will reopen to cater to a limited capacity of customers. Officials are also weighing health protocols for resuming domestic air and land transport. The goal is to revive the economy and create jobs said President Martin Vizcarra speaking at an event to announce the purchase of 400 ventilators from China. At least 240000 companies received an economic stimulus from the government to help them reopen Vizcarra said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-peru/peru-looks-to-restart-economy-after-months-long-lockdown-idUSKBN2427CP 1st Jul 2020

Lockdown Exit

YAHOO! Blockslong lines formed at bus stops food markets and shopping centers in Perus capital Wednesday as people left their homes en masse to go to work or shop as a 106day coronavirus lockdown ended in many parts of the country. For the first time in months food vendors offered breakfasts for 50 cents from street carts covered in clear plastic in Limas historic center. Vendors hawked face shields and disinfectants outside crowded public markets. City workers cleaned statues with jets of water. God always accompanies me said 73yearold newspaper deliverer Segundina Lolo when asked if she feared the virus with infection rates in the country still high and scientists warning against ending three months of strict stayathome orders too soon. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/peruvians-fill-streets-lockdown-ends-210600845.html 1st Jul 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK All pupils in England will be expected to return to school in September as part of government plans unveiled on Thursday which include dividing students into separate groups to limit the spread of COVID19. Schools will be asked to maintain distinct student groups known as bubbles which strive to not mix with pupils in other bubbles. They could be the size of a class or a year group. This makes it easier to pinpoint who needs to selfisolate if there is a positive case and will keep that number to a minimum the education ministry said. Officials acknowledge younger children will not be able to maintain social distancing and that could be challenging for everyone when using shared facilities such as dining halls toilets and playgrounds. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-education/factbox-bubbles-how-england-plans-to-reopen-schools-to-all-pupils-idUKKBN2431HR 2nd Jul 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK Cuba said on Wednesday it will begin easing a pandemic lockdown on Havana on Friday while most of the rest of the country will move to phase two of a threephase process towards normalization. The capitals 2.2 million residents will once more be able to move around on public and private transport go to the beach and other recreation centers and enjoy a seaside drive just in time for the summer break. They can also dine and have a drink although social distancing and wearing masks remain mandatory. Optional medical and other services will also resume. Only a handful of COVID19 cases were reported in Cuba last month all but a few in Havana. Most of the Caribbean island home to 11.2 million inhabitants has been free of the disease for more than a month. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-cuba-lockdown/cuban-capital-to-ease-lockdown-joins-rest-of-the-country-idUKKBN24307L?il=0 2nd Jul 2020

Exit Strategies

Reuters UK To eliminate the risk of contagious human beings a Mexican company has launched a drone delivery service to get clean medical supplies to hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. MexicoCity based firm Sincronia Logistica has begun deploying unmanned drones to deliver personal protective gear and other essential equipment to public hospitals in the central state of Queretaro north of the capital. Mexican healthcare workers have staged protests nationwide over the lack of personal protective equipment. The drones help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus by allowing for quick contactfree dropoffs. In addition to reducing time weve also reduced human contact said Diego Garcia director of business excellence at Sincronia Logistica. The innovation comes as the pandemic has surged in Mexico to give the country the sixthhighest death toll worldwide with some 28510 confirmed COVID19 fatalities. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-mexico-drones/high-flying-facemasks-arrive-at-mexican-hospitals-by-drone-idUKKBN24335M 3rd Jul 2020

Exit Strategies

ITV News All pupils should be back in school in England by September under new government guidelines announced on Thursday by the education secretary. From the beginning of the autumn term limits on attendance will be lifted to allow schools to open at full capacity and schools and colleges are being asked to return to a full curriculum ahead of exams next summer. But after several false starts how will schools open safely to all pupils after the summer break according to the latest government blue print set out by Gavin Williamson on Thursday. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-02/how-will-schools-return-safely-in-september 2nd Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Many of those condemning the post which was soon deleted accused its celebratory tone of being in poor taste given that the virus has killed at least 43000 people in the UK. The tweet came as Leicester was put back under lockdown conditions amid a localised outbreak and fears were expressed about numbers of cases being seen in Greater Manchester. https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/jul/02/uk-treasury-faces-backlash-after-hailing-pubs-reopening-on-saturday 2nd Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

The Guardian The governments lockdown which has closed schools premises and companies while limiting free movement is the most sweeping and farreaching restriction on fundamental rights since the second world war the high court has been told. In a challenge to the legality of emergency legislation the businessman Simon Dolan whose Jota Aviation company has been delivering personal protective equipment PPE to the NHS is testing the full extent of the powers under which England has been confined for the past 101 days. The hearing is taking place via video link due to the coronavirus crisis with lawyers participating remotely from their homes or chambers. Lawyers for Dolan argue that the emergency restrictions announced by the prime minister on 23 March are illegal breach human rights laws and fail to take account of other significant factors. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/02/high-court-hears-legal-challenge-to-englands-lockdown-restrictions 2nd Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

The Independent Labour has urged Boris Johnson to extend the governments furlough scheme telling the prime minister it could be the last chance to save millions of jobs. It comes as more towns and cities are monitored for coronavirus spikes that could see them placed under local lockdowns. Ministers have faced criticism for the handling of the surge in cases in Leicester which was put into the UKs first local lockdown on Tuesday. Australian authorities meanwhile will lock down about 300000 people in suburbs north of Melbourne for one month from today after two weeks of doubledigit rises in new Covid19 cases. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-uk-update-live-news-today-latest-local-lockdown-a9594861.html 2nd Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

The Times For those with a taste for irony this July 4 weekend will be one to remember. As Britons are finally liberated from months of lockdown tyranny declaring their independence from imposed confinement with a pint in a pub here in the former colonies the national holiday will be commemorated with renewed restrictions tightened controls on movement and stern demands from our rulers to stay home. States that had emerged from lockdown in the spring are now responding to a resurgence in Covid19 cases with a return to incarceration. In Texas gyms bars and restaurants that had been open for the past month have just been closed again. In the desert heat of Arizona the governor announced this week that there will be no going back to water parks for at least a month. In the past week total cases in the US have surged to more than 40000 a day the highest number since the virus first hit the country in the late winter and so a growing number of states are reimposing restrictive measures. The economic and political ramifications of a renewed lockdown are farreaching. If the new lockdown is an extended one the damage to businesses that have managed to limp through the past few months could be terminal. President Trump besieged by a summer of disease disorder and depression and seemingly unable to take his foot out of his mouth on any topic had been counting increasingly desperately on a return to some kind of normality in time for Novembers election. That may be elusive. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-us-lockdowns-are-a-gross-overreaction-zg03tckcd 2nd Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

The Washington Post In the past few days the beaches of Dorset in southern England were so crammed with sunbathers as 500000 merrymakers flouted social distancing rules that local councils declared an emergency. In Liverpool ecstatic soccer fans celebrated a Premier League title in an enormous downtown mosh pit for two days refusing to disperse and battling antiriot squads. The mayor called it heartbreaking. Meanwhile in London authorities have been scrambling to break up illegal flash mob street parties complete with sound systems and DJs. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick complained that some attendees were drunk and violent and that all were selfish and reckless seeming not to care at all about their own or their familys health. All this and the pubs havent even reopened. That happens Saturday. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/as-britain-emerges-from-coronavirus-lockdown-boris-johnson-has-lost-public-trust/2020/07/01/2c1d0f8c-ba2e-11ea-97c1-6cf116ffe26c_story.html 2nd Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

Reuters Israeli Finance Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday he opposed returning to a nationwide lockdown despite a surge in new coronavirus cases citing the economic pressures of a prolonged closure. We will not compromise on health considerations but we will not return to a situation where the economy will be closed Katz told a news conference. He argued that increased enforcement of existing rules which include wearing masks and social distancing was more reasonable for the time being than a shutdown. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-israel-economy/israel-finmin-opposes-return-to-lockdown-despite-spike-in-infections-idUSL8N2E84OP 2nd Jul 2020

Partisan Exits

The Japan Times As the number of COVID19 cases starts to rise again in many U.S. states the question is whether residents of those states will tolerate another lockdown. I used to think so but it is increasingly clear that Americans have become comfortable with a remarkably high number of casualties. There is a mechanism of social conformity at work here. Most people will not tolerate a small risk to their lives to dine out for instance but they might if all their friends are doing the same. The appeal of a restaurant isnt just the food its the shared experience and the sense that others are doing it too. The danger lies in the potential for ratchet effects. If hardly anyone is eating out or going to bars you might be able to endure the deprivation. But once others have started doing something you will probably feel compelled to join them even at greater risk to your life. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/07/01/commentary/world-commentary/american-lockdown-exceptionalism/ 1st Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

MSN On the recommendations of the Sindh government the home department has extended the date of smart lockdown throughout the province until July 15. The notification issued on Wednesday said that in continuation of the order issued on June 1 and for the same reasons recorded therein by the Sindh government under Section 31 of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014 the home department has extended the lockdown until July 15. The sectors that will remain closed are educational and training institutes marriage halls business centres expo halls all contact sport and indoor sports clubs indoor gyms and sports facilities sporting tournaments restaurants cafes excluding takeaway and home delivery theme amusement parks and arcades beauty parlours and spas cinemas and theatres public processions and gatherings of all nature shrines tourism and tourist hotels and interprovincial transport. However the intercity transport shall be opened as per the inputs from the Sindh Transport Department keeping in view the petition by transporters in the high court. https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/pakistan/sindh-extends-smart-lockdown-until-july-15-to-control-rising-covid-19-cases/ar-BB16eyCC 2nd Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

The Jakarta Post Colombias confirmed coronavirus infections tipped across the 100000 case threshold on Wednesday as the countrys quarantine measures roll on and intensive care units fill. Confirmed coronavirus cases now number 102009 the health ministry said 54941 of which are active. Some 3470 people have died. Wednesday also marked the highestever daily increase in confirmed cases with an uptick of 4163. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/07/02/colombia-tops-100000-coronavirus-cases-nears-3500-deaths.html 2nd Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

CNBC Social distancing during lockdowns has ruined the beauty of the hug. But many people have come up with a way to hug safely the cuddle curtain. The idea has caught on and is now being seen across the world. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/02/cuddle-curtains-are-going-global-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic.html 2nd Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

FRANCE 24 Almost two months after French government lift the coronavirus lockdown measures in mainland France French Guyana has seen an alarming spike of Covid19 cases and measures such as curfews were put back in place. The territory shares kilometres of borders with Brazil the hardeststricken country in Latin America. Meanwhile the situation is under control in mainland France the government says even though 200 clusters were identified. https://www.france24.com/en/video/20200702-french-guyana-struggles-with-three-month-covid-19-lockdown-measures-as-cases-still-on-the-rise 2nd Jul 2020

Continued Lockdown

Daily Sabah Serbia on Thursday reported 359 new coronavirus infections and six deaths marking a new spike within a persistent upward trend which has forced the return of some restrictions on public life. The country had seemed to be on the verge of bringing the COVID19 epidemic to a close with the number of new cases in the low doubledigits in late May and early June. But since then new outbreaks have hit Belgrade and the town of Novi Pazar where local health services were quickly overwhelmed. Infection numbers began to rise after the government fully relaxed restrictions even becoming the first European country to allow spectators at football matches with one game drawing a crowd of more than 20000 people. https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/coronavirus-cases-spike-in-serbia-with-359-new-infections 2nd Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC News A new study has found that people who were proactive and stayed home even before lockdown orders were implemented in the United States may have helped slow the spread of the novel coronavirus back in March and April. The study published Wednesday in the Lancet shows that in the 25 most affected U.S. counties people started staying home more than would be typical nearly a full week to a month prior to their states stayat home policies were put in place. The decrease in movement was strongly correlated with reduced COVID19 case growth in those counties during March and April. This suggests that social distancing prior to policy enforcement played an important role in controlling the spread of the virus. https://abcnews.go.com/US/people-stayed-home-lockdown-helped-slow-spread-covid/story?id=71566229 2nd Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News The lockdown in Leicester was imposed too late and risks creating uncertainty dissent and even disorder a group of scientists has warned. Independent SAGE a rival group that is separate to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies which advises Downing Street described the local lockdown as a foreseeable crisis of the governments own making. It said the situation in Leicester was both predictable and avoidable and that it expected to see spikes of infection in other towns and cities. The group said the Leicester coronavirus outbreak was a consequence of the premature lifting of lockdown restrictions at a time when the virus is still circulating widely in some areas and the lack of a functioning test trace and isolate system in place. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-leicester-lockdown-risks-creating-uncertainty-and-disorder-scientists-warn-12019610 2nd Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

News-Medical.Net Previous studies have shown that many severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARSCoV2 cases were tied to asymptomatic carriers or those who do not manifest symptoms of the viral infection. Now a new study reveals that in the first Italian town hit by the virus as much as 40 percent of the population had no symptoms of the coronavirus disease COVID19. The researchers at the University of Padua and Imperial College London revealed that many people in the town of Vo northern Italy and the first one to be locked down in Europe due to the coronavirus outbreak had been infected with the SARSCoV2 virus but did not display any symptoms. The results add to previous data that the number of those who had contracted the virus may be higher than what the official tally shows. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200701/How-lockdown-stopped-the-virus-in-Italy.aspx 2nd Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Russias sovereign wealth fund said on Thursday it will step up the production of the antiviral drug Avifavir an antiinfluenza medicine which the Russian government has granted preliminary approval for treatment of COVID19 patients. The Russian health ministry gave its approval for the drugs use under a special accelerated process in May. Its Russian backers say it has shown a benefit in COVID19 patients in early research. The first 100000 treatment courses were delivered last month to 35 Russian regions as well as to neighbouring Belarus said the Russian Direct Investment Fund RDIF which has promoted the drug. RDIF said it was now set to produce more than 100000 courses in July and that a joint venture with pharmaceutical firm ChemRar Group would allow it to increase production threefold to meet growing demand both domestically and internationally https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-russia-flights/update-1-russian-fund-steps-up-production-of-anti-viral-drug-approved-by-moscow-for-covid-19-idUSL8N2E93EP 2nd Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Medical Xpress Researchers at the University of South Australias Ehrenberg Bass Institute for Marketing Science have found that despite predictions that the lockdown might cause a spike in alcohol consumption the truth is there was very little change in peoples drinking habits during the restrictions. Not only did overall wine consumption rates remain reasonably stable but people tended to buy their wine from the same places and drink wine on the same occasions. In a new paperHow has wine and alcohol purchasing and consumption changed during COVID19 isolation in Australia UniSA researchers found that across red and white wine beer and spirits only 15 to 18 percent of respondents reported drinking more often than before lockdown. Between 82 and 85 percent of those surveyed were consuming none less or about the same of all types of alcohol as they were before the lockdown. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-liquored-reveals-truth-australians-covid-.html 2nd Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Independent Online A comparative wellbeing study between South Africa New Zealand and Australia has found that South Africans were the least happy with the strict lockdown regulations. Researchers performed the study to explore the effect that lockdown has had on peoples happiness. https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/south-africans-unhappier-than-australians-new-zealanders-over-lockdown-experience-50235332 2nd Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Devdiscourse Chinas local governments and medical institutes should ramp up and reserve coronavirus testing capacity in preparation for increased demand amid potential outbreaks national health authorities said on Thursday. Local authorities should have emergency response plans to be able to swiftly expand nucleic test capacity the National Health Commission said in a guideline on its website. Nucleic acid test results should be delivered within six hours for patients at fever clinics and within a day for those who volunteer to be tested according to the guideline. https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/health/1114617-china-urges-coronavirus-testing-capacity-ramp-up-in-preparation-for-potential-outbreaks 2nd Jul 2020

Scientific Viewpoint

Business Insider India Volunteers have begun participating in Brazils first clinical trial of Oxford COVID19 vaccine. The ChAdOx1 vaccine technology is based on an adenovirus and it is considered very safe even in people with a weak immune system. We have removed some of the adenovirus genes so that when we use it as a vaccine the adenovirus cannot spread through the body. That makes it very safe even in people with a weak immune system. But because it is a live virus it is good at inducing a strong immune response after vaccination said Professor Sarah Gilbert Nuffield Department of Medicine Oxford University. Gilbert gave a short talk while participating in an informal discussion with ambassadors of the UN member states. https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-safe-for-people-with-weak-immunity/articleshow/76728237.cms 1st Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Tokyo confirmed 107 new coronavirus infections on Thursday its highest daily tally in two months but Japans chief cabinet secretary said there was no need to reintroduce a state of emergency. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said about 70 of cases on Thursday were among people in their 20s and 30s. Its really unpleasant that it is increasing somewhat. Id like to ask all Tokyo residents and everyone at businesses for their cooperation to prevent that she said. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters he didnt think there was a need for a fresh state of emergency. Well continue to pay attention to the infection situation in the area with a sense of urgency and work to both prevent spreading of infection and support economic activity he said. Officials have also said the medical system can handle existing infections and that increased testing partly explains the rise in confirmed cases. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan/japans-capital-sees-biggest-rise-in-coronavirus-cases-in-two-months-idUSKBN2430F9 3rd Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

ABC News South Korea says it has confirmed 54 more COVID19 cases as the coronavirus continues to spread beyond the capital region and reach cities like Gwangju which has shut schools and tightened social restrictions after dozens fell sick this week https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/latest-thailand-eases-restrictions-reopens-schools-71548488 2nd Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Yahoo Canada Finance South Korea says it has confirmed 54 more COVID19 cases as the coronavirus continues to spread beyond the capital region and reach cities like Gwangju which has shut schools and tightened social restrictions after dozens fell sick this week. The figures reported Thursday brought the national case total to 12904 including 282 deaths. Twentytwo of the new cases are in Gwangju a southwestern city where infections were tied to various places including office buildings public libraries welfare centres and a Buddhist temple. Twentythree of the new cases came from the densely popular Seoul metropolitan area which has been at the centre of a virus resurgence since late May amid increased economic activity and eased attitudes on social distancing. https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/latest-thailand-eases-restrictions-reopens-062027297.html 2nd Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

The New York Times Ring Mayar spends all day knocking on doors in the western suburbs of Melbourne asking residents if they have a cough a fever or chills. Even if they do not he encourages them to get tested for the coronavirus as the authorities race to catch up with a string of outbreaks that is threatening to recast Australias success story in controlling the spread. Its quite daunting said Mr. Mayar the president of the South Sudanese Community Association in the state of Victoria who has been volunteering in one of the largely immigrant communities where cases are surging. The rise in infections Victoria reported 77 new cases Thursday the most since March has driven home the outsized impact of the coronavirus on communities in which workingclass immigrants and essential workers are particularly vulnerable to the disease. In these places people often must venture out for jobs that put them at risk of contracting the virus and communication by the authorities in residents native languages can be patchy. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/world/australia/melbourne-coronavirus-outbreak.html 2nd Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Kazakhstan will close some nonessential businesses limit travel between provinces cut public transit hours of operation and ban public gatherings for two weeks starting from July 5 the government said on Thursday. The measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the Central Asian country may be tightened or extended later the cabinet said in a statement https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-kazakhstan/kazakhstan-to-implement-softer-second-lockdown-over-covid-19-idUSS0N2DV00B 2nd Jul 2020

Coronavirus Resurgence

NHK WORLD NHK has learned that more than 100 new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Tokyo on Thursday. Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say the number of new cases has reached 107. This is the first time since May 2 that the daily total has topped 100. It is also the highest daily figure since the state of emergency was lifted on May 25. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200702_25/ 2nd Jul 2020

New Lockdown

BBC Online fashion retailer Boohoo has defended its business practices after a workers rights group said staff at Leicester factories that supply the group were at risk of coronavirus. The allegations came after a local lockdown was imposed on the city. Labour Behind the Label said workers were being forced to come into work while sick with COVID19. Boohoo said it had terminated relationships with factories over the treatment of workers. Labour Behind the Label said it had also received reports that workers who wished to isolate were being denied pay and factories had been operating illegally throughout lockdown. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-53263733 2nd Jul 2020

New Lockdown

Sky News More than 300000 people in Australia are going into lockdown for a month with a neighbouring state threatening to fine or jail anyone who travels from coronavirus hotspots. More than 30 suburbs in Melbourne in the state of Victoria are going to face tightened restrictions for four weeks prohibiting them from leaving home unless they are buying food exercising or have a health appointment. New South Wales NSW a nearby state that includes the cities of Canberra and Sydney has now imposed measures designed to deter visitors from Victoria. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-fines-or-jail-threatened-for-people-who-travel-outside-australia-covid-19-hotspot-12018567 2nd Jul 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters Australian police set up suburban checkpoints in coronavirus hotspots in Melbourne on Thursday and were considering using drones to enforce stayathome orders as authorities struggled to contain new outbreaks in the countrys secondlargest city. More than 1000 police set up posts around 36 suburbs which returned to lockdown after a spike in new infections. While the rest of Australia opened state borders and loosened social distancing restrictions Melbournes state of Victoria promised to fine those in the affected zones that breached curbs on nonessential movement. Victoria reported 77 new cases up slightly from the previous day and in line with weeks of doubledigit daily increases. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia/australia-steps-up-police-patrols-in-melbournes-locked-down-virus-hotspots-idUKKBN24305X 2nd Jul 2020

New Lockdown

The Age Closed cafes checkpoints quiet streets and a prevailing sense of uncertainty welcome to the borderlands the places along the invisible line separating 10 lockeddown postcode zones from the relative freedom of the outside world. Its uncertain especially on the first day said Claudette who runs Union Square Fish and Chips which lies on the lockeddown side of the BrunswickBrunswick West postcode border. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/licence-please-postcode-lockdown-begins-20200702-p55893.html 2nd Jul 2020

New Lockdown

Reuters UK Kazakhstan will implement a second softer lockdown for two weeks from July 5 to help combat a surge in coronavirus cases the government said on Thursday. Authorities will close some nonessential businesses limit travel between provinces cut public transit services hours of operation and ban public gatherings. The measures may be tightened or extended later the cabinet said in a statement. President KassymJomart Tokayev ordered new curbs after coronavirus cases in the Central Asian country rose more than sevenfold following the lifting of its first more restrictive lockdown in midMay https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-kazakhstan/kazakhstan-implements-second-lockdown-after-covid-cases-surge-idUKKBN2430T2 2nd Jul 2020

New Lockdown

Metro People attempting to flee Leicester amid the local lockdown could face fines police have warned. Amid widespread confusion about how the new rules will work it has emerged that officers will issue fines believed to be up to 100 as a last resort for those who breach the coronavirus restrictions in the Midlands city. Nottinghamshire Police said it would be working with British Transport Police to ensure people are not leaving on trains from Leicester to visit Nottingham. Anyone spotted travelling out of Leicester will be stopped and asked to return home with financial penalties issued as a last resort. Craig Guildford chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police said his officers will also be working with Leicestershire Police with any intelligence of minibuses or coaches coming into the city being stopped. https://metro.co.uk/2020/07/01/people-attempting-flee-leicester-lockdown-zone-face-100-fine-12928373/ 1st Jul 2020