30th Aug 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=469 lockdown_exit

At a Children’s Hospital, a Wave of Young Patients Struggling to Breathe

The New York Times The crush of Covid19 cases at Childrens Hospital New Orleans grew so dire this month that the state called in a federal surge team of emergency responders to help. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/us/children-covid-delta.html 27th Aug 2021

Vaccinating 12 - 15-year-olds could save up to 6,500 lives, doctors say, as pressure grows on jab watchdogs to give the go-ahead

Daily Mail A new study by Exeter University says vaccinating 12 to 15yearolds is urgent Claim it would cut the number of Covid deaths and hospitalisations by a fifth UK vaccine watchdogs under pressure to approve the rollout of jabs for children https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9936355/Vaccinating-12-15-year-olds-save-6-500-lives-doctors-say.html 29th Aug 2021

Coronavirus masks: Masks should be worn by primary school children says Professor Luke

Independent.ie Immunologist Luke ONeill is calling for primary school children to wear masks in the classroom in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Primary school students are not mandated to wear masks upon return to school this year with officials viewing it as too challenging for young children and a potential source of stress for pupils. Currently secondary school students must wear masks at school when indoors. Prof ONeill believes that if mask wearing in primary schools was even 30pc effective then it would have a significant impact on breaking the chains of transmission in the younger age groups. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/masks-should-be-worn-by-primary-school-children-says-professor-luke-oneill-40799131.html 29th Aug 2021

Israel offers COVID booster vaccine for ages 12 and above

Al Jazeera English Israel has begun offering a COVID19 booster to children as young as 12 and its prime minister says a campaign that began a month ago among seniors has slowed a rise in severe illness caused by the Delta variant. Announcing the decision on Sunday top Israeli health officials said the effectiveness of the second dose of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine waned six months after administration making a booster necessary. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/29/israel-offers-covid-booster-vaccine-for-ages-12-and-up 29th Aug 2021

Fauci backs COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. school children

Reuters Dr. Anthony Fauci the top U.S. infectious disease expert said on Sunday he supports COVID19 vaccine mandates for children attending schools as the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus continues to fuel a surge in cases in the nation. I believe that mandating vaccines for children to appear in school is a good idea Fauci told CNNs State of the Union program. Weve done this for decades and decades requiring polio measles mumps rubella hepatitis vaccinations. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fauci-backs-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-us-school-children-2021-08-29/ 29th Aug 2021

Scientists Warn Covid Set to Grow Exponentially in U.K. Schools

Bloomberg The U.K. governments scientific advisers said Covid19 cases are likely to rise exponentially among children when schools resume next month after the summer holidays. Most U.K. children havent been vaccinated against coronavirus and it would be sensible for the government to plan for high prevalence in schools by the end of September according to a document dated Aug. 11 that was released on Friday by the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-27/scientists-warn-covid-set-to-grow-exponentially-in-u-k-schools 27th Aug 2021

UK Covid deaths surge 27% in a week with more than 30k new cases for 11th day in row

The Mirror Covid cases across the UK have risen by 32406 with a further 133 lives lost to the virus in the last 24 hours. That is a week on week rise in fatalities of 27 percent and is the eleventh day in a row of more than 30000 infections. Last Saturday saw 31783 cases and 104 deaths. Today saw an almost two percent rise in cases on this time last week. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-uk-covid-deaths-surge-24859538 29th Aug 2021

Covid cases in England are 26 times higher than a year ago

The Guardian Coronavirus infections in England are now 26 times the levels that were experienced this time last year according to the Office for National Statistics. Scientists described the figures as sobering. They warned that the reopening of schools in England this week was likely to trigger further rises in Covid cases with more to follow when students return to universities and colleges. A fresh wave of infections could in turn lead to new social restrictions being imposed as winter approaches. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/28/covid-cases-in-england-are-26-times-higher-than-a-year-ago 29th Aug 2021

Covid Spreads in Clusters. We Need to Track Them.

New York Times A fourth surge of Covid19 is filling hospitals around the United States fueled by the relaxing of mitigation measures the more transmissible Delta variant and lagging vaccination rates. In states and counties where Delta is surging contact tracers are overwhelmed. But monitoring the spread of the virus remains vital to getting it under control. The public health response to a Covid19 outbreak in Provincetown Mass. in July offers an object lesson in how Delta changes the playing field and whats needed to manage the pandemics next phase https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/opinion/provincetown-covid-contact-tracing.html 27th Aug 2021

Kraft Heinz to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for office employees

Reuters on MSN.com Kraft Heinz Co said on Friday all U.S. employees will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID19 before returning to offices in January as the fastspreading Delta variant batters the United States. The packagedfood makers announcement comes days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the Pfizer IncBioNTech SE vaccine a certification that public health officials hope will convince unvaccinated Americans that the shot is safe and effective. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/kraft-heinz-to-mandate-covid-19-vaccines-for-office-employees/ar-AANOQx7 29th Aug 2021

Biden Floats Faster Access to Vaccine Booster Shots

The New York Times The White House played down the presidents remarks saying the administration had not changed its original proposal to administer a third shot to most vaccinated adults eight months after the second. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/us/vaccine-booster-shots-biden.html 27th Aug 2021

Take-up of second Covid jab in England levelling off

The Guardian Singapore has fully inoculated 80 percent of its 5.7 million people against COVID19 according to officials becoming the worlds most vaccinated country and setting the stage for further easing of curbs. We have crossed another milestone where 80 of our population has received their full regimen of two doses Singapores Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post on Sunday. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/29/take-up-of-second-covid-jab-in-england-levelling-off 29th Aug 2021

Covid 19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: Calls for medical staff to be prioritised for residency

New Zealand Herald The Government is being told to act swiftly on immigration because delays are leading to the loss of urgently needed medical staff during the Covid19 outbreak. An immigration lawyer wants a fasttracked work to residence process for doctors and nurses saying medics are the soldiers in the pandemic frontline. Kamil Lakshman said there was a lack of urgency about immigration policy especially given what was at stake with doctors and nurses. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-delta-outbreak-calls-for-medical-staff-to-be-prioritised-for-residency/FO6UAK6TUW57SIFXURNSJ5PYUY/ 29th Aug 2021

Singapore vaccinates 80 percent of population against COVID-19

Al Jazeera English Singapore has fully inoculated 80 percent of its 5.7 million people against COVID19 according to officials becoming the worlds most vaccinated country and setting the stage for further easing of curbs. We have crossed another milestone where 80 of our population has received their full regimen of two doses Singapores Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post on Sunday. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/29/singapore-vaccinates-80-percent-of-population-against-covid-19 29th Aug 2021

Apple Pushes Staff to Get Vaccinated

Bloomberg Apple Inc. is making its strongest push yet for employees to get vaccinated urging all U.S. workers to get shots as soon as possible now that the Food and Drug Administration has started formally approving the injections. The iPhone maker launched a new internal web page sent a memo to employees and is hosting internal talks as part of the campaign. Apple is asking everyone who has access to the vaccine and is able to get vaccinated to do so as soon as you can the company said in the memo which was sent to staff Thursday evening. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-27/apple-pushes-staff-to-get-vaccinated-after-fda-approvals-begin 27th Aug 2021

No Jab, No Entry at Eateries Under Sydney Proposal to Stem Virus

Bloomberg Unvaccinated people may be denied entry to restaurants bars and other hospitality venues under a reopening proposal in Sydney where delta cases are surging despite a lockdown according to local media. The New South Wales government is consulting with industry groups on a plan to require all hospitality staff and patrons for proof they have received two doses of a Covid19 vaccine when the state begins to emerge from lockdown after reaching 70 vaccination rate according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Under the proposal vaccination certificates and QR codes now used to checkin to venues may be merged the report said citing unnamed industry sources that confirmed the plan. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-28/no-jab-no-entry-at-eateries-under-sydney-proposal-to-stem-virus 28th Aug 2021

More Companies Weigh Penalizing Employees Without Covid-19 Vaccinations

The Wall Street Journal Companies unwilling to require employees to get vaccinations are increasingly considering healthcarebenefit surcharges and other more aggressive measures to make their workplaces safer from Covid19 employment and benefit experts say. What started as a campaign of encouragement and lobbying by many employers is now turning into a more forceful effort with businesses considering measures that penalize employees who remain unvaccinated. https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-companies-weigh-penalizing-employees-without-covid-19-vaccinations-11629998870 26th Aug 2021

Cuba to deploy China's Sinopharm alongside homegrown vaccines

Reuters Cuba which to date had deployed exclusively its homegrown COVID19 vaccines will start also using the Sinopharm vaccine of its Communistrun ally China in its bid to battle one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world. Health authorities will apply two doses of Sinopharm combined with a Cuban booster in the central province of Cienfuegos from Sunday Vicente Verez the head of the Cuban Finlay Vaccine Institute was cited as saying https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-deploy-chinas-sinopharm-alongside-homegrown-vaccines-2021-08-28/ 28th Aug 2021

Hospitals in U.S. South Run Low on Oxygen Amid Covid and Storm

Bloomberg Hospitals in the Southeast are running low on oxygen with the worsthit left only 12 to 24 hours worth said Premier Inc. a hospitalsupply purchasing group. This comes amid the regions struggle over the summer with high numbers of Covid19 cases and hospitalizations. Now Hurricane Ida is set to hit the Gulf Coast in the coming days. Premier has notified the White House Federal Emergency Management Agency and Health and Human Services department about the scarcity of oxygen in the region said Blair Childs Premiers senior vice president of public affairs. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-28/hospitals-in-u-s-south-run-low-on-oxygen-amid-covid-and-storm?utm_source=google&amputm_medium=bd&ampcmpId=google 28th Aug 2021

Large Number of Tennis Players Unvaccinated, Andy Murray Says

Bloomberg Andy Murray said a large number of professional tennis players remain unvaccinated ahead of the U.S. Open which begins Monday in New York. A lot of the tour is not vaccinated the British player said at a pretournament press conference. I can see its going to become an issue over the coming months. No more than half the players have been vaccinated the Telegraph reported citing people close to the tour. The U.S. Open announced Friday that anyone attending the twoweek event must show proof of at least one dose of Covid19 vaccine. Murray has been vaccinated and contracted the virus earlier this year. On Monday hes scheduled to play Greeces Stefanos Tsitsipas who recently said he wouldnt take the vaccine unless it becomes mandatory on tour. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-28/large-number-of-tennis-players-unvaccinated-andy-murray-says 28th Aug 2021

Ingestion of livestock drug for COVID-19 treatment prompts warning from medical health professionals

Daily Mail on MSN.com Ivermectin a deworming drug for cows and horses has been used as a COVID19 treatment method in Arkansas after lawmakers promoted it on social media. The Arkansas Poison Center reported that 24 people called this year after they ingested the drug. Americans have flocked to take Ivermectin despite warnings from the Centers for Disease Control CDC not to because of the danger it poses to human health. An overdose of Ivermectin can cause severe effects in humans ranging from gastrointestinal issues to severe seizures and even death https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/arkansas-poisons-hotline-sees-ivermectin-calls-rocket/ar-AANS78b 29th Aug 2021

Calls Grow to Discipline Doctors Spreading Virus Misinformation

The New York Times A tiny number of doctors have had an outsize influence in spreading false information about Covid19 and vaccines. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/technology/doctors-virus-misinformation.html?action=click&ampmodule=Well&amppgtype=Homepage&ampsection=Business 27th Aug 2021

Covid Vaccine Mandates Drive Some Nurses to Leave America's Hospitals

Bloomberg Frontline workers were already in tight supply. With almost 1 in 8 nursing professionals not planning to get a shot the problems going to get worse. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-26/covid-vaccine-mandates-drive-some-nurses-to-leave-america-s-hospitals 28th Aug 2021

Florida Schools’ Covid-19 Mask Mandates Upheld by Judge

Wall Street Journal A Florida judge said school districts could impose mask mandates and that Gov. Ron DeSantis had overstepped his authority when he banned such rules. Judge John Cooper of the Second Judicial District in Tallahassee sided with parents of school children who had challenged a July executive order by Mr. DeSantis and a subsequent state rule that forbid school districts from implementing mask requirements that dont allow parents to opt out their children. In an oral ruling Friday Judge Cooper said the defendants including the governor and the state Department of Education improperly sought to draw authority for their actions from a state law enacted earlier this year dubbed the parents bill of rights which aimed to protect parents ability to make decisions regarding their childrens education and health. https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-schools-covid-19-mask-mandates-upheld-by-judge-11630082086 27th Aug 2021

Covid-19 Quarantine Rules Threaten Hong Kong’s Role as Finance Hub, Businesses Say

The Wall Street Journal In an effort to maintain zero locally transmitted Covid19 cases Hong Kong has imposed one of the worlds toughest quarantine regimes confining most arrivals from overseas to a hotel room for as long as three weeks. The strategy is working but has drawn backlash from business groups in the city that say the economic cost is too high and risks the citys status as one of the worlds top financial centers. Residents too have complained that they are unable to go on trips visit sick relatives abroad or bring their children back from overseas schools and colleges. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-quarantine-rules-threaten-hong-kongs-role-as-finance-hub-businesses-say-11630067400 27th Aug 2021

Philippines Extends Virus Curbs in Capital Through Sept. 7

Bloomberg The Philippines extended virus restrictions in the capital region until Sept. 7 as the government tries to balance the need to contain the pandemic with boosting the economy. Metro Manila will remain under the socalled modified enhanced community quarantine under which the secondtoughest movement restrictions are in place presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in statement on Saturday. While most businesses are allowed to operate many nonessential industries such as beauty parlors and bars remain shut. The curbs were earlier set to end on Aug. 31 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-28/philippines-extends-virus-curbs-in-capital-through-sept-7 28th Aug 2021

Can you spot the fake receptor? The coronavirus can’t either

MIT Technology Review As researchers search for new ways to treat covid19 some scientists are making decoy receptors to lure the virus away from our cells. https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/27/1033862/fake-receptors-new-covid-19-treatment/ 29th Aug 2021

Japan Probing Deaths of Two People Who Had Moderna Shots

Bloomberg Japan is investigating the deaths of two people who were administered Moderna Inc.s Covid19 shots from vaccine batches which have since been suspended. While the relationship between the deaths and the shots is currently unclear the health ministry will conduct the investigations together with external experts and continue to assess the safety of the vaccine according to a statement on Saturday. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-28/japan-investigating-deaths-of-two-people-who-had-moderna-shots 29th Aug 2021

Singapore Hits 80% Vaccine Threshold Seen as Key to More Easing

Bloomberg Singapore has outpaced most advanced economies to fully vaccinate 80 of its population against Covid19 paving the way for the small but wealthy citystate to forge ahead with reopening in an approach thats closely watched by the rest of the world still figuring out how to live with the virus. We have crossed another milestone where 80 of our population has received their full regimen of two doses Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post on Sunday. It means Singapore has taken another step forward in making ourselves more resilient to Covid19. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-29/singapore-hits-80-vaccine-threshold-seen-as-key-to-more-easing 29th Aug 2021

Delta Won't Send Us Back to Baking in Sweatpants

Bloomberg A resurgence of Covid cases hasnt stopped shoppers from wanting to go out. But things are going to get complicated for retailers. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-08-27/delta-won-t-send-us-back-to-pandemic-baking-sweatpants-and-home-renovations?srnd=premium-europe 27th Aug 2021

Israel offers COVID booster vaccine for ages 12 and above

Al Jazeera English Israel has begun offering a COVID19 booster to children as young as 12 and its prime minister says a campaign that began a month ago among seniors has slowed a rise in severe illness caused by the Delta variant. Announcing the decision on Sunday top Israeli health officials said the effectiveness of the second dose of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine waned six months after administration making a booster necessary. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/29/israel-offers-covid-booster-vaccine-for-ages-12-and-up 29th Aug 2021

Coronavirus vaccine: How nasal vaccines will be administered and why it can defeat delta variant

Times of India The emergence of COVID19 variants has posed a new challenge in front of the medical community to look for more efficient vaccines to minimise the risk of infection. The vaccines currently being administered across the globe have been found to be less effective on the variants forcing several vaccine developers to look for stronger versions. Of all the vaccines being tried and tested a nasal vaccine shot developed by Hyderabadbased Bharat Biotech the makers behind Covaxin is considered to be a gamechanger if approved after clinical trials. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/coronavirus-vaccine-how-nasal-vaccines-will-be-administered-and-why-it-can-defeat-delta-variant/photostory/85734435.cms 29th Aug 2021

Why Is It Taking So Long to Get a Covid Vaccine for Kids?

The New York Times As kids around the country head back to school there has been disappointing news this week for parents of children under 12. While many health experts had hoped for an early fall approval of a vaccine for young children two of the nations top public health officials said its not going to happen. Ive got to be honest I dont see the approval for kids 5 to 11 coming much before the end of 2021 said Dr. Francis S. Collins director of the National Institutes of Health on the NPR program Morning Edition. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/well/live/covid-vaccine-kids-time.html?action=click&ampmodule=Well&amppgtype=Homepage&ampsection=Well 26th Aug 2021

Researchers Ready Lab-Grown Covid-19 Delta Variant for Human Trials

The Wall Street Journal U.K. company is growing the highly contagious variant under tight lab controls for use in challenge studies https://www.wsj.com/articles/researchers-ready-lab-grown-covid-19-delta-variant-for-human-trials-11630053797 27th Aug 2021

Unvaccinated teacher infected half her students with Covid, CDC finds

The Guardian An unvaccinated teacher in a California elementary school infected half her students and 26 people in total when she contracted the Covid19 Delta variant researchers for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC found. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/28/unvaccinated-teacher-infected-half-her-students-covid-california-cdc 29th Aug 2021

US Covid Surge: Florida Morgues ‘Out of Space for Bodies’, Oxygen Crunch in Hospitals

News18 Amid a new Covid19 surge in the US the state of Florida is going through a major crisis as hospitals and funeral homes are running out of space for bodies. Worse oxygen shortage is leading to fears that there may be more avoidable deaths. Florida has reported an average of 227 Covid deaths a day this past week according to a New York Times database. The average new known cases 23314 a day went 30 per cent higher than the states previous peak in January. There are now more than 17000 people hospitalised with the virus in Florida reported US News. Covidrelated hospital admissions tripled in the past month in the state. https://www.news18.com/news/india/us-covid-surge-florida-morgues-out-of-space-for-bodies-oxygen-crunch-in-hospitals-4132979.html 27th Aug 2021

Russia Doubles Number of Covid-19 Deaths in July in Record Month

Bloomberg Russias death toll from Covid19 in July grew to 50421 the highest monthly total since the epidemic began amid spreading infections from the Delta variant and continued public resistance to vaccination campaigns. The number of deaths associated with the virus last month was more than double initial figures reported by the governments Covid19 task force according to Federal Statistics Service data released late Friday. Total fatalities linked to the epidemic rose to nearly 370000 through July among the worlds highest after the statistics service revised up Junes data slightly too. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-27/russia-doubles-number-of-covid-19-deaths-in-july-in-record-month 27th Aug 2021