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"COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis" 9th Sep 2020

News Highlights

France to see economic comeback as lockdown measures lifted

France is in the nascent stages of an economic turnaround as it lifts lockdown measures imposed due to Covid-19. The next three months are expected to see the country's gross domestic product grow by 17%, after it shrunk by 13.8% in this year's second quarter - a record figure. The news is tempered, however, by the fact that the expected recovery is not as large as was hoped. A contraction of nine percent for the year as a whole is forecasted.

Fauci questions conronavirus vaccine by U.S. election

Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the U.S.'s most senior health officials and a leading figure in its Covid-19 response, has said it is 'unlikely' that a vaccine for the novel coronavirus will be available before November's presidential election. This is despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention telling facilities to be ready for a vaccine by late October/early November. Fauci said 'the end of the year' is a more likely timeframe.

Active cases near one million in India

India - the second most affected country by the pandemic - is close to one million active cases of Covid-19. Confirmed cases thus far number in excess of four million. The country now risks surpassing the United States in terms of the total number of confirmed cases, having recently eclipsed Brazil in terms of ranking. In the U.S., new cases on Tuesday stood at just over 34,000. In India, the tally was more than 73,500.

What about the children?

As schools reopen in many parts of the world, the vulnerability of children to Covid-19 is - understandably - a point of concern. A study has found that children are hospitalised due to novel coronavirus infection at roughly the same rate as the flu, albeit at different ages on average and with different symptoms. Children are far from immune to the novel coronavirus. The U.S. alone has seen more than half a million cases in children.

Lockdown Exit
Risking jail, some parents in Spain resist sending kids back to school
Ángela López hardly fits the profile of a rule breaker. But López, the mother of a 7-year-old girl with respiratory problems, has found herself among parents ready to challenge Spanish authorities on a blanket order for their kids to return to school. They are wary of safety measures they see as ill funded as a new wave of coronavirus infections sweeps the country. They fear sick students could infect older relatives who are at higher risk of falling ill from the virus. And they say that they have invested in computers and better network connections to prepare for online lessons, even preparing to homeschool their children if necessary.
Coronavirus: Spanish children return to school amid fears over surge in cases
Wearing colourful masks, the pupils of the Mariano Jose de Larra primary school in Madrid laughed and played on Tuesday morning before their teachers made them form two lines at the gates to take their temperature. It was the first day back at school for millions of Spanish children after a six-month break, bringing parents feelings of both relief and worry about a possible rise in coronavirus infections. "I'm a teacher and I still haven't brought my children back to school because it's not safe yet," said Maria Varas, who teaches music.
Teachers and pupils missing classes due to lack of Covid-19 tests
One teacher near Birmingham told the PA news agency she and her son were missing school because they were unable to get a home test. The nearest drive-in centres were Oldham in Greater Manchester or Romford in Essex. “I think any school is going to have difficulty eventually unless things change. I should have been able to walk in today and get a test and be back at my desk in 24 hours,” said the teacher, who asked not to be named. “In my opinion the testing system is not fit for purpose and is preventing me from doing my job.”
Tech companies ramp up hiring as London moves past lockdown
Tech companies in the UK’s capital have accelerated their hiring plans over the summer as businesses get ready to go back to work, with digital roles jumping by more than a third. Advertising for vacancies in the digital tech sector rose 36 per cent in the last two months, according to data collated by Tech Nation for the government’s Digital Economy Council. Technology companies now employ around a fifth of all Londoners at almost 3m people, thanks to major expansions in the city by the likes of Apple, Amazon and Google. Meanwhile digital tech roles account for nine per cent of the UK’s overall workforce.
London NHS staff join trial to see if 'super sniffer' dogs can detect coronavirus
London NHS workers have been recruited to a trial that aims to determine whether dogs can sniff out Covid-19. A team of 25 volunteers from University College Hospital (UCLH) in Euston are allowing trained “bio-detection dogs” to smell their socks and T-shirts to see if they can detect whether a person has the virus. They are among 3,500 NHS staff nationwide signed up in the trial. The £500,000 government-sponsored project is being led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), charity Medical Detection Dogs and Durham University.
French economy bouncing back after Covid-19 lockdown measures lifted
France's economy, which like those of other countries was pushed into a bruising recession by the coronavirus, will bounce back now that lockdown measures are lifted but will still contract over the year as a whole, official data showed Tuesday.
French economy bouncing back after Covid-19 lockdown measures lifted
France's economy, which like those of other countries was pushed into a bruising recession by the coronavirus, will bounce back now that lockdown measures are lifted but will still contract over the year as a whole, official data showed Tuesday. France's gross domestic product, which had shrunk by a record 13.8 percent in the second quarter, is forecast to grow by 17 percent in the subsequent three months, the national statistics office Insee calculated. Nevertheless, the rebound was not quite as strong as expected and Insee said it was sticking to its forecast for an overall economic contraction of 9.0 percent for the year as a whole. French economic activity should run at 95 percent of pre-epidemic levels in the third quarter and at 96 percent of pre-outbreak levels in the fourth, INSEE said. Economic activity ran at 81 percent of pre-outbreak levels in the second quarter, data showed.
Exit Strategies
Coronavirus: NI politician calls for clarity on Covid-19 testing issues
Stormont's health minister has raised concerns about the UK-wide Covid-19 test booking system after some NI users were offered tests in Great Britain. Robin Swann said he has contacted UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock "seeking action on a number of concerns". He was speaking after Sinn Féin assembly member Pat Sheehan was offered a test in Scotland and called the online booking system a "shambles". Mr Swann described it as a "glitch" and said it must be resolved as a priority. Mr Sheehan tweeted details of his personal experience of the booking system after trying to organise a test for his four-year-old daughter who had developed a high temperature.
Covid-19: Irish pubs set for 21 September reopening
The Irish government has agreed that pubs that do not serve food will be able to reopen from 21 September. The reopening will be subject to possible local restrictions if case numbers rise. The move will put pressure on the Stormont Executive to reopen non-food bars in Northern Ireland. Draft guidelines, which were drawn up in conjunction with tourism body Fáilte Ireland, were circulated last weekend.
Spain Re-negotiates Tourist Corridors With The United Kingdom
Foreign Affairs Minister Gonzalez Laya sees the opening of "window of opportunity" for Spanish tourism. There's no doubt that the loss of international tourists due to the multiple restrictions on travel to Spain and mandatory quarantines imposed by nations across Europe on those visiting Spain has been a hard blow for the tourism sector, which has predicted that by the end of the year its losses will amount to nearly 100 billion euros.
Covid lockdown: Uttar Pradesh lifts weekend curbs on markets
The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday revoked its order of mandatory closure of markets on Sunday, reverting to the pre lockdown arrangements
Victoria's roadmap out of lockdown is the wrong approach. Here's what good public policy looks like
In the early months of the pandemic, Australia’s public policy response to COVID-19 was widely celebrated across the world. The missteps and extended lockdowns in Victoria recently, though, shows how at least one state has slipped from being a gold standard. So, what has gone wrong? Effective public policy-making in a pandemic is enormously difficult. Very few countries around the world, if any, have had an exemplary record in the past few months. There are nonetheless a set of key principles that should underpin approaches to decision-making.
'Self-sufficient' Chinese city to reflect coronavirus lessons
The Australian state at the centre of the country's second wave coronavirus is deepening its contact tracing programme to try to maintain a steady decline in daily new cases, amid criticism of its handling of the crisis.
Australia's coronavirus hot spot state to deepen contact tracing
The Australian state at the centre of the country's second wave coronavirus outbreak is deepening its contract tracing programme to try and maintain a steady decline in daily new cases, amid criticism of its handling of the crisis.
Philippines urges virus vigilance after lowest cases in eight weeks
The Philippines reported its lowest number of new daily coronavirus cases in nearly eight weeks on Monday, but officials sought to temper optimism and warned of a prolonged battle as the pandemic rages on.
Partisan Exits
There must be a 'No-Lockdown Party'
University of Queensland’s Professor James Allan says "I do think we need a No-Lockdown Party" as the Liberals "are just not a Liberal Party anymore". "They don't seem to have any concern with the individual, with freedom". Professor Allan, who is the Garrick Professor in Law at the university, said Prime Minister Scott Morrison is "running the only country in the world that doesn't let it's own citizens leave the country, not counting Cuba and North Korea".
Fauci says a coronavirus vaccine is 'unlikely' by U.S. election
The CDC has asked states to ready facilities to distribute a coronavirus vaccine by Nov. 1. Dr. Anthony Fauci said at a health conference that it’s more likely a vaccine will be ready by “the end of the year.” Drug companies Moderna and Pfizer are racing to complete patient enrollment for their late-stage vaccine trials by the end of September.
Coronavirus: Matt Canavan, Greg Hunt rally against Victorian lockdown
Victoria’s road map out of coronavirus lockdowns has been dubbed “crazy” by former resources minister Matt Canavan. It comes as the Federal Government puts pressure on the Andrews Government to publicly release the modelling and assumptions that informed the plan. Senator Canavan told Sky News on Tuesday that Daniel Andrews needed to explain why he chose certain thresholds – including a daily case average of less than five over the previous 14 days before some restrictions are eased. “I’m always a bit sceptical about modelling, and it seems completely crazy to set these very low thresholds before people can get out and about in Victoria,” Senator Canavan said.
Continued Lockdown
Social gatherings of more than six people to be banned in England
Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use a press conference on Wednesday to announce the change in the law after the number of daily positive Covid-19 cases in the UK rose to almost 3,000. The legal limit on social gatherings will be reduced from 30 people to six. It will apply to gatherings indoors and outdoors – including private homes, as well as parks, pubs and restaurants.
Virus lockdown plunges South Africa deeper into recession
South Africa’s economy has sunk deeper into recession, with its gross domestic product for the second quarter of 2020 plummeting by 51%, largely as a result of COVID-19 and the country's strict lockdown, according to statistics released Tuesday. South Africa imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in the world in April and May in response to the coronavirus outbreak, which has now claimed more than 15,000 lives and infected 639,362 people in the country.
Coronavirus lockdown drives rise in micro start-ups across the UK amid fears for job security
UK workers have been turning to starting their own companies in unprecedented numbers as fears over job security have spurred a new wave of entrepreneurs. The “State of the Nation” review, compiled by website builder group GoDaddy, showed there had been a 14 per cent increase in micro-businesses, start-ups with nine or fewer employees. The online group, which provides website templates to new businesses, has also experienced a 62 per cent increase in new UK customers. The survey also identified micro-business hubs which experienced bursts of activity between 2017 and 2019 and have continued their growth trajectory. The hubs suggest a suburban revival, as micro-business activity is concentrated on the outskirts of some of the UK’s largest cities.
Coronavirus: Greek islands quarantine and Scottish lockdown extends
Travellers arriving in England from seven Greek islands will have to self-isolate for 14 days from 04:00 BST on Wednesday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says. It's a slight change in policy for the government, which previously applied restrictions to entire countries. It also brings England in line with Wales, which has already introduced specific rules for six islands, some of which are the same.
India's active Covid cases nears the million mark; lockdown fatigue setting in
Hindustan Times’ National Political Editor, Sunetra Choudhury brings you the top stories you need to know. Sunetra talks about the number of Covid-19 cases in India so far, new cases outstripping recoveries and deaths, lockdown fatigue setting in, rise of Covid infections in Europe and more. Watch the full video for more details.
The New Normal: Lockdown spurs green recovery
Carbon emissions have fallen, there’s clear water in Venice canals, and China’s air quality has improved – for now. But will COVID-19 have a lasting impact on the environment?
Melbourne under lockdown for longer than China's virus ground zero, says health minister
Melburnians will be under strict lockdown longer than residents of the Chinese city of Wuhan where the coronavirus first came from, Health Minister Greg Hunt says. The federal government would continue to back Victoria but locking down people was not the right way to solve the crisis, he said. "We will continue to support Victoria and Victorians, whether it is the vaccine as the first line of defence, contact tracing as a very important second line, (but) the last thing you do is you lock people in their homes," Mr Hunt told Today.
Is Melbourne's coronavirus lockdown really the longest in the world? Here's how other countries stack up
Melbourne’s lockdown is one of the longest and strictest in the world, with curfews that won’t be lifted for at least another seven weeks. The Victorian capital has been under social restrictions since 16 March, which were initially extended to 11 May. On 8 July, restrictions were then reimposed in Melbourne specifically following a second outbreak, with a state of disaster and an 8pm-5am curfew ordered on 2 August. Melburnians now face an extra two weeks in Stage 4 lockdown under the roadmap revealed on 6 September, although from 14 September the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9pm and run until 5am.
Job Loss Figures Reveal Grim Reality Of Covid Lockdown
News that 185,000 New Zealanders expect to lose their jobs or businesses by mid next year drives home the scale of the economic challenge our country is facing, National Party Leader Judith Collins says. The grim prediction comes from a Stats NZ survey that found 7 per cent of employed people, or 1 in 14 workers, felt there was a high or almost certain chance they would lose their jobs or businesses within the next year. Another 18 per cent said there was a medium chance. Transport, retail, trade, accommodation and food were among the most at-risk industries.
‘The lockdown killed my father’: Farmer suicides add to India’s virus misery
Randhir Singh was already deeply in debt when the coronavirus pandemic struck. Looking out at his paltry cotton field by the side of a railway track, he walked in circles, hopeless. In early May, he killed himself by lying on the same track.
Scientific Viewpoint
AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine trials put on hold after suspected 'serious' reaction
Late stage trials for the vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University have been put on hold. A 'serious adverse event,' a possible reaction to the shot was reported in the UK. It's not clear what happened to the individual, but an adverse event is considered 'serious' if it requires hospitalization, is life-threatening or deadly. Stat News reported that the individual is expected to recover, but little else is known about their identity. It is not clear if regulators, AstraZeneca or Oxford called for the trial hold. The shot was dubbed the best hope for a vaccine by the WHO and is one of nine in phase three trials - the last tests before approval can be sought
China expands supply of seasonal flu vaccine; urgent-use COVID-19 vaccinations exceed 100000
China is reportedly expanding the supply of seasonal flu vaccines this year as more people are expected to seek an inoculation in the face of a double threat from the flu and COVID-19. Newly developed COVID-19 vaccination are being administered for urgent use. More than 15 million doses of the seasonal flu vaccine have been approved for market this year, but experts expect 50 million doses, double the number in 2019, will be approved, the Beijing News reported on Tuesday, Approval procedures are also being accelerated, as nearly 7 million doses were approved in the first eight days of September, according to the report. Some Chinese cities like Shanghai, Shijiazhuang and Zhangjiakou in North China's Hebei Province and Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province also reportedly launched this year's vaccination campaign against flu earlier than usual. Zhangjiakou started offering vaccinations as early as August, according to media report. National authorities are preparing for the possibility that more people will want to get vaccinated against the flu this year, Lü Mengtao, operation director of Beijing Zhimed Medical Science, told the Global Times on Tuesday. The immunization rate against the flu is not very high in China, but the COVID-19 epidemic has raised awareness of vaccines, so more people will want to be inoculated this year, said Lü.
Rates of Child Hospitalization Similar Between COVID-19, Flu: Study
While adults face raised odds for hospitalization with COVID-19, a new study shows that the risk for kids infected with SARS-CoV-2 is about equal to that seen with influenza. The researchers found that kids with COVID-19 or the seasonal flu have similar rates of hospitalization, admission to intensive care units (ICUs) and ventilator use. But the average age of children hospitalized differed: The average child hospitalized with COVID-19 was about 10 years of age, while kids hospitalized with flu average just over 4 years of age.
LabCorp to launch single home swab test spanning COVID-19, the flu & RSV
LabCorp announced plans to launch a new at-home COVID-19 diagnostic that allows people to also get tested for the flu and respiratory syncytial virus from a single sample. The combined test is currently offered through doctors’ offices, hospitals and other healthcare providers, while the future, home-based version will be made available through LabCorp’s Pixel service, pending the FDA’s review and authorization. “The U.S. is facing the most challenging health crisis in a century and is about to enter flu season, which has the potential to put additional strain on our healthcare system and cost lives,” said Brian Caveney, LabCorp Diagnostics’ president and chief medical officer.
Coronavirus mutation rate faster in Bangladesh than global average: BCSIR
Coronavirus mutation rate in Bangladesh is faster than the global average and virus is changing rapidly, according to a study by Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). It found the coronavirus mutation rate in the world at 7.23 per cent, while the rate in Bangladesh is 12.6 per cent. This information was given by a research team of the Genomic Research Laboratory of BCSIR. The observation was made at a press conference on Sunday morning. The study result was based on data of 263 cases of genome sequencing. The samples were collected between 7 May and 31 July.
Facial Masking for Covid-19 — Potential for “Variolation” as We Await a Vaccine
To test our hypothesis that population-wide masking is one of those strategies, we need further studies comparing the rate of asymptomatic infection in areas with and areas without universal masking. To test the variolation hypothesis, we will need more studies comparing the strength and durability of SARS-CoV-2–specific T-cell immunity between people with asymptomatic infection and those with symptomatic infection, as well as a demonstration of the natural slowing of SARS-CoV-2 spread in areas with a high proportion of asymptomatic infections. Ultimately, combating the pandemic will involve driving down both transmission rates and severity of disease. Increasing evidence suggests that population-wide facial masking might benefit both components of the response.
Hundreds of thousands have been given Covid-19 vaccines without a single infection, Chinese drug firm says
An official from China National Biotec Group says the evidence from an emergency use scheme suggests the products are working. Company is also confident its vaccines can offer protection for up to three years.
Covid-19 in children: the signs and symptoms of coronavirus in kids including high temperature and a rash - and how they differ to adults
Several schools across the UK have reported cases of Covid-19, but symptoms in children may be harder to spot. New research suggests that the virus presents differently in children than in adults - so what signs should you look out for?
Study shows COVID-19 vaccine may not be as effective among obese people
Obese people who become infected with COVID-19 are nearly 50% more likely to die from it and any potential vaccine may not be as effective, researchers have said. The newly published study used coronavirus data from around the world and is likely to ramp up the pressure for governments around the world to take urgent action to tackle obesity. The US and UK have some of the highest obesity rates in the world. According to figures by the American government, more than 40% of US citizens are obese and in England, the condition impacts 27% of adults.
Covid-19 death rate among African Americans and Latinos rising sharply
The death rate in the US from Covid-19 among African Americans and Latinos is rising sharply, exacerbating the already staggering racial divide in the impact of the pandemic which has particularly devastated communities of color. New figures compiled by the Color of Coronavirus project shared with the Guardian show that both total numbers of deaths and per-capita death rates have increased dramatically in August for black and brown Americans. Though fatalities have also increased for white Americans, the impact on this group has been notably less severe. The latest figures record that in the two weeks from 4 to 18 August the death rate of African Americans shot up from 80 to 88 per 100,000 population – an increase of eight per 100,000. By contrast the white population suffered half that increase, from 36 to 40 per 100,000, an increase of 4 per 100,000.
What bats can teach us about developing immunity to Covid-19
Viruses love bats. The flying nocturnal mammals make outstanding hosts because — just like people — they live in large, dense groups, their air travel spreads germs between populations and their longevity enables a virus to persist for years in an individual animal. The big difference is that bats’ remarkable immune system tames and tolerates many viruses that cause havoc when they spread to humans, including the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19. “We should look at what bats are doing to control the virus and emulate that in some way,” says Bernard Crespi, professor of evolutionary biology at Simon Fraser University in Canada, one of a growing group of scientists finding clues to the pandemic through bat immunology.
Why won't my Covid-19 symptoms go away?
Elly, 37, was training for the London Marathon when she says she started to develop Covid-19 symptoms in March and, almost six months later, she believes she's still suffering from them. Similarly Meredith, 22, who is a keen cyclist, first noticed her symptoms in April and doesn't think she has fully recovered. The Royal College of GPs says there needs to be a national network of post-Covid clinics to help those like Elly and Meredith.
Covid-19 in Britain: a summer of mixed messages
Public trust in the government’s ability to handle the coronavirus crisis has been tested by a summer of mixed messages, during which advice on the precautions people should be taking to prevent the spread of Covid-19, as well as forecasts on the outlook for the UK, have often been contradictory.
Why the modelling behind Melbourne's extended stage 4 lockdown is problematic | Joshua Gans
A different, more traditional, model would have suggested a more granulated location-based (eg local authority or postcode group) easing of restrictions, achieving the same result with fewer economic and social costs. There can be no doubt the stage four lockdown, introduced at 6pm on Sunday 2 August, has achieved spectacular results. Usually in an upswing, measures take two or more weeks to have an effect. But in Victoria the decline was dramatic. That doesn’t mean costs don’t matter. The delays inherent in the extension and reopening plan are considerable. It works like this:
Covid-19: what happens when flu season hits? (part 1) – podcast
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, flu season is quickly approaching. This raises an important question: what will it mean for Covid-19? Could hospitals be overloaded? Is co-infection likely and could it make symptoms worse? Or, will transmission of Sars-CoV-2 prevent the spread of seasonal influenza? In the first of two parts, Ian Sample addresses the question of flu and Covid-19 by investigating how different respiratory viruses interact. Speaking with Prof Pablo Murcia, Ian explores the interplay when viruses meet – both on a population level, and on the human scale
AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study is put on hold
A large, Phase 3 study testing a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford at dozens of sites across the U.S. has been put on hold due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in a participant in the United Kingdom. A spokesperson for AstraZeneca, a frontrunner in the race for a Covid-19 vaccine, said in a statement that the company’s “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.” It was not immediately clear who placed the hold on the trial, though it is possible it was placed voluntarily by AstraZeneca and not ordered by any regulatory agency. The nature of the adverse reaction and when it happened were also not immediately known, though the participant is expected to recover, according to an individual familiar with the matter.
Half a million US children have been diagnosed with Covid-19
Half a million US children have been diagnosed with Covid-19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association. The groups said 70,630 new child cases were reported from August 20 through September 3. This is a 16% increase in child cases over two weeks, bringing up the total to at least 513,415 cases, the groups said in their weekly report on pediatric coronavirus cases. "These numbers are a chilling reminder of why we need to take this virus seriously," American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Sally Goza said in a news release. "While much remains unknown about COVID-19, we do know that the spread among children reflects what is happening in the broader communities," she added.
Coronavirus Resurgence
'Not a game': Europe pleads with young people to halt Covid-19 spread
As the number of Covid-19 cases rises sharply in parts of Europe, health authorities from the UK to Spain are calling on young people to do more to halt the spread of the virus. This is how the situation looks in a number of major European countries and how it is being tackled.
Latest Covid-19 figures show Rugby has the highest number of cases in the county
Here are the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for Warwickshire. Rugby now has the highest number of new cases (19) in the county but the borough is still well below the national average. The figures, for the seven days to September 4, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).
Britain reports 30 more deaths from Covid-19 in biggest spike for six weeks
Latest official statistics revealed UK death toll now stands at 41,584 after 30 more deaths were announced. Government said as of 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 2,420 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus. Increasing case numbers have been blamed on young people failing to adhere to social distancing rules. Ministers have warned young people to modify their behaviour immediately or face fresh lockdown misery. There is growing speculation Boris Johnson could soon impose much stricter rules on indoor gatherings
Coronavirus: Hancock concern over 'sharp rise' in cases
A "sharp rise" in coronavirus cases in recent days in the UK is "concerning", Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. He told MPs that the increase had been across the whole country rather than in localised "hotspots", but there was "no inevitability" of a second spike. The government's scientific advisers have given stark warnings, after 2,948 new UK cases were recorded on Monday. Downing Street said it would not rule out reducing the number of people who could meet in groups in England. Asked whether the government was considering a change in guidance, the prime minister's official spokesman said the regulations were being kept under review. The guidance in England currently says two households can meet indoors. Outdoors up to six people from different households can meet - or up to 30 people from two households.
Lockdown rules in England to be changed with new limits on who you meet
The Government is about to change the lockdown rules across England, limiting the number of people who can gather - according to reports. Sky News says the maximum number of people who can gather will be cut in a bid to stop the rise of coronavirus. It would put a temporary end to parties, wedding receptions and large family get-togethers. More than 160 places have seen an increase in infection over seven days with some places trebling the number of cases.
Spain becomes first country in western Europe to hit 500,000 coronavirus cases
Half a million people in Spain have now tested positive for coronavirus – making it the first country in Western Europe to hit the grim milestone. It comes after a second surge of cases in the Mediterranean nation coincided with schools reopening.
Is the UK heading towards a second nationwide lockdown?
As coronavirus infection rates continue to rise across the UK, health experts have warned a second lockdown may be imminent. Though death tolls have remained low, the weekly rate of new cases in the UK has now risen above 20 per 100,000 people. Sunday saw the largest rise in cases since May 22 with almost 3,000 positive cases reported. In an interview with Sky News about his concerns around a second wave, World Health Organisation’s Dr David Navarro said: ‘I’m afraid it’s coming. I don’t like calling it a second wave but I believe there are going to be more spikes and indeed some surges in cases, because the virus hasn’t changed.
Nicola Sturgeon issues second lockdown warning after surge in cases
Nicola Sturgeon today warned Scotland must 'step up' its efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus if it is to avoid another nationwide economic shutdown. The First Minister said Scotland was at a 'key moment' in the battle against the disease after a recent surge in case numbers. She said 'as we have released ourselves from lockdown we have also released the virus from lockdown' and that could force her to 'put the brakes on' plans to further ease restrictions.
India May Soon Overtake U.S. To Have Most Coronavirus Cases in World
The Asian country, home to 1.35 billion people, overtook Brazil as the most affected country in terms of case numbers on Monday. World Health Organization figures show it has now had 4.28 million cases, compared with 4.14 million cases in Brazil. The U.S. still has most cases by far, with 6.22 million cases, but that lead may now start to shrink, as cases in America plateau and rise in India. In an update on its website on Tuesday, India's Ministry of Health said there had been 73,521 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. On Sunday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported just over 34,000 new cases, with charts showing it is now on a downwards trend after peaking in July.
Coronavirus surges in India as infections spread from cities
India has overtaken Brazil to become the country with the second-highest number of coronavirus infections, spurred by a surge of cases in small towns, more rural and poorer areas. The densely populated country of 1.4bn is adding roughly 90,000 new cases every day as it eases out of one of the world’s most draconian lockdowns in an attempt to revive its battered economy. In poorer regions such as Bihar, fragile health infrastructure is ill-prepared to cope with the onslaught.
Skyrocketing Indian Virus Cases Could Eclipse U.S. Outbreak
Six months after the start of the pandemic—as the developed world tries to restore some semblance of normalcy—the virus is arriving with a vengeance in India’s vast hinterland, where 70% of its more than 1.3 billion citizens live. The country is now adding more than 80,000 confirmed infections per day, with about 71,000 deaths so far, numbers experts say are likely being under-counted. On Monday it galloped past Brazil to become the world’s second-biggest outbreak, a sobering preview of what could happen once the coronavirus spreads in earnest across other poor, densely populated places from Nigeria to Myanmar. With such a vast reservoir of potential hosts and minimal ability to contain infections, it seems inevitable that India will at some point overtake the U.S. to have the most cases
No lockdown to be imposed, says mayor
Mayor Murlidhar Mohol on Monday quashed all rumours about another round of lockdown. Mohol, via a video address, assured Puneities that no lockdown was to be imposed in the city. Rumours have been rife, especially on social media platforms, about another lockdown.
Korea: Riding the crest of wave #2
Relatively speaking, Korea has not had a bad pandemic, but the recent resurgence in cases in Seoul shows that until a vaccine becomes widespread, the threat from Covid-19 will remain an impediment to business as usual, and with Korea’s internationally facing industries, global weakness will remain a drag on growth
Spain passes 500,000 coronavirus cases in Western European first
Spain became the first country in western Europe to register 500,000 infections on Monday, after a second surge in cases that coincided with schools reopening. Health Ministry data showed a total of 525,549 cases, up from 498,989 on Friday and a further 2,440 infections registered in the last 24 hours.
'Don't kill your gran': Britain sounds COVID alarm
British ministers and medics are urging the public to get serious again about the coronavirus after fears the outbreak was slipping out of control in some areas. Close to 3,000 new cases were recorded on Sunday and again on Monday - a sudden jump from numbers much closer to 1,000 for most of August and the highest since May
Australia's Victoria state reports 55 new coronavirus cases, 8 deaths
The Australian state at the centre of the country's second wave coronavirus outbreak is deepening its contact tracing programme to try to maintain a steady decline in daily new cases, amid criticism of its handling of the crisis.
Following warning from NHS, what could a Lanarkshire lockdown look like?
But what might that look like? Here, we take a look at what could happen in the region if the Scottish Government do decide to bring in additional restrictions. What’s the current situation? In July, just 60 positive coronavirus tests were confirmed in Lanarkshire by the Scottish Government. That stayed fairly consistent until the end of August when the same number of cases was recorded in the final three days of the month. Since then, at least 15 new cases have been recorded daily including 30 yesterday - the most for a single day since May 16. In total, 134 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Lanarkshire in September.
India becomes country with second highest number of Covid cases
India has surpassed Brazil to become the country with the second highest number of coronavirus cases, as the virus continues to spread through the country of 1.3 billion at the fastest rate of anywhere in the world. India recorded more than 90,000 cases overnight, bringing the number of infections in the country past 4.2 million and overtaking Brazil, which with 4.1 million cases had been the second worst-affected country for several months.
New Lockdown
Birmingham Leeds and Liverpool facing lockdown as cases rise
Three of England’s biggest cities are teetering on the edge of lockdown after the number of coronavirus cases spiralled rapidly. Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool have all recorded notable week-on-week jumps in infection rates, with local leaders warning new restrictions could be imminent. The biggest spike was in Birmingham, where 712 people caught the virus in the seven days up to Saturday. Official data shows there were more than 60 cases per 100,000 residents in the week to September 4, compared with 28.1 the week before.
Coronavirus: Caerphilly county lockdown to go into October
Caerphilly has gone into lockdown, becoming the first county in Wales to face tougher restrictions following a spike in Covid-19 cases. No-one is allowed to leave the county without good reason, with stricter measures brought in from 18:00 BST. Family and friends living apart are no longer able to meet indoors, stay overnight, or form extended households. A senior police officer said Gwent Police was not planning to introduce roadblocks or cordons during lockdown.
New coronavirus lockdown rules 'to be announced by government' - including indoor restrictions
Sky News is reporting that the government is set to reduce the maximum number of people who can legally gather indoors in England. The news comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock prepares to make a statement in the Commons today regarding the lockdown rules. The developments came as the total number of confirmed cases in the UK passed 350,100. The seven-day rate of new UK cases has risen to 21.3 per 100,000 people, just above the threshold of 20 cases per 100,000 at which the Government considers imposing quarantine conditions on people travelling to the UK, if recorded in other countries. In Birmingham, the rate of cases now sits above 60 - the third highest in the UK - with over 40 cases per 100,000 people in Solihull now too.
Bolton lockdown: New COVID law will make it illegal for people to mix with other households
It will soon become illegal to meet or socialise with anyone from outside of your own household in Bolton, the health secretary has announced. Announcing tough new coronavirus restrictions on the north-west England town, which has become a particular concern for the government, Matt Hancock said people in their 20s and 30s have been socialising and that has led to a spike in cases. He added that authorities have identified a number of pubs where the virus had spread, and now venues will need to close between 10pm and 5am. Hospitality venues will be limited to takeaways.