Coronavirus pandemic - World News

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: New infections reach record highs in Britain and France

Britain and France both recorded their highest one-day surges in COVID-19 infections since the beginning of the outbreak on Thursday.

More than 16,000 new infections were detected in France over the previous 24 hours, according to the national health agency, Santé Publique France. The previous record of 13,492 had been registered on September 19.

A further 52 people also lost their lives to the pandemic, bringing the country's COVID-19 death toll to 31,511.

Furthermore, the health agency stressed in its weekly report, also released on Thursday, that there had been "an exponential increase in intensive care admissions." More than 4,250 people were hospitalised for COVID-19 in France over the previous week, 718 of whom in ICU units.

In Britain, 6,632 new infections were registered on Thursday, a new record for the country.

Forty new deaths were also reported across the UK, taking the number of fatalities there to 41,902 — the highest death toll in Europe.

Public Health England Medical Director Yvonne Doyle says the figure is a "stark warning" as infections rise across all age groups.

She says citizens must follow the new restrictions announced by the government this week to control the spread of the virus.

Both France and the UK have introduced new measures the week to tackle a steady rise of infections observed since August.

British pubs, bars and restaurants have been ordered to shut at 10 pm while shops not able to enforce "COVID-secure" service have been done to close. Public gatherings were also, once more restricted. Social gatherings, whether outdoors or indoors, are limited to six people from two households.

Over the Channel, the government introduced a new colour-coded map of the epidemiological situation, warning that the virus is now actively circulating — defined as more than 50 cases per 100,000 population — in more than two-thirds of the country.

Bars and restaurants in a dozen large cities, including capital Paris, have been told to shut no later than 10 pm with gatherings limited to 10 people. Marseille and the island of Guadeloupe were hit with the toughest restrictions. Bars and restaurants there have been told to remain closed from Saturday.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) called on Thursday for countries to be quicker and more targeted in their approach to restrictive measures.

The health agency, which monitors infectious diseases in 31 European counties said that the recent "worrying increase" in infections was partly due to restrictive measures not having the intended effect either because adherence is not optimal or because they are not sufficient to reduce or control exposure to the virus.

More than 3 million COVID-19 cases and over 187,500 deaths have now been recorded in Europe.

Globally, the pandemic has claimed the lives of 972,221 people and infected 31.6 million, according to the World Health Organisation.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/24...ions-reach-record-highs-in-britain-and-france.

 

[iRfaN_LA]

A report by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says the pandemic has pushed global development back by more than 20 years

Tens of millions of people have been exposed to the threat of more poverty, inequality and disease, it says

In the UK, a lack of coronavirus tests for NHS staff is leading to staff absences and services being put at risk, hospital bosses warn

Addiction services in England could struggle to cope with "soaring" numbers of people misusing alcohol, the Royal College of Psychiatrists says

France introduces new restrictions in the areas around Marseille and Bordeaux

Globally there have been more than 29 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 928,000 deaths, Johns Hopkins University data shows

I might get yelled at by everyone but now I am thinking Trump was right when he said "cure cannot be worse than the disease". Global lockdowns, shutdown of economies, has such an impact that so many people are dying and will die because of poverty, depression, suicide etc. It just makes you think that are the lockdowns worth it? when the virus is proven to have a very low death rate. Are the lockdowns saving more lives or destroying more lives?

 

[MenInG]

Industries hit hard by the pandemic in the UK are facing further uncertainty with the government's new jobs scheme

Hospitality, events and retail workers and businesses have expressed concern over job losses

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said employees must be in "viable" jobs to benefit from the wage top-up scheme

This means people working in industries currently closed, such as nightclubs, may lose out

European health officials say further restrictions may be needed to curb a sharp rise in infections

New, stricter rules are due to come into force later as Israel enters its second week of lockdown

In hard-hit Brazil, the 2021 edition of the world-famous Rio carnival parade has been postponed indefinitely

More than 32 million virus cases have been confirmed globally with almost 983,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University

 

[MenInG]

I might get yelled at by everyone but now I am thinking Trump was right when he said "cure cannot be worse than the disease". Global lockdowns, shutdown of economies, has such an impact that so many people are dying and will die because of poverty, depression, suicide etc. It just makes you think that are the lockdowns worth it? when the virus is proven to have a very low death rate. Are the lockdowns saving more lives or destroying more lives?

Take your pick.

The Covid thing only hits home when someone you know gets effected by it.

 

[MenInG]

A further 6,874 UK Covid-19 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, with 34 deaths

New restrictions are announced in Leeds, where the city council reported a "steep rise" in infections on Thursday

Two of Wales' biggest cities - Cardiff and Swansea - will go into lockdown from 18:00 BST on Sunday

London is at a "very worrying tipping point" amid a resurgence of Covid-19, the mayor has warned

In Madrid, over a million people will be under local lockdown restrictions from Monday as curbs are extended

More than 32 million virus cases have been confirmed globally with nearly 984,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: Two million deaths 'very likely' even with vaccine, WHO warns

The global coronavirus death toll could hit two million before an effective vaccine is widely used, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

Dr Mike Ryan, the WHO's emergencies head, said the figure could be higher without concerted international action.

Almost one million people have died with Covid-19 worldwide since the disease first emerged in China late last year.

Virus infections continue to rise, with 32 million cases confirmed globally.

The start of a second surge of coronavirus infections has been seen in many countries in the northern hemisphere as winter approaches.

So far, the US, India and Brazil have confirmed the most cases, recording more than 15 million between them.

But in recent days, there has been a resurgence of infections across Europe, prompting warnings of national lockdowns similar to those imposed at the height of the first wave of the pandemic.

"Overall within that very large region, we are seeing worrying increases of the disease," Dr Ryan said of the marked spike in cases in Europe.

He urged Europeans to ask themselves whether they had done enough to avoid the need for lockdowns - and whether alternatives, such as testing and tracing, quarantines and social distancing, had been implemented.

"Lockdowns are almost a last resort - and to think that we're back in last-resort territory in September, that's a pretty sobering thought," Dr Ryan told reporters at the WHO's headquarters in Geneva.

What did he say about the death toll?
Asked whether two million fatalities worldwide was possible before a vaccine became available, Dr Ryan said: "It's not impossible."

He added that fatality rates were dropping as treatments for the disease improve.

But better treatments and even effective vaccines might not be enough on their own to prevent deaths surpassing two million, he said.

"Are we prepared to do what it takes to avoid that number?" Dr Ryan asked, calling on governments to do everything to control Covid-19.

"Unless we do it all, the number you speak about is not only imaginable, but unfortunately and sadly, very likely."

What are the latest developments globally?
Around the world, stricter social-distancing guidelines and restrictions on businesses are being brought into effect to curb a second spike.

In Spain, the government has recommended reimposing a partial lockdown on all of Madrid area, where cases have risen sharply. Instead, local authorities stepped up restrictions on some districts of the city, affecting a million people.

Meanwhile in France, staff from bars and restaurants in the southern city Marseille protested against the closure of their workplaces on Saturday.

On Friday, more restrictions were announced in several regions of the UK, as new daily infections continue to rise.

In contrast, curbs on businesses are being lifted in some US states, despite the increasing number of cases nationwide.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious diseases expert, said the first wave of the pandemic had not ended yet in the US, because infections have not decreased sufficiently since the initial outbreak.

"Rather than say, 'a second wave,' why don't we say, 'are we prepared for the challenge of the fall and the winter?'," Dr Fauci told CNN.

Elsewhere, Israel tightened restrictions on businesses and travel, one week after the country became the first in the world to begin a second nationwide lockdown.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-54303628.

 

[sweep_shot]

Italian migrant centers: 239 coronavirus cases until Mid-June

here were 239 migrants and refugees in the Italian reception system who tested positive for the novel coronavirus between February 1 and June 12. Almost all of them were living in centers in northern Italy.

Of the 239 reception center residents who caught COVID-19, a total of 64 people were hospitalized, two in intensive care, but no one died.

This information was revealed in a report on COVID-19 in Italy's migrant reception facilities, which was issued by the Italian Health Ministry and the National Institute for the Promotion of Health in Migrant Populations (INMP).

Health Ministry Undersecretary Sandra Zampa said that the report showed that there was "a good level of response by the reception system in the most critical phase of the pandemic."

Almost all COVID cases in the North

The report investigated 5,038 reception facilities (CAS, CARA, Siproimi, MSNA) out of the 6,837 registered by the Italian Interior Ministry.

Nearly all of the facilities where at least one resident tested positive for the novel coronavirus were in northern Italy -- 99% to be exact.

This reflects the distribution of cases throughout Italy: The north had far more coronavirus cases than the south.

The 239 cases were distributed across eight regions (Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Molise), but half of them were concentrated in Lombardy and Piedmont.

Source: https://www.infomigrants.net/en/pos...-centers-239-coronavirus-cases-until-mid-june.

 

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Spain's confirmed coronavirus cases rise to 716,481

MADRID — Spain’s cumulative tally of confirmed coronavirus infections rose by 12,272 on Friday from the previous day to 716,481, health ministry data showed.

That included 4,122 diagnosed in the last 24 hours, but these daily figures tend to end up much higher after retroactive updates of the infection tally, having exceeded 10,000 cases per day for most of last week.

The total number of COVID-19 fatalities reached 31,232 from 31,118 reported on Thursday. Daily deaths are now around their highest levels since early May, but are well below the late March record of nearly 900. (Reporting by Jessica Jones; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Source: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/spains-confirmed-coronavirus-cases-rise-to-716481.

 

[sweep_shot]

Italy avoids Europe's dramatic virus uptick, but for how long?

ROME -- The first Western country to be struck by the devastating coronavirus pandemic, Italy is today an outlier in Europe with limited new cases compared with neighbours.

The question is why, and will it last.

While France reported a record 16,096 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday and Spain over 10,000, Italy's number has for weeks remained below 2,000.

It has carried out fewer tests -- some 120,000 per day, versus France's 180,000 -- but not enough to explain the sharp difference in new infections.

Experts largely point to the success of a severe and lengthy lockdown, combined with a collective trauma.

Horrific memories of coffins stacked up as cemeteries in the north overflowed and intensive-care beds ran out appear to have ensured Italians stick diligently to the rules, many even wearing masks in situations where it is not obligatory.

"The epidemic hit Italy earlier... and it immediately put in place a very tough containment plan," Professor Massimo Andreoni, an infectious disease expert at Rome's Tor Vergata hospital, told AFP.

'RADICAL INTERVENTION'

The lockdown enforced in early March was not lifted until May, and that much more gradually than elsewhere, he said.

Massimo Galli, infectious diseases chief at Milan's Sacco hospital, agreed, telling Saturday's Corriere della Sera daily "that radical intervention, a longer and stricter lockdown, produced a sort of protection effect".

The World Health Organization held Italy up as an example this week, praising its "clear government advice, strong public support to reduce transmission" and information-sharing.

That despite British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suggestion that infections were higher in his country than in Italy or Germany because the British were "freedom-loving".

Italian President Sergio Matarella shot back that Italians also loved freedom but "we also behave responsibly".

Masks are mandatory in all crowded public spaces between 6pm-6am local time -- a precaution welcomed by tourists such as Swedish Louis Tietjens, who said he felt "very safe here in Italy" as he visited Rome's Trevi Fountain.

Rome's Fiumicino International Airport was the first in the world to receive five stars from the Skytrax rating agency for its management of COVID-19, which praised its temperature controls, masks, abundant hand gel and physical distancing.

The country is also running "COVID-free" flights between Rome and Milan for those who test negative.

Businesses say they are trying to go the extra mile to prevent contagion in their stores or restaurants.

'FEAR OF THE OTHER'

At the Green Tea restaurant in central Rome, just steps away from the Pantheon, owner Giacomo Rech explained how clients have their temperatures taken at the door, are given hand gel, and provide their details so they can be traced if necessary.

Many schools reopened mid-September, and since then some 400 have reported at least one case of coronavirus, the Sole 24 Ore daily said. Pupils with any suspect symptoms are obliged to take a coronavirus test before re-admittance.

Antonio Montegrandi, a general practitioner specialised in infectious diseases, told AFP the country's lower contagion rates could be due in part to Italians "tending to be anxious about their health".

"And Italian mums tend to nag too", ensuring offspring who still live at home -- often into their 30s -- take the necessary precautions when they go out.

Hospitals and research institutes have noted a rise in depression and mental health disturbances, which may also play a part in limiting contagion.

Psychologist Gloria Volpato, who works in Bergamo, Italy's worst-hit area, told AGI news agency Saturday she had seen a rise in particular of a "fear of the other", with all contacts seen as potential contagion risks.

The smallest uptick in the infection numbers was being watched closely.

The biggest concern now is the reopening of schools this week in five southern regions that had delayed their start dates, as well as the recent admission of fans to football stadiums across Italy -- though only 1,000 are allowed in per match.

"We'll be able to see the impact (over the next month), and whether Italy succeeds in maintaining these low levels or if she'll join the levels of France and Spain," Andreoni said.

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coron...matic-virus-uptick-but-for-how-long-1.5121587.

 

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Italy's 'Patient No. 1' joins relay race as sign of hope

CODOGNO, Italy — Italy’s coronavirus “Patient No. 1,” whose case confirmed one of the world’s deadliest outbreaks was underway, is taking part in a 180-kilometre (112-mile) relay race as a sign of hope after he himself recovered from weeks in intensive care.

Mattia Maestri, a 38-year-old Unilever manager, was suited up Saturday for the start of the two-day race between Italy’s first two virus hot spots. It began in Codogno, south of Milan, where Maestri tested positive Feb. 21, and was ending Sunday in Vo’Euganeo, where Italy’s first official COVID-19 death was recorded the same day.

Wearing a dark face mask, Maestri said the race was a “beautiful initiative” uniting the two virus-ravaged towns and the hard-hit swath of territory between them. He said he was thrilled to even be alive to participate.

“I feel very lucky,” he said at the starting line.

Maestri had first gone to the hospital in his hometown of Codogno with flu-like symptoms Feb. 18, but was sent home. He returned the next day after deteriorating and the doctor on duty, Dr. Annalisa Malara, decided to test him for the new coronavirus even though doing so went beyond the protocol for testing set by the Health Ministry at the time: Maestri hadn’t travelled to China or been in contact with a known positive case.

Maestri’s positive result Feb. 21 was the first confirmed case of domestic transmission in Italy, evidence that the virus was circulating silently among the local population. Within days, Italy would become the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe, where it still has the second-highest number of COVID-19 deaths after Britain.

The Italian government immediately quarantined Codogno and 10 nearby towns and imposed a lockdown in Vo’Euganeo, where on the same day as Maestri’s positive result authorities confirmed the first death of someone who tested positive post-mortem, Adriano Trevisan.

“United first by the suffering and pain, Codogno and Vo’, the first two communities hit, are united today in hope,” said Patrizia Baffi, a Lombardy region councillor who was on hand for the start of Saturday’s race.

Maestri spent nearly three weeks in intensive care and weeks more hospitalized during which his own father died of the virus. Soon after he was released, his wife — who had tested positive but without serious complications — gave birth to their first child, Giulia.

Maestri has since recovered fully and said Saturday he felt well enough to participate in the race. A marathoner and avid soccer player before he got sick, Maestri is taking the final leg of the relay and is scheduled to cross the finish line in Vo’ on Sunday.

Maestri expressed concern about continued surge of infections in Europe — on Saturday Italy added another 1,869 infections and 17 deaths to its official COVID death toll, far fewer than in neighbouring countries. He urged Italians to observe the three rules of social distancing, face masks and frequent handwashing to keep the virus under control.

“I think if we observe those two to three simple rules they have given us, we will continue to see results in Italy,” he said. “Let’s hope this is the right way to go.”

Maestri still marveled about his recovery — he said the experience was “like a movie” — and how his case became the wake-up call for Europe, and now the world, of the virus’ ability to spread.

“You live in a normal world, all is peaceful, then it all happened, and I didn’t even know at the time,” he said of his infection. “I found out only a month later when I got out.”

He said one day he’ll tell his daughter how her father became known as Patient No. 1.

“She’ll read about it, she’ll get to know it, and I’ll tell her what happened,” he said.

But he added: “I still have time to think about it.”

Source: https://www.570news.com/2020/09/26/italys-patient-no-1-joins-relay-race-as-sign-of-hope/.

 

[sweep_shot]

Madrid residents at ‘serious risk’ without tougher coronavirus restrictions, health minister warns

Madrid residents are at “serious risk” if tougher coronavirus restrictions aren’t implemented in the region, Spain’s health minister said Saturday.

Salvador Illa urged Madrid authorities to impose stricter rules in the area, in an effort to control new COVID-19 cases in the region.

The area has the highest incidence rate of COVID-19 in Spain, with 746.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to El País. The rate of new infections in the country over the last 14 days has fallen from 287.7 per 100,000 inhabitants on Tuesday to 283.3 on Thursday.

On Friday, The Madrid regional government extended restrictions in some COVID-19 hotspots in the area — which once again is at the epicenter of the outbreak in the country — but refused to enact a city-wide lockdown.

The restrictions will be applied to eight small areas with an incidence rate of more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

But on Saturday, Illa said that the current rules don’t go far enough.

“Madrid is in a situation of serious risk and it’s time to act with determination,” Illa told reporters during a press conference.

“There is a serious risk for inhabitants, for the neighboring regions,” he said, urging regional authorities to “put the health of citizens first.”

Spain, one of the worst-affected countries in Europe went under a strict lockdown from March until May. After all restrictions were lifted, at the end of June, new infections began to surge.

On Friday, the country of 47 million recorded 12,272 new infections, bringing the official total to 716,481 — the highest infection tally in western Europe — with 31,232 coronavirus-related deaths.

Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/coronav...0200926-thedbmquirecljzujsg5vtrvky-story.html.

 

[MenInG]

Summary

• As the number of total Covid-19 deaths worldwide approached a grim milestone of one million, mainland China reported 15 new cases on Saturday, all of them imported infections related to travellers.
India recorded 88,600 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, taking the country’s official toll to just under 6 million (5,992,532), according to the country’s official figures. Deaths increased by 1,124 to 94,503.

• The Spanish government and authorities in Madrid are locked in a standoff over how to tackle the second wave of Covid-19 in and around the capital, where more than a third of Spain’s 716,481 cases have been diagnosed.

As the number of infections continues to surge in Spain – by far the worst hit western European country – Madrid is at the centre of a medical, political and economic row.

The conservative regional government has placed 45 areas into a partial lockdown that affects just over a million people in Madrid, but it has rejected calls from Spain’s socialist-led coalition government for the whole of the capital to be placed in limited confinement.

• Fresh restrictions were imposed in new areas of Wales by the devolved administration, as a wider UK focus fell on thousands of students who are self isolating in halls of residence in cities including Glasgow and Manchester.

University students should be able to return home to their families at Christmas if the country “pulls together” and observes the new coronavirus rules, a cabinet minister has said.

• The British government is facing unprecedented challenges to its handling of the pandemic, both from within the ranks of the ruling party but also from the opposition and street protests.

The opposition Labour Party has confirmed it is likely to support a rebel Conservative amendment obliging ministers to seek parliamentary approval for new lockdown restrictions, setting up the government for a possible parliamentary defeat next week.

• The Australian state of Victoria has announced an end to its curfew and easing of some of the months-long lockdown measures. The government also announced further steps out of lockdown will be based on case numbers, not strict dates. Australia reported just 18 new cases on Saturday, and two deaths, and trade minister Simon Birmingham hopes a travel bubble with New Zealand can be put in place by the end of the year.

• In Latin America, Argentina’s coronavirus cases are poised to top 700,000 as new daily infections and deaths hit the top five globally, despite seven months of lockdown that have ravaged the frail economy.
Coronavirus cases in Colombia, which is nearly a month into a national reopening after a long lockdown, surpassed 800,000. Elsewhere, Mexican authorities reported 5,573 new cases along with 399 deaths on Friday, but the true figures are likely significantly higher due to little testing.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: 'Forced to work' as medics fighting Covid

Almost 200 health workers have died of Covid-19 in Venezuela since the pandemic began in March.

The country has had at least 68,000 cases and over 560 deaths.

The BBC has been hearing from health workers across the country who say that they’ve had to work without masks or gloves for weeks and are afraid of catching the virus at their place of work.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-latin-america-54314557.

 

[MenInG]

Summary

The world's coronavirus death toll nears one million, with the US, Brazil and India making up nearly half of the totalIt comes nearly 10 months after news began to emerge about mysterious cases of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China

More than 33 million cases have been confirmed around the world, according to Johns Hopkins University

The UK has seen nearly 42,000 deaths, and cases have been rising by an average of more than 5,500 a day

Nearly two-thirds of Wales' population will be under lockdown when new restrictions are imposed in three more areas from 18:00 BST

Curbs on movement are being extended to cover one million people in the Spanish capital, Madrid, and its surrounding areas

The World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic on 11 March, when about 4,300 people had died

At the time, the global health agency warned of "alarming levels of inaction" in the fight against the new virus

 

[MenInG]

World nears one million confirmed Covid deaths

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, there have been almost one million confirmed deaths from Covid-19 in the world. That is nearly 10 months after news of the new virus began to emerge in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

But the figure is only an estimate. Different countries report deaths in different ways, and in some nations critics accuse health authorities of missing or even deliberately under-counting the true death toll.
Moreover, testing is far from universal. Countries around the world may well be missing deaths that were the direct result of the virus because officials did not know a person had contracted the illness.

 

[Firebat]

Australian state's quarantine system 'caused 768 deaths'

The hotel quarantine system in Victoria, Australia, was responsible for the deaths of 768 people and 18,418 infections, an inquiry has been told.

The Covid-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry came to a close today after two months of hearings.

The inquiry was also told that the scheme, which began on 29 March and was supposed to protect residents from the virus, was "hastily assembled" in less than two days.

Victoria's second wave, which led to the state being put back into lockdown, has been firmly blamed on the hotel quarantine programme.

Earlier, the inquiry heard security guards at the hotels had inadequate PPE, and that it wasn't being disposed of properly.

One nurse also told the inquiry that staff at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) were more concerned with keeping guests happy than following quarantine protocols.

 

[Firebat]

Restrictions expanded in several European cities: World round-up

Tight restrictions have been expanded in the Spanish capital, Madrid, and its surrounding areas, affecting one million residents. From Monday, people will not be able to leave their area unless to go to school or work, public parks will close and opening hours will be restricted

In France, bars in Paris and 11 others areas will have to remain closed between 22:00-06:00 and there is a ban on festive or recreational events including wedding receptions, students parties and organised gatherings in hired locations

Cafes and bars in the Belgian capital Brussels will have to close by 23:00 while other businesses selling food and drink will have to shut at 22:00

In Germany, a spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said the growing number of new cases was "highly worrying"

The number of confirmed cases in India has surpassed six million, the health ministry says

 

[MenInG]

 

[sweep_shot]

So, world is about to hit 1-million mark (total deaths).

I think final death count will be around 2-3 millions.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: Global Covid-19 death toll passes one million

The number of people worldwide who have died with Covid-19 has passed one million, researchers say, with many regions still reporting surging numbers of new infections.

The tally by Johns Hopkins University shows that deaths in the US, Brazil and India make up nearly half that total.

Experts caution that the true figure is probably much higher.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it a "mind-numbing" figure and "an agonising milestone".

"Yet we must never lose sight of each and every individual life," he said in a video message.

"They were fathers and mothers, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues. The pain has been multiplied by the savageness of this disease."

The development comes nearly 10 months after news of the coronavirus began to emerge from Wuhan, China.

The pandemic has since spread to 188 countries with more than 32 million confirmed cases. Lockdowns and other measures to try to stop the virus spreading have thrown many economies into recession.

Meanwhile, efforts to develop an effective vaccine are continuing - although the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the death toll could hit two million before one is widely available.

The US has the world's highest death toll with about 205,000 fatalities followed by Brazil on 141,700 and India with 95,500 deaths.

Where is Covid-19 spreading the fastest?
The US has recorded more than seven million cases - more than a fifth of the world's total. After a second wave of cases in July, numbers dropped in August but appear to be on the rise again now.

The coronavirus has been spreading fast in India, with the country recording about 90,000 cases a day earlier in September.

Confirmed infections in India have reached six million - the second-highest after the US. However, given the size of its population India has seen a relatively low death rate.

Brazil has the highest number of deaths in Latin America and has recorded more than 4.7 million cases, the third highest in the world.

Elsewhere in the region, newly confirmed infections are also rising quickly in Argentina, which now has more than 700,000 cases.

Because of differences in how countries record cases and deaths - and the sporadic rates of testing in some regions - the true numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths is believed to be higher than reported, experts say.

How is the hunt for a vaccine progressing?
Globally there are about 240 potential vaccines in early development, with 40 in clinical trials and nine in the final stage of testing on thousands of people. Vaccine development normally takes years but because of the global emergency, scientists are working at breakneck speed.

One being developed by the University of Oxford - already in an advanced stage of testing - has shown it can trigger an immune response and a deal has been signed with AstraZeneca to supply 100 million doses in the UK alone.

In China, a potential vaccine has been shown to produce protective antibodies and is being made available to the Chinese military. However, concerns have been raised about the speed at which the vaccine is being produced.

Meanwhile in Russia, scientists say early tests on a vaccine called Sputnik-V show signs of an immune response.

In a report earlier this month, they said that every participant in trials developed antibodies to fight the virus and suffered no serious side effects.

Russia licensed the vaccine for local use in August - the first country to do so. Again, there was concern at the speed of the process and some experts said the early trials had been too small to prove effectiveness and safety.

In the US, President Donald Trump has said Americans should be able to access a vaccine as early as October although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a vaccine is unlikely to be widely available before mid-2021.

The WHO has said it does not expect to see widespread vaccinations against Covid-19 until the middle of 2021.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-54334496.

 

[sweep_shot]

Young people ‘give up dream job hope’ in pandemic

More than one in three young people say they have lost hope of getting their dream job because of coronavirus, the Prince's Trust has said.

The charity said a survey of 2,000 people aged 16 to 25 across the UK showed 44% had lower aspirations for the future as a result of the pandemic.

Its UK chief executive, Jonathan Townsend, said the pandemic had eroded young people's confidence.

The charity said action was needed to prevent a "lost generation".

According to the research, carried out by Censuswide, 41% of young people believe their future goals now seem "impossible to achieve", with this rising to 50% of those surveyed from poorer backgrounds.

More than a third of young people, 38%, feel they will "never succeed in life". This rises to 48% of those from poorer homes.

'I think trains will always be relied on'

Pete White from Bristol is striving to make his mark in one of the industries that has been hardest hit by the pandemic - rail transport.

Pete is a rail dispatcher and dreams of becoming a train driver. Before the pandemic, he was accepted on to Great Western Railway's training programme for drivers, but the pandemic led to a lengthy hold-up.

"I was resigned to it not happening this year, maybe even not next year," he said. "There's been a very substantial drop in people using public transport and that put a question mark over it."

Finally he got word that the programme was starting up again and has been going to classes for the past week. But with fewer people travelling by train as a result of the pandemic, the rail landscape is looking rather different these days.

Pete is undaunted, however. "We rely on many different modes of transport and I don't see that changing," he says.

"We're all finding our way round a new world, but I think trains will always be relied on."

'Aspiration gap'
Other findings included:

More than a quarter (28%) believe they will have to "take any job I can get"
More than one in three (35%) believe they will have to "give up my dream job for any job"
Some 43% of young people say, "I expect I'll never have a job I really love." This rises to 55% for those from poorer backgrounds
And 45% of young people say they will have to take a lower paid job just to "make ends meet".
Mr Townsend said the findings showed that the pandemic had done more than disrupt vital education, training and job opportunities for young people.

"It has eroded their confidence in their future, to a point where some feel they won't ever be able to succeed in life," he added.

"We have an aspiration gap, with young people losing hope for the future and, sadly, those from disadvantaged backgrounds being hardest hit."

He called on government, charities and employers to act "to ensure the odds don't stay stacked against these young people".

"We must support them to upskill, retrain and access job opportunities, or else we risk losing their ambition and potential to long-term unemployment - to the detriment of their future and to the recovery of our economy."

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54329554.

 

[MenInG]

Summary

The world's coronavirus death toll crosses one million, with the US, Brazil and India making up nearly half of the total, according to Johns Hopkins University

The UN secretary general calls it a "mind-numbing" figure and "an agonising milestone".But the number is likely to be much higher as testing rates in many countries remain low, with virus-related deaths not being recordedMore than 33 million cases have been confirmed around the world, Johns Hopkins University says

The UK government reported 4,044 new cases on Monday, the third day in a row the daily total has fallenCovid and the measures associated with it are putting the UK's health service under stress, its bosses warn

The WHO agrees a deal to provide a test that can diagnose Covid-19 in minutes to low- and middle-income countriesThe Netherlands introduces new curbs, including working from home where possible, and limits on groups

 

[Firebat]

Coronavirus deaths rise above a million in 'agonizing' global milestone

(Reuters) - The global coronavirus death toll rose past a million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, a grim statistic in a pandemic that has devastated the global economy, overloaded health systems and changed the way people live.

The number of deaths from the novel coronavirus this year is now double the number of people who die annually from malaria - and the death rate has increased in recent weeks as infections surge in several countries.

“Our world has reached an agonizing milestone,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

“It’s a mind-numbing figure. Yet we must never lose sight of each and every individual life. They were fathers and mothers, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues.”

It took just three months for COVID-19 deaths to double from half a million, an accelerating rate of fatalities since the first death was recorded in China in early January.

More than 5,400 people are dying around the world every 24 hours, according to Reuters calculations based on September averages, overwhelming funeral businesses and cemeteries.

That equates to about 226 people an hour, or one person every 16 seconds. In the time it takes to watch a 90-minute soccer match, 340 people die on average.

“So many people have lost so many people and haven’t had the chance to say goodbye,” World Health Organization (WHO) spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a U.N. briefing in Geneva.

“...Many, many of the people who died died alone in medical circumstances where it’s a terribly difficult and lonely death.”

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world had to unite to fight the virus.

“History will judge us on the decisions we do and don’t make in the months ahead,” he said in the Independent newspaper.

Spoiler

INFECTIONS RISING

Experts remain concerned that the official figures for deaths and cases globally significantly under-represent the real tally because of inadequate testing and recording and the possibility of concealment by some countries.

The response to the pandemic has pitted proponents of health measures like lockdowns against those intent on sustaining politically sensitive economic growth, with approaches differing from country to country.

The United States, Brazil and India, which together account for nearly 45% of all COVID-19 deaths globally, have all lifted social distancing measures in recent weeks.

“The American people should anticipate that cases will rise in the days ahead,” U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned on Monday. U.S. deaths stood at 205,132 and cases at 7.18 million by late Monday.

India, meanwhile, has recorded the highest daily growth in infections in the world, with an average of 87,500 new cases a day since the beginning of September.

On current trends, India will overtake the United States as the country with the most confirmed cases by the end of the year, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government pushes ahead with easing lockdown measures in a bid to support a struggling economy.

Despite the surge in cases, India’s death toll of 96,318, and pace of growth of fatalities, remains below those of the United States, Britain and Brazil. India on Tuesday reported its smallest rise in deaths since Aug. 3, continuing a recent easing trend that has baffled experts.

In Europe, which accounts for nearly 25% of deaths, the WHO has warned of a worrying spread in western Europe just weeks away from the winter flu season.

The WHO has also warned the pandemic still needs major control interventions amid rising cases in Latin America, where many countries have started to resume normal life.

Much of Asia, the first region affected by the pandemic, is experiencing a relative lull after emerging from a second wave.

The high number of deaths has led to changes burial rites around the world, with morgues and funeral businesses overwhelmed and loved ones often barred from bidding farewell in person.

In Israel, the custom of washing the bodies of Muslim deceased is not permitted, and instead of being shrouded in cloth, they must be wrapped in a plastic body bag. The Jewish tradition of Shiva where people go to the home of mourning relatives for seven days has also been disrupted.

In Italy, Catholics have been buried without funerals or a blessing from a priest, while in Iraq former militiamen dropped their guns to dig graves at a specially created cemetery and learned how to conduct both Christian and Muslim burials.

In some parts of Indonesia, bereaved families have barged into hospitals to claim bodies, fearing their relatives might not be given a proper burial.

The United States, Indonesia, Bolivia, South Africa and Yemen have all had to locate new burial sites as cemeteries fill up.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...n-in-agonizing-global-milestone-idUSKBN26K08Y

 

[sweep_shot]

Spain to unveil new national rules for imposing coronavirus controls
Imminent restrictions likely on virtually all of Madrid and other cities as cases rise


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The Spanish government is planning new national coronavirus rules that will impose tougher restrictions on Madrid, after days of confrontation over how to respond to the upsurge in cases that has hit the capital harder than any other region in Europe.

The central government and the regional administration have been at loggerheads over imposing further controls on Madrid, which the leftwing national coalition of Pedro Sánchez says are necessary to bring the pandemic under control, but which the prime minister’s right-of-centre regional rivals have resisted as premature and arbitrary.

But, in an apparent breakthrough, the government will on Wednesday propose new rules to restrict people’s movements and gatherings in urban areas with high levels of infection and hospitalisations, according to criteria to be uniformly applied across Spain.

The move is likely to translate into the imminent imposition of controls on virtually all of the capital as well as on other hard-hit cities throughout the country.

“[We are] satisfied that we have reached an agreement in principle with the Spanish government to take a joint approach in the battle against the virus,” tweeted Ignacio Aguado, deputy leader of the Madrid region.

The reimposition of controls — barely three months after the formal end of Spain’s tough three-month lockdown — highlights the country’s failure to contain the virus after it lifted restrictions. On Tuesday night, the national health ministry reported 10,000 new cases across Spain — a third of them in Madrid — and more than 200 deaths.

Speaking after his second meeting with Madrid officials in as many days, Salvador Illa, Spain’s health minister, said the new curbs would “limit mobility and social contacts, as well as capacity and time limits [for places such as restaurants and entertainment venues]”. He added that the situation in Madrid was “very worrying”.

The Madrid region has logged more than 52,000 cases of coronavirus for the past two weeks. During that time the region’s infection rate has been 785 per 100,000 people — considerably more than twice the level for the whole of Spain, which itself has by far the worst rate of infection in Europe.

Under Spain's decentralised model of government, each of the 17 regions operates its own health system.

Mr Illa and the national government have fiercely criticised Madrid’s current restrictions as not nearly enough to bring the pandemic under control. These have focused on curbing movement in the largely working-class districts of the city that account for 15 per cent of the region’s inhabitants and 27 per cent of its cases.


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Instead, the government has called for curbs that would apply to the whole of the capital city and several nearby towns in the greater Madrid region. But Madrid authorities responded that more time was needed to see if existing restrictions were working and called for nationwide measures rather than ones focused on the region.

According to the apparent compromise deal that Mr Illa unveiled at a press conference on Tuesday evening, the new restrictions will apply to urban areas throughout Spain with infection rates of 500 cases or more per 100,000 people over 14 days, with high occupation rates for intensive care beds, and where 10 per cent or more of coronavirus tests are positive.

Mr Illa said he hoped the proposal would be agreed at a regional health ministers’ meeting on Wednesday, but declined to give further details of which areas it would apply to or more specifics about the rules.

The Madrid region said it was still negotiating with the government over the technical criteria for triggering new restrictions on people’s mobility and activities. It added that at Wednesday’s meeting it would propose a “single criteria for all the regions” as well as demanding diagnostic tests at Madrid airport.

Source: https://www.ft.com/content/ae3ed788-c10c-43ab-bc4d-25b8b73808d3.

 

[sweep_shot]

Italy plans to use rapid airport-style coronavirus tests in schools

Italy's coronavirus testing strategy is getting better every week, ministers said on Tuesday, as they looked at rolling out the rapid 30-minute tests currently used at airports in schools.
Health Minister Roberto Speranza told the Senate health committee that the government is working on plans to extend the 30-minute tests currently used in some Italian airports to schools.

"With the increase in cases and the opening of schools we need to do more and get results faster," he said.

"This can help us to maintain the advantage, from the point of view of the number of infections, that we have today over other countries."

The government's scientific technical committee (CTS), which advises on Covid-19 rules, will have to give the plan the green light before it goes ahead nationally. This could happen as soon as Tuesday afternoon, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports.

However health authorities in the Lazio region have already confirmed they will start using the tests in some schools from Thursday, La Repubblica reports.

The rapid "antigen" tests, currently used in airports, are carried out with a cotton nasal swab much like the "normal" tests which take 24-48 hours to give a result. The difference is in the method of ascertaining the presence of the virus and above all in the timing: with rapid tests the response arrives in 20-30 minutes.

You can read more about the airport testing process and different testing options available in a separate article here.
it is hoped that wider testing and faster results could help slow the spread of the virus in Italy, as new case numbers start to rise sharply in some areas such as in Naples and other parts of Campania.

"The tests are improving week on week," Speranza said

.He added that it will be months yet before Italy has a safe and effective vaccine for the coronavirus.


"We have many more weapons than we had in March and April, in a few months we will have even more," he said, stressing that the governments plans were "validated by science".

Currently parents in Italy report having to keep children off school for several days while arranging for a test with local health authorities if their child is sent home with suspect symptoms, or if a classmate tests positive.

While the waiting time for a test is not usually very long, parents in most regions must currently obtain a health certificate confirming the negative result before the child can return to school.

650 classes in Italy have been sent home due to confirmed coronavirus cases so far since reopening began on September 14th, according to Turin-based Economics researcher Lorenzo Ruffino, who calculated the likely numbers by analyzing Italian media reports.

When a case is confirmed at a school, Italian health authorities send the entire class and teacher home for 14 days, as well as any other students or staff who may have been in contact with the infected person. Schools are also often shut down for one day for extra cleaning, though so far there are few reports of schools being closed down for longer than that.

Source: https://www.thelocal.it/20200929/covid-19-italy-plans-to-use-rapid-airport-tests-in-schools.

 

[sweep_shot]

Italy set to extend COVID state of emergency as cases tick up: official

ROME (Reuters) - Italy is likely to extend a state of emergency to help keep the coronavirus crisis under control, a senior official said on Tuesday as the government looks to avoid the surge in new cases hitting other European countries.

The state of emergency, which is due to expire in mid-October, gives greater powers to both regional and central government, making it easier for officials to bypass the bureaucracy that smothers much decision-making in Italy.

"I believe the government will need to ask for a further extension," Health Undersecretary Sandra Zampa told state broadcaster RAI. "The state of emergency allows the government to cut through red tape quickly if needed."

Italy was the first country in Europe to be slammed by COVID-19 and has the highest death toll on the continent, with 35,851 dying since the outbreak flared in February.

Thanks to one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, Italy managed to get the contagion under control by the summer. However, cases have picked up over the past month and an average 1,694 new infections were reported daily in the last seven days.

That is still far fewer than elsewhere in Europe, including France, which is reporting an average 10,199 new cases daily, and Spain, which is seeing 10,920, according to Reuters data.

Earlier this week the World Health Organization posted a video praising Italy's "strong and effective response" to the pandemic. Despite the easing of the crisis, many Italians are still taking great care, such as regularly wearing masks outside even though it is not compulsory.

Scientists say the next three weeks will be crucial to gauge the circulation of the virus and determine whether Italy will be spared a major second wave.

"If we get through the next three weeks, we can probably make it," Andrea Crisanti, a professor of microbiology at the university of Padua, told Reuters.

The initial state of emergency was extended at the end of July despite protests from opposition parties, which accused Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of trying to keep too much power in his own hands and side-stepping parliament.

Source: https://www.capebretonpost.com/news...f-emergency-as-cases-tick-up-official-503264/.

 

[The Viper]

Summary

In an unusually emotional address, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to "continue acting patiently"

Germany has announced measures to limit the size of gatherings and fine those who break tracking rules

Belgium's coronavirus death toll passes 10,000, while over 117,000 people have been infected

Donald Trump and rival Joe Biden clash over vaccines and masks during a chaotic debate

New York City has announced it will fine people who refuse to wear face masks or coverings

UK PM Boris Johnson will lead a briefing later after the UK recorded the highest number of daily coronavirus cases

A group of senior MPs has warned Johnson it would be "unacceptable" to introduce further restrictions without Parliament's approval

The world has seen more than 33.6m coronavirus cases and 1m deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University

 

[MenInG]

Boris Johnson will lead a briefing later at Downing Street, a day after the UK recorded the highest number of daily coronavirus cases

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock says wherever possible MPs will get a vote on Covid-19 regulations

In an unusually emotional address, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to "continue acting patiently"
Germany has announced measures to limit the size of gatherings and fine those who break tracking rules
Belgium's coronavirus death toll passes 10,000, while over 117,000 people have been infected

Donald Trump and rival Joe Biden clash over vaccines and masks during a chaotic debate

Commons Speaker says UK ministers treat Parliament with contempt by pushing through Covid rules without debate

The world has seen more than 33.6m coronavirus cases and 1m deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University

 

[sweep_shot]

Canada approves new rapid COVID-19 test for use in 'coming weeks': PM

OTTAWA -- Health Canada has approved a new rapid nasal swab for COVID-19, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that "in the coming weeks," Canadians will be able to access the new test that can deliver results within minutes.

"In the coming weeks, the Abbott ID NOW rapid test will be deployed to help Canadians across the country with rapid testing," said Trudeau in response to questioning from Conservative health critic Michelle Rempel Garner about how long it will take to see these new devices on the front lines of the public health crisis.

The new rapid tests will be deployed to the provinces to increase surge capacity and help avoid more backlogs as the pandemic continues to worsen, the prime minister said. The approval was issued under an interim order related to importing devices to be used in the COVID-19 fight.

"From the very beginning, we've worked with all the provincial authorities, all Health Canada experts to ensure that the products we're approving here in Canada are done quickly, but are also safe for Canadians," Trudeau said.

On Wednesday, the federal government announced plans to purchase 7.9 million of these point-of-care tests and 3,800 test analyzing devices from Abbott Rapid Diagnostics, pending Health Canada's sign off.

That approval has now been granted by the federal health agency. It is not the first rapid test to be approved by the regulator, nor is it the first quick test the federal government has procured, but it is the largest to-date.

The deal to procure the new testing devices came amid considerable pressure for the federal government to provide a faster form of testing to address what's become hours-long lineups and days-long waits for results in some cities.

On Tuesday, the federal government published new advice for companies looking to get Health Canada approval for rapid COVID-19 tests, with officials expressing caution about the faster testing options still not being effective enough to be cleared for use in Canada despite them already being implemented in other countries.

“Health Canada is reviewing a range of simpler to use and faster tests. As the regulator, Health Canada is responsible for ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and quality of all tests, which is crucial for disease management,” said Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam. “For example, an underperforming test could result in a high number of false negative results, where people think they aren't infected when they are, leading to unintentional exposures. This is why the review process is so important, and why no corners can be cut.”

The Abbott test was one of approximately a dozen rapid tests awaiting approval by Canada’s federal health agency.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said that Health Canada is aiming to review tests and grant approvals within 40 days of an application, and that as those evaluations continue: "you can anticipate more approvals."

In a statement about the new approval, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he'd also like more information about when these rapid tests will be deployed to where they are needed most, including remote and Indigenous communities and long-term care homes.

"We would expect them to be delivered as quickly as possible. We don’t have a moment to spare as cases continue to rise," Ford said, calling on further approvals of other similar devices. "The more types of tests we have access to the better we are able to identify cases and stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coron...-19-test-for-use-in-coming-weeks-pm-1.5126678.

 

[MenInG]

Summary

A row has erupted over a lockdown in the Spanish capital Madrid after a sharp rise in coronavirus cases

Madrid's regional government did not vote in favour of the restrictions and questions their legality

The growth in cases in England may be slowing down since measures including the "rule of six" were introduced, a study suggests

An MPs' report says "poor communication" with patients from NHS bodies in England has left many "in limbo"

It has emerged that the UK government was warned back in May that its loan scheme for small firms was at "high risk of fraud"

Gatherings of more than 1,000 people will be permitted in Switzerland as the government starts to ease restrictions

Global sports organisations are dialling in for a virtual summit to discuss ways to make sport more sustainable

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: Dutch government ‘urgently advises’ wearing of face masks
After months of resistance to masks, officials give in to pressure from MPs and retailers

Under pressure from MPs, retailers, and even from Donald Trump’s chief virologist, the Dutch government has reversed its firmly held position of the past seven months and has “urgently advised” the wearing of Covid-19 face masks in public places with immediate effect.

The U-turn by prime minister, Mark Rutte and health minister, Hugo de Jonge, comes just 48 hours after the two men introduced new restrictions in an attempt to mitigate a second wave of the virus. Next week the the daily infection rate in the Netherlands is expected to climb above 5,000.

The new measures include a recommendation that masks be worn in shops in the three main cities, Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam – but, surprisingly, the government did not widen that recommendation to the rest of the country or to other public spaces beyond the retail sector.

That decision reignited a controversy over masks that has been simmering since the country’s first coronavirus case on February 27th – with the mayors of the three cities responding within hours that they expected face coverings to be worn in future in all public places in their jurisdictions.

Enforcement
The embarrassment for the government worsened on Tuesday when the retailers’ association said it wasn’t willing to ask staff to enforce the wearing of masks in shops, and called for the introduction of an unambiguous nationwide legal requirement “as in other countries”.

“We’re not going to refuse our customers entry at the door,” said the organisation’s director, Jan Meerman. “One shop may take a tough line and the other may not. That could lead to heated discussions, even aggression.”

Although the WHO recommended the use of masks in June, the Netherlands and Sweden have been among a handful of countries resisting that advice, with the head of infectious diseases at the Dutch public health institute maintaining there was no proof of their effectiveness.

Asked about that view on Dutch TV on Tuesday evening, US president Donald Trump’s chief virologist, Dr Anthony Fauci, replied: “I would simply ask him to look at the data. Wearing masks is as important as keeping physical distance and avoiding crowds.”

In a parliamentary debate on the government’s Covid-19 strategy on Wednesday, a clear majority of MPs supported wearing masks in public.

Accepting that revolt from his own backbenches, Mr Rutte announced: “We are giving the whole of the Netherlands some clear urgent advice: from now on, wear a non-medical mouth-and-nose mask in all public spaces.”

Source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/wor...ently-advises-wearing-of-face-masks-1.4369599.

 

[sweep_shot]

Italy tops 2,000 daily coronavirus cases for first time since April -health ministry

ROME — Italy has registered 2,548 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Thursday, the first time the country has exceeded 2,000 cases in a single day since the end of April.

There were also 24 COVID-related deaths on Thursday against 19 the day before — far fewer than at the height of the pandemic in Italy in March and April.

Italy was the first country in Europe to be slammed by COVID-19 and has the highest death toll on the continent, with 35,918 dying since the outbreak flared in February. It has also registered 317,409 cases.

Thanks to one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, the government managed to get the contagion under control by the summer.

Cases have slowly picked up over the past two months, however there are still far fewer daily infections in Italy than elsewhere in Europe, with France, Spain and Britain all registering thousands more cases per day.

The last time Italy recorded more than 2,000 cases was April 29, with 2,086 infections reported just a few weeks before the government allowed restaurants, bars and shops to reopen. On that same day, some 323 people died. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer)

Source: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health...es-for-first-time-since-april-health-ministry.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pandemic could drag on even if a vaccine is found, report warns

TORONTO -- Even if a COVID-19 vaccine is found soon, it could still take a while for life to return to normal, according to new research from the United Kingdom that highlights a series of potential problems that could prolong the pandemic.

The report, issued by the Royal Society, a scientific body in the U.K., delves into the timeline of vaccine production and serves as a reality check on a series of “enormous” problems researchers predict in terms of making and delivering the potentially life-saving doses.

It will take time for researchers to determine whether or not a vaccine candidate offers long-term protection, and long-term studies will be necessary to confirm whether the vaccine actually lasts, or if additional doses or boosters are needed.

“Few vaccines give lifelong protection following a single dose,” researchers point out in their report, published Thursday.

Scientists racing to find a vaccine will also need to carefully study safety, and it’s possible that cases of harmful side effects could emerge and potentially cast public doubt on the vaccine. Those cases could also become fodder for anti-vaxxer groups who already oppose the vaccine, and researchers say “clear messaging to target groups” will be necessary to ensure public trust.

“Rare adverse events or limited effectiveness in the field may only come to light when very large numbers of people are vaccinated,” researchers wrote.

Hundreds of vaccine candidates are being tested globally, and at least nine have reached stage three, meaning they’re in the final step as scientists study whether the vaccines can stop the virus from infecting the body.

And while researchers with the Royal Society say it’s possible that a successful vaccine could be available as soon as next spring, they describe these vaccines as “the first generation” and warn that they may be “suboptimal.”

It’s also possible that, due to incredible demand and various global outbreaks, certain countries could be prioritized over others in the beginning.

When a vaccine is deemed safe and effective, manufacturers will need to rapidly scale up production capacities to meet international demand. Such a feat won’t be achieved overnight, and it’s possible that only certain groups will be supplied the vaccine to start. At the same time, manufacturing will still need to meet demand for other vaccines.

What the vaccine is actually made of will come into play, and the scale of manufacturing will depend on the ingredients involved, the number of doses needed and how long it takes to make.

"Production may be limited by supply chains of materials and delivery systems,” researchers wrote.

THE BIGGEST BOTTLENECK
Even after a vaccine is ready to go and manufacturing is meeting unprecedented demands, researchers say the most important hurdle could come as health-care workers try to administer the vaccine to the general population. They say the solution will require an all-hands-on-deck approach.

“To address this administration challenge, additional staff will need to be trained (e.g. pharmacists, midwives, physiotherapists, dentists and vets) to immunise the population rapidly and safely,” researchers wrote.

Accounting for existing health care inequalities will be important when delivering the vaccine to marginalized groups, researchers say. Other studies have suggested that racialized groups in the U.S. and the U.K., particularly the Black community, are more likely than white people to become infected and suffer severe consequences of the virus. A new report from the University of Toronto suggests that Indigenous, Black and South Asian Canadians are significantly more at risk than white Canadians of having multiple pre-existing conditions that put them at greater risk of complications or death from COVID-19.

Because of this, researchers say officials must be clear which groups are being prioritized to receive the vaccine earlier than others and why.

“There should be public dialogue and engagement to manage expectations and understanding of vaccine effectiveness, safety, side effects, availability and access,” they wrote.

Little is known about when a vaccine will be ready. A new survey of 28 experts in vaccinology led by researchers at the University of McGill found that most experts believe it’s unlikely that a vaccine will be ready by early 2021, as some U.S. officials have predicted. Instead, they say the summer of 2021 is the earliest “best case scenario,” while others believe it will take until 2022.

Similar to the Royal Society report, the researchers agreed that there could be some false starts before a successful vaccine is found.

“The experts we surveyed believe that there is a 1 in 3 chance that the vaccine will receive a safety warning label after approval, and a 4 in 10 chance that the first large field study will not report efficacy,” said postdoctoral fellow Patrick Kane, the report’s lead author, in a statement.

Canada’s second wave of COVID-19 has already begun, a trend that researchers and public health authorities have been predicting for months. As of Thursday, more than 160,000 people in Canada have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 9.318 have died.

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coron...-if-a-vaccine-is-found-report-warns-1.5129172.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: Spain imposes partial lockdown on defiant Madrid

More than three million people in Madrid have had new restrictions imposed on their lives as Spain tries to control the most serious second wave of Covid-19 infections in Europe.

From this weekend, people can travel outside their home districts for essential journeys only.

Bars and restaurants cannot serve after 22:00. And a maximum of six people are permitted to meet in any setting.

The measures have been demanded by Spain's federal government.

They also take effect in nine towns around the capital.

The restrictions have been resisted by Madrid's city authorities, which tried to use the courts to block their imposition. Madrid's justice minister said it would cost the capital's economy €8bn (£7bn) and regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso tweeted: "Thanks for the chaos, [Prime Minister] Pedro Sánchez."

Why Spain has ordered new measures
Signs of the second wave of Covid-19 infections now breaking over Spain can be seen at the emergency admission unit of the 12 de Octubre hospital, one of the biggest in Madrid.

Every hour ambulances arrive with new patients.

Some of the sick are helped into wheelchairs; others, already needing oxygen, have to be stretchered in by medical staff wearing full protective gear.

A red warning signal indicating the seriousness of Spain's predicament is that, at many hospitals across Madrid, existing intensive care units (ICU) are again full with Covid-19 patients.

Hospitals are having to use overflow capacity prepared at the height of the pandemic, including beds usually reserved for burns patients and for post-operative recovery.

At La Paz Hospital, another of Madrid's biggest, all 30 ICU critical care beds are occupied.

"There are more patients than we can attend in critical care units," says Juan José Río, Medical Director at La Paz.

"Psychologically it's the worst thing because all the staff here are afraid that the tsunami will come again."

Some 10,000 new Covid-19 cases are now being identified in Spain each day. On Friday, there were 11,325 new infections and 113 deaths.

Around one in four of all tests being done have been coming back positive, another warning signal about the prevalence of the virus.

Miguel Hernán, an epidemiologist from Harvard University in the US, advised Spain on its first lockdown. He says the country appears to have lifted that lockdown too fast and then reacted too slowly to curb the new rise in infections.

It means Spain's health service is again approaching saturation.

"The ICU beds are our last line of defence," he says. "Once those beds become full, countries are left with very few options other than a lockdown, even if it's a light one."

The new wave is likely to be lower than the first, the epidemiologist tells me, as long as people wear masks and practise social distancing.

One study earlier in the summer indicated that at least 11% of people in Madrid had already been infected by Covid-19.

That would provide some background immunity to help restrict the spread.

'They didn't control it'
But over the past two weeks around 700 people out of every 100,000 in Madrid have been infected by Covid-19. By comparison, in the UK the infection rate is roughly 100 per 100,000.

Spain has tried to target infection hotspots with local controls, much as other countries like the UK have done. But it's not clear how effective they've been.

For the past fortnight 200,000 people in the district of Fuenlabrada in the south of Madrid have lived under the restrictions. Now those measures are being expanded across the capital and to other parts of Spain.

Sitting outside a bar in Fuenlabrada, enjoying a last beer just before the 22:00 closing time, Paulino told me he blamed Spain's politicians.

"We all went back to work, crammed into trains, metro, buses," he says. "The infections are back, because they didn't control it."

And his drinking buddy Miguel agrees.

"Trying to stop the spread by closing some neighbourhoods and not others doesn't work. On the other hand, putting all Madrid back into lockdown will be really hard. How are we going to manage if we're all unemployed? I don't know what's worse."

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54383548.

 

[sweep_shot]

Toronto's top public health official wants indoor dining banned and residents to remain home other than for 'essential trips'

Toronto’s top public health official is asking the province to bring back some of the lockdown measures that were in place this past spring, such as a ban on indoor dining, while at the same time urging residents to do their part by only leaving their homes for “essential trips.”

Dr. Eileen de Villa wrote an open letter to Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams on Friday requesting a series of new restrictions that would be in place for the next 28 days and would essentially return Toronto to something more closely resembling the lockdown that was in place in the spring.

The recommendations made by de Villa in the letter include the suspension of indoor dining at bars and restaurants as well as the cancellation of all group fitness classes and sports activities that take place indoors.

She is also recommending that “people only leave their homes for essential activities, such as work, education, exercise and fitness, healthcare appointments and the purchase of food.”

“Without quick action to implement further public health measures there is an acute risk that the virus will continue to spread widely, stressing the healthcare system and further straining Toronto’s economy,” de Villa said during a briefing at Toronto City Hall on Friday afternoon. “These numbers won’t reverse on their own. They won’t reverse themselves. It will only increase without action. This is the threat we face and this is why I am asking the province for support to do more.”

Toronto’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases stood at 40 at the beginning of September but has risen rapidly since then and is now 236, a near six-fold increase.

Alarmingly, the city has also seen the virus slowly permeate long-term care homes once again with the number of active outbreaks in those settings rising from two to nine over the last three weeks.

Speaking with reporters, de Villa conceded that the measures she is proposing are significant but she said that they are intended to help the city “prevent the conditions that would force a large scale lockdown” like the one we saw in the spring.

The problem, she said, is that she doesn’t have the legal authority to unilaterally impose the sort of sweeping restrictions she is proposing. That is why she is asking the province to either do so itself or amend her legislative authority so that she can act.

“We looked at every possible avenue, we looked at every imaginable way so we can take these measures and take the steps,” she said. “If I had the power to do this I would have done it.

City has traced an increasing number of outbreaks back to bars and restaurants

In her letter to Williams, de Villa details several troubling aspects of the resurgence of the virus in Toronto, including 18 outbreaks that were traced back to bars, restaurants and entertainment venues over a one-week period in late September.

She said that the city’s reproductive number has also crept up to between 1.2 and 1.4, pointing to increased community spread.

Speaking with reporters earlier on Friday afternoon, Williams acknowledged receiving de Villa’s letter but was non-committal regarding the request.

“She felt she has the data to back that up with the restaurants and bars and she has seen some (infections) with group activities in event centres, such as gymnasiums as well as in some sports groups, which we haven’t seen yet in the rest of the province,” he said, noting that he has requested additional data from the city. “One of our challenges is that we don’t see the same thing across the province.”

Tory calls measures ‘strong medicine’

De Villa said that conversations between her office and provincial officials are “ongoing” and that her hope remains that the measures can be implemented “as soon as possible.”

Mayor John Tory also expressed his full support for the new restrictions during Monday’s briefing, echoing de Villa’s warnings that a failure to act could mean that the city will eventually have to enact measures that are “much worse and longer lasting.”

“This is strong medicine and I know that it will be bitter for the businesses directly impacted but now the resurgence is here and our doctor has issued a prescription that we must follow,” he said.

Source: https://www.cp24.com/news/toronto-s...home-other-than-for-essential-trips-1.5130333.

 

[sweep_shot]

Italy resists second wave of coronavirus

Italy had one of the highest COVID-19 death tolls in Europe when the pandemic broke out. But while the number of cases is rising across the continent, the country so far seems to be avoiding a second wave.

Fatima Negrini was born in 1912, two years before WWI broke out. She has just celebrated her 108th birthday and so far she has survived COVID-19, which has taken the lives of 38,000 of her compatriots. She tested positive in April, though she didn't show any symptoms. "I have basically always been a strong and healthy woman," she said from the San Faustino care home in Milan.

Negrini said God must have forgotten her: "He didn't call me to him. I've still got some good deeds to do, even though I'm in a wheelchair."

"My family is also well," she added, explaining that her sons, who are 79, 88 and 89 years old, were also healthy — as were her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

But the lockdown earlier this year was tough, Negrini recalled, because her family could not visit. "That was terrible."

'Italians are taking the measures seriously'
The strict measures put in place earlier this year to curb the spread of the virus have since been eased. People can move around freely, though they do have to wear masks in buildings and on the streets between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in crowded areas. People's temperatures are measured before they are allowed to enter a restaurant, but they are not obliged to leave their names and telephone numbers, which is done in Germany to assist with contact tracing.

Compared to France and Spain, the rate of infection in Italy remains relatively low and does not seem to be rising rapidly. On Wednesday, the daily number of new infections was 1,851. Hospitals are not overwhelmed, and there are only a few COVID-19 patients in intensive care. The COVID-19 fatality rate also remains low.

"We haven't yet started to experience a second wave," said Maria Rita Gismondo, who runs the COVID-19 lab at the Luigi Sacco University Hospital in Milan. She thinks that one reason Italy is faring better than its neighbors is that Italians learned from the high death rates in March and April.

"We needed a month before we understood what was going on and figured out how the virus was spreading," she told DW. "The psychological effect is very important. In the first phase, people panicked about getting infected. They stopped seeing other people entirely. Now people are feeling better and more secure, because we know that we can keep the situation under control."

She added that now there is more testing, greater routine and better treatment methods. Whereas in April the clinic had 120 patients in intensive care, now there are only five.

From what Gismondo has observed, people in Milan and Lombardy seem to be adhearing to the rules: wearing masks, washing their hands and maintaining social distance. "I think that the Italians are taking the measures seriously, and that's why we have this relatively good situation at the moment," Gismondo said.

'We can cope if we stick to the rules'
Even though it is not compulsory, many people in Milan are wearing masks. Scenes of students and young people partying on the streets are rare. Police patrol the square in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, a popular gathering place for young people. There is also an amplified police presence in front of Milan's famous cathedral, where only small groups are gathered.

"We know that we can cope if we stick to the rules," volunteer paramedic Vanda Gatti said. At the start of the pandemic, Gatti worked 12-hour shifts alongside her job as a commucations advisor and transported patient after patient with COVID-19 to the hospital. "We had a traumatic experience. It was like a tsunami. Now we're more cautious."

However, Gatti said she was worried that people in southern Italy were taking fewer precautions than those in Lombardy, which saw half of the nation's deaths.

The "Cimitero Maggiore di Milano," Milan's largest cemetery, which is not far from the university hospital, is a warning of what could happen if people are not cautious. One section, "Campo 87," contains the graves of 125 unknown people who were buried in a hurry during the initial phase of the pandemic; either the relatives of the deceased could not be found, or they were unable to organize funerals because they themselves were ill or in quarantine.

Italy's pandemic laws prevents the burried individuals from being relocated for at least two years. The city is currently deliberating whether to turn the space into a permanent monument to commemorate the victims of COVID-19.

Fears over another lockdown
Italian authorities want to avoid having to impose a second lockdown that would restrict people's autonomy and freeze economic activity. They also want to keep schools open. To this end, schools are being equiped with rapid COVID-19 tests that provide results within 15 minutes. This should hopefully prevent whole classes and teachers, as well as their family members, from being forced to quarantine.

"A new lockdown would mean having to be locked up with my family again and doing homework all day," "Anything but being locked up again,"

His 14-year-old sister Vittoria says that most of her schoolmates share the same fear and that's why they're doing they best to stick to the rules even if it is not easy. During the lockdown, she had to take her exams via video link and she even changed school "It was particularly difficult because I couldn't get to know the other pupils," she recalls but now she has made friends with whom she cycles and plays games outside.

The children's mother Elena di Mauro Morando is herself a teacher who had to continue working from home. She does not want another lockdown either and is hoping that the numbers, which she follows on the news each evening, will remain low.

"Everyone should be well again and we will hopefully not have to wear masks," hopes Matteo.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/italy-resists-second-wave-of-coronavirus/a-55127492.

 

[sweep_shot]

Madrid starts partial virus lockdown amid political dispute

Madrid awoke Saturday to its first day under a partial lockdown, with police controlling travel in and out of the Spanish capital as the city and its suburbs have become Europe's biggest hot spot in the second wave of the coronavirus.

Spain's national government ordered two weeks of new restrictions that started at 10 p.m. Friday (2000 GMT) despite reluctance from regional officials.

The measures prohibit all nonessential trips in and out of the capital and nine of its suburbs -- affecting around 4.8 million people. Restaurants must close at 11 p.m. and shops at 10 p.m., and both must limit occupancy to 50% of their capacity.

Spain's Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said the steps were "critical" to stopping virus outbreaks and preventing a repeat of the horrific scenes of March and April, when hospitals were overrun with dying patients.

"Union is the best vaccine against COVID," Sanchez said Saturday.

The new health standards are designed to kick in once a municipality has 500 infections per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days and 30% of the intensive care units are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Even though the measures are light compared with the home confinement mandated across Spain during the first wave of the virus, they have sparked a political battle between Sanchez's left-wing coalition government and the Madrid administration run by a right-wing rival.

The Madrid government led by Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the conservative Popular Party said it would enforce the Spanish government's orders but it also has challenged them in the National Court Ayuso and her regional ministers have said the restrictions will cause "chaos," hurt an already weakened economy and violate their jurisdiction as regional authorities.

Ayuso's message has reached at least some residents who see the issue as having more to do with politics than public health.

"I think we have gone to the extremes," said Angel Davila, a 52-year-old engineer at Atocha train station. "I think that the measures they have put in place aren't correct. They are not based, according to what I have studied, on medical information. It is a political thing now more than anything else."

Health experts, however, have been urging Madrid to take stronger action for weeks, but Madrid Health Chief Enrique Ruiz Escudero argued they were unnecessary.

Rafael Bengoa, the ex-health chief of Spain's Basque Country region and an international consultant who was an advisor for U.S. President Barack Obama's healthcare reform, said the measures that took effect in Madrid on Friday night are lax and late "due to inter-institutional and political disunion."

"The indicators that the national government had to enforce onto the Madrid government yesterday are actually quite generous," Bengoa told The Associated Press. "Most European countries would be in lockdown with the figures and trend Madrid has been having the past weeks."

The Spanish Health Ministry ordered compliance after Madrid refused to accept a set of health metrics to dictate when cities with populations of 100,000 of more need to adopt heavier restrictions to curb the virus.

The measures were approved by a majority of regional health authorities from Spain's 19 regions and autonomous cities, with Madrid in the minority against them.

The government orders only allow people to cross municipal borders to commute for work, for a medical appointment, legal errands, or appointments with a governmental administration.

The region had already applied similar measures to certain areas, and limited social gatherings to a maximum of six people, but the infections kept rising.

"These measures taken should start improving things since they will complement the already obligatory use of face masks and an improved track and trace system," Bengoa said.

Madrid is leading the resurgence of the virus in Spain, which has Europe's highest cumulative caseload -- 770,000 confirmed cases since the onset of the pandemic.

The capital had a two-week infection rate of 695 cases per 100,000 residents Thursday, more than twice the national average of 274 cases and seven times the European average, which stood at 94 per 100,000 residents last week, according to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Over 32,000 people have died from the virus in Spain, according to the Health Ministry. The true death count is likely to be much higher given the lack of testing during the first weeks of the pandemic.

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coron...rus-lockdown-amid-political-dispute-1.5131517.

 

[sweep_shot]

Italy reports over 2,800 new COVID-19 infections
Surge in new cases continues as government plans to extend state of emergency to end of January

ROME

Italy reported 2,844 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Saturday, confirming a surge in infections as swab tests remained steady at over 100,000.

According to the latest data from the country's Health Ministry, 27 people died in the last 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 35,968, while total infections rose to 322,751.

The southern Campania region registered the highest number of new cases at 401, followed by Lombardy at 393.

Meanwhile, the Lazio region, which includes the city of Rome, recently issued a new ordinance that requires citizens to wear masks outdoors as well.

The first region to do so was Campania, where hardline governor Vincenzo De Luca also threatened to shut down business activities again if the number of cases kept surging.

Once the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, Italy saw a constant surge in daily cases after the end of the summer holidays. The government has started mulling new measures to prevent a second wave of contagion, as already seen in other European countries.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte confirmed on Saturday that he would ask parliament to extend the country's state of emergency to the end of January, making it easier for officials to make swift decisions and avoid bureaucratic hurdles.

While a strict nationwide lockdown started to ease in May, Italian schools reopened in mid-September after six months of closure amid worries that the restart of daily activities could spark a new outbreak in the Fall.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/italy-reports-over-2-800-new-covid-19-infections/1994657.

 

[Firebat]

Here’s a summary of the key global coronavirus developments over the last few hours:

Global coronavirus cases are approaching 35 million. As of 4pm (GMT) on Sunday, global infections since the start of the pandemic stood at 34,963,965, according to a John Hopkins University tracker which monitors country’s official statistics.

Nine US states have reported record daily increases in new cases in the last week as cold weather forces more activities indoors. Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin saw record increases in infections on Saturday, while Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming also set new records for cases last week.

New daily cases in Russia have passed 10,000 for the first time since May. On Sunday, the country’s coronavirus crisis centre reported 10,499 new infections – the biggest daily tally since 15 May, when the outbreak was at its peak and lockdowns were in place.

Nearly 15,000 people in Iran’s capital Tehran have Covid-19 and 15% of them will die, according to World Health Organisation projections. Payam Tabarsi, head of infectious disease at Masih Daneshvari Hospital, who reported the projections, described the figures as a disaster.

The world’s second largest cinema operator, Cineworld, is to shut all of its screens in the US and UK. It comes after the release of the new James Bond film was pushed back for a second time during the pandemic, pushing the already badly-hit industry to the brink.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: Paris to shut bars and raise alert to maximum

Paris will shut all bars completely from Tuesday as the French government raises the city's coronavirus alert to maximum following a sustained period of high infection rates.

Full detail of the new restrictions will be announced on Monday and will last for two weeks, the office of Prime Minister Jean Castex announced.

On Sunday France reported 12,565 cases of Covid-19.

It comes after the city of Marseille closed bars and restaurants last week.

The maximum alert level in France comes into force when the infection rate in a locality exceeds 250 per 100,000 people and at least 30% of intensive care beds are reserved for Covid-19 patients.

"These measures, indispensable in the fight to curb the virus' spread, will apply to Paris and the three departments immediately surrounding it, for a duration of two weeks," the prime minister's office explained.

Restaurants in the city will have to put in place new sanitary arrangements in order to stay open and university lecture halls must be no more than half-full.

But restaurants and bistros that serve food as well as alcohol can stay open, as long as they register contact details from customers and shut their doors at 22:00.

Working from home must be prioritised "now more than ever", the statement said.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin acknowledged that closing bars would be difficult for Parisians. "We are French, we love to drink, to eat, to live, to smile and to kiss each other," he told French TV channel LCI and Europe 1 on Sunday.

On 26 September Marseille, France's second city, closed all bars, restaurants and gyms for two weeks. Public venues including theatres, museums and cinemas have also had to close unless they could introduce strict anti-viral measures.

The measure prompted anger from local officials who said they were not consulted.

France has been struggling to contain a rising rate of infection which started to grow exponentially in late August. On Saturday it reported nearly 17,000 infections, its highest rate since the country started widespread testing.

The government says it doesn't want to order another nationwide lockdown, but will enforce tougher measures in those cities where the virus is concentrated, BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield explains.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54413563.

 

[sweep_shot]

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 73 new cases of the coronavirus, its fifth straight day of below 100, although officials expressed concern that could rise because of increased travel during a five-day holiday period that ended Sunday.

The figures released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Monday brought the national caseload to 24,164, including 422 deaths.

Fifty-one of the new cases were reported from the greater capital area, where health workers have scrambled to stem transmissions tied to various places, including churches, hospitals, schools, restaurants and workplaces. The newest cluster of infections in the region is an army unit in Pocheon, north of capital Seoul, where more than 30 troops have so far tested positive.

The KDCA said nine of the new cases were linked to international arrivals, including passengers from the United States, Poland, Britain, Russia and Uzbekistan.

There’s a possibility that the downward trend in confirmed infections is related to the fewer tests that were conducted during the five-day Chuseok harvest holiday. Health Minister Park Neung-hoo during a virus briefing Monday urged people who experience fever or other symptoms after travelling during the period get tested immediately.

Park said usage of express buses and rail services declined by more than 40% during the holiday break compared to last year as officials pleaded that people stay home to help slow transmissions.

Source: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/latest-navajo-nation-reports-17-051202630.html.

 

[MenInG]

Summary

President Trump is driven past his supporters outside the Walter Reed Medical Center, before returning to hospital

President Trump has been treated with the steroid dexamethasone after oxygen level drops on Friday and Saturday, his doctor says

They said the president was doing well and might be discharged back to the White House on Monday

At least seven people who attended a White House event last week, including the Trumps, have now tested positive

In the UK, a technical glitch which meant nearly 16,000 cases went unreported has caused delays to its track and trace system

All bars in the French capital Paris will shut from Tuesday as the city's coronavirus alert is raised to maximum

There have now been more than 35.1m Covid-19 cases causing more than 1m deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University

 

[Firebat]

Here's a reminder of the top stories from around the world:

Bars in Paris will close for two weeks from tomorrow after the city France raised the city's coronavirus alert to the maximum level amid a spike in cases

Schoolchildren in the Russian capital Moscow will have to stay at home for two weeks and firms have been told to keep at least 30% of staff working from home, as Russia's infection rate reached its highest level since May.

Daily coronavirus infections have reached a record high in Iran, according to new figures from the country's health ministry. A spokesman on Monday said 3,902 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, while the number of deaths reached 235 - equalling the record set on 28 July

Remaining restrictions will be lifted in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, from Wednesday night. The city was the centre of a new cluster in August, but no new cases have been reported in the last 10 days

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro says his son and sister will be among 2,000 volunteers take part in clinical trials for a Russian coronavirus vaccine released in August

 

[sweep_shot]

Getting Rhinovirus Can Build the Immune System's Defenses Against Coronavirus

Medical experts around the world have been researching ways to treat coronavirus as companies develop safe vaccines. Several studies have suggested that forms of the common cold may help the body build up immunity against the current pandemic, including rhinovirus.

A study from Yale University analyzes infection from rhinovirus and the influenza A virus in The Lancet journal Microbe. Getting infected with rhinovirus may equip the immune system to build up defenses against other viruses, and the team is currently researching if it does the same with coronavirus.

Rhinovirus is the most common viral infection that causes the common cold. Symptoms include sore throat, ear infection, sinus infection, and sometimes cause pneumonia.

In the study, Dr. Ellen Foxman and her team analyzed the clinical data of nearly 13,000 patients between 2016 and 2019. The authors wrote that the new pandemic "placed new urgency on examining the underlying mechanisms that influence the epidemic spread of respiratory viruses."

Viral Interference
One possible way of avoiding the spread of coronavirus is viral interference, where the infection of one virus protects against other related or unrelated viruses. From the data shared by Dr. Foxman, only a few people had rhinovirus and the influenza A virus simultaneously.

In the middle of the current flu season, experts do not know if the flu will interact with coronavirus. In the study, when the tissue was first exposed to rhinovirus, it remains uninfected by the influenza virus.

Foxman said that antiviral defenses were already active even before exposure to the flu. The immune system's production of the antiviral agent interferon was on for five days, protecting the tissue against influenza.

She explained that the common cold triggers interferon from cells that line the airway - the same place "where all these viruses need to go to grow," such as the coronavirus and all airborne viruses. The interferon response, Foxman explained, is the general defense mechanism against all viruses, including coronavirus.

Viral Interference
One possible way of avoiding the spread of coronavirus is viral interference, where the infection of one virus protects against other related or unrelated viruses. From the data shared by Dr. Foxman, only a few people had rhinovirus and the influenza A virus simultaneously.

In the middle of the current flu season, experts do not know if the flu will interact with coronavirus. In the study, when the tissue was first exposed to rhinovirus, it remains uninfected by the influenza virus.

Foxman said that antiviral defenses were already active even before exposure to the flu. The immune system's production of the antiviral agent interferon was on for five days, protecting the tissue against influenza.

She explained that the common cold triggers interferon from cells that line the airway - the same place "where all these viruses need to go to grow," such as the coronavirus and all airborne viruses. The interferon response, Foxman explained, is the general defense mechanism against all viruses, including coronavirus.

Source: https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/27581/20201005/rhinovirus-immune-system-coronavirus.htm.

 

[sweep_shot]

Italy’s Gualtieri: Confident about EU’s coronavirus recovery plan coming into force early 2021

Italy's Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said that he is confident that the European Union’s (EU) coronavirus recovery plan will come into force beginning of 2021, in an interview state broadcaster Rai on Monday.

"I am confident the recovery plan will be fully operational at the beginning of 2021, in January in the best-case scenario," Gualtieri said.

Italy is expected to receive EUR209 billion out of the EU's EUR 750 billion fund agreed to support the Euro area economies hit by the pandemic.

Market reaction
The above piece of news failed to inspire the EUR bulls while EUR/USD remains near-daily highs of 1.1750, mainly driven by the risk-on mood-led broad US dollar retreat. Upbeat Eurozone Services PMI and Sentix Investors Confidence data also underpinned the common currency.

Source: https://www.fxstreet.com/news/italy...lan-coming-into-force-early-2021-202010050852.

 

[sweep_shot]

'Long Covid': Why are some people not recovering?

For most people, Covid-19 is a brief and mild disease but some are left struggling with symptoms including lasting fatigue, persistent pain and breathlessness for months.

The condition known as "long Covid" is having a debilitating effect on people's lives, and stories of being left exhausted after even a short walk are now common.

So far, the focus has been on saving lives during the pandemic, but there is now a growing recognition that people are facing long-term consequences of a Covid infection.

Yet even basic questions - such as why people get long Covid or whether everyone will fully recover - are riddled with uncertainty.

What is long Covid?
There is no medical definition or list of symptoms shared by all patients - two people with long Covid can have very different experiences.

However, the most common feature is crippling fatigue.

Others symptoms include: breathlessness, a cough that won't go away, joint pain, muscle aches, hearing and eyesight problems, headaches, loss of smell and taste as well as damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys and gut.

Mental health problems have been reported including depression, anxiety and struggling to think clearly.

It can utterly destroy people's quality of life. "My fatigue was like nothing I've experienced before," said one sufferer Jade Gray-Christie.

Long Covid is not just people taking time to recover from a stay in intensive care. Even people with relatively mild infections can be left with lasting and severe health problems.

"We've got no doubt long Covid exists," Prof David Strain, from the University of Exeter, who is already seeing long-Covid patients at his Chronic Fatigue Syndrome clinic, told the BBC.

How many people are getting it?
A study of 143 people in Rome's biggest hospital, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, followed hospital patients after they were discharged.

It showed 87% had at least one symptom nearly two months later and more than half still had fatigue.

However, such studies focus only on the minority of people who end up needing hospital treatment.

The Covid Symptom Tracker App - used by around 4 million people in the UK - found 12% of people still had symptoms after 30 days. Its latest, unpublished data, suggests as many as one in 50 (2%) of all people infected have long-Covid symptoms after 90 days.

Do you need severe Covid to get long Covid?
It appears not.

Half of people in a study in Dublin still had fatigue 10 weeks after being infected with coronavirus. A third were physically unable to return to work.

Crucially, doctors found no link between the severity of the infection and fatigue.

However, extreme exhaustion is only one symptom of long Covid.

Prof Chris Brightling, from the University of Leicester and the chief investigator in the PHOSP-Covid project which is tracking people's recovery, believes people who developed pneumonia may have more problems because of damage to the lungs.

How is the virus causing long Covid?
There are lots of ideas, but no definitive answers.

The virus may have been cleared from most of the body, but continues to linger in some small pockets.

"If there's long-term diarrhoea then you find the virus in the gut, if there's loss of smell it is in the nerves - so that could be what's causing the problem," says Prof Tim Spector, from King's College London.

The coronavirus can directly infect a wide variety of cells in the body and trigger an overactive immune response which also causes damage throughout the body.

One thought is the immune system does not return to normal after Covid and this causes ill-health.

The infection may also alter how people's organs function. This is most obvious with the lungs if they become scarred - long-term problems have been seen after infection with Sars or Mers, which are both types of coronavirus.

But Covid may also alter people's metabolism. There have been cases of people struggling to control their blood sugar levels after developing diabetes as a result of Covid, and Sars led to changes in the way the body processed fats for at least 12 years.

There are early signs of changes to brain structure, but these are still being investigated. And Covid-19 also does strange things to the blood, including abnormal clotting, and damaging the network of tubes that carry blood around the body.

Prof Strain told the BBC: "The theory I'm working on is a premature ageing of the small blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the tissues." But he warned that until we figure out what is causing long Covid "it is difficult to figure out treatments."

Is this unusual?
Post-viral fatigue or a post-viral cough are well documented and common - we've probably all had an infection that has taken ages to fully recover from.

Around one in 10 people with glandular fever has fatigue which lasts for months. And there have even been suggestions that flu, particularly after the 1918 pandemic, may be linked to Parkinson's-like symptoms.

"With Covid there seem to be more far-reaching symptoms and the number of people seems to be much greater," says Prof Brightling.

The emphasis though is on the word "seems" as until will have a true picture of how many people have been infected we won't know exactly how common these symptoms are, he says.

He told the BBC: "The uniqueness of the way the virus attacks the host and the different ways it then alters the way cells behave seem to be both giving people more severe infection than other viruses and persistent symptoms."

Will people fully recover?
The number of people with long-Covid appears to be falling with time.

However, the virus emerged only at the end of 2019 before going global earlier this year so there is a lack of long-term data.

"We've asked, deliberately, to follow people for 25 years, I certainly hope only a very small number will have problems going beyond a year, but I could be wrong," said Prof Brightling.

However, there are concerns that even if people appear to recover now, they could face lifelong risks.

People who have had chronic fatigue syndrome are more likely to have it again and the concern is that future infections may cause more flare-ups.

"If long Covid follows the same pattern I'd expect some recovery, but if it takes just another coronavirus infection to react then this could be every winter," said Prof Strain.

It is still possible more problems could emerge in the future.

The World Health Organization has warned that widespread inflammation caused by coronavirus could lead to people having heart problems at a much younger age.

What should I do if I think I have long Covid?
The NHS has a "Your Covid Recovery Plan" which has advice, particularly for those who needed hospital treatment.

It recommends the "three Ps" in order to conserve energy:

Pace yourself so you don't push yourself too hard, and make sure you have plenty of rest
Plan your days so your most tiring activities are spread out across the week
Prioritise - think about what you need to do and what can be put off
It advises speaking to either your hospital team or your GP if you are not recovering as quickly as you might expect.

Some have raised concerns that there is not enough support for people with long-Covid.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54296223.

 

[Firebat]

What's happening around the world?

US President Donald Trump has returned to the White House after spending three days receiving hospital treatment for Covid-19

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance to acknowledge the role of airborne transmission in the spread of coronavirus

Iran has seen a new record high in daily cases for the second day in a row. On Monday, the number of deaths in Iran equalled the previous record set in July

As cases continue to rise in many parts of Europe, the WHO has warned of growing apathy, or "pandemic fatigue" across the continent

The news comes as Poland announced a record number of daily fatalities, with 58 deaths in the past 24 hours

Ireland is re-introducing stricter coronavirus measures from Wednesday, including tighter limitations on gatherings and advising people to work from home unless absolutely necessary. However, the measures did not go as far as health officials had advised

Bars and cafés in Paris close for two weeks from today as the city’s coronavirus alert reaches the highest level

 

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Spain confirms 261 COVID deaths, highest sum since May
Health Ministry reports nearly 12,000 additional infections but say Madrid is likely underreporting

OVIEDO, Spain

Spain reported its highest daily surge of new coronavirus deaths since a second wave began, recording 261 fatalities Tuesday to bring the death toll to nearly 32,500.

The Health Ministry confirmed that 3,334 people lost their lives to the infectious disease since Sept 1.

Nearly 12,000 new infections were confirmed since Monday, although authorities suspect cases in Madrid are not capturing the full picture.

Spain’s chief epidemiologist, Fernando Simon, said at a news conference Monday that the capital region has been using antigen tests to diagnose new cases, which are not counted in the official total and there have been increasing delays in reporting.

Likewise, Madrid has stopped using PCR tests on close contacts of confirmed cases.

The tension remains high between the progressive central government and Madrid’s conservative leaders, with Madrid Premier Isabel Ayuso tweeting Tuesday “when the data was positive in July, it was suspicious. When numbers got worse, they were credible, but not anymore now that they are beginning to improve. Instead of being responsible they opt for a message of fear against Madrid.”

Elsewhere in Spain, the southern region of Andalusia reported its highest number of cases during the second wave Tuesday with nearly 1,800 daily cases.

In Valencia, at least 131 university students tested positive after a massive party in a student’s residence, which authorities are now investigating. The university, with around 25,000 students, has had to temporarily switch to online education.

In Catalonia, an outbreak at a poultry company with more than 230 infections has led three towns in Tarragona to announce stricter measures and officials have asked residents to stay home.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-...61-covid-deaths-highest-sum-since-may/1997968.

 

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Italy to extend coronavirus emergency until January 31

Rome [Italy], October 6 (ANI/Sputnik): The Italian government will extend the state of COVID-19 emergency until January 31 next year, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Tuesday.

The country initially introduced the emergency on January 31, after first COVID-19 cases among foreign tourists were detected. Under the emergency, the cabinet is not bound to seek parliamentary approval to make key decisions on COVID-19 response, triggering dismay from the opposition.

"Our course should be prudence and caution. Therefore, I believe that the government's choice to extend the emergency situation until January 31 is right. I believe that this fully corresponds to the epidemiological period that we are experiencing," Speranza told the upper house.

Earlier in the day, Speranza also addressed the lower house to present a government decree on COVID-19 measures, which is set to be approved on Wednesday. The minister, in particular, offered to make wearing face masks outdoors obligatory.

Italy has so far confirmed more than 327,000 COVID-19 cases, including over 233,000 recoveries and 36,002 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. (ANI/Sputnik)

Source: https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/266611064/italy-to-extend-coronavirus-emergency-until-january-31.

 

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Summary

Covid-19 patients are taking up more than 40% of intensive care beds in the Paris region, regional health officials say

France is seeing cases rise exponentially and other European countries such as Poland have registered record new infections

Scotland is set to announce new restrictions but this is not expected to be a second lockdown

Democrat Joe Biden says the next presidential debate on 15 October should not take place if the president still has Covid-19

Stephen Miller is the latest White House adviser to test positive, along with a top military official

More than 1 million people have died and 35.8 million people have caught Covid-19 around the world, according to Johns Hopkins University

 

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Paris not far from emergency measures as beds fill up

Doctors have begun pointing out a worrying rise in the number of critical beds dedicated to Covid patients in the French capital.

The 30% threshold helped tip Paris into a state of “maximum alert” on Monday - with the resultant closure of bars and cafes.

But on Tuesday the regional health agency for the Île-de-France (Paris and its inner suburbs) reported that the number of Covid sufferers in critical beds in the region had reached 449 - which equals just over 40% of available beds.

Worse, the agency predicted that in the next two weeks the proportion will go up to 50%, as the growing rate of infections translates into more hospitalisations.

The renowned Pasteur Institute even calculated that on current rates of increase, by the end of October all critical beds in the Île-de-France would be occupied by Covid cases.

That was before the extra health measures in Paris kicked in on Monday, so nothing is inevitable. However, what is undeniable is that patients with other critical conditions are already either being deferred treatment or moved to other hospitals outside the Paris region.

Under France’s classification system, there is a single benchmark for shifting a region from “maximum alert” into a state of health emergency. This is when 60% of its critical beds are occupied by Covid victims.

Not so far off then. And among measures that can then be implemented is another confinement of the population.

 

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Italy orders COVID-19 testing on travelers from UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic

MILAN — Italy will make testing for COVID-19 compulsory for people traveling from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Wednesday, following growing concerns about rising cases across Europe.

“Infection data are growing across all of Europe and in Italy too,” Speranza wrote on Facebook.

“I’ve signed an order which makes coronavirus testing compulsory for travelers from Belgium, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Czech Republic,” he said. (Reporting by Elvira Pollina Editing by Chris Reese)

Source: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health...rs-from-uk-belgium-netherlands-czech-republic.

 

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Netherlands has shortage of Covid medicine Remdesivir
Dutch hospitals are currently unable to order virus inhibitor Remdesivir, used to treat the coronavirus. The last available doses were sent out on Sunday, public health institute RIVM and the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports said to Financieele Dagblad.

A spokesperson for the Ministry called the current shortage "very annoying". The Netherlands has been in talks about this with the European Commission for weeks, according to the newspaper. The EU purchases Remdesivir centrally and arranges distribution among the EU member states .

The RIVM and Ministry could not tell FD whether other European countries are also facing a shortage.

Last month, Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health said that the Netherlands' healthcare system was well prepared for the second wave of coronavirus infections, specifically mentioning that it was well stocked with Remdesivir.

Doctors are not yet alarmed by the shortage, according to FD. Mark de Boer, internist-infectiologist at LUMC who is involved in drawing up treatment guidelines for coronavirus patients, called the shortage "unpleasant" but "not a disaster".

Remdesivir was originally created to treat Ebola. In June, the European drug authorities approved the medicine for coronavirus patients hospitalized with breathing problems. On average, they recover faster after being given Remdesivir.

The studies on how effective the virus inhibitor is on Covid-19 patients are divided. According to Diederik Gommers, head of the Dutch association for intensive care NVIC, about half of the studies are positive and the other half show no difference with the control group. "Because the drug is not harmful, it is still given," he said, according to NOS.

Source: https://nltimes.nl/2020/10/06/netherlands-shortage-covid-medicine-remdesivir.

 

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Italy makes face masks mandatory outdoors as coronavirus cases climb

ROME — Italy on Wednesday made it mandatory to wear face masks outdoors nationwide in an effort to reduce rising COVID-19 infections, the health ministry said after the cabinet agreed on the measure.

After curbing the epidemic by imposing a rigid lockdown between March and May, Italy has seen a steady increase in new cases in the last two months, reporting an average of more than 2,400 infections daily in the past week, a Reuters tally shows.

The decree imposing masks outdoors will probably be effective from Thursday, a government source said.

Several Italian regions including Lazio, around the capital Rome, have already made face masks mandatory.

Italy has the highest death toll in continental Europe with over 36,000 confirmed fatalities since its outbreak came to light on Feb. 21.

However, its daily infection numbers are now much lower than those recorded in other major European countries such as France, Spain and Britain.

The cabinet also approved a decree to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency to Jan.31.

The state of emergency, originally due to expire in mid-October, gives greater powers to central government, making it easier for officials to bypass the bureaucracy that smothers much decision-making in Italy.

Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/7383094/coronavirus-italy-face-masks-outdoors/.

 

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Covid: Brazil's coronavirus cases pass five million

Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Brazil have passed five million, with deaths in the country approaching 150,000, officials say.

Brazil's health ministry reported 31,553 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total infections to 5,000,694.

The country is the third worst hit for infections, after the US and India.

President Jair Bolsonaro has been accused of downplaying the risks of the virus throughout the pandemic, ignoring expert advice on restrictive measures.

Mr Bolsonaro has rejected criticism of his handling of the pandemic, but his decision to oppose lockdowns and focus on the economy has been hugely divisive.

On Tuesday, Brazil recorded 734 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 148,228, the ministry said.

Brazil has the highest number of deaths in Latin America.

The state of São Paulo has been the worst hit, with around 36,000 deaths, followed by Rio de Janeiro, with about 19,000.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54447346.

 

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Germany faces 'uncontrolled' coronavirus spread as cases jump

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germans face a “test of character” to contain a surge in the number of coronavirus cases, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Thursday after the biggest rise in new daily cases since April.

Warning people they must stick to distancing and hygiene rules to ensure the situation does not spiral out of control as winter approaches, he pointed the finger at young people.

“We are at an autumn milestone,” said Spahn. “We must not lose control ... this is a test of character for our society”.

Germany has so far managed to keep the number of cases and deaths lower than many of its neighbours but the number of new daily coronavirus cases leapt by almost half, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) showed on Thursday.

Warning people they must stick to distancing and hygiene rules to ensure the situation does not spiral out of control as winter approaches, he pointed the finger at young people.

“We are at an autumn milestone,” said Spahn. “We must not lose control ... this is a test of character for our society”.

Germany has so far managed to keep the number of cases and deaths lower than many of its neighbours but the number of new daily coronavirus cases leapt by almost half, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) showed on Thursday.

This week, ministers agreed emergency measures to clamp down on domestic tourism to try to contain a second wave. Berlin, known for a thriving party scene, and financial hub Frankfurt have imposed a curfew on evening entertainment.

With colder weather driving people indoors, new cases have spiralled in Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

Earlier, RKI data showed the number of daily coronavirus cases increased by 4,058 to 310,144, RKI data showed with the reported death toll up by 16 to 9,578.

“It’s possible we will see more than 10,000 new cases a day and that the virus will spread uncontrolled,” said RKI head Lothar Wieler, adding only 8% of cases were imported from abroad.

Germany has reported a total of 310,144 coronavirus cases, with a death toll of 9,578, according to the RKI.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...oronavirus-spread-as-cases-jump-idUSKBN26T0D3

 

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Netherlands coronavirus cases soar by another 5,831; Covid hospital admissions jump
The Netherlands registered 5,831 new cases of people becoming infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus on Thursday, early data from the RIVM showed. The health institute's data far surpassed the previous record of 4,996 set just a day earlier, with Thursday's tally over 53 percent higher than a week ago.

Since Monday roughly 19,956 tested positive for the virus, surpassing the total for the entire month of August by 2,500. This week, new infections have risen by 60 percent more than at this point last week.

Less than two weeks ago, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge predicted over 5,000 new infections on a daily basis, at least until the most recent social restrictions and face mask advisories have a chance to impact the spread of the virus. To date, 155,810 have tested positive for the infection since the end of February, with 70 percent of those diagnosed since June 1 when testing opened up to the general public

The three cities with the most infections on Thursday were Amsterdam (445), Rotterdam (424) and The Hague (317). They showed increases over last Thursday of 29, 53 and 40 percent, respectively.

Thirteen more deaths were also attributed to Covid-19, raising the total number of deaths in the Netherlands to 6,531. The data also showed that 50 more people were confirmed as having been hospitalized for Covid-19, for a total of 13,133 since the end of February.

Covid-19 patient total hits 1,070; Netherlands looks to Germany for help
Dutch hospitals were treating 1,070 people for Covid-19 on Thursday, an increase of 49. The current admission level was 55 percent higher than one week earlier, and showed the most being treated for the coronavirus disease at any given time since May 22.

The day's hospital total included 228 patients in intensive care, an increase of 18, and 842 outside of intensive care, 31 more than on Wednesday, according to patient coordination office LCPS. New hospital admissions have increased at an average of 6.5 percent for each of the past seven days, a trend which, unabated, could give the Netherlands a coronavirus patient total of 1,660 by next Thursday.

Hospital admissions for Covid-19 have risen steadily since July 30, when just 80 people were being treated for Covid-19. The exponential increase prompted Medical Care Minister Tamara van Ark to again ask for Germany's help in treating patients from the Netherlands in intensive care.

Germany assisted the Netherlands with ICU care for Covid-19 patients between March and June. Over the past few days, ten German hospitals have agreed to reserve 44 intensive care spaces for patients from the Netherlands, a figure which could grow to 200 by the end of the week, said Karl-Josef Laumann, ICU coordinator for the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which borders Gelderland and Limburg.

As of late February the intensive care system of both countries treated 3,490 residents of the Netherlands. That figure includes 940 patients who died in the ICU, and 2,145 who were released from hospitals, according to nonprofit organization NICE.

Source: https://nltimes.nl/2020/10/08/nethe...r-another-5831-covid-hospital-admissions-jump.

 

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Brazil strains at quarantine as virus cases pass 5 million

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Dozens of people converged on the cobblestone streets of downtown Rio de Janeiro for its traditional Pedra do Sal samba party -- the first since the pandemic began -- and it seemed Brazil was returning to normal.

Among those dancing Monday were Luana Jatoba and two friends, all of whom overcame COVID-19. As a nurse technician caring for coronavirus patients, she knows better than most that occupancy rates at Rio's intensive-care units have surged as the city's seven-day average number of cases reaches its highest level since June.

But, she said, everyone is desperate for a respite from the gloom.

"We take care of the people who are sick with COVID, but something that isn't discussed is that there's a very serious disease all over the world, which is depression," said Jatoba. "After confinement, this samba circle is really to rescue those who felt downbeat and were oppressed. It's not just the virus that kills."

Brazilians, like many across the world, are burned out on quarantine. The somewhat slower pace of COVID-19's spread, combined with less media coverage after it moved beyond Brazil's two biggest cities, has helped people put the disease out of mind. But it continues to rip through Latin America's largest country, and mayors -- many of whom aren't keen to keep restrictions in place ahead of November elections -- are reopening their cities.

And experts are warning of a possible second wave.

At its height, Brazil was registering more than 45,000 cases and 1,000 deaths per day. Those totals took the shape of a months-long plateau, unlike most other countries whose viral curves had defined peaks. While Brazil's figures have fallen to about 27,000 cases and 700 deaths daily -- significant improvement, clearly -- it's still nothing to sneeze at.

Brazil surpassed 5 million confirmed cases on Wednesday night and is verging on 150,000 dead, the second-most in the world, according to the tally from Johns Hopkins University.

"People thought it unacceptable that 1,000 people were dying every day two months ago, and now they are fine with 700 people dying every day. It simply doesn't make any sense," said Pedro Hallal, an epidemiologist who co-ordinates the Federal University of Pelotas' testing program, by far the country's most comprehensive. "We can say the worst part of the first wave is done, and now obviously we need to continue to be monitoring to see if numbers go up again."

Hallal added that a second wave of infections is unlikely this year, because of how long Brazil's crest lasted, but that tens of millions remain susceptible. As such, a second wave is "very likely" in 2021, he said.

The University of Miami's observatory for COVID-19 in the Americas indicates that, at Brazil's state level, the number of policies adopted to counter infection have fallen to the third-lowest in the region, behind Nicaragua, which declined to muster any meaningful response, and Uruguay, where virus incidence is among the world's lowest.

The phenomenon is visible in Brazil's cities, too, as campaigning mayors allow bars, restaurants and movie theatres to reopen, encouraging people to emerge from quarantine. Brazil's statistics institute released data last week showing that the percentage of people in strict isolation or leaving home only when necessary dropped to 57% in mid-September, from 68% in early July.

"Mayors running for reelection have no interest in imposing any kind of lockdown or restrictions," said Miguel Lago, executive director of Brazil's Institute for Health Policy Studies, which advises public health officials. Their incentive now is to roll back pandemic measures, he added.

Limitations that ostensibly remain are often ignored. For example, Rio's beaches have been packed on recent weekends, despite the fact sunbathing remains prohibited.

"In the Brazilian tradition, there are laws that stick and others that don't," Alvaro Costa e Silva, a columnist for Brazil's biggest newspaper, Folha de S.Paulo, wrote this week. "To maintain what today is considered mental health, filling beaches and gathering in bars became a tolerated compulsion in Rio."

As shops and some offices reopen in Sao Paulo, traffic jams in South America's biggest city have started making a comeback. By mid-September, mobility across Brazil had returned to normal levels, according to the University of Miami's COVID-19 observatory, based on GPS data from Google.

In Amazonas state, where early on the pandemic slammed the capital, Manaus, and forced cemeteries to dig mass graves, mobility was 24% above pre-pandemic levels. A fresh surge of cases prompted local authorities in late September to reinstate restrictions on commerce and gatherings, and to shut down the riverside beachfront.

"I wouldn't recommend governments to relax further; there's still room for big spikes based on people moving around and not wearing masks," said Michael Touchton, a political science professor at the University of Miami, and co-founder of its observatory. "A second peak is still quite possible in Brazil."

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the severity of COVID-19 from the start, and insisted that shutting down economies will inflict worse hardship on working-class families than the disease. He told the United Nations General Assembly last month that the virus and joblessness were problems that needed solving simultaneously, and touted emergency cash payouts that helped 65 million Brazilians through the downturn.

But his government hasn't implemented a comprehensive national testing policy to identify cases swiftly and prevent their spread, nor shown any sign it intends to, according to Hallal. On the contrary, the Health Ministry yanked financing of his university's testing program in 133 cities after its third phase, forcing him to seek private funding for its fourth and upcoming fifth phases.

Results from the most recent phase, conducted in late August, found an average 1.4% infection rate in 33,250 people, down from 3.8% in June. While the rate was just 0.8% in Rio and Sao Paulo, 23 cities -- almost all in Brazil's north and northeast -- had triple that level or more.

"The population is behaving like the pandemic has been controlled, which isn't true," said Margareth Dalcolmo, a respiratory medicine professor at the state-funded Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, who is also lead researcher for one of several vaccine studies in Brazil. "The official discourse, versus the pressure from business and mayors to reopen everything, leaves people confused about what recommendations to follow. That's a big challenge in Brazil."

Back at the samba party in Rio, partygoers showed they still remember how to quickstep without spilling their plastic cups of beer. A couple danced cheek to cheek. The percussionists striking their drums and tambourine wore masks, but few spectators followed their lead.

Still, one of the event's organizers, Jeferson dos Santos, celebrated the return of the longed-for rhythm.

"Today we have the first wave of samba, all the musicians are wearing their masks, all playing and respecting World Health Organization norms," dos Santos said. "We hope everything goes right, with God's will. We're in that positive vibe."

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coron...ntine-as-virus-cases-pass-5-million-1.5138179.

 

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Headlines:

A number of European nations see record jumps in new daily cases as the continent is hit by "a second wave"

In Spain, the government orders a 15-day state of emergency in the Madrid region - a move opposed by the regional authorities

Four more French cities are preparing to shut bars and restaurants on Saturday

China joins a World Health Organization-backed global initiative in a "vaccine diplomacy" push

US President Donald Trump is ready to return to public duties at the weekend, his doctor says

India reports more than 70,000 new daily cases

 

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Nepal warns of healthcare crisis as coronavirus infections cross 100,000

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal’s total coronavirus infections passed 100,000 on Friday, the health ministry said, and are rising at a faster rate than both Pakistan and Bangladesh which have far larger populations.

The country of 30 million people wedged between China and India has reported 100,676 total cases of coronavirus and 600 deaths. On Friday it reported 2,059 new daily cases and ten deaths after performing 13,279 tests, according to official data.

The number of new infections per day has been consistently increasing and are second only to India in the South Asia region, according to a Reuters tally.

Nepal's biggest city of Kathmandu and its surrounding areas account for more than one third of all infections, and authorities said cases were on the verge of slipping out of control.

"If the infections in the Kathmandu valley continue to increase at this rate hospitals will not be able to support the burden," health ministry spokesman Jageshwar Gautam said.

He said there were 181 intensive care units and 76 ventilators in Kathmandu and neighbouring cities of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur with four million people. Less than half were occupied now, he said.

But patients interviewed by local media said ICU beds were hard to find and some hospitals were refusing to admit the COVID-19 patients.

Nepal enforced strict lockdown measures after its second positive case in March and infections were below many South Asian neighbours, with Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli playing down the risks. Cases increased exponentially after the government began to ease restrictive measures in June to prop up its faltering economy.

Experts also say the government failed to enforce strict protocols – wearing masks, individual distancing and sanitation – and failed to keep those suspected of having the virus under strict supervision.

"In absence of proper monitoring of home quarantines, infected people moved freely to mingle with crowds and spread the virus," said Rabindra Pandey, a public health expert.

Nepal's government says the country has the capacity to test 23,000 samples every day, but Pandey said daily average was currently around 13,000, leading to some cases not being traced and isolated.

"These people in turn became the source of transmission," Pandey said.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma in Kathmandu; Editing by Alasdair Pal and Raissa Kasolowsky)

Source: https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/n...s-coronavirus-infections-cross-100000-507672/.

 

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Coronavirus latest: Russia infections spiral; Spain declares emergency in Madrid

Russia reported 12,126 new cases on Friday, surpassing its previous high from May

The move escalates a stand-off between the Spanish government and the Madrid regional chief who believes the curbs are illegal

Russia registered a record daily number of new coronavirus infections on Friday, surpassing its previous high from May.
Officials reported 12,126 new infections, edging above the previous high of 11,656 on May 11 and bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,272,238 – the fourth highest in the world.
Widespread restrictions were lifted after new cases began to drop in May, and officials have shown no sign of moving to reimpose such broad measures.
But the head of consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor described the situation as increasingly difficult and warned new measures could lie ahead.
“Either we observe (restrictions) or we will have to introduce new measures,” said Anna Popova.
Moscow – the city with the highest number of cases by far – reimposed some measures last month.
The capital’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin ordered over-65s to stay at home and told employers to keep at least a third of their staff working from home.
Russia has confirmed 22,257 deaths since the start of the pandemic, but critics have accused officials of under-reporting deaths to hide the severity of the situation.

Spain imposes Madrid state of emergency
Spain’s Socialist-led government invoked a state of emergency on Friday to impose a partial lockdown for several million people in Madrid, one of Europe’s worst Covid-19 hot spots, after a court had struck down the measures.
The move escalates a stand-off between Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government and the conservative-led Madrid regional chief who believes the curbs are illegal, excessive and disastrous for the local economy.
Many of the 3.8 million people affected in the capital city and nine satellite towns were bemused and cars continued to pour out for a holiday weekend.
“I feel bad because I don’t know how to act, what to do, if I’m doing things right or wrong, and I feel totally misruled by our politicians who are just not up to the job,” said 64-year-old retiree Jesus Doria.
Following a Health Ministry order, Madrid authorities last week reluctantly barred all non-essential travel in and out of the city and other nearby towns. The region had 723 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the two weeks to October 8, according to the World Health Organization, making it Europe’s second densest cluster after Andorra.
But instead of a blanket restriction, the Madrid region chief Isabel Diaz Ayuso wants tailored restrictions in different neighbourhoods according to local contagion levels.
A Madrid court sided with her on Thursday, effectively suspending the restrictions until the government responded with its two-week emergency order.
“We had an alternative plan we have been defending until the last moment, but it has not been possible, which is a pity. The state of emergency was totally avoidable,” Madrid region spokesman Ignacio Aguado told reporters.

Infections double in England in one week
The rate of coronavirus infection in England almost doubled in the week through October 1, adding to concerns that a fresh surge of the pandemic is spreading through the country.
“The number of infections has increased rapidly in recent weeks,” the Office for National Statistics said on Friday. The rate climbed to one person in 240 from one in 470 a week earlier, it estimated.
The figures come as the UK government prepares to announce new restrictions for the worst-hit parts of the country from Monday, potentially including the closing of restaurants and bars.
Public Health England Medical Director Yvonne Doyle this week warned that the trend of increased cases and hospitalisations “is very concerning.”
Meanwhile, Sophie, Britain’s Countess of Wessex and wife of Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son Prince Edward, is self-isolating at home after coming into contact with someone who has since tested positive for Covid-19, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.
The royal, 55, has no symptoms but is following government guidelines, a palace spokesman said. She has not been in contact with any other member of the wider royal family since, he added.

Czech Republic sees record cases for third day
New reported coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic were their highest for a third straight day, registering another 5,394 cases.
The new cases take the country’s total since the pandemic began to more than 100,000.
The government has responded by imposing further restrictive measures to contain the surge, some of them becoming effective on Friday and others on Monday.
Among them, all theatres, cinemas, zoos, museums, art galleries, fitness centres and public swimming pools will be closed for at least two weeks.
Also, all indoor sports activities will be banned. Outdoors, only up to 20 people will be allowed to participate in sport activities, a measure that will badly hit professional competitions such as soccer leagues.
Restaurants and bars will have to close at 8pm and only four people will be allowed at one table.
Germany agrees stricter curbs for virus hot spots
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and mayors from Germany’s 11 largest cities agreed on Friday to adopt stricter anti-coronavirus measures if infections exceed a threshold of 50 cases per 100,000 population in a week.
Restrictions could include tighter rules on mask-wearing, restrictions on private gatherings and stricter rules on buying alcohol, Merkel said, adding that her top priority was to avoid shutting down the economy and society again, as in the spring.
“These are the days and weeks that will determine in what shape Germany will get through winter in this pandemic,” Merkel told reporters. “Summer went very well overall, but we now see a picture that is cause for concern.”
Germany has so far managed to keep the number of cases and deaths lower than many of its neighbours but the number of new daily coronavirus cases has leapt in recent days, and some hospitals warned of staff shortages on Friday.
It was still possible to bring the pandemic under control in Germany, Merkel said, adding that she was aware the restrictions were painful.
“But I am also convinced that we are at a point where we have to be clear about what is important for us this autumn and winter, and where we have to prioritise, and my highest priority is – if at all possible – not to have to cut back economic and public life again as was necessary in spring,” she said.
Schools should stay open to the extent possible, she added.

Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/world/eur...latest-russia-infections-spiral-spain-declare.

 

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Covid: Brazil's coronavirus death toll passes 150,000

The number of people to have died from Covid-19 in Brazil has passed 150,000, the country's health ministry says.

Brazil has the second-highest coronavirus death toll in the world, after the US, and the third-highest number of cases after the US and India.

The country also passed five million total infections earlier this week.

President Jair Bolsonaro has been accused of downplaying the risks of the virus throughout the pandemic, ignoring expert advice on restrictive measures.

Brazil has by far the highest number of deaths in South America, and the state of São Paulo has been the worst hit.

According to figures from the health ministry, 150,198 people in Brazil have died of Covid since the first fatality was recorded in March, and 5,082,637 people have tested positive for the virus.

In Colombia, the next worst-hit country in the region, 27,495 people have died and there have been 894,300 confirmed cases.

However the daily number of new cases in Brazil has been slowly falling since it plateaued in the summer, when there were about 1,000 new deaths per day for two months.

Mr Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic - his decision to oppose lockdown measures and prioritise the economy - has been extremely divisive.

He has also been criticised for minimising the threat of Covid-19, including by calling it a "little flu".

However, the president has repeatedly rejected this criticism, even when he himself became ill with the virus in July.

In August, Brazil's Vice-President Hamilton Mourão also defended the government's approach, and instead blamed a lack of discipline among Brazilians for the failure to limit the spread of the virus through social distancing measures.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54496354.

 

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Germany, Poland institute new measures to fight coronavirusGermany and Poland enforced new restrictions to fight the coronavirus Saturday as the number of cases surged in Europe, and breached 10 million in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Bars and restaurants are to close at 11:00 pm local time in Berlin until October 31 in a partial curfew, a measure already imposed -- but starting an hour earlier -- in the financial capital Frankfurt.

The shutdown in the German capital -- with more than 400 new cases daily -- also covers all shops except pharmacies and petrol stations, although they will be banned from selling alcohol.

"This is not the time to party," said Berlin's social democratic mayor Michael Muller. "We can and we want to prevent another more severe confinement."

Chancellor Angela Merkel had already warned Friday that high-infection areas would be given 10 days to bring down cases or face tougher action, calling big cities the "arena" to keep the coronavirus pandemic under control.

Neighbouring Poland announced new measures on Saturday to curb the pandemic after reporting record infections for a fifth straight day, but it stopped short of introducing mandatory distance learning for schools.

Seniors would now have special shopping hours every morning from 10am to noon, and care homes would receive an extra 38 million zlotys in government funding,Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told a news conference.

Restrictions announced on Thursday, including wearing masks outside at all times, went into effect on Saturday. The additional measures targeting seniors will go into force starting October 15.

Ministry data showed that 28,300 tests for coronavirus were carried out in Poland in the last 24 hours with 5,300 confirmed cases.

To the south, the Czech Republic faced the prospect of a new lockdown as the growth in Covid-19 cases set a fourth straight daily record. The number of 8,618 was the fastest spike in Europe.

Flu season

Governments on several continents are struggling to keep up with a sharp rise in infections as the pandemic's second wave arrives ahead of the northern hemisphere's influenza season.

EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel was the latest high-profile figure to test positive for Covid-19. She announced the news on Saturday, the first top Brussels official known to have caught the coronavirus.

Gabriel, the EU commissioner for research and innovation, had already announced on Monday she would self-isolate after a member of her team tested positive for the virus.

British cyclist Simon Yates pulled out of the Giro d'Italia after he tested positive.

And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself spent time in hospital for the virus, is to outline a new three-tier lockdown system on Monday.

On Friday, the Spanish government declared a state of emergency and a new partial lockdown for Madrid, as it faced increasing public resistance to anti-virus measures.

People were barred from leaving the city except for work, school or medical reasons, measures denounced by the city's rightwing authorities.

The resistance in Madrid echoes problems the French government faced last month when it shut bars and restaurants in Marseille, provoking the fury of local officials.

Partial shutdowns have since been extended to Paris and other major urban areas, and another four French cities were placed on maximum coronavirus alert on Thursday, with bars ordered closed and public gatherings limited.

Since it emerged in China late last year, the virus has killed more than one million worldwide, infected more than 36 million and forced millions more out of work as the pandemic batters the global economy.

Source: https://www.france24.com/en/20201010-germany-poland-institute-new-measures-to-fight-coronavirus.

 

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Covid virus ‘survives for 28 days’ in lab conditions

The virus responsible for Covid-19 can remain infectious on surfaces such as banknotes, phone screens and stainless steel for 28 days, researchers say.

The findings from Australia's national science agency suggest SARS-Cov-2 can survive for far longer than thought.

However, the experiment was conducted in the dark. UV light has already been shown to kill the virus.

Some experts have also thrown doubt on the actual threat posed by surface transmission in real life.

The coronavirus is mostly transmitted when people cough, sneeze or talk.

But there is also evidence that it can also be spread by particles hanging in the air. It is also possible someone could get Covid-19 by touching infected surfaces such as metal or plastic, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. This is believed to be much less common, however.

What does the study say?
Previous laboratory tests have found that SARS-Cov-2 can survive for two to three days on bank notes and glass, and up to six days on plastic and stainless steel, although results vary.

However, the research from Australian agency CSIRO found the virus was "extremely robust," surviving for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass found on mobile phone screens and both plastic and paper banknotes, when kept at 20C (68F), which is about room temperature, and in the dark.

In comparison, the flu virus can survive in the same circumstances for 17 days.

The study, published in Virology Journal, also found SARS-Cov-2 survived for less time at hotter temperatures than cooler temperatures; it stopped being infectious within 24 hours at 40C on some surfaces.

It also stayed longer on smooth, non-porous surfaces than on porous materials such as cloth, which was found not to carry any infectious virus past 14 days.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54500673.

 

[MenInG]

Summary

England's deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam is leading UK government scientists briefing

NHS Nightingale hospitals put on standby in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate as Covid admissions rise

Manchester's medical lead Dr Jane Eddleston also warned the public to "take this disease extremely seriously"

Follow the day's briefings here as scientists give an update; PM due in Commons at 15:30; press conference at 18:00

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs emergency committee meeting

Johnson is due to announce a new three-level alert system for England

The Liverpool City Region is expected to face the tightest curbs

On Sunday, 12,872 people in the UK were reported to have tested positive

Australian researchers say the virus responsible for Covid-19 can remain infectious on surfaces for 28 days

South Korea lowers Covid 19 social distancing guidelines to the lowest level as case numbers drop

There are more than 37 million confirmed cases globally with more than 1.07 million deaths

 

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Covid reinfection: Man gets Covid twice and second hit 'more severe'

A man in the United States has caught Covid twice, with the second infection becoming far more dangerous than the first, doctors report.

The 25-year-old needed hospital treatment after his lungs could not get enough oxygen into his body.

Reinfections remain rare and he has now recovered.

But the study in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, raises questions about how much immunity can be built up to the virus.

The man from Nevada had no known health problems or immune defects that would make him particularly vulnerable to Covid.

What happened when
25 March - First wave of symptoms, including sore throat, cough, headache, nausea and diarrhoea
18 April - He tests positive for the first time
27 April - Initial symptoms fully resolve
9 and 26 May - He tests negative for the virus on two occasions
28 May - He develops symptoms again, this time including fever, headache, dizziness, cough, nausea and diarrhoea
5 June - He tests positive for the second time, and is hypoxic (low blood oxygen) with shortness of breath
Scientists say the patient caught coronavirus twice, rather than the original infection becoming dormant and then bouncing back. A comparison of the genetic codes of the virus taken during each bout of symptoms showed they were too distinct to be caused by the same infection.

"Our findings signal that a previous infection may not necessarily protect against future infection," said Dr Mark Pandori, from the University of Nevada.

"The possibility of reinfections could have significant implications for our understanding of Covid-19 immunity."

He said even people who have recovered should continue to follow guidelines around social distancing, face masks and hand washing.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54512034.

 

[sweep_shot]

The dogs trained to sniff out Covid-19

Could specially trained sniffer dogs soon be used to detect coronavirus at airports?

According to a French-Lebanese research team, the animals can detect Covid-19 in almost 100% of cases, after smelling human sweat.

Now they are training 20 dogs belonging to Lebanon’s security forces to screen arrivals at Beirut airport.

If the trial is successful, the researchers hope it could be rolled out at airports around the world.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-54511703.

 

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Spain adds nearly 28,000 COVID-19 cases since Friday, 195 deaths

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain has reported nearly 28,000 new coronavirus cases since Friday, bringing the cumulative total to 888,968, health ministry data showed on Monday.

The death toll from the virus rose by 195 from Friday to a total of 33,124. Spain does not report its coronavirus data during the weekend.

The number of new cases has stabilised since the peak on Sept. 18 when there were 16,000 cases in one day. The number of deaths reported on Friday was 241.

Source: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...9-cases-since-friday-195-deaths-idUKKBN26X2CH.

 

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Dutch researchers report first death from COVID-19 reinfection

An elderly woman in the Netherlands has died after getting COVID-19 a second time, researchers reported on Monday. It’s the first time a death has been reported from reinfection with coronavirus.

The patient was an 89-year-old woman who was being treated for Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a rare type of white blood cell cancer which is treatable but incurable. The findings were published in the Oxford University Press.

The researchers said the woman arrived at the emergency department earlier this year while suffering from a fever and severe cough. She tested positive for coronavirus and remained hospitalized for 5 days, after which her symptoms subsided completely, except for persisting fatigue.

Nearly 2 months later, just two days after starting a new round of chemotherapy, she developed a fever, cough, and dyspnea. When she was admitted to hospital, her oxygen saturation was 90 percent with a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute. She again tested positive for coronavirus while tests for antibodies were negative at days 4 and 6.

“At day 8, the condition of the patient deteriorated. She died two weeks later,” the researchers said.

The team had access to test samples from both infections and confirmed that the genetic makeup of each virus was different to a degree which cannot be explained through in-vivo evolution. This supports the finding that the woman was suffering from a reinfection with coronavirus.

To date, researchers have confirmed only 23 cases of reinfection, but in all prior cases the patient recovered.

Research into reinfections is limited due to the amount of work involved. People with SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, may continue to test positive for several months without being sick of infectious. As a result, researchers need samples from both infections to confirm whether the virus’ genetic makeup is different.

Source: https://bnonews.com/index.php/2020/...report-first-death-from-covid-19-reinfection/.

 

[Firebat]

What are the latest global developments?

More than 37.8 million cases have been confirmed worldwide, along with 1.08 million coronavirus-related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University

America remains the worst-hit country, with 7.8 million infections, followed by India and Brazil with 7.1 million and 5.1 million respectively

Cases and hospital admissions are also rising fast again in many European countries, including France and Spain

Health officials in China say they've tested more than three million people in the last 48 hours after a cluster of coronavirus infections was detected in the city of Qingdao. The authorities plan to test the city's entire population of nine million

Dutch virologists have released a report detailing the death of an 89-year-old woman after she became reinfected with coronavirus for a second time. It's the first report of its kind

Meanwhile there's good news for one Japanese tourist. Peru has opened the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu just for him after he waited almost seven months to visit the world heritage site, which has been closed due to the pandemic.

 

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Coronavirus: How South Korea's track and trace system has kept death count below 500

When someone tests positive in the country authorities test more than 100 close contacts.

When the pandemic began, South Korea didn't reach for an out-of-date version of Excel to keep on top.

Instead the country created a new, highly automated system called the Epidemiological Investigation Support System, or EISS, that pulls in credit card and smartphone data.

The software is used by investigators to track and trace contacts. It has been highly successful at identifying carriers and preventing deaths.

"This system enables us to stop the spread of the virus efficiently," Kwon Dong-hyuk, director for risk assessment Korea disease control and prevention agency (KCDA) told Sky News.

He added: "Before we had the EISS it took an average of 24-48 hours to obtain and analyse the information on patients' travel routes and credit card usage.

"But now with the system we are able to see the results from information analysis within an average of four to 12 hours."

Mr Kwon said that for each positive case of COVID-19, they test more than 100 close contacts.

In the UK, statistics indicate that each positive case leads on average to fewer than three contacts being identified, and two contacts reached, according to data from 24-30 September.

South Korea has only a slightly smaller population than the UK - 51.64 million, compared to 66.65 million - but a much higher population density.

Despite facing multiple outbreaks of coronavirus, South Korea has recorded 24,805 cases and just 434 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

When someone tests positive for COVID-19 in South Korea, their information is uploaded into the system.

Epidemic intelligence service officers interview the patient, trying to establish their travel history from two days before symptoms developed.

That's combined with credit card and mobile phone data, which is crucial.

Mr Kwon said: "In the past, epidemiological investigation mostly depended on the information from the memories and words that a patient provides in a face-to-face or telephone interview.

"As a result, we often lost track of infection routes and contact."

That data produces two types of contact, close and distant.

Close contacts are required by law to isolate for two weeks, either at home or at a quarantine facility.

A local health agency worker calls them twice a day, in the morning and afternoon, to check on whether they have developed symptoms.

If a COVID-19 patient has visited a "multiuse facility" such as a gym, church or bar, that location is closed and disinfected.

Locations are announced to nearby residents by text message and visitor logs for those locations are also investigated.

Last week, Sky News revealed that in the two weeks since its launch, only one alert had been sent from the NHS Test and Trace app about an outbreak in a venue - despite being used for millions of check-ins.

In South Korea, only close contacts are required to isolate; people who have only been in the vicinity of a COVID-19 patient are told to monitor themselves for signs or symptoms developing.

Stitching together all that data, often recorded in different formats, was a challenge. But the EISS was already up and running by 21 March.

Two things helped. First, the South Korean government had already introduced laws regarding the use of personal data in an epidemic following an outbreak of the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus in 2015.

Second, the KDCA built on a previous project, a "smart city" platform developed by the government in 2018, to make more use of data in urban management and planning.

The South Korean national police also worked with the KCDA along with support from the credit finance association and telecommunication operators.

Human rights groups have criticised South Korea's extensive data collection.

Mr Kwon insists all personal data is encrypted and stored securely. South Koreans are also notified when their personal information is being collected by the health authority.

"We will stop operation of the EISS when the pandemic finishes or when risk level is lowered to normal status," he said.

"The data will be deleted completely from the system."

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...ystem-has-kept-death-count-below-500-12103124.

 

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Over 7,000 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Spain

MADRID, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Ministry of Health on Tuesday confirmed 7,118 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 896,086.

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests carried out on Monday detected 2,759 new cases, while the remaining new cases are from tests conducted in the preceding days.

The number of deaths also rose by 80 in one day to 33,204, with 406 people losing their lives in the past seven days.

The Autonomous Community of Madrid continues to be the worst affected area in Spain, with an increase of 1,126 new infections, taking the total cases in the region to 268,022, with 9,789 deaths.

The figures came amid the controversy over the Spanish government's decision on Oct. 9 to impose a 15-day State of Alarm on the Autonomous Community of Madrid, with restrictions on mobility in the Madrid municipal area and 12 more municipalities in the region in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Speaking on Spanish radio Cadena Ser on Tuesday morning, Health Minister Salvador Illa insisted that conditions "do not exist" to lift the restrictions, but added that "if" they were "met during the week", he would "propose lifting the confinement."

Meanwhile, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, president of the Madrid Region, held a joint press conference on Tuesday afternoon with Mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, asking for the State of Alarm to be lifted, with the mayor accusing the central government of "kidnapping" the residents of the city.

As the world is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries across the globe -- including Britain, China, Russia and the U.S. -- are racing to find a vaccine.

According to the website of the World Health Organization (WHO), as of Oct. 2, there were 193 COVID-19 candidate vaccines being developed worldwide, and 42 of them were in clinical trials. Enditem

Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-10/14/c_139438076.htm.

 

[Firebat]

New Europe restrictions imposed to fight second wave

The Czech Republic has shut schools and bars, Dutch cafes and restaurants are closing and France could impose curfews, as European governments fight to keep a second wave of Covid-19 infections under control.

The partial lockdown in the Netherlands comes into force at 22:00 (20:00 GMT).

Also on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to detail new measures for Paris and other cities.

Spain's Catalonia region is also considering its own temporary measures.

Across Europe, infection rates are rising, with Russia reporting a record 14,321 daily cases on Wednesday and a further 239 deaths.

But even in countries that have had greater success than most in keeping transmission down, infections are rising.

Germany has seen more than 5,000 new infections for the first time since April and 47 areas with an average rate of over 50 people per 100,000 residents.

Germany's RKI public health agency officials speak of seeing an "accelerated rise in transmission in the population".

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54535358

 

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Coronavirus: 'Long Covid could be four different syndromes'

"Long Covid" - the long-lasting impact of coronavirus infection - may be affecting people in four different ways, according to a review.

And this could explain why some of those with continuing symptoms are not being believed or treated.

There could be a huge psychological impact on people living with long-term Covid-19, the National Institute for Health Research report says.

They need more support - and healthcare staff require better information.

Life-changing experiences
Most people are told they will recover from mild coronavirus infections within two weeks and from more serious disease within three.

But the report says thousands could be living with "ongoing Covid".

And with coronavirus cases rising across the UK, this number is also likely to increase in the coming months.

Based on interviews with 14 members of a long-Covid support group on Facebook and the most recent published research, the review found recurring symptoms affecting everything from breathing, the brain, the heart and cardiovascular system to the kidneys, the gut, the liver and the skin.

These symptoms may be due to four different syndromes:

permanent organ damage to the lungs and heart
post-intensive-care syndrome
post-viral fatigue syndrome
continuing Covid-19 symptoms
Some of those affected have had a long stay in hospital with severe Covid-19 - but others, who have had a mild infection, have never even been tested or diagnosed.

The review says coming up with a "working diagnosis for ongoing Covid-19" would help people access support.

"It is becoming clear that, for some people, Covid-19 infection is a long-term illness," the report says.

"For some, this is related to their rehabilitation following a hospital admission - but others are reporting life-changing experiences that follow an initial infection that they managed at home, with symptoms becoming more severe over time."

Report author Dr Elaine Maxwell said she had assumed those who had been seriously ill with Covid-19 would be affected the most and those at low risk of death were also at low risk of living with its long-term effects.

But the review found this was not the case.

"We now know that there are people with no record of having Covid who are suffering more than someone who was ventilated for several weeks," she said.

And these debilitating effects on some people could put a "significant burden on the NHS".

'My sons have taken on the cooking and cleaning'

Jo House, a lecturer at the University of Bristol, has still not returned to work more than six months after being infected.

It started with a bad cough and difficulty breathing, but this turned into crushing fatigue and headaches before heart problems and muscle pain took over.

"The other day I got up, was really dizzy, fainted and ended up in A&E," she says.

Although her racing heart and shortness of breath have improved a bit, her ongoing symptoms are still having a huge impact on her, and her family's, life.

Her partner Ash is also experiencing symptoms that won't go away. As a result, her teenage sons have had to take on all the cooking and cleaning.

"Lots of people are classed as having mild symptoms, but it's really not mild at all. We need support," she says.

Although Jo had pneumonia, she was never tested for the virus and not admitted to hospital.

"We both made wills when we were very ill. It was scary."

The report calls for support in the community alongside the recently announced one-stop hospital clinics for long Covid.

And it says ongoing Covid is likely to have a disproportionate effect on certain groups, such as black or Asian people as well as those with existing mental health problems or learning difficulties.

"Our aim is that healthcare services and staff will use this review to better understand the experiences patients have to deal with, and provide them with the access to treatment, care and support they need," Dr Maxwell added.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54540544.

 

[MenInG]

 

[Firebat]

Latest headlines from around the world

A number of areas in England are facing extra restrictions. They include London, Esses, York and several other areas moving into tier two. Under this "high" alert level, there is a ban on households mixing indoors, including in pubs and restaurants

In France, new details have been releasd by the authorities about monitoring and enforcing a curfew covering several areas, including Paris

It comes as Health Minister Olivier Veran had his house searched by police as part of an investigation into the handling of the virus

Russia has recorded 286 new deaths, the highest rise since the pandemic began

The Czech Republic is building make-shift hospitals to help cope with the rise in cases there.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: France reports more than 30,000 new infections

France has reported a large jump in new Covid-19 cases ahead of a night-time curfew being imposed on Paris and eight other cities on Saturday.

A further 30,621 infections were confirmed on Thursday, up from 22,591 the day before.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that tough restrictions are "absolutely necessary" to save lives.

Millions in Europe have been told they must live under strict new measures as governments battle a second wave.

From Saturday, socialising indoors will be banned in London, as the UK capital and other areas of England will be put under a higher Covid alert.

As well as France, Italy, Poland and Germany all recorded their largest daily rise in new cases on Thursday since mass testing began.

Russia recorded its highest number of daily fatalities since the start of the epidemic with 286 people reported to have died from the virus.

The WHO urged European governments "to step up" and take action as the continent passed a threshold of 1,000 deaths reported daily.

What is happening in France?
New restrictions were announced on Wednesday by President Emmanuel Macron to combat the soaring infection rate across France.

Residents of Paris, its suburbs and eight other cities including Marseille and Lyon will not be able to leave their homes without "valid" reason between 21:00 and 06:00 from Saturday for at least four weeks. Mr Macron said he aimed to reduce the daily rise in cases to 3,000.

Prime Minister Jean Castex said police would be deployed to enforce the curfew, but people will still be allowed to leave for work or to visit hospital or the pharmacy.

On Thursday, French police raided the homes of senior government and health officials as part of an investigation into their handling of the pandemic.

The government has faced criticism over shortages of equipment and slow response times.

How bad is the situation in Europe?
Covid-19 deaths are currently five times lower than they were in March and April, when the first wave hit the continent, the WHO's European director, Dr Hans Kluge, told a news conference on Thursday.

One reason for the increase in cases seen in recent weeks is more young people testing positive for the virus, he said, adding that the lower mortality rate was because that demographic was less likely to die from Covid-19 than older people.

But projections of the course of the disease in Europe were "not optimistic", he explained.

If European governments relax their restrictions, the course of the virus indicates that by January 2021 the daily mortality rate will be four to five times higher than it was during April, Dr Kluge said.

But if 95% of people wear masks and other social distancing measures are applied, Europe could avoid about 281,000 deaths by February, he added.

He said that governments must consider mental health and domestic violence when imposing restrictions, and do everything possible to keep schools open.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has called on countries to step up their preparations, advising governments to co-ordinate contact tracing and the eventual deployment of vaccines.

On Thursday European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen left an EU summit to go into self-isolation after a member of her office tested positive. She said she herself had tested negative, but would nonetheless self-isolate "as a precaution".

The spread of the virus has been accelerating across Europe in recent weeks after infections began to rise in August and September.

In the Czech Republic, which currently has the highest infection rate in Europe, cases have nearly doubled in October to reach a total of 139,290.

What are the latest restrictions being imposed?
On Thursday, Poland designated red zones where schools and gyms will close, including in the capital Warsaw
Schools in Italy's southern Campania region, including the city of Naples, are to close for two weeks, as the country recorded its highest daily rise of cases since mass testing began.
In the Czech Republic, schools and bars have been shut down but infections are still soaring. The government said it was building its first field hospital for coronavirus patients and has has called on doctors working abroad to return home
In Germany bars and restaurants in higher-risk areas must close early. The country recorded 6,638 new cases on Thursday - the highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic
In Portugal, the government said gatherings would be limited to five people from Thursday. Weddings and baptisms can be attended by up to 50 people but university parties will be banned
Catalonia also said restaurants in the Spanish region would only be allowed to serve takeaway. Gyms and cultural venues will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity, while shops and large shopping centres must be limited to 30% capacity
In the Netherlands, all bars, restaurants and coffee shops closed on 14 October except for takeaway; households can have a maximum of three guests per day
Movement is limited in the Russian capital Moscow, and from Monday senior schools (for children aged aged 13-18) will be closed

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54557549.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus French cities start month-long curfew

French restaurants, bars and cafes faced a busy evening before a month-long curfew started at midnight (22:00 GMT) in Paris and other cities.

The controversial night curfew is aimed at curbing the soaring coronavirus infection rate in France, which is one of Europe's coronavirus hotspots.

The full curfew begins on Saturday, from 21:00 to 06:00 every night.

The Paris region and eight other cities are affected, including Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Toulouse.

About 20 million French people are covered by it, but mayors in some towns - notably Le Touquet and Creil in the north - have also announced curfews to prevent a knock-on effect, as frustrated revellers seek somewhere else to meet.

Le Touquet is on the coast west of Lille, while Creil lies just north of Paris and was badly hit by the first Covid wave in March.

French BFMTV said La Boîte aux Lettres, a restaurant in Paris's popular Montmartre district, had received a flood of bookings for Friday evening.

The manager, Antonin Prion, said: "I hope this [curfew] has an impact and isn't in vain, because this is really doing us damage."

There have been bitter complaints from restaurant owners, already suffering after the two-month lockdown in spring, when the pandemic swept through Europe.

"I've never seen anything like this in the 50 years I've been here," said Stain Roman, a restaurateur in Marseille, quoted by AFP news agency.

Currently the government advises them to restrict each table to six people maximum. They are also observing strict hygiene rules and collecting customers' contact details for track-and-trace.

What are the curfew rules?
Restaurants, bars, cafes and cinemas must shut at 21:00 local time; food outlets can still provide night-time deliveries
Jogging and dog-walking will still be allowed during the curfew but, as happened during the two-month lockdown earlier, a signed permit will be required, which can be downloaded onto a phone
France is deploying 12,000 police officers specifically to enforce the curfew. The fine for a violation will be €135 (£122) and a repeat offender could face six months in prison and €3,750 fine
The few exemptions include medical emergencies, essential home care visits and travel by train or plane at night. Shift workers with late hours may also break the curfew
No sports events can run later than 21:00
Wedding celebrations and other parties at public venues are banned
The curfew will hurt many other workers, besides those in the hospitality and leisure sectors.

Agathe, a student in Montpellier in the south, said she was dreading "the cancellation of all my babysitting evenings". "I'll lose all that money, so I hope this doesn't carry on for a long time."

Coronavirus has killed more than 32,000 people in France - among the highest death tolls in Europe.

Elsewhere in Europe:
The Netherlands has returned to a partial lockdown, closing bars and restaurants, and hospitals in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague are under pressure from new Covid patients. Hospitals in western Germany have readied spare beds to take Dutch patients if necessary
New infections are also rising rapidly in Germany: the latest official daily figure is 7,334 cases, up from 6,638 on Thursday. Germany has declared many neighbouring countries and regions to be "high risk", including the whole of France and the Netherlands
Ireland now has a four-week national restriction on household visits, except for attending to medical and care needs
Austria has imposed a quarantine on Kuchl, a town of 6,600 inhabitants in the Salzburg region, because of a Covid cluster there. It is the first such measure in Austria for months.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54571541.

 

[sweep_shot]

Daily coronavirus cases surge above 10,000 in Italy for first time

ROME (Reuters) - Italy has registered 10,010 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Friday, the highest daily tally since the start of the country’s outbreak and up from the previous record of 8,804 posted on Thursday.


The ministry also reported 55 COVID-related deaths, down from 83 the day before and far fewer than at the height of the pandemic in Italy in March and April when a daily peak of more than 900 fatalities was reached.

The number of coronavirus sufferers in intensive care continued to rise, reaching 638 on Friday from 586 on Thursday and compared with a low of around 40 in the second half of July.

Italy was the first country in Europe to be slammed by COVID-19 and has the second-highest death toll in the continent after Britain, with 36,427 fatalities since the outbreak flared in February, according to official figures.

The number of swabs carried out over the past 24 hours fell to 150,377 from the record 162,932 registered on Thursday.

The Italian government on Tuesday imposed new restrictions on gatherings, restaurants, sports and school activities in an attempt to slow the surge of infections.

However, some experts said the measures were too limited and some local leaders have since announced more aggressive action for their regions.

On Thursday, Campania, which is centred on the southern city of Naples, ordered all its schools to close for two weeks, while the regional leader Vincenzo De Luca said on Friday he would impose a curfew on the night of Oct. 31 to prevent the virus spreading at “stupid” Halloween parties.

The head of Lombardy in the north, the hardest hit region in Italy, said on Friday he would revise opening hours for bars and restaurants and would close gaming centres and bingo halls. He also called on universities to return to distance learning.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has ruled out re-introducing a national lockdown, but government ministers might meet at the weekend to discuss tightening current curbs, a political source said.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-idUSKBN2712D4.