Coronavirus - 18th September 2021

Summary for Saturday, 18th September

Here is a quick recap of coronavirus news around the world over the last 24 hours:

• Rules for English travellers heading overseas have been significantly simplified, with the “amber” list of countries scrapped and the traffic light designation replaced with destinations listed as either “red” or “green”, under new rules.
  
• Scotland will end its current traffic light system for international travel but will not follow England in further easing Covid-19 testing for those entering the country.
  
• A panel of advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration have voted to recommend Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for Americans 65 and older and those at high risk of illness after rejecting a call for broader approval.
  
• Four US senators have asked President Joe Biden to lift restrictions that have barred travel by Canadians across the northern US border since March 2020.
  
• Brazil registered 11,202 new coronavirus cases and 333 further deaths in the last 24 hours, the country’s health ministry said.
  
• The number of people in France who have received at least one jab against Covid-19 has crossed the 50 million mark, President Emmanuel Macron said.
  
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) worth £2.8bn is not fit for purpose in the UK and cannot be used by the NHS, a health minister has revealed in parliament.
  
• The first civil lawsuit began in a court in Vienna, Austria, over a notorious outbreak of coronavirus at a popular ski resort last year, where thousands of people from 45 countries claim to have become infected.
  
• Ukraine is on the brink of its most deadly period of the coronavirus pandemic with vaccination rates struggling and infections on the rise. Health officials in Kiev recorded the highest number of new cases since May, while average daily hospitalisations rose by nearly 400 people this week compared with last week.
  
• People will have to show an NHS Covid pass to enter nightclubs and attend many events in Wales from next month, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, has announced.
  
• Cuba has started vaccinating two-year-olds – while in Cambodia the start of school has heralded a programme to vaccinate children between six and 12.
  
• Public employees in Slovenia will need to be vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 to continue working, the government said on Friday, as it tries to boost its low rate of inoculation.
  
• Travellers entering Switzerland who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 or recovered from the virus will need to provide a negative test result from Monday, the government said, as it seeks to stem a further rise in the number of infections.
  
• Short sightedness in children is on the increase in China – and possibly elsewhere in the world – the result, scientists believe, of too much time indoors during lockdown.
  

Holiday bookings surge expected after relaxation of travel rules in England

Holiday bookings are expected to soar after the government announced a relaxation of international travel rules.
Alan French, the chief executive of travel firm Thomas Cook, said October half-term bookings were up 200% compared with August and he expected this figure to increase as a result of the changed system, reports PA.
He said:

  :Left Quotes:   Based on our bookings already today, I would expect this weekend to be the biggest of the year so far as people take advantage of the great deals on offer, the new easier rules on testing and the simplified system for international travel.

On Friday, the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, announced that the traffic light system was set to be replaced from 4 October by a single, reduced “red list” of destinations, from which travellers arriving in England will have to quarantine in a government-supervised hotel.
People who are fully vaccinated will no longer need a pre-departure test before returning from non-red list destinations, and from the end of October, they will be able to replace the day two PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow test.

A relaxation to travel restrictions was announced in the UK on Friday. Photograph: Tejas Sandhu/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock

Anti-lockdown protestors clash with police in Melbourne

Justine Landis-Hanley - The Guardian
Victoria police clashed with anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, as the Australian state recorded another 535 new coronavirus cases and one death.
About 1,000 protesters gathered in the north-eastern suburbs of Richmond and Hawthorne, forced to make a last-minute change of location after 2,000 police officers formed a “ring of steel” around the Melbourne CBD.
Public transport to and from the city was suspended between 8am and 2pm on Saturday, and police set up road checkpoints, barricades and roving patrols around the city in an effort to thwart the protest.
Read more.

Unvaccinated university students have been urged to get a Covid jab in freshers’ week to protect themselves and their peers against the virus, PA reports.
The NHS’s top doctor has called on freshers to get the vaccine at pop-up clinics and walk-in centres set up by universities before their courses begin.
Thousands of students will be arriving at university campuses across the UK over the next few weeks.
Prof Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, said:

Starting university is a really exciting time and getting your Covid vaccine means you will be armed with maximum protection against the virus.
With many universities set to run pop-ups and walk-ins throughout the first weeks of term it has never been easier to get protected, so I urge anyone yet to be vaccinated to take up the offer as soon as possible.

Alistair Jarvis, the chief executive of Universities UK, said:

We welcome this reminder to students from Professor Powis, which echoes messages from universities to their students that they should make every effort to get vaccinated before the start of the university year.

Expert warns: "Very uncertain times" over the coming months
Professor Adam Finn has warned of “very uncertain times” in the pandemic over the coming months, and urged people to take precautions such as wearing masks, even if they are not mandatory, reports PA.
Asked about winter, Professor Finn, who is a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation told Times Radio:

I think we’re all concerned. We’re in a position of uncertainty as we have been from the outset.
Things are changing all the time and although we have some insight into the future and we’ve learned a lot about the vaccine programme and other things, there is still a high level of uncertainty.
With people interacting and behaving more normally, we are going to see the circulation of infections that more or less disappeared last winter, and they are going to provide an additional burden.
We don’t really know what’s going to happen with the trend in cases of Covid but it’s certainly still circulating. So I think we’re entering very uncertain times.
I would strongly encourage people to go on taking precautions, even though they’re not being required to. I certainly am. On a personal basis, I use a mask when I’m inside with other people and I’m avoiding social contact beyond a fairly low level, and I think if everybody continues to do that we can bring down the risk to some extent.

Hundreds of anti-lockdown protestors arrested in Australia
Australia’s police arrested 235 people in Melbourne and 32 in Sydney on Saturday at unsanctioned anti-lockdown rallies and several police officers were injured in clashes with protesters, reports Reuters.
Victoria police said six officers required hospitalisation. Several officers were knocked to the ground and trampled, the police said and television footage showed.
About 700 people managed to gather in parts of Melbourne, as 2,000 officers made the city centre virtually a no-go zone, setting up checkpoints and barricades. Public transport and ride shares into the city were suspended.
In Sydney, riot squad officers, highway patrol, detectives and general duties police were also deployed to the streets, preventing large gatherings.
Australia has been grappling with an outbreak of the Delta variant of the coronavirus since mid-June, with both Sydney and Melbourne, and the capital Canberra, in strict lockdowns for weeks now. On Saturday, there were 1,882 new coronavirus cases reported, most of them in Sydney.

Exhausted nurses in the Philippines are struggling to care for Covid-19 patients and many are quitting the profession entirely,
AFP reports:
The country is enduring a record rise in infections, fuelled by the Delta variant.
Prior to the pandemic, the nursing profession was dangerously understaffed.
Those who are working are under increasing strain with staff absences because of Covid-19 infection.
The health department reported a nursing shortfall of more than 100,000 - forcing those left to work long hours for little pay on often precarious short-term contracts.
The “chronic understaffing” is, said Maristela Abenojar, president of Filipino Nurses United, down to inadequate salaries.
An entry-level nurse in a public hospital can earn 33,575 pesos (£488) per month, official data shows.

Russia has reported 799 deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours
There were 20,329 new Coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours compared with 19,905 cases on the previous day, Reuters reports.

Ronapreve, the Covid antibody drug, is to be given to vulnerable NHS patients

Half-term holiday bookings up by 200% since relaxation of travel rules in England

Half-term holiday bookings have jumped by 200% compared with August since the government announced a relaxation of travel rules in England, the travel firm Thomas Cook has said.
On Friday, the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, unveiled plans to simplify the Covid rules around trips abroad from next month, scrapping the traffic light system and replacing it with a pared-down “red” list of countries from which arrivals will continue to be required to quarantine in a government-supervised hotel.
Read more.

AFP reports that North Africa coronavirus cases are “sharply declining”.

The agency looks at the situation in Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Libya, based on official figures it has collected.

Tunisia

Hechmi Louzir, director of the Pasteur Institute in Tunis, who is a member of the country’s scientific committee on the pandemic told AFP that up to 60 per cent of the population could be fully vaccinated by October, adding that large numbers of infections had also boosted levels of immunity.
AFP figures show that over the past week, Tunisia was vaccinating its population faster than any other African country, with 0.81 per cent of the population per day receiving a jab.
More than a quarter of Tunisians are now fully inoculated.
The past seven days saw 342 deaths from the virus - a fifth of the toll in the last week of July.

Morocco

Morocco has had 13,800 Covid deaths in its population of around 36 million, according to AFP figures.
The kingdom is ahead of its Maghreb neighbours in inoculations, with 46.7 per cent fully vaccinated.
Health ministry official Abdelkrim Meziane Bellefquih said this week that infections were down for a fifth straight week.
But in comments reported by the official MAP news agency, he warned that “high rates of critical cases and deaths continue to be recorded”.
The country has pushed back the start of the new school year to 1 October and has launched a vaccination drive among teenagers.

Algeria

Algeria’s official death toll from Covid-19 is 5,650.
In September it announced a target to vaccinate 70 per cent of its 43.9 million population by the end of the year.
AFP figures show that this week, barely 13 per cent of the population had received a first vaccine jab, with fewer than 10 per cent fully vaccinated.
While the first week of August saw 268 deaths, the last seven days saw 132.
Authorities have retained a curfew but reopened beaches, entertainment venues and sports grounds, with spectators required to present health passes. Weddings and political protests remain banned.
Algeria relaunched international flights in June after a suspension of more than a year.

Libya

Libya has officially recorded 4,500 Covid deaths among its seven million population.
In the last week of July it recorded 24,000 new cases and 204 deaths, but the past seven days have seen just a third of that number of infections and 83 deaths.
The country’s vaccination campaign got off to a slow start but, on 11 August, a centre was opened in the capital Tripoli, with another in the country’s east 10 days later - followed by a string of smaller ones.
An AFP tally shows that just over 18 per cent of Libyans have received a first jab.
But the vaccines have arrived in irregular batches, and just two per cent of Libyans have received the full two doses.
Libyan health authorities have noted a fall in infections in the west after the border with neighbouring Tunisia was closed on 8 July.
The frontier reopened on Friday with strict health measures in place to prevent another uptick in cases.
Authorities fear eastern Libya could see a similar uptick as cases surge in neighbouring Egypt.

Germany's infection rates fallen for fifth day in a row
Jedidajah Otte - The Guardian
The 7-day incidence for Covid infections in Germany has fallen for the fifth day in a row.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said there were 72.0 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants as of Saturday morning.
On the previous day the incidence rate stood at 74.4, a week ago it was 82.8.
German health authorities reported 8901 new coronavirus infections to the RKI within one day.
A week ago, 11,214 new infections had been logged.

The New York Times reports on how overblown fears that Covid-19 can be transmitted through surfaces has had an impact on handling non-hazardous rubbish and is hampering recycling.


Travellers could be as likely to catch Covid on a trip to Torquay as one to Turkey, an expert has said
PA reports:
Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said:

  :Left Quotes:   Given the fact that community transmission within the UK is still running at a high level, it seems churlish to put high barriers in the way of international travel when the risks of catching Covid at home are relatively high.
With infection rates as high as they are in the UK, and with vaccines offering good but not perfect protection, you may be as likely to pick up Covid from a trip to Torquay as a trip to Turkey.

With changes to testing rules, he warned that the “more accurate” PCR tests should be used to confirm results of quicker lateral flow tests.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Friday that the travel traffic light system is to be replaced from 4 October by a single, reduced, “red list” of destinations, from where travellers arriving in England will have to quarantine in a Government-supervised hotel.

UK teachers targeted by Covid anti-vaxxers as schools prepare to vaccinate pupils
Julie Henry - The Guardian
Secondary schools in the UK have been plunged into the centre of the row over Covid vaccines for 12- to 15-year-olds, with anti-vaxxers at school gates and a headteacher threatened with legal action by one of his own governors.
Letters circulated by campaign groups and parents are accusing schools of sanctioning “medical experimentation” if they allow the Covid vaccination programme for 12- to 15-year-olds to go ahead.
The headteacher of a secondary school in Hertfordshire has been sent one of the pro forma letters, which was signed by a member of the school’s own governing body. It said she would hold the head personally liable if children were given Covid jabs without parental consent.
Read more.

UK death roll increases by 164

The UK has recorded 164 new Covid-19 related deaths and 30,144 new cases in the latest 24 hour period, government figures show.

---

Here is a summary of developments so far today:

• Half-term holiday bookings up by 200% since the relaxation of travel rules in England.
  
• Professor Adam Finn, a member on the JCVI has warned of “uncertain times ahead” in the coming months adding it was “sensible” for 12-to-15-year-olds to get the Covid vaccine.
  
• Secondary schools in UK have been caught up in row over Covid vaccines for students
  
• Ronapreve, the Covid antibody drug, is to be given to vulnerable NHS patients.
  
• A disaster relief organisation founded by the actor Sean Penn is boosting Georgia’s drive to vaccinate people against the coronavirus.
  
• Unvaccinated university students have been urged to get a Covid jab in freshers’ week to protect themselves and their peers against the virus.
  
• Two professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing have reportedly refused to be vaccinated against Covid, causing complications before the show’s return on Saturday night.
  
• The night-time economy in Wales needs “clarity” and “simplicity” when it comes to the implementation of Covid vaccine passes, an industry chief has warned.
  
• Victoria police clashed with anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, as the Australian state recorded another 535 new coronavirus cases and one death.
  

Today’s data on the UK transmissions and fatalities means deaths in the last seven days were up 2% on the week before, while cases are down 20.4% on the week before.

An update from police on the protest in London against Covid-19 vaccinations and testing:

People take part in a demonstration against coronavirus vaccinations in London, England. Photograph: Tom Nicholson/Reuters

Italy reported 51 coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections rose marginally to 4,578.
Italy has registered 130,284 deaths linked to Covid-19 since its outbreak emerged in February last year, Reuters reports.
The country has reported 4.63 million cases to date.
Patients in hospital with Covid-19 - not including those in intensive care - stood at 3,958 on Saturday, down from 3,989 a day earlier.
There were 31 new admissions to intensive care units, down from 34 on Friday.
The total number of intensive care patients fell to 519 from a previous 525, Reuters reports.
Some 355,933 tests for Covid-19 were carried out in the past day, compared with a previous 284,579, the health ministry said.

Singapore records highest daily case increase since April 2020

Singapore’s health ministry reported 1,009 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the highest since April last year.
A recent rise in cases after the relaxation of some Covid-19 measures has prompted Singapore to pause further reopening.

France reported 89,206 coronavirus deaths in hospital, an increase of 42, Reuters reports
The country has had more than 115,000 deaths overall.
More than 80% of its population has been vaccinated against the virus.

Around 25,000 people joined a massive outdoor drinking party marking the start of term at a Madrid university without observing safety precautions, police said Saturday, admitting they were caught off-guard.
Spanish media said it was the biggest such gathering since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic when large public gatherings were halted to stop the spread of the virus, AFP reports. “There were thousands of people on the grounds of Complutense University, about 25,000,” a municipal police statement said, indicating the gathering appeared to have been organised online via Whatsapp. Images on social media showed vast crowds of beaming youngsters gathered on the campus, drinking, dancing and hanging out with hardly a mask in sight. “Without prior warning from the university or time to prepare an appropriate operation, breaking up a gathering of some 25,000 people is an almost impossible job,” police said, indicating they had only reached the site after midnight. Although Spain has lifted many of its pandemic safety restrictions, people are still required to wear masks outdoors if they are unable to maintain a 1.5-metre (five-foot) safety distance from those around them. And large gatherings remain banned, although the numbers vary from region to region. But some people have dropped their guard given the rapid pace of the vaccination programme, with more than 75 percent of Spain’s 47 million residents now fully vaccinated.

A school district in the Canadian province of British Columbia will be locking down schools starting Monday due to ongoing anti-vaccine protests.
The “hold and secure” protocol was enacted on Friday after people protesting vaccines and masks, who the district said had been targeting schools all week, entered two school buildings in and around Salmon Arm, British Columbia. The protocol meant that students could not leave or enter the building for the rest of the day. All schools in the district will be under the same “hold and secure” starting Monday. Canada has seen a wave of anti-vaccine protests ramp up in recent weeks as the country’s federal election draws nearer, Reuters reports.

---

‘People are hurting’: food charities in demand in Sydney’s Covid hotspots
Mostafa Rachwani - The Guardian
Food charities say demand for assistance in south-west and western Sydney is continuing to grow, with more than five times the number of hampers being handed out each week since before lockdown.
OzHarvest, a food rescue organisation that has been providing food hampers and cooked meals for people in need, has established two “hamper hubs” in the 12 local government areas hardest hit by NSW’s Covid outbreak, in Lakemba and Granville, to deal with the increasing demand.
Sarah Flomersfeld, the NSW operations lead at OzHarvest, said there has been a 500% increase in demand for hampers since the start of this year’s lockdown in greater Sydney.
“We’ve seen unprecedented demand across New South Wales, but particularly in western Sydney. We’re delivering about 150,000kg across greater Sydney, which is about 350,000 meals every week,” she said.
Read more

‘Freedom day doesn’t include me’: for some, the end of lockdown will be a time of fear
Those most at risk from Covid-19 in Australia say the easing of restrictions when vaccination targets are met will bring anxiety and danger.

  :Left Quotes:  In the roadmap to freedom, I hear nothing about people like me, other than as a qualifying postscript to the Covid deaths: ‘But they had an underlying health condition’,” says Racquel Sherry.

“Freedom day doesn’t include me.”
Sherry, 49 and based in Sydney, is immunocompromised and afraid.
Read more