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    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021

    Kitkat
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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 09:54

    Summary for Saturday, 13th November

    • A catastrophic winter wave of coronavirus is unlikely in the UK, an influential pandemic adviser to the government has said. “I think it is unlikely we will get anything close to what we had last year, that catastrophic winter wave,” Prof Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said on Saturday morning.

    • In the first year of the pandemic, 25 children and young people in England died as a result of coronavirus infection, according to research published this week. “These results are important for guiding decisions on shielding and vaccinating children,” the researchers said in the journal Nature Medicine.

    • Matt Hancock, the former UK health secretary, may be set to write a book entitled How I Won the Covid War. According to the Daily Mail, Hancock is in talks with HarperCollins for a blow-by-blow account of lockdown rows with ministers, aides, scientists and doctors.

    • A US court upheld a decision to halt Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for companies with more than 100 workers, condemning it as “staggeringly overbroad”. “The mandate is a one-size-fits-all sledgehammer that makes hardly any attempt to account for differences in workplaces,” judges said.

    • The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, urged unvaccinated people to reconsider getting their jabs, as the seven-day coronavirus incidence rate in Germany rose to the highest level since the pandemic began. “Difficult weeks lie ahead of us, and you can see that I am very worried,” Merkel said.

    • Germany is preparing to bring in the army to assist overrun healthcare services, according to reports. Der Spiegel reported that 12,000 soldiers will be mobilised by Christmas. Among their missions will be providing booster vaccinations and tests in care homes and hospitals.

    • A new record Covid death toll has been reported in Russia, with 1,241 dying from the disease in the past 24 hours. There were 39,256 new coronavirus cases recorded in the same period. It came after most of Russia’s 80-plus regions lifted a weeklong workplace shutdown at the beginning of the week.

    • Barnsley is set to unveil one of the first public memorials in England to the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic later this month. The bronze statue will feature seven figures – a refuse collector, a nurse, a teacher, a carer, a police officer, an elderly man and a young girl.

    • Greece has once again tightened its restrictions on the number of people that can enter supermarkets, just weeks after it relaxed the measure. As of Saturday, supermarkets will only be allowed to allow in one person per 9 sq m, after the rule was eased on 25 October.

    • Several thousand people rallied in Melbourne, Australia against vaccine mandates. Vaccinations are voluntary, but some areas mandate vaccinations for many occupations and have barred the unvaccinated from activities such as dining out and concerts. Protests also took place in Christchurch, New Zealand.



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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 10:11

    Netherlands imposes partial lockdown as EU cases surge

    AFP
    European governments on Friday eyed unpopular Covid curbs, with the Netherlands opting for Western Europe's first partial lockdown of the winter as EU experts said 10 countries in the bloc were causing "very high concern".
    Dutch premier Mark Rutte announced at least three weeks of lockdown measures targeting restaurants, shops and sporting events to curb a record spike in coronavirus infections.
    The "annoying and far-reaching" measures came as the EU's diseases agency said 10 countries in the 27-member bloc faced a Covid situation of "very high concern", warning the pandemic was worsening across the continent.
    In its weekly risk assessment, the European Centre for Disease Control listed Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia in its highest category of concern.
    Since it emerged in China in December 2019, the coronavirus has killed over five million people and caused economic devastation around the world.
    Europe is facing a sharp deterioration in the epidemic situation, especially in Germany and central and eastern Europe. Non-vaccinated people are the most affected.
    Announcing his country's partial lockdown, Rutte told the nation the crisis required a "hard blow of a few weeks because the virus is everywhere, throughout the country, in all sectors and all ages".
    Cases have soared since the Dutch government lifted most Covid measures less than two months ago on September 25, reaching a record level of more than 16,000 on Thursday and Friday.
    "Fortunately, the vast majority have been vaccinated, otherwise the misery in the hospitals would be incalculable at the moment," Rutte said.

    Public events scrapped 
    Bars, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets will have to shut at 8:00 pm for the next three weeks from Saturday, while non-essential shops must shut at 6:00 pm, the Dutch government said.
    People will be limited to having four visitors at home and have been advised to work at home unless absolutely necessary.
    Public events will also be scrapped while football matches including the Netherlands' home World Cup qualifier with Norway next week must be played behind closed doors. Schools will however remain open.
    Several hundred protesters angered by the announcement gathered in The Hague afterwards, with police firing water cannon at them.
    Other European nations stopped short of such drastic action but Norway said it would reintroduce nationwide measures to stem surging coronavirus cases, including authorising towns to use health passes.
    The Nordic country, which had lifted all Covid-19 restrictions in late September, will also propose a third vaccine dose for people over 18 but will not impose a new lockdown, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told a news conference.
    "The government wants to introduce new national measures to contain contagions," he said.
    "However, we are not talking about confinements or measures as strict as we saw earlier in the pandemic."

    Lockdown for unvaccinated 
    In Austria, the government said it wanted a lockdown for those not vaccinated against or recovered from the coronavirus, while Vienna city authorities said they would start vaccinating children as young as five -- a first in the EU.
    Salzburg and Upper Austria states, which have seen some of the worst case rates, are already introducing a lockdown for the unvaccinated from Monday. 
    This means they will not be able to leave the house except for reasons such as buying essential supplies, exercise or seeking medical care.
    "The aim is clear: we want on Sunday to give the green light for a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated," Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told a news conference, condemning the country's 65 percent vaccination rate as "shamefully low".
    Lockdowns across the country would be enforced with "random" spot checks.
    Neighbouring Germany also braced Friday for new restrictions to contain a ferocious fourth Covid wave.
    Health Minister Jens Spahn described the Covid-19 situation as "serious" while the country's health agency chief urged Germans to avoid large gatherings.
    Amid a record surge in infections, Lothar Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), added that he himself would be skipping next month's New Year's parties.
    Wieler said large gatherings "must be viewed very critically" and in some situations "clearly should be cancelled". 
    The federal government and leaders of Germany's 16 regional states are due to meet next Thursday to discuss joint measures to combat the resurgence.
    Read more.
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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 10:29

    Winter Olympics venue to restrict capacity to 20% over Covid-19 concerns

    theJournal.i.e
    A major Beijing Winter Olympics venue will only let in one-fifth the spectators it normally holds due to Covid-19 fears.
    With less than 100 days to go to the Games, China is bracing for a major challenge to its zero-Covid strategy as thousands of international athletes and officials descend on its capital after months of strict border controls.
    The National Aquatics Centre, the main curling venue, will allow “no more than 1,000 people” — 20% of its capacity — to attend 2022 Winter Olympics events, manager Yang Qiyong told the state-run Global Times.
    The venue, built to host water sports during the 2008 Summer Olympics, was dubbed the “Water Cube” for its striking box-like design.
    It got a new nickname — the “Ice Cube” — after being refitted for the Beijing Winter Games.
    All staff at the venue have received booster Covid-19 jabs, and backup personnel will be deployed to “take over if anyone has an epidemic-related problem”, Yang added.
    China has managed to restrict domestic infections to small clusters through aggressive lockdowns and mass testing, although a nationwide spike in the past month has put authorities on high alert again.
    Coming just six months after the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Summer Games, the Winter Olympics will be held from 4 to 20 February next spring in a “closed loop” bubble.
    No spectators from outside China will be allowed to attend.
    And the estimated 2,900 athletes must be fully vaccinated or face 21 days’ quarantine upon arrival. They will also be tested daily.
    Read more.

    Latvia Bans Unvaccinated Lawmakers From Meetings

    AP
    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021 Latvia10
    Building of Parliament of Latvia in Riga on Jan. 20, 2021. (Gints Ivuskans/AFP via Getty Images)

    COPENHAGEN, Denmark—Latvia on Friday banned unvaccinated lawmakers from attending in-person and remote parliament meetings as of Monday when the monthlong lockdown ends. Their wages also will be suspended if they are not able to work at the parliament.
    The law, approved by the Saeima assembly in a 62–7 vote with two abstentions and 29 absent lawmakers, requires members of parliament and local government members to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
    The Baltic News Service reported that a lawmaker may participate in meetings after they present to the assembly’s Mandate, Ethics, and Submissions Committee a certificate confirming that they have been vaccinated against or recovered from the coronavirus, or an opinion of a clinical university hospital specialist recommending postponing vaccination for a certain period of time, together with a negative COVID-19 test.
    The law enters into force Nov. 15 and will remain effective until July 1, BNS reported.
    Latvian television said 91 of the 100 Saeima’s members have a certificate, as do 696 out of 758 local government members.
    Last month, Latvia introduced an 8 p.m.–5 a.m., curfew due to the worsening coronavirus situation in the Baltic country of 1.9 million. Most stores are closed, and indoor and outdoor gatherings, including entertainment, sports, and cultural events aren’t allowed. These restrictions end Nov. 15.
    Earlier this month, the Latvian assembly authorized employers to dismiss employees who are required to get vaccinated against the coronavirus but refuse to do so.
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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 11:00

    Hong Kong reports two new imported cases

    The Centre for Health Protection reported two new imported coronavirus cases on Saturday.
    Both patients, a 49-year-old woman and a 65-year-old woman, have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. The 49-year-old is infected with the mutant L452R strain.
    They had flown to Hong Kong via the United Arab Emirates on the same flight.
    One of them had travelled to Mauritius before arriving here, while the other came from Pakistan.Health authorities also said there were fewer than five preliminary positive cases.

    Ireland forecast to have 12,000 Covid cases a day by Christmas

    Ireland could record more than 12,000 Covid-19 cases a day by Christmas, according to a forecast by US academics.
    Cases would peak at 12,300 a day in late December before falling again, while a further 2,000 deaths would occur by the start of March, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which is based at the University of Washington.
    The Irish Times reports that the institute, which has correctly predicted trends earlier in the pandemic, attributes the rise in cases in the Northern Hemisphere to winter seasonality, waning immunity, decreased mask use and increased mobility levels.
    A further 5,843 confirmed cases were notified on Friday, the sixth-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic.
    Case numbers in the coming days are likely to remain at such high levels, as the process of clearing a massive backlog of tests is under way.
    The total number of confirmed cases, currently at 490,000, is set to pass the half-million mark within days. However, a total of 511,282 positive tests has been recorded.
    Friday’s figures include a backlog of about 1,200 cases from the past three days.
    There were 549 Covid-19 patients in hospital on Friday morning, up six on the previous day. This included 96 in intensive care, down one.
    Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said Friday’s high figures were another indication of the “very significant increase” in the incidence of the disease across almost all age groups.
    Meanwhile, more than 6,000 children and teenagers tested positive for Covid in the first week of November, the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre have shown.
    Rising case counts across Europe have forced a rethink on public-health measures by many governments.
    The Netherlands has ordered bars, restaurants and non-essential stores to close at 7pm for at least three weeks starting on Saturday. Austria is planning to place millions of unvaccinated people in lockdown.

    Free coronavirus tests return as Germany grapples with rising numbers
    Berlin (dpa) - Coronavirus tests are to become free to all again on Saturday in Germany, as the country struggles to find a response to a resurgence in the disease that is breaking near daily records and threatening its health system with breakdown.
    Health officials ended months of free access to coronavirus tests just weeks ago, in an attempt to encourage more people to get vaccinated. But the recent sharp rise in case counts has shocked the country and forced it to use all weapons in its arsenal in an effort to detect cases as early as possible.
    On Saturday, Germany's infectious diseases agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), reported 45,081 new cases, which puts its seven-day incidence of cases per 100,000 people at 277.4, a new record in this pandemic. The day before, that number had stood at 263.7. A week ago, it was 183.7. A month ago, it was 65.4.
    The country also recorded 228 new deaths, up from 142 deaths last Saturday. The rate of intensive care beds occupied by coronavirus patients is now at 4.7 per 100,000, though this smooths over sharp regional variations. In December, that rate was 15.5.
    The upswell in cases caught Germany at a politically tricky moment, shortly after national elections. The sitting government is in caretaker mode and the likely incoming one is still negotiating a working agreement between three parties.
    Officials from all sides have set a meeting on Thursday to hammer out a new strategy, but health officials and politicians have openly asked if the country can wait that long. The RKI has urged people to avoid large gatherings.
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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 11:26

    China's latest COVID-19 outbreak spreads to 21 provinces, infecting 1,379
    CGTN
    The latest COVID-19 outbreak in China had infected 1,379 people in 21 provinces as of Friday evening, and over 300 confirmed cases have been discharged from hospitals, Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC), said at a press conference on Saturday.
    With the advent of winter and lower temperatures, there is an increasing risk of the coexistence of COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases like influenza, he warned.
    Overall situation stabilizing
    China's overall COVID-19 situation is stabilizing, and the epidemic in many provinces has been effectively brought under control, Wu Liangyou, an NHC official, said at the press briefing, adding that partial flare-ups in several provinces need to be contained.
    As of Friday, over 2.37 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in China, with more than 1.07 billion people fully inoculated, data from the NHC showed.
    'Dynamic zero-COVID policy'
    Mi said China will stick to a "dynamic zero-COVID" policy, which means early detection, rapid response, precise management and control, and effective treatment of new cases to ensure that no large-scale epidemic rebound caused by imported or locally transmitted cases occurs.

    Czech Republic: Over 14,000 new cases of Covid recorded on Friday
    Laboratories in the Czech Republic registered 14,199 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, nearly 5,000 more than on the same day last week and the second highest number recorded this week.
    According to Health Ministry data, the Czech Republic presently has on average 660 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the space of seven days.
    The number of people hospitalized with Covid is now over 3,800 with 550 of them in intensive care. Friday was 36 people died with Covid, bringing the total epidemic death toll up to 31,431.

    COVID-19 in Egypt: 909 new cases, 57 deaths on Friday
    Egypt Independent
    Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population on Friday reported 909 new coronavirus cases, 57 deaths, and 733 recoveries.
    A total of 342,097 cases have been disclosed in Egypt, this includes 19,366 deaths and 286,348 recoveries. The country’s fourth wave of the virus is in full force, with daily case figures ten times higher than what was recorded at the end of July.
    Moreover, the Health Ministry has stated that official figures most likely only represent 10 percent of actual cases.
    While Egypt’s Supreme Committee for the Management of Coronavirus Crisis lifted some COVID-19 restrictions back in June, there is talk of reinstating some measures.
    The Advisor to the Egyptian President for Health and Prevention Affairs Mohamed Awad Taj Eddin said earlier this month that Egypt has administrated a total of 35 million coronavirus vaccine doses, and spent a total of US$400 million on vaccination efforts.
    Egypt has thus far succeeded in providing all types of vaccines against the coronavirus, according to the directives of the political leadership.
    Taj Eddin explained that Egypt has diversified sources of obtaining vaccines, such as the Chinese vaccine, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson, as well as vaccines from the Global Vaccine Alliance.
    Egypt’s vaccination campaign began in January with priority groups and later expanded to university students. Registration for the jab is open to all. The country aims to vaccinate 40 million people by September.
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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 11:37

    Public Transport Anxiety Is On The Rise - Here Are Ways We Can Deal With It
    Will Noble - Londonist
    London is a city severely affected by anxiety; one major survey* found that [url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/Mental health report.pdf]41.3% of Londoners[/url] suffer from high levels. As for taking public transport in London; that can create something of a perfect anxiety storm — especially when you throw the pandemic into the mix.
    With the help of Professor David Veale from Nightingale Hospital London, we look at the effects that taking the tube, train or bus can have on Londoners — and what we can do to to help ourselves and others.

    What makes us anxious about public transport?
    The top three anxiety-inducing factors on the London Underground, according to a pre-Covid study**, were found to be anti-social behaviour, overcrowding, and high levels of noise.
    Another factor to bear in mind, say Professor Veale, is that things are largely out of our control — not the case when we're walking, cycling or driving.
    And that's before you get into the likes of claustrophobia, or PTSD from a previous public transport experience.
    One or a combination of the above can make public transport seem a scary place at times. But you are most certainly not alone.

    What new anxieties are there for passengers in 2021?
    A YouGov study from May 2021 found that half of Londoners felt uncomfortable about taking the tube due to Covid-related fears. Covid has undeniably changed the way we perceive and experience public transport — and generally not in a positive way.
    In particular, that fear of overcrowding has a whole new spin on it.
    "Overcrowding and not being able to socially distance from other passengers on public transport remains a highly common anxiety for many commuters," Professor Veale says. Such fears aren't without merit, either. As one scientist told the BBC: "If you're close enough to smell someone's garlic breath on public transport, then you're also potentially inhaling any virus that's carried with it."
    Though TfL has (quite rightly) mandated that all non-exempt passengers must wear a mask on public transport, the reality is that not everyone is following the advice. Even Siwan Hayward, TfL's director of compliance recently acknowledged that compliance was falling.
    It's a shame, to say the least, that many Londoners don't realise (or otherwise don't care that) they're triggering anxiety in their fellow passengers.

    So what can we do to fend off anxiety on public transport?
    "For individuals prone to anxiety and panic attacks using public transport, you could consider alternative transport, such as walking, cycling, using taxis, or travelling during off-peak times," suggests Professor Veale.
    Even waiting a few minutes for a quieter train or bus can help.
    When you don't have much of a choice about travelling (and many Londoners have now been summoned back to the workplace) — or you're confronting your anxieties head-on — simple 'grounding techniques' have been said to help against panic attacks. These include things like:

    • Breathing in and out deeply, focusing on each breath
    • Picking up or touching items near you and focus on how they feel
    • Stamping on the spot, which may help control your breathing

    And if we continue to feel anxious?
    "If you are having panic attacks on public transport," says Professor Veale, "I'd encourage you to seek a psychiatric or psychological assessment, so an expert can work with you to understand the root of the problem you are experiencing."
    Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be a balm if you suffer from anxiety and panic disorders, by helping you face your fears and learn to tolerate with uncertainty.

    How can we help our fellow passengers?
    Ask if they'd like any help!
    "If you notice a fellow commuter in distress on the tube, asking them carefully if they need any assistance is a great first step," says Professor Veale.
    Just by being there, having a few words of comfort and assurance can go a long way. Even if that does mean facing an anxiety that almost all London's commuters seem to have... talking to people.

    Can public transport also be an antidote to anxiety?
    Absolutely! The familiar red, white and blue glow of a roundel signifies somewhere that people can feel safe, connected and among others.
    For instance, the importance of the night tube to women's safety was recently the subject of a petition. Let's not forget that while public transport can be the cause of much anxiety, sometimes it's the antidote, too.

    Professor David Veale is a consultant psychiatrist at Nightingale Hospital London, and an internationally recognised expert in many mental health conditions including obsessive-compulsive disorder, health anxiety and body dysmorphia.
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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 11:47

    Poland reports 14,292 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, 266 deaths
    (PAP) JCH/MR
    Poland recorded 14,292 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 266 deaths over the past 24 hours to Saturday morning, against 12,965 cases reported on Friday, data released by the Health Ministry shows.
    The healthcare system is now handling 13,121 Covid-19 hospitalisations, up from 12,419 recorded the day prior, including 1,110 patients on ventilators, against the total of 1,695 ventilators available, the Health Ministry said on Twitter.
    The Health Ministry also reported that 470,973 people are under quarantine. So far 2,788,003 people have recovered.
    In all, Poland has already distributed 39,854,041 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, with 20,134,376 people having been fully vaccinated, according to data posted on the official government website.

    Ireland: Immediate reduction of high-risk activities needed
    An immediate reduction in high-risk activities is now needed in order to slow the spread of Covid-19, according to the HSE's chief executive.
    In a social media post this morning, Paul Reid said it is the responsibility of "all of us" to "turn this around".
    "The virus is now prolific in most communities and nobody wants to be the next hospitalised case," he wrote on Twitter.
    "An immediate reduction by all of us of risk activities is needed to turn this around."
    https://twitter.com/paulreiddublin/status/1459455476337364992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1459455476337364992%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rte.ie%2Fnews%2Fcoronavirus%2F2021%2F1113%2F1259673-covid-hse%2F

    According to Mr Reid, there are now 556 Covid-19 patients in hospital, with 250 receiving enhanced respiratory supports and 95 in ICU.
    Yesterday, the Department of Health confirmed 5,483 new cases of Covid-19, in what Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan called "one of our highest ever daily figures of confirmed cases".
    RTÉ News understands that those figures include a backlog of around 1,200 cases from the past few days.
    In a tweet yesterday, Dr Holohan said: "Before you leave the house, think about the number of people you are going to meet, and the risk associated with the activities you have planned."
    He urged people to: "Keep your contacts low and avoid crowds; Wear a mask correctly; Meet outside if possible; Avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces; Practice good hand and respiratory hygiene."
    Call to speed up boosters
    Professor of Immunology Christine Loscher said the "fast forward button" needs to be pressed now so the booster vaccines can be rolled out quicker.
    Pharmacies should be allowed to help like they previously did with the vaccinations, she said, saying it would add another "layer of acceleration" to the programme.
    People need to have it "clear in their heads that never have we been so exposed to Covid as we are now."
    Everyone needs to be cautious with the current level of Covid in the community, she added. "That means people just need to mask up wherever they think it is appropriate and where they can."
    There is transmission among children and they can carry a viral load whether they are symptomatic or not and that needs to be addressed, Prof Loscher said.
    She said for now monitoring Covid levels in children is around antigen testing in the house but she said she has been advocating for antigen testing as a monitoring tool for some time.
    "It should be something that should be freely available and people being able to monitor their own levels."
    She believes it would significantly address the spread of the virus in the community by those who are asymptomatic.
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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 12:05

    Boris Johnson urges people to get Covid boosters as he warns of ‘storm clouds’
    Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, has urged elderly and vulnerable people to get their coronavirus vaccine booster jabs to prevent a rise in Covid cases, as he warned of “storm clouds” forming over parts of Europe.
    Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Croatia are among the countries that have recently seen a surge in Covid cases, with the former recording its highest coronavirus case numbers since the start of the pandemic.
    Speaking in a broadcast clip, Johnson said the situation was of concern. “I’m seeing the storm clouds gathering over parts of the European continent. And I’ve got to be absolutely frank with people: we’ve been here before. We remember what happens when the wave starts rolling in,” he said.
    The World Health Organization’s regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, has said a lack of uptake of Covid vaccines is behind the increase.
    While Johnson noted that cases in the UK had been “drifting down for a while”, he said it was unclear whether the trend was set to continue. “I’m looking at what’s happening overseas, and I’m simply saying to the British people … this is the moment to get your booster,” he said.
    Read more.

    A new record Covid death toll has been reported in Russia, with 1,241 dying from the disease in the past 24 hours.
    There were 39,256 new coronavirus cases recorded in the same period, according to Reuters.
    Most of Russia’s 80-plus regions lifted a week-long workplace shutdown at the beginning of the week that was designed to curb a surge in case numbers.

    These were the scenes in The Hague on Friday night as the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, announced new coronavirus restrictions across the Netherlands.
    Police fired water cannon against hundreds of firework-throwing protesters gathered outside the justice and security ministry during Rutte’s press conference.
    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021 5760_w15
    Anti-lockdown protesters and antivaxxers gather on Friday night in The Hague, Netherlands. Photograph: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

    About 200 protesters threw stones and fireworks at riot police, and built barricades, according to AFP.
    Police used water cannon to disperse them, with loud bangs and chants echoing through the centre of the city as mounted police rounded up the stragglers.
    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021 5760_w16
    A riot police officer throws a flare into a canal. Photograph: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021 6000_w16
    A protester holding a placard in Dutch confronts riot police. Photograph: Jeroen Jumelet/EPA

    The Dutch restrictions, which include at least three weeks of Covid curbs on restaurants, shops and sporting events, are western Europe’s first partial lockdown of the winter.
    From Saturday, bars, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets will have to shut at 8pm for the next three weeks, while non-essential shops must shut at 6pm.
    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021 5004_w10
    A police officer tries to catch a rioter. Photograph: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

    Public events will be scrapped while football matches including the Netherlands’ home World Cup qualifier with Norway next week must be played behind closed doors.
    People will be limited to having four visitors at home and have been advised to work at home unless absolutely necessary. But schools will remain open, and people will be allowed to leave their homes without restrictions.
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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 13:12

    Covid cases in Tokyo hit 471,000 as of March — quadruple official tally — study says
    The Japan Times
    Nearly half a million people in Tokyo are likely to have been infected with COVID-19 by last March — nearly quadruple the number of official cases announced by the Metropolitan Government — according to a recent study.
    The estimate was made by a team of researchers led by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science that examined 23,234 randomly selected serum samples from patients at 14 Tokyo hospitals taken between Sept. 1, 2020, and March 31 this year, checking for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
    Although none of the patients whose samples were examined had been diagnosed with COVID-19 or exhibited any symptoms at the time of their blood collection, the researchers found that the overall seroprevalence, or percentage of individuals in a population who have developed antibodies against the disease, was 1.83%, while the rate last March — the most recent month in which samples were tested — was 2.7%.
    After adjusting for population age, sex, and region, the researchers estimated that the seroprevalence in Tokyo, which had a population of around 14 million last year, was 3.40% — indicating that 470,778 individuals had been infected with COVID-19 by March, they said.
    “The estimated number of individuals in Tokyo with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 3.9-fold higher than the number of confirmed cases during the period,” according to the study, which has undergone a full peer review and was released Saturday in the Japan Epidemiological Association’s advance online publication of the Journal of Epidemiology.
    The research shows the novel coronavirus to be an inscrutable disease. While 10% to 20% of symptomatic patients infected with COVID-19 experience severe symptoms and are at considerable risk of death, many are asymptomatic or see only mild symptoms, making it difficult for the authorities to accurately track the spread of the pandemic.
    Read more.

    Nepal records 260 fresh COVID-19 cases, two fatalities on Saturday
    The Himalayan
    Nepal recorded 260 new coronavirus infections in last 24 hours, pushing the nationwide tally to 816,675 while the death toll climbed to 11,471 with two fatalities today.
    Meanwhile, the total coronavirus recoveries stand at 797,926 with 478 discharges logged today.
    As per the latest data provided by the health ministry, a total of 8,243 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours of which 5,225 were PCR tests while 3,018 were antigen tests. With this, a total of 4,498,513 PCR tests have been carried out till date.
    Similarly, antigen tests have confirmed 35 positive cases in the past 24 hours. The total number of single-day infections from both the RT-PCR and antigen tests totals to 295.
    Nepal's Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 97.7%, while the fatality rate stands at 1.4%.
    The country's active Covid-19 case count currently is 7,278.
    Currently, there are 98 individuals in various quarantine facilities across Nepal.
    On Friday, Nepal had witnessed 355 cases of the coronavirus infection while three more succumbed to the disease in the same period.
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    • Post n°10

    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021 Empty Re: Coronavirus - 13th November 2021

    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 13:52

    Greece has once again tightened its restrictions on the number of people that can enter supermarkets due to the coronavirus pandemic, just weeks after it relaxed the measure.
    As of Saturday, supermarkets will only be allowed to allow in one person per nine square metres, after the rule was eased on 25 October. It had been changed to one customer per two square metres, according to the Kathimerini newspaper.
    The reintroduction comes after the scrapping of a proposal to require unvaccinated shoppers show proof of a negative rapid test. The idea was deemed too difficult to enforce, with development minister Adonis Georgiadis saying on Friday: “There are problems ... There are some of our fellow citizens who will not even take a rapid test and we cannot deprive them of access to basic goods.”
    Greece registered a record number of cases this week, with its tally of new daily infections rising to 7,335 on Monday.

    Thousands gathered in Christchurch to protest against current government and pandemic controls on Saturday.
    There have been a number of protests across New Zealand this week including one outside Parliament in Wellington on Tuesday.
    The protests come as New Zealand prepares to implement a vaccine mandate for workers employed in education and the health and disability sectors. The majority support the public health measure, with a survey by Talbot Mills Research finding 78% agree with a vaccine mandate for health workers, and 76% with one for teachers, according to the New Zealand Herald.

    Germany 'mobilises 12,000 soldiers to fight Covid'
    Germany is preparing to bring in the army to assist overrun healthcare services, according to reports.
    Der Spiegel reports that 12,000 soldiers will be mobilised by Christmas. Among their missions will be providing booster vaccinations and tests in care homes and hospitals.
    So far, 630 soldiers have been deployed, according to the paper. The army was not immediately available for comment, Reuters reports.
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    • Post n°11

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    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 18:17

    alien Matt Hancock, the former UK health secretary forced to resign after a scandal involving an extramarital breach of social distancing guidelines, may be set to write a book entitled How I Won the Covid War.
    According to the Daily Mail, Hancock is in talks with HarperCollins for a blow-by-blow account of lockdown rows with ministers, aides, scientists and doctors. The paper suggests the former cabinet minister could be set for an advance of up to £100,000.
    The Mail quoted Hancock as saying: “I have been approached to write a book, but no decisions have been made.”
    Bereaved relatives of victims of the pandemic criticised Hancock, urging him to “have some humility”, the i reported. Lobby Akinnola, the spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, told the paper that Hancock was “cashing in” on the tragedy.
    “You’d think the health secretary who presided over one of the worst death tolls in the world would have some humility or seek to reflect on the many lives lost, rather than try and cash in on the tragedy,” Akinnola said.
    “If he thinks he has ‘won the Covid war’, it’s hard not to feel like our loved ones were used as cannon fodder.”
    Hancock stepped down from his role as health secretary in June after CCTV camera footage emerged of him in a clinch with a colleague in his office, in a breach of social distancing regulations.

    There’s more on the news, broken by the Mail this morning, that Matt Hancock, the former UK health secretary, has been approached to write a book about his role in the country’s Covid pandemic response.
    Relatives of people who have died from Covid in the UK have criticised Hancock after the Mail reported a potential title for the book was How I Won the Covid War.
    Now a spokesperson for Hancock has confirmed he has been “approached” by a publisher. She told the PA Media news agency: “Matt has been approached to write a book about his experiences in the pandemic, but no decisions have been made. There is no deal.
    “The people who were heroic during the pandemic were the NHS staff who worked round the clock to save lives.”
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    • Post n°12

    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021 Empty Re: Coronavirus - 13th November 2021

    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 18:27

    Police arrest at least five protestors in the Netherlands
    Police in the Netherlands have arrested at least five people in connection with protests that led to clashes with police in The Hague over new pandemic restrictions.
    Demonstrators were accused of throwing rocks and fireworks at police, and disobeying police instructions, German news agency dpa reported. Police eventually used water cannon to disperse the crowd.

    UK death toll increases by 157
    The UK has recorded 157 deaths in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 142,835.
    It also recorded 38,351 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 9,524,971.

    Italy reported 53 coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday, while the daily tally of new infections was 8,544, Reuters reports.
    Italy has registered 132,739 deaths linked to Covid-19 since February last year, the second-highest toll in Europe after the UK. The country has reported more than 4.8 million cases to date.
    Patients in hospital with Covid-19 - not including those in intensive care - stood at 3,597 on Saturday, up from 3,525 a day earlier.
    There were 39 new admissions to intensive care units, up from 47 on Friday. The total number of intensive care patients increased to 453 from a previous 445, Reuters reports. Some 540,371 tests for Covid-19 were carried out in the past day, compared with a previous 498,935, the health ministry said.

    Singapore reports 2,304 new cases
    Singapore has reported 2,304 new Covid-19 cases, compared with 3,099 the previous day, and a further 14 deaths, Reuters reports.

    France has reported a further 16 deaths, bringing the total to 91,211, Reuters reports.
    The country also said there are 1,202 people in intensive care units for Covid-19, an increase of 20.

    Morocco will conduct rapid Covid-19 tests to passengers arriving in its airports and ports and will deny access to any visitor with a positive result, the government said.
    Travellers with positive test must be returned at the cost of the airline that brought them into the country, unless they have a permanent residency document, it said. Passengers visiting Morocco should also have proof of vaccination, Reuters reports.
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    • Post n°13

    Coronavirus - 13th November 2021 Empty Re: Coronavirus - 13th November 2021

    Post by Kitkat Sat 13 Nov 2021, 18:30

    A summary of today's developments


    • The UK has recorded 157 deaths in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 142,835. It also recorded 38,351 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 9,524,971.
    • The UK government is to allow people to have their Covid booster jab after five months, a month sooner than under the current policy, in an effort to help stop the NHS becoming overwhelmed this winter.
    • Morocco will conduct rapid Covid-19 tests to passengers arriving in its airports and ports and will deny access to any visitor with a positive result, the government said.
    • In the first year of the pandemic, 25 children and young people in England died as a result of coronavirus infection, according to research published this week. “These results are important for guiding decisions on shielding and vaccinating children,” the researchers said in the journal Nature Medicine.
    • Matt Hancock, the former UK health secretary, may be set to write a book entitled How I Won the Covid War. According to the Daily Mail, Hancock is in talks with HarperCollins for a blow-by-blow account of lockdown rows with ministers, aides, scientists and doctors.
    • A US court upheld a decision to halt Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for companies with more than 100 workers, condemning it as “staggeringly overbroad”. “The mandate is a one-size-fits-all sledgehammer that makes hardly any attempt to account for differences in workplaces,” judges said.
    • The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, urged unvaccinated people to reconsider getting their jabs, as the seven-day coronavirus incidence rate in Germany rose to the highest level since the pandemic began. “Difficult weeks lie ahead of us, and you can see that I am very worried,” Merkel said.
    • Germany is preparing to bring in the army to assist overrun healthcare services, according to reports. Der Spiegel reported that 12,000 soldiers will be mobilised by Christmas. Among their missions will be providing booster vaccinations and tests in care homes and hospitals.
    • A new record Covid death toll has been reported in Russia, with 1,241 dying from the disease in the past 24 hours. There were 39,256 new coronavirus cases recorded in the same period. It came after most of Russia’s 80-plus regions lifted a weeklong workplace shutdown at the beginning of the week.
    • Greece has once again tightened its restrictions on the number of people that can enter supermarkets, just weeks after it relaxed the measure. As of Saturday, supermarkets will only be allowed to allow in one person per 9 sq m, after the rule was eased on 25 October.
    • Several thousand people rallied in Melbourne, Australia against vaccine mandates. Vaccinations are voluntary, but some areas mandate vaccinations for many occupations and have barred the unvaccinated from activities such as dining out and concerts. Protests also took place in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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