Pandemic, Sunday Updates and Reflections

UK

Prof Chris Whitty

Children are more likely to be harmed by not returning to school

the chances of children dying from Covid-19 are incredibly small

Missing lessons damages children in the long run

Covid-19 would be a challenge for at least nine months

vaccine unlikely before the end of the year

reasonable chance, for winter in 2021-22

All England back next month

Scotland back already

Illegal gatherings

Birmingham

70 + unlicensed street and house parties on Saturday night

Huddersfield

Meeting of 300 people

London

1,000 + unlicensed events since the end of June

Organisers now could face fines in England

Attenders, smaller fines, doubling on each offence

Also those who flout face coverings where mandatory, public transport, shops, supermarkets.

Robert Redfield (CDC)

Turning the tide in the South

E.g. Arizona

Masks

Hands

Distance

Restaurants limited

Being smart about crowds

Bars closed

Retail open

2 weeks cases went up

4 weeks later, back to where they started

2 to 4 weeks delay

Infections to date

1 – 20%

Parts on NY city, 20 – 25%

30 – 60 million people infected to date

Herd immunity

Need to get R under 1

30 – 50% history of immunity PLUS mitigation strategies

Partial held immunity

Vaccination

Increase flu vaccine with confidence

Twindemic

Mitigation PLUS vaccination could make this a minimal flu season

9, 300, 000 million additional doses acquired

Pharmacists vaccinating, 3 years and older

Overwhelmed hospitals increase mortality

COVID Vaccination

Fall

Distribution networks being developed now

Addressing Influenza Vaccination Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2018 - 2019

Overall 45.3 %

White 48.7 %

Black 39.4 %

Hispanic 37.1 %

American Indian / Alaskan 33.1%

CDC

Wildfire smoke

Irritate the lungs

Cause inflammation

Immune effects

More prone to infections and COVID - 19

Only N95s work

Smoke symptoms

Dry cough

Sore throat

Difficulty breathing

COVID symptom

Fever or chills

Muscle or body aches

Diarrhea

Red flag symptoms

Chest pain

India

US, Brazil, India

Daily infections increasing

Low testing

Delhi

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar in the north

Southern states

South Korea

Cases, + 397

Greater Seoul region

Restrictions large gatherings, whole country, services, nightclubs, karaoke bars,

internet cafes, beaches closed

Ireland

Parliamentary Golf Society dinner, last week

hours after tightened restrictions

Coronavirus vaccine: Short cuts and allegations of dirty tricks in race to be first

In this race, accusations of short-cuts, espionage, unethical risk-taking, jealousy, vaccine nationalism

Lawrence Gostin, Professor, Georgetown University

The reason the Covid-19 vaccine has taken on such political symbolism is that the superpowers have seen the vaccine as projecting their scientific prowess, actually validating their political system as superior

July

UK, US and Canada accused Russia's spy agencies of hacking into vaccine research, stealing data

Thomas Bollyky, director of the global health program, Council on Foreign Relations

There have been short cuts taken for sure, particularly in the Russian case

Testing within the military

Locking up large initial doses of supplies of vaccines

Vaccine diplomacy

Dr Tedros, 18th August

Richer countries should join a global programme to share vaccines with poorer nations

We need to prevent vaccine nationalism

Challenge trials

30 experimental vaccines in human trials

All have been told to maintain social distancing, and not to seek out coronavirus

50% placebo

Vaccine might not work

Brazil, US

1 day sooner

Volunteers, 35,545

Counites, 160

Influenza, malaria, typhoid, dengue fever, and cholera

If, 25% of lives saved

1 day saves 1,250 lives

1 week saves 8,750 lives

1 month saves 37,500 lives

3 months saves 112,500 lives

Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health

Biomedical and public health research