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 England's lockdown could be extended until next year
The one-month lockdown for England announced by Prime Minister Boris
Johnson this weekend could be extended as Britain struggles to
contain a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior cabinet
member said on Sunday.
Johnson will say on Monday there is no alternative but to lock down
England as lawmakers prepare to vote on Wednesday on measures to
contain the pandemic.
Government scientific adviser Jeremy Farrar said he had high hopes
vaccines would make a big difference to the pandemic next year, even
if they might not be perfect. British drugmaker AstraZeneca said on
Sunday Britain's health regulator had started an accelerated review
of its potential coronavirus vaccine.
China shows off organised "overkill" lockdown and testing
China's strict formula of immediate lockdowns and mass testing even
at the first signs of infection has been vital to its success in
controlling the disease, allowing its economy to quickly recover
from the crisis, officials say.
The highly orchestrated strategy - described as "overkill" even by
its own proponents - is unique among major economies at a time when
Europe and the United States are facing a massive surge of new cases
and often chaotic policies.
Key to the programme are factors unique to China, including the
Communist Party's tight grip on all aspects of society. Authorities
have unimpeded access to personal information as part of an
expansive surveillance network, regions are required to share
resources, the mass testing system is highly structured around
specific targets and testing is mandatory.
Global guidelines for airline passenger testing
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A global aviation manual now under review by a UN body and expected in November,
suggests global guidelines calling for the use of tests with a sensitivity and
specificity of 95% when screening passengers to detect the novel coronavirus
ahead of flights, three sources familiar with the matter said.
WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan said on Friday that travelling was now
"relatively safe" and posed a "relatively low" health risk although there was no
"zero risk". More advice on risk management processes would be released soon, he
added.
Japan's largest airport on Monday opened a novel coronavirus testing facility
aimed at outbound travellers who need proof they are virus-free, as it takes
steps to reopen international travel that has been largely grounded for months
by the pandemic.
Brazilians protest mandatory immunization, Chinese vaccine
More than 300 Brazilians gathered on São Paulo's main commercial thoroughfare on
Sunday to protest state Governor João Doria's support for mandatory COVID-19
immunization and testing a potential vaccine developed by China's Sinovac.
Doria has previously spoken in favor of making immunizations mandatory, once
vaccines are available, sparking a spat with President Jair Bolsonaro who vows
it will be voluntary. The Supreme Court's chief justice has said the court will
ultimately decide on the issue.
In São Paulo, the Sinovac vaccine is being tested as part of phase III clinical
trials with support from the Doria government. Brazil has the third-worst
outbreak of coronavirus globally, with 5.5 million cases, after the United
States and India, according to a Reuters tally.
(Compiled by Karishma Singh; editing by Richard Pullin)
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