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 UK to pilot new mass testing approach
Britain will launch a COVID-19 mass testing pilot scheme in
Liverpool this week, offering everyone tests whether or not they
have symptoms, in an attempt to find a new way to use testing to
limit the spread of the virus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised a "world-beating" national
test-and-trace system earlier this year, where people with symptoms
get tested and the contacts of positive cases are asked to
self-isolate. But the scheme has disappointed and the government's
scientific advisory body said last month its impact on transmission
was marginal.
A second national lockdown is due to come into force in England on
Thursday.
Ukraine close to catastrophe, minister says
The situation in Ukraine is close to catastrophic and the nation
must prepare for the worst, health minister Maksym Stepanov said.
Ukraine registered a record 8,899 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24
hours, up from the Oct. 30 high of 8,312. Total infections stood at
411,093 by Tuesday with 7,532 deaths.
"The situation quickly turns from difficult to catastrophic. We need
to prepare for the inevitable - it is impossible to easily pass the
second wave," Stepanov told parliament.
France considers new Paris curfew
France could reimpose a night curfew on Paris, and possibly the Ile-de-France
region around the capital, amid government frustration that too many
people are ignoring a new lockdown.
France dramatically slowed the spread of the virus in the spring
with one of Europe's most draconian lockdowns. But 10 months into
the epidemic and with winter drawing in, many people are reluctant
to endure another period of confinement.
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"It's unbearable for those who respect the rules to see other French people
flouting them," government spokesman Gabriel Attal told BFM TV. "There is an
attitude of what will be will be.”
Poland weighs more curbs
Polish authorities are considering tightening restrictions, the prime minister's
chief of staff said, but added any steps would stop short of a severe lockdown.
Michal Dworczyk was speaking ahead of the release of official data showing the
total number of infections had passed 400,000 after doubling in less than two
weeks.
The government has already closed gyms, swimming pools, and limited restaurants'
activity to selling food for take away only.
T-cell study adds to debate over duration of immunity
A small but key UK study has found that "cellular immunity" to the pandemic
SARS-CoV-2 virus is present after six months in people who had mild or
asymptomatic COVID-19 - suggesting they might have some level of protection for
at least that time.
Scientists presenting the findings, from 100 non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients
in Britain, said they were "reassuring" but did not mean people cannot in rare
cases be infected twice with the disease.
"While our findings cause us to be cautiously optimistic about the strength and
length of immunity generated after SARS-CoV-2 infection, this is just one piece
of the puzzle," said Paul Moss, a professor of haematology at Britain's
Birmingham University who co-led the study.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes, Editing by William Maclean)
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