Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

17 Nov

17 November 2020

A series of daily updates for CHO members regarding relevant updates pertaining to Coronavirus from home and abroad.

Key Announcements:

  • The total number of people to have tested positive with coronavirus in the UK yesterday was 21,363, with 213 people having sadly lost their lives.
  • The UK government has secured access to 5m doses of the Moderna vaccine, which could be delivered from Spring 2021 if approved by medicines regulators. Results from the Phase 3 studies for the vaccine have indicated that it is nearly 95 per cent effective in preventing coronavirus.
  • Yesterday, during the government’s coronavirus briefing, Matt Hancock reiterated that the Government hoped to reinstate a regional tier system after 2 December. Dr Hopkins, Sage, added that the tier system might require strengthening to get everyone “through the winter months”.
  • EasyJet has reported a loss of £1.27bn for the year, which marks the first time the business has needed to post a loss of any sort in its 25-year history.

Devolved

  • Nichola Sturgeon will announce today whether some parts of Scotland will be moving into a the highest level of restrictions. If there are any changes announced, the new measures will be implemented from Friday 20 November.
  • Concerns have been sparked in Wales, where 53 people were discharged into care homes from hospitals, within 15 days of testing positive with the virus.
  • In Northern Ireland, emergency departments will begin piloting a new phone triage system, as way of reducing pressures and reducing the likelihood of overcrowding.

International

  • Scientists in Italy have said there is evidence that coronavirus had been circulating in the country from as early as September 2019. They reportedly found this evidence through the blood samples of patients who took part in a cancer study.
  • Seoul and surrounding areas in South Korea will be facing tightened physical distancing rules from Thursday, due to an increased rate of new cases in the country.
  • The Swedish Government are also responding to a second wave of the virus by reducing the size of public gatherings, which will come into place on November 24.
  • Joe Biden, President-elect of the United States, has reportedly called on Congress to work together to pass a new coronavirus relief package.
  • A Covid recovery fund has been blocked as a result of Hungary and Poland vetoing the EU’s budget . The countries said they were unable to support the budget as it violated democratic standards in the EU founding treaty.

Stakeholders

  • The Alzheimer’s Society has said that Matt Hancock must keep his promise that coronavirus testing would be available to allow care home visits in England by Christmas.
  • The Domestic Abuse Commissioner and the Victims’ Commissioner have responded to the Government’s announcement of £11m to support domestic abuse services in Winter. They have said the money is “much needed”, but that a longer-term funding strategy is required to enable the operation of services beyond March 2021.
  • The LGA have said that local government must be able to lead with the NHS on the coronavirus vaccine drive.
  • Organisations such as Global Justice Now have warned about the implications of vaccines being disproportionately bought out by richer countries.