COVID-19 Alert - 07 June 2021

07 June 2021

This alert was created automatically by our award-winning intelligence product Silobreaker Online. Story selection is determined by an algorithm and based on queries initially set by a Silobreaker user. Contact us here for more information.

Actions by Governments

Blinken calls on China to cooperate in ‘getting to bottom’ of Covid origins (Business Standard India)
Coronavirus digest: Spain opens borders to vaccinated tourists (Deutsche Welle)
Covid ‘is over’ in Norway, health chief declares (Financial Times – Europe homepage)
Covid ‘is over’ in Norway, health chief declares hxxps://on[.]ft[.]com/3uWl4da (FT – Twitter)
Did COVID-19 dent India’s global image? (Gulf News)
German Factory Orders Drop After Mounting Supply Shortages (Bloomberg)
Here’s How India Is Easing Covid Restrictions Just Weeks After Experiencing World’s Worst Outbreak (Forbes.com)
I flew home from Portugal hours before it turned amber – it was complete chaos (The Independent)
India reports 100,636 new coronavirus infections (The Gulf Today)
India to relax curbs (Straits Times)
Investment projects boom in Switzerland (Swiss Info)
Israel starts giving virus jabs to at-risk children (Special Broadcasting Service)
Pubs, restaurants and gyms reopen in Republic of Ireland (BBC)
Queues for COVID Tests at Lisbon Airport as England Imposes Tougher Restrictions on Return Travellers from Portugal (TownsvilleBulletin.com.au)
South Africa: South Africa’s Top Life Insurers Report Spike in Death Claims During Covid-19 Pandemic (AllAfrica.com)
Spain reopens to global tourists, provided they can prove they have been vaccinated against Covid-19 (El País)
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (NationalPost.com)
The latest numbers on COVID-19 in Canada for Sunday, June 6, 2021 (NationalPost.com)
UK – Boris Johnson and his government needs to provide a clear vision of the Covid-19 roadmap (The Independent)
UK – Foreign aid cuts ‘cast shadow’ over G7 summit, Boris Johnson warned (The Independent)
UK – Low hospital admissions key to ‘tricky’ decision on lifting Covid restrictions on 21 June, Matt Hancock says (The Independent)
UK – Matt Hancock hints at delay to June 21 reopening (Telegraph)
UK – Matt Hancock responds to Dominic Cummings’s care homes remark (BBC)
UK holidaymakers scramble to fly back from Portugal (BBC)
US – ‘Clearly Not Caused By COVID-19’: California County Cuts Virus Death Count By 25% (International Business Times)
US – Illinois reports smallest daily COVID-19 caseload since March 2020 (Chicago Sun-Times)
US – Jill Biden, Dr. Fauci visit vaccine site at Harlem church with protesters angry outside (Mail Online UK)
US – Quiet time: 5 little-known nature preserves not far from home (San Diego Union Tribune)
WHO’s latest situation report (WHO)
travel green list news portugal france covid summer holidays (Telegraph)

Actions by Companies

1M more Sinovac doses arrive in PH (Manila Times)
Air Canada says top executives returning COVID-19 bonuses after ‘public disappointment’ (Global News Canada)
Airbus CEO says business travel will return almost to pre-pandemic levels because people want to fly again (Business Insider)
Apple WWDC 2021 to begin today: How to watch and what to expect (Hindu Business Line)
B.C. pharmacies getting supply of AstraZeneca 2nd doses Monday (Global News Canada)
Canara Bank donates Rs 1 cr to Karnataka CM Relief Fund (United News of India)
Capgemini building up India team to ride 5G, Edge wave (Economic Times)
Cigna Study Shows Uncertainty about the Future Continues to be the Leading Cause of Stress (Finanzen.net)
Covid-19 pandemic: Honda India Foundation opens isolation centres in Haryana, Rajasthan (India Today)
Dettol logo to be replaced by COVID-19 warrior stories, says Reckitt Benckiser (Moneycontrol.com)
Emaar sales rocket 250% to Dh10.5 billion (Khaleej Times)
France: Google fined 220 mn euros for abuse of market power in ad business (Business Standard India)
Gen Z Is Spending At 125% Of Pre-Covid Levels, Amex CEO Says (Zero Hedge)
HDFC to set up O2 plants, Covid beds (Times of India)
Hong Kong Airlines to slash hundreds more jobs, focus on cargo in bid to survive pandemic (South China Morning Post – News)
In Penang, first day of AstraZeneca vaccination at Spice Arena goes well (Malay Mail)
Indonesia Receives 313,100 Astrazeneca Doses from Covax (Jakarta Globe)
JPMorgan freezes donations to Republicans who contested 2020 election (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Kuwait signs deals with Moderna, Johnson & Johnson for vaccine supply — min. (Kuwait News Agency)
Law firm Dentons in tangle over payment to Gupta ‘letterbox company’ after landing Eskom and Denel contracts (Daily Maverick)
Pfizer joins hand with NGO to set up 400 oxygen beds, 10 pc for pediatric patients in Delhi (Ani News)
Pfizer vaccine ‘completely safe’ for UAE residents who got Sinopharm shot: Experts (Al Arabiya)
QNB second most valuable company in Arab world: Forbes (Qatar Tribune)
Rentokil Initial gifts PPE kits worth 2.5 million pound to support India”s efforts to combat COVID-19 (Outlook India)
Singapore NCID director: ‘Hardly any data’ on Sinovac’s potency against Covid-19 variants, unlike mRNA vaccines which are proven effective (Malay Mail)
Sinovac Use For Kids – Medical Experts Review Possibility (Philippine News)
Taiwan’s Foxconn posts stellar revenue for May (Taiwan News Online)
Thailand debuts locally made AstraZeneca but supplies are tight (Business Standard India)
Thales appoints Ashish Saraf as Country Director (United News of India)
Trump claims he has no interest in Facebook return when ban ends (Mail Online UK)
Turkish Airlines boosts Dubai operations with three daily flights (Trade Arabia)
Urgency of diversity in workforce stressed at Sodexo’s D&I conference (Gulf Industry Online)
What to Watch: U.K. Reopening Risks, Apple’s WWDC (Bloomberg)
‘Hardly any data’ on Sinovac’s potency against Covid-19 variants, unlike mRNA vaccines which are proven effective: NCID director (Today Online)

Drugs, Treatments & Vaccines

American expats push for access to coronavirus vaccines, raising questions about international equity (Washington Post)
COVID-19 and its impact on endoscopy services: what is the threshold for missed malignant diagnosis? (British Journal of the Gut)
COVID-19 in patients with cirrhosis: understanding adverse impact (British Journal of the Gut)
Dan Osborne says COVID ‘not dangerous enough’ to force vaccine (Mail Online UK)
Dating apps are going to offer perks for users who get a coronavirus vaccine (Sky News Latest)
Full FDA approval could drive COVID-19 vaccinations, but experts advise against waiting (FirstWord Pharma)
Mixing and matching coronavirus vaccines may help tackle variants, early data suggests (FirstWord Pharma)
Phase II clinical trial of Niclosamide drug for treatment of COVID-19 patients begins (FirstWord Pharma)
Reports of suspected adverse reactions to coronavirus vaccine as of 1 June 2021 (FirstWord Pharma)
Researchers are exploring whether a Covid-19 booster made by one company could be given to someone who got a different company’s vaccine hxxps://on[.]wsj[.]com/3vQTKOW (WSJ – Twitter)
US passes 300m vaccinations as new cases plunge (Financial Times – Europe homepage)
US trials for drug made in Taiwan to be expanded (FirstWord Pharma)

Societal & Economic Impact

Confusion as US economy surgesShanghai Daily BusinessThe United States economy is sparking confusion and whiplash almost as fast as it’s adding jobs[.]Barely more than a year after the coronavirus caused the steepest economic fall and job losses on record, the speed of the rebound has been so…

Depressed after contracting Covid, patient attempts suicideTimes of IndiaVijayawada: A retired non-teaching staff of Kanchikacherla High School attempted suicide after testing positive for Covid-19. According to police, Narayana Jonnalagadda (80), had been living in Nandigama with his family after retirement. Afraid of…

Finances and National Economy: Frugal Economy as a Forced Approach of the COVID PandemicMDPIFinancial and Monetary Research Center “Victor Slavescu”, Romanian Academy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania Department of Research, Romanian-American University, 012101 Bucharest, Romania Department of Economics, Epoka University, 1032 Tirana, Albania Departm…

Hard and fast COVID lockdowns best for economy, researchers findABC OnlineResearchers at the University of Melbourne and the ANU have concluded a "go early, go hard" strategy to suppress COVID results in lower costs to both the economy and public health. In a paper published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE, they say…

India’s economy at risk as pandemic shrinks middle classStraits TimesBlow from Covid-19 may lead to stagnant economy in long term, rise in urban poverty When Mrs Manisha (who goes by only her first name) was hospitalised with Covid-19 last month, the family thought it would be for only a few days. But the 58-year-old's…

K’taka deputy CM distributes 1L free ration kitsTimes of IndiaBENGALURU: Karnataka deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan here on Sunday visited Laggere Ward in Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly constituency and distributed one lakh free ration kits . Deputy CM Narayan, who is also the head of the Covid Task Force…

Kejriwal urges people to follow Covid norms, help bring economy on trackBusiness Standard IndiaWith the unlocking process initiated in the national capital, Arvind Kejriwal warned against laxity and urged people to take all precautions to prevent Covid infection With the unlocking process initiated in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister…

Left activists cremate Covid victimsTimes of IndiaVijayawada: While families of Covid-19 victims are hesitating to come forward to carry out the cremation of loved ones, activists of the CPI(M) have taken on the role of good Samaritans and are carrying out the cremation of dead bodies. One such team…

UP CM Adityanath pushes for contact tracing to fight Covid-19Hindustan TimesAuthorities have moved to lift coronavirus-induced restrictions in all districts except Lucknow, Meerut, Saharanpur and Gorakhpur, where the active Covid cases remain above the 600-mark. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday pressed…

Uganda suspends schools, public transport, gatherings for 42 days as Covid-19 surgesThe Star SA

Geopolitical Impact

BRICS organisation and Covid-19 vaccine geopoliticsFinancial ExpressA first overview of the situation concerns the type of cooperation undertaken by these countries in their participation in the international division of scientific work. By Verena Hitner, The debate on international geopolitical forces gains new…

Biden G7, NATO to-do list: unite allies, fight autocracy, attack COVID-19NationalPost.comWASHINGTON — President Joe Biden's meeting with leaders of the G7 leading industrial economies in an English seaside village this week will usher in a new focus on rallying U.S. allies against common adversaries – the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia and…

China hosts Southeast Asian ministers as it competes with U.S. June 7, 2021 NEWAsahi.comBEIJING–China is hosting foreign ministers from 10 Southeast Asian nations this week amid heightened competition between Beijing and Washington for influence in the region. Chinese state media said the meeting Tuesday in the southwestern megacity of…

End Of ‘Engagement’ Won’t Lead To U.S. Business Exit From ChinaForbes.comA commitment by U.S. businesses to China’s market isn’t likely to be reversed after a high-level warning that relations between the two countries had entered new territory following an extended period of geopolitical tension, a former long-time…

Jeremy Peat: Brexit impact will weigh on Covid economic recoveryHerald ScotlandBy Jeremy Peat Three massive themes must dominate any discussion at the present time on prospects for the Scottish economy and the wealth and broader welfare of all in Scotland. These themes are: 1. Covid19 and the continuing uncertainties regarding…

Macao tightens border control with Guangdong over COVID-19Chinanationalnews.comMACAO, June 7 (Xinhua) — The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) decided on Monday to tighten border control with the neighboring Guangdong Province in the mainland, given the COVID-19 epide

Stricter border control in Guimaras starts June 7Philippine Information AgencyILOILO CITY, June 7 (PIA) – – Starting today, June 7, there will be only three points of entry for residents and visitors to the island province of Guimaras as the provincial government tightens again its border control to contain the spread of…

The banal geopolitical fallout of the laboratory leak hypothesisLivemint.comOnly a real forensic investigation can get the truth but power dynamics will shape what comes of it On 11 September 2001, the US suffered four coordinated terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives, injured over 25,000 people and caused at…

US, Japan vaccine aid to Taiwan a move to counter China’s regional clout: Political scientistsTaiwan News OnlineTaipei Grand Hotel lit up to spell 'USA' to thank country for 750,000 vaccine doses. Taipei Grand Hotel lit up to spell 'USA' to thank country for 750,000 vaccine doses. (AP photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The U.S. and Japan's vaccine support for Taiwan…

Yanzhong Huang: Truth about pandemic origins could come at significant geopolitical costNationalPost.com4On Feb. 9, when a World Health Organization (WHO) team pronounced it "extremely unlikely" that the novel coronavirus escaped from a lab, few could have guessed how much traction the lab-leak hypothesis would gain in just a few months. Today,…

Cybersecurity Impact

According to new research, cyber-attacks using DNS channels to steal data, #DDoS victims, and deploy #malware have grown in volume and cost throughout the pandemic >> hxxps://bit[.]ly/3vU3N5AInfosecurityMag – TwitterAccording to new research, cyber-attacks using DNS channels to steal data, #DDoS victims, and deploy #malware have grown in volume and cost throughout the pandemic >> hxxps://bit[.]ly/3vU3N5A

Advancing cybersecurity to counter COVID-19 threatsJakarta PostCOVID-19 has triggered a storm of panic, disruption and widespread technological upheaval that constitutes the perfect breeding ground for cyberattacks. While the world has been hunkering down and staying at home, hackers are busy sniffing out new…

Editorial cartoons for June 6, 2021: Ransomware attacks, threats to democracy, Fauci emailsCleveland.comEditorial cartoonists this week focused on a that shut down production at global beef producer JBS. The cyberattack came weeks after Russian hackers disrupted Colonial Pipeline operations, creating a run on gasoline in parts of the U.S. Dana Summers…

How the US military used a creepy island to test cyberattacks on the grid — in the middle of a pandemic

hxxps://www[.]cyberscoop[.]com/plum-island-darpa-cyber-exercise-grid/ hxxps://twitter[.]com/CyberScoopNews/status/1401563038847803393/photo/1CyberScoopNews – TwitterHow the US military used a creepy island to test cyberattacks on the grid — in the middle of a pandemic

hxxps://www[.]cyberscoop[.]com/plum-island-darpa-cyber-exercise-grid/ hxxps://twitter[.]com/CyberScoopNews/status/1401563038847803393/photo/1

Protect your computer from ransomwareCBS NewsThe cities of Newark, Atlanta, and Sarasota have been hit. So have hospital systems and just this past week, one of the country's largest suppliers of beef, pork and poultry. Last month, the Colonial Pipeline from Texas to New Jersey was held…

RT @CenDemTech: @cdteu “It also calls on policymakers to ‘ensure cybersecurity & integrity of encrypted comms’ to strengthen people’s trust in digital services, particularly during current global pandemic ‘digital communication plays a central role in maintaining economic & social life.'” #encryptionAlecMuffett – TwitterRT @CenDemTech: @cdteu "It also calls on policymakers to 'ensure cybersecurity & integrity of encrypted comms' to strengthen people’s trust in digital services, particularly during current global pandemic 'digital communication plays a central…

RT @InfosecurityMag: According to new research, cyber-attacks using DNS channels to steal data, #DDoS victims, and deploy #malware have grown in volume and cost throughout the pandemic >> hxxps://bit[.]ly/3vU3N5ASecurityblog – TwitterRT @InfosecurityMag: According to new research, cyber-attacks using DNS channels to steal data, #DDoS victims, and deploy #malware have grown in volume and cost throughout the pandemic >> hxxps://bit[.]ly/3vU3N5A

Ransomware is a massive problem. And there’s no easy fixBoston Globe“Since the beginning of April, we’ve seen an average of a thousand organizations impacted by ransomware every single week,” said Mark Ostrowski, head of engineering for the US East Coast at the cybersecurity firm Check Point Software. That’s about…

The evolution of cybersecurity within network architectureHelp Net Security – NewsThe vulnerable state of the world during the pandemic paved way for an aggressive onslaught of attacks, with around 39 percent of businesses experiencing a cybersecurity breach in the last twelve months. A decade ago, security officers would have…

This video claims that if the Internet is shutdown (for reference, it was designed to withstand *nuclear wars*) it will cost the economy $50billion a day. The only way we can stop a COVID-19 style cyber attack is apparently to unplug all the things… this is pure FUD & hype.hackerfantastic – TwitterThis video claims that if the Internet is shutdown (for reference, it was designed to withstand *nuclear wars*) it will cost the economy $50billion a day. The only way we can stop a COVID-19 style cyber attack is apparently to unplug all the…

Although Silobreaker has relied on what it regards as reliable sources while compiling the content herein, Silobreaker cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, integrity or quality of such content and no responsibility is accepted by Silobreaker in respect of such content. Readers must determine for themselves what reliance they should place on the compiled content herein.

07 June 2021

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