COVID-19 Alert - 12 October 2020

12 October 2020

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

Applications open Monday, Oct. 12 for Canada Recovery Benefit (VancouverSun.com)
Australia in Talks with Japan, S. Korea on Reopening Travel (Korea Broadcasting System)
Belgium health minister says he can’t rule out second lockdown (Politico.eu)
Budget airlines in Japan struggle amid pandemic (News On Japan)
China emerges from the pandemic (CBS News)
Coronavirus face masks are mandatory outdoors in Italy. Should Canada do the same? (Global News Canada)
Germany mulls restrictions on traveling, partying (Deutsche Welle)
Here’s how Singapore plans to resume international travel safely (CNBC Asia-Pacific News)
How Spain battled a previous pandemic by sending a group of orphans around the world as ‘human vaccines’ (The Independent)
India faces a tough challenge (Gulf News)
Italy starts to ride the second wave (La Repubblica)
Italy’s unlikely pop leftist (Politico.eu)
LETTER: Sweden is no COVID response model (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Photos: India’s Covid-19 tally at 7 million and counting (Hindustan Times)
QAnon is thriving in Germany. The extreme right is delighted (New Zealand Herald)
Some U.S. doctors flee to New Zealand where the coronavirus outbreak is under control and science is respected (CNBC)
Spain’s PM defends Covid emergency lockdown in Madrid (The Guardian)
Speedy response key to China’s successful virus control: Lancet (Shenzhen Daily)
The latest numbers on COVID-19 in Canada for Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 (NationalPost.com)
UK – As a former government adviser, I’m seriously worried about Boris Johnson’s attitude to racism (The Independent)
UK – Boris Johnson set to ban trips outside the North East as tighter restrictions revealed (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
UK – Boris Johnson’s coronavirus lockdown announcement today – what to expect (Manchester Evening News)
UK – Coronavirus news you may have missed overnight: Boris Johnson to announce three-tier lockdown system as Trump claims to be ‘immune’ (The Independent)
UK – Turning local, British PM Johnson to unveil new coronavirus rules (NationalPost.com)
US – 1st wave of COVID-19 homeless fill Central Florida shelters (Orlando Sentinel)
US – CDC forecasts coronavirus death toll to hit 233,000 by the end of the month (Mail Online UK)
US – COVID-19 outbreak in Utah and Wisconsin kill thousands of mink at a fur farm (Blasting News United States)
US – California kept prison factories open. Inmates worked for pennies an hour as COVID-19 spread (latimes.com – Los Angeles Times)
US – Faith column: As pandemic bottles up Idaho, take steps to thrive during uncertain times (Idaho Statesman)
US – Iowa Mourns: Friends and families remember those lost to COVID-19 (Des Moines Register)
US – Kentucky governor, family to quarantine after COVID-19 exposure (UPI)
US – Michigan Officials Warn Of Another “Scary” Virus That People Should Worry About (Zero Hedge)
US – Missouri COVID-19 database error leads to incorrect inflation in reported infections (KansasCity.com)
US – The pandemic disrupted work in North Texas for good, and not always for the better (Dallas Morning News)
US – Trump tries to put COVID-19 behind him with campaign rally in Florida (NationalPost.com)
Verheul ready to rev it up in Portugal (Bedfordview Edenvale News)
WHO’s latest situation report (WHO)

Actions by Companies

A game changer: Apple thinks different with strategically priced iPhone 12 (Business Standard India)
Aeon confirms a customer at Bukit Tinggi mall had Covid-19 (thestar.com.my)
Aldi shoppers are on high alert after infected customer visited Melbourne shopping centre (Mail Online UK)
Aldi supermarket a high-risk location (CourierMail.com.au Breaking News)
AstraZeneca to begin two separate phase 3 trials of Covid-19 antibody treatment (Shares Magazine)
At 520p, is the easyJet share price too cheap? (Yahoo! Finance UK and Ireland)
Bill Gates says Donald Trump is wrong to call Regeneron’s monoclonal antibodies ‘a cure’ (Mail Online UK)
Blackstone refinances Rs 2,500-cr lease rental discounting loans with SBI (Business Standard India)
Budget to include stimulus fund, AIB eyeing cost cuts, and one in three pubs fear closure (Irish Times)
Central banks have to move from QE to RE to CE as impact fades, says JPMorgan exec (Economic Times)
Chevron restarting offshore Gulf of Mexico oil and gas output shut by hurricane (Today Online)
DP World – UAE Region tackles key industry challenges, opportunities (WAM.ae)
FNB Connect sees growth in data, voice minutes usage (IT Web)
FirstRand Starts New Bonus System for Managers Stung by Pandemic (Bloomberg)
Hyundai donates 36,000 face masks to Bahrain to help fight COVID-19 (bizbahrain)
JAL eyes discount network for post-coronavirus tourism (Japan Today)
Mahindra offers free coronavirus insurance plan for Bolero pick-up range (AsiaNetIndia.com)
Masraf Al Rayan reports net profit of QR1.66bn in… (Qatar Peninsula)
Mena PMIs record above 50 in September: MUFG (Trade Arabia)
Microsoft bring change in work culture, to let employees work from home permanently (India TV)
Microsoft unveils new ‘flexible workplace’ guidance (Telecompaper)
Moody’s – Coronavirus will cause long-lasting revenue losses for emerging market sovereigns (Business Insider)
More than 900 Singapore Airlines A-380 lunches sold out in half an hour (Business Times Singapore)
New Zealand signs deal with Pfizer, BioNTech for coronavirus vaccine (Business Standard India)
Regeneron CEO speaks on President Trump’s antibody cocktail treatment (FOXBusiness.com)
Regeneron CEO, a Dem Donor, Rejects His Treatment as ‘Cure’ (NewsMax.com)
Russia’s Putin to meet Alrosa CEO on Monday, says Kremlin (Mail Online UK)
Singapore Airlines’ A380 restaurant tickets sell out in 30 minutes (Livemint.com)
Swedish apparel retailer H&M plans to expand offline stores in India (Business Standard India)
There will be no royal commission, but we need to question News Corp’s role in Australia (The Guardian)
Total continues restart of Port Arthur refinery: sources (Reuters)
Tougher lockdown rules are ‘counterproductive’, Ocado boss says (Telegraph)
[Monitor] TV shipments break record with Samsung, LG topping list (Korea Herald)
easyJet demands more UK state help, adjusts bases in Europe (CH-Aviation)

Drugs, Treatments & Vaccines

3 Reasons Pfizer and BioNTech Will Have Coronavirus Vaccine Data Before Moderna (Nasdaq)
COVID-19 survivors may have protective antibodies for 4 months (News-Medical.Net)
COVID-19 survivors may have protective antibodies for up to four months, study suggests (Sky News)
Doctor developing COVID-19 treatment says drug taken by Trump needs more trials before mass rollout – 60 Minutes (CBS News)
Elevated plasma ACE2 activity persists months after SARS-CoV-2 infection (News-Medical.Net)
Emergency use authorization for Covid-19 vaccine to depend on clinical trial data: Harsh Vardhan (FirstWord Pharma)
Eric Trump falsely calls president’s coronavirus treatment a vaccine (TheHill – The Hill News)
Panamá inicia fase 2 de un estudio clínico de vacuna contra el covid-19 (CNN)
Tuberculosis vaccine could help in fight against coronavirus (Sky News)
Un vaccin de 1921 peut-il sauver du Covid-19 ? (BBC)

Societal & Economic Impact

East-West divide: Winners and losers in Covid-19 economyThe Straits Times All NewsOctober 12, 2020 5:00 AM For Mr Remigio Brunelli, managing director in China for the Italian sportswear group Tecnica, Covid-19 feels almost like a bad memory as life in Beijing returns to normal and consumers regain their confidence.

Economy remains subdued as virus resurgence hits demand: KDIYonhap News AgencySEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) — South Korea's economy remained subdued as a recent resurgence of new coronavirus infections hit domestic demand, a state-run think tank said Monday. "The Korean economy remains subdued led by domestic demand due to a…

Groups protest demolitions in the country amid COVID-19 pandemicManila BulletinNews / Metro / Share it! [mashshare] Groups protest demolitions in the country amid COVID-19 pandemic Several militant groups on Monday marched from Nicanor Reyes Street (also known as Morayta) to Mendiola Street in Manila to protest the threat of…

How can the UK get the economy back into shape after the pandemic?Sky NewsThe Confederation of British Industry is calling for the country to trade its way to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Rising air pollution in Delhi adds to coronavirus concernsThe Straits Times All NewsOctober 12, 2020 5:00 AM As New Delhi's air quality starts to deteriorate in what has become an annual occurrence in the run-up to winter, concerns are growing over how the coming pollution could potentially complicate the Covid-19 situation.

Seven months into the coronavirus pandemic, banks are getting used to a sour economy. Here’s what to expect from ea… https://t.co/Nuq6GeLVQcWSJ – TwitterSeven months into the coronavirus pandemic, banks are getting used to a sour economy. Here's what to expect from earnings today. https://on.wsj.com/3lCJMet

Suicide spike in Japan shows mental health toll of COVID-19News On JapanThe number of suicides rose in Japan in August due to more women and school-aged children taking their own lives — offering a first glimpse into the consequences of the mental health strain brought about by COVID-19 around the globe. (Japan Times)

Trump Restarts Campaign Travel Trailed by Virus, Sagging PollsBloombergFlorida rally on Monday is president’s first since falling ill Trump lags Biden in polls with election three weeks away President Donald Trump returns to the campaign trail Monday after declaring himself “in great shape” following his bout with…

We’ve fought the pandemic together. Let’s do the same with climate change.Charlotte ObserverIn a time of multiple and unprecedented challenges to individuals and societal well-being, our nation badly needs to pull back from the growing acrimony and revisit our many shared values. It won’t be easy to gradually return to patient talking – and…

White House seeks limited coronavirus relief Bill, promises further talks on broader stimulusThe Straits Times All NewsOctober 12, 2020 9:06 AM WASHINGTON (REUTERS) – The Trump administration on Sunday(Oct 11) called on Congress to pass a stripped-down coronavirus relief Bill using leftover funds from an expired small-business loan programme, as negotiations on a…

Geopolitical Impact

Borongan City maintains strict border control to fight COVID-19Philippine Information AgencyBORONGAN CITY, Oct. 9 (PIA) –The City of Borongan takes pride in the implementation of a strict border control through the public health and safety task force (PHSTF). The task force implements strict border controls in the two entry points to the…

China re-airs NBA after pulling plug during Hong Kong protestsThe Korea Times NewsChina's state broadcaster has started broadcasting National Basketball Association games again, almost a year after they were pulled from the air in a row over Hong Kong. Miami Heat's victory over the Los Angeles Lakers – a win that keeps the series…

China’s contribution to UN peacekeeping changes lives around the worldBeijing ReviewA nurse of the medical detachment of the 18th Chinese peacekeeping force to Liberia treats a villager near Zwedru, Liberia, on November 1, 2015 (XINHUA) When the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hit the mission area of the UN peacekeeping force in…

China, Quad and the Indo-Pacific: Rethinking Asia’s post-COVID geopoliticsTheWeekIndia is not alone in wanting an alliance of like-minded nations against China India’s border skirmishes with China in 2020 have underlined one consequence of India’s decades of non-alignment: In this battle against the world’s next superpower, India…

METALS-London copper rises for fifth day on hopes of China demand, U.S. stimulusReutersBy 2 Min Read (Updates prices, adds quotes) Oct 12 (Reuters) – Copper prices in London gained for a fifth straight session on Monday, buoyed by expectations of demand picking up in top consumer China and hopes of more U.S. stimulus. Three-month copper…

Thousands of Rohingya flee gang warfare in squalid campsTelegraphFighting has broken out between rival gangs vying for control of the cross-border drugs trade Thousands of Rohingya have been forced to flee their homes in recent days after gang warfare broke out in the world’s largest refugee camp in southern…

Cybersecurity Impact

Cyber security rises up the totem poleAustralian Financial ReviewSouth Australia is an epicentre for Australia's big defence projects such as the construction of submarines by French company Naval Group in a $90 billion build, and the $45 billion Future Frigates shipbuilding project by BAE Systems. While the…

CyberScoopNews – How the government is keeping hackers from disrupting coronavirus vaccine research https://t.co/QKWsbMWIW9 by… https://t.co/ViK9teZnk5CyberScoopNews – TwitterHow the government is keeping hackers from disrupting coronavirus vaccine research https://hubs.ly/H0xLsHj0 by @shanvav https://twitter.com/CyberScoopNews/status/1315329314750181376/photo/1

Cybercriminals Gamble With Victims’ Livelihoods To Pass the Covid-19 BluesTrend Microby Fyodor Yarochkin and Vladimir Kropotov In the Trend Micro 2020 midyear security report, we discussed how the Covid-19 global pandemic affected the cybersecurity industry. However, the pandemic didn't just change the way businesses (and…

Fraud increased amid pandemicPhilippines Daily TribuneWhile the country is busy finding ways to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, a few others are using the opportunity to take over thousands of people and businesses’ accounts to rake in money. In a recent press briefing, Inez Hutapea,…

InfoSecHotSpot – Cyber teams are getting more involved in M&A Despite ongoing economic uncertainty amidst a global pandemic, many de… https://t.co/VXerIUgtgQInfoSecHotSpot – TwitterCyber teams are getting more involved in M&A Despite ongoing economic uncertainty amidst a global pandemic, many dealmakers remain optimistic about the outlook for the year ahead as they increasingly pursue alternative merger and acquisition…

InfoSecHotSpot – Trump? Biden? Protect your portfolio by investing in cloud computing, cybersecurity or marijuana There arguably has… https://t.co/MEu3PSL2aSInfoSecHotSpot – TwitterTrump? Biden? Protect your portfolio by investing in cloud computing, cybersecurity or marijuana There arguably hasn't been a hotter industry in 2020 than cloud computing. With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) completely disrupting the…

InfoSecHotSpot – Trump? Biden? Protect your portfolio by investing in cloud computing, cybersecurity or marijuana There arguably has… https://t.co/UHlxCRyOcvInfoSecHotSpot – TwitterTrump? Biden? Protect your portfolio by investing in cloud computing, cybersecurity or marijuana There arguably hasn't been a hotter industry in 2020 than cloud computing. With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) completely disrupting the…

The Covid-19 Pandemic Forces Businesses To Prioritise Investment In Cybersecurity Despite The Overall IT Budget CutsE Hacking NewsAs per a Kaspersky report on ‘Investment adjustment: aligning IT budgets with changing security priorities’ organizations and businesses have focused around 'prioritizing investment' in cybersecurity in spite of the general IT budget cuts in the…

The threat of cyber attacksBusiness Times SingaporeAs if cyber attacks could not get any worse, there are reports of a first fatality suspected from a cyber attack, a patient in Germany died from delayed treatment allegedly due to ransomware . This and the recent cyber-attack that brought down New…

TripwireInc – Cybercriminals are using Donald Trump’s COVID-19 illness to send emails designed to trick unwary users into clickin… https://t.co/yP8VcgtlQmTripwireInc – TwitterCybercriminals are using Donald Trump's COVID-19 illness to send emails designed to trick unwary users into clicking on malicious links.

@gcluley explains more about 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.

12 October 2020

Request an Online Demo.

Product

Download the App

Use-Cases

Contact

Partners

Company

Silobreaker COVID-19 Alert

Sign up for daily info on vaccines, actions taken by governments around the world and how cybercriminals are using the coronavirus as part of their tactics.