AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine 90% effective at fighting coronavirus

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine 90% effective at fighting coronavirus:

• AstraZeneca said its vaccine for COVID-19 could be around 90% effective, without any serious side effects.
• The vaccine was developed by Oxford University and was most effective when administered as a half dose followed by a full dose.
• The vaccine can also be refrigerated instead of needing to be frozen.

AZD1222 vaccine met primary efficacy endpoint in preventing COVID-19

AZD1222 vaccine met primary efficacy endpoint in preventing COVID-19 (AstraZeneca)

Two different dosing regimens demonstrated efficacy with one showing a better profile 

No hospitalisations or severe cases of COVID-19 in participants treated with AZD1222

Hackers 'try to steal Covid vaccine secrets in intellectual property war'

Hackers 'try to steal Covid vaccine secrets in intellectual property war': State-sponsored hackers from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are engaged in concerted attempts to steal coronavirus vaccine secrets in what security experts describe as “an intellectual property war”.

Cost of Lockdowns

Cost of Lockdowns: A Preliminary Report: In the debate over coronavirus policy, there has been far too little focus on the costs of lockdowns. It’s very common for the proponents of these interventions to write articles and large studies without even mentioning the downsides.

Here is a brief look at the cost of stringencies in the United States, and around the world, including stay-at-home orders, closings of business and schools, restrictions on gatherings, shutting of arts and sports, restrictions on medical services, and interventions in the freedom of movement.

Um plano alternativo para o combate à pandemia

Um plano alternativo para o combate à pandemia: Nos últimos tempos, tem-se falado e escrito muito sobre a comunicação, os erros nessa comunicação, e sobre os comentários feitos por Graça Freitas e Marta Temido. Não consigo imaginar a pressão, e o cansaço, que estas duas pessoas sentem, mas mesmo por isso é importante esclarecer que se é o trabalho da DGS, combater a pandemia, o nosso papel, enquanto sociedade civil é tentar ajudar o melhor que sabemos. Isso passa, obrigatoriamente, por cumprir as regras escrupulosamente, sem qualquer margem para errar. Mas podemos fazer muito mais. Sei que quando somos atacados o nosso primeiro instinto é nos virarmos para dentro, cerrando fileiras. Se muitos apenas criticam por criticar, ou por motivos políticos, há muitos que fazem crítica sustentada e podem ajudar a encontrar soluções, e a minimizar problemas. Não se espera, neste momento, de uma Direcção Geral de Saúde que seja perita em qualquer outra área que não o combate à pandemia. Mas o que se espera é que não feche as portas a todos os que podem, e querem, ajudar nas outras componentes que também são necessárias e úteis à melhor resolução desta situação.

It's morally wrong for government control freaks to tell us what to do at Christmas

It's morally wrong for government control freaks to tell us what to do at Christmas: The question is not which group is right. It is whether we should be allowed to make the choice for ourselves, instead of having it imposed on us by law.

GCHQ spies join Downing Street 'cell' to give Boris Johnson minute-by-minute intelligence on people’s movements to see if public is complying with lockdown

GCHQ spies join Downing Street 'cell' to give Boris Johnson minute-by-minute intelligence on people’s movements to see if public is complying with lockdown: GCHQ has joined a Downing Street 'cell' which is able to give Boris Johnson minute-by-minute intelligence on people's movements to see if they're complying with lockdown, it has been revealed. 

• GCHQ analysts access mobile data to track public movement during lockdown 
• Online job searches are also being analysed to assess impact on employment 
• Analysis may have helped influence decision to extend furlough to March 2021