Covid - will vaccinations work with different variants of Covid: How worrying are the UK, South Africa, and Brazil coronavirus variants? - by Michelle Roberts

New variants of coronavirus are emerging that are more infectious than the original one that started the pandemic.

Scientists are urgently studying these mutated versions to understand what threat they pose.

The current vaccines were designed around earlier variants, but scientists are confident that they should still work against the new ones, although perhaps not quite as well.

Lab studies are underway to check this.

Vaccines train the body to attack several parts of the virus, however, not just these sections of the spike protein.

Variants could emerge in the future that are more different again.

Read more: .Covid: How worrying are the UK, South Africa, and Brazil coronavirus variants? - BBC News

The Netherlands: Shell cuts 900 jobs in the Netherlands as part of global restructuring

Shell is cutting some 900 jobs in the Netherlands as part of its earlier announced global reorganisation, website Nu.nl and the Financieele Dagblad said on Wednesday. The job losses, which do not include people working at petrol stations, will cut the company’s workforce in the Netherlands by some 10%, Nu.nl said.

Read more at: Shell cuts 900 jobs in the Netherlands as part of global restructuring - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands: Dutch lockdown extended: Curfew under consideration, Schools could open early; PM: Don’t Travel - A confused message, also no clarity on vaccination schedules

The hard lockdown approach in the Netherlands since December 15 to combat the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will continue until at least February 9. Further, the ruling Dutch Cabinet will definitely consider the option of imposing a curfew in the Netherlands to make a deeper dent in the number of new coronavirus infections in the country, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during a nationally televisies press conference on Tuesday night.

“A curfew is a drastic measure that no one is hoping for,” Rutte said. He said that the Outbreak Management Team has said the curfew could have a favorable impact, but the Cabinet must also take into account the difficulty of the current lockdown situation for many people. “That is why there is a lot to be said for getting the maximum effect. We are going to ask the OMT for urgent advice on what a curfew can bring us."

Read more at: Dutch lockdown extended: Curfew under consideration, Schools could open early; PM: Don’t Travel | NL Times

USA: What saved American democracy? – By Bo Rothstein

Democracy is a fragile form of government. History has shown democracies can be undermined in several ways. It can happen quickly, as in a coup, but democracies can also erode more slowly, as is now taking place in Poland and Hungary.

Based on research on how democracies have collapsed, political science has highlighted what to be especially wary about. If political leaders do not unequivocally take a stand against political violence, do not respect the democratic rights of their opponents and refrain from promising to respect an election result that goes against them, then democracy is in danger.

During his election campaign and even more during his time as president, Donald Trump undoubtedly violated these three principles. His many false claims that the election was rigged, and that he actually won, his support for his Republican party colleagues’ efforts to impede minority turnout and his incitement to the mob that forcibly broke into Congress on January 6th were clear examples.

Read more at: What saved American democracy? – Bo Rothstein

British and Netherlands Relations: Meet the Brexiles who have swapped the UK for the Netherlands to escape Brexit

Britain might be out of the EU, but many Remainers have upped sticks and are now starting a new life in a member state. We meet the Brexpats in the Netherlands and find out what made them leave Brexit Britain behind.

Read more at DutchNews.nl: Meet the Brexiles who have swapped the UK for the Netherlands to escape Brexit - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands- coronavirus vaccinations: more action required by Rutte Government to speed-up vaccination process and prioritise the vulnerable elderly

The rising number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in the Netherlands coupled with the new threat from mutant variants, makes it more urgent to vaccinate the oldest and most vulnerable, experts say.

Vaccine supplies are now coming into the Netherlands, and doctors say they need to get them into many more arms. So far Prime Minister Mark Rutte has not been very clear explaining how he plans to speed-up the vaccine rollout or give a precise schedule on the plan of action.

More than 60 per cent of COVID-19 deaths in the Netherlands have been among residents at the elder care homes and those aged 70 and older, according to an epidemiology update. More hands-on action is needed urgently.

Read more at: Almere-Digest

Netherlands reports sharp 36% jump in coronavirus infections

Another 9,737 people in the Netherlands tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, data from Dutch public health agency RIVM showed. That figure was 36 percent higher than on Wednesday, and less than one percent more than New Year's Eve exactly one week ago.

The total released on Thursday was the highest since Boxing Day, and snapped a 15-day streak where the moving daily average number of infections fell. It was also the first time in six days that the number of new infections was higher than the rolling average, which stood at 7,749.

That average was still higher than it was on December 12, when Cabinet members crafted a plan to put the Netherlands into the ongoing full lockdown. The lockdown restrictions were initially expected to last until January 19, but with many advising the government to keep the measures in place, the Cabinet was reportedly considering a two-week extension.

Read more at: Netherlands reports sharp 36% jump in coronavirus infections | NL Times