O19 - 10th February 2021 - Wilson James

o19

      10th February 2021

HIGHLIGHTS
        Worldwide cases of COVID-19 are at 107,172,334 with deaths totalling 2,341,351 as of 9th February
         according to Worldometer. So far, 79,027,899 people have recovered from the virus.
        People arriving in the UK from 33 “red list” countries will face mandatory hotel quarantine from 15 th
         February. The quarantine period will be for 10 days and will cost individuals £1750 each, which will
         include three meals a day.
        On 9th February, the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced that those who lie about where they
         travelled abroad could face up to a 10-year prison sentence.
        It has emerged that there could now be more than 4,000 variants of the COVID-19 virus. The World
         Health Organisation has raised concerns over whether existing COVID-19 vaccines would be effective
         against these new strains.
        Studies have suggested that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could be only 10% effective against the
         South African variant of the virus. The revelation has led to the rollout of the vaccine suspended in
         South Africa.
        An African Union plan to vaccinate 60% of the continent against COVID-19 within the next three years
         has seen 16 countries request 114 million doses of the vaccine. The continent has been one of the
         worst hit by the virus with a fatality rate of 2.6% compared to the 2.2% average.

  BREXIT
        The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has reported to Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove that the
         volume of exports passing through British ports has fallen by 68% since January 2020. 65%-75% of
         haulage vehicles coming into the UK from Europe are returning empty due to the reluctance of British
         manufacturers to export their goods. Many UK companies are setting up warehouse and distribution
         centres within the EU to avoid lengthy customs delays.
        The UK has applied to join a free trade pact that includes countries such as Australia and Singapore.
         Negotiations are due to start later this year to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific
         partnership. Joining the 11-member partnership will cut tariffs

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/10th February 2021

COVID – 19

      TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES                       TOTAL DEATHS                   PATIENTS RECOVERED
             107,172,334                           2,341,351                         79,027,899

      09.02.2021 Worldometer

      COVID-19 – UK

      Seven–day rolling rate of new cases                          Seven–day rolling rate of new cases
         by specimen date ending on                                   by specimen date ending on
                 02 Feb 2021                                                  04 Feb 2021

                          Patients weekly admission data as of 09/02/2021
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WORLD NEWS/RAS/10th February 2021

COVID-19 – UK
         The total confirmed UK COVID-19 cases as of 8th February is 3,972,148 with 113,850 deaths according
          to GOV.UK.

         So far, over 12,646,486 people have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination in the UK and
          516,392 have received their second dose according to GOV.UK.

         Scientists in the UK have launched a trial to alternate AstraZeneca and Pfizer manufactured COVID-19
          vaccines in the first and second dose. Scientists say that mixing vaccines could offer better protection;
          it could also help with first and second vaccine targets if doses can come from different manufacturers.
          The government has invested £7m in the trials.

         Schools in England are due to reopen on 8th March. By the end of February, the government is expecting
          to release details on how it plans to ease lockdown restrictions.

         The Department of Education is considering lengthening the school day. It is one of many proposals
          under consideration to help children catch up on their education after unprecedented disruption. As
          part of the idea, the Department of Education is proposing using charities and volunteers to run out of
          hour’s classes. The teachers union NAHT has rejected the idea.

         Surge testing has begun in many postcode areas of England in an effort to stop the spread of the South
          African variant of COVID-19. The government are conducting rapid testing of 80,000 people from eight
          key areas in an effort to locate every single case of the South African variant.

         The UK government will allow companies that took out loans under a COVID-19 scheme more flexibility
          by extending the period during which businesses can make no repayments. The finance ministry said
          more than 1.4 million companies under the COVID-19 loan scheme have borrowed almost £45 million.

         Transport Secretary Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps has given evidence to the Transport Select Committee. Mr
          Shapps defended the government’s decision not to close all borders in a similar way to that of Australia.
          Mr Shapps stated that there was no evidence to suggest that full border closure would get the pandemic
          under control; he also added that given the UKs proximity to Europe, it was essential that people and
          goods were still allowed to move freely.

         The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced on 8th February that 90% of over-75s have receiving
          their vaccination against COVID-19. Hancock also flouted the possibility of the administration of a third
          booster dose in the autumn to protect against new variants of the virus.

    COVID-19- OTHER COUNTRIES
    France
    Prime Minister Jean Castex has rejected a third national lockdown. Even though France has similar infection
    rates to the UK, Mr Castex has stated that stabilising infection rates and the roll out of the vaccine mean the
    government can withhold introducing stricter nationwide measures.

    Iran
    On 4th February, Iran received its first batch of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia, having previously banned the
    importing of COVID-19 vaccines from the USA and UK. The country is also set to start human trials on a second
    locally manufactured vaccine currently under development.

    Israel
    Israel continues to be leading country to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. More vaccinated people per capita
    than any other country, with 70% of people over 70 having already received two doses of the vaccine. Data
    from government sources suggests that the mass vaccination programme is slowing down the virus.
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WORLD NEWS/RAS/10th February 2021

COVID-19- OTHER COUNTRIES CONTINUED

    Kuwait
    From 7th February, Kuwait imposed a two-week long ban on non-citizens entering the country in an attempt
    to stop the spread of the virus.

    New Zealand
    New Zealand health authorities are investigating a new community COVID-19 infection, the fourth case in
    two weeks from people who completed mandatory isolation at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. New Zealand
    has only recorded 1,959 COVID-19 cases and has recently required all travellers who completed the 14-day
    quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland to self-isolate for a further five days at home.

    Qatar
    New COVID-19 measures came into effect on 4th February including restrictions on education, leisure and
    business activities.

    South Africa
    An investigation in South Africa has said that around 17 million USD in COVID-19 funds was no longer available
    due to corruption and fraud committed last year. This lose has association to the inflation of prices for
    protective gear supplied to government hospitals and departments.

    South Korea
    The COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna and South Korea are in discussions over a $200 million investment by
    Moderna to build a vaccine-manufacturing factory in the country. Moderna wants to boost its capacity for
    deliveries outside the US to meet its 2021 production target of at least 600 million doses.

    Turkey
    Turkey’s most populous city, Istanbul, has shrunk for the first time in two decades, seeing a 0.4% reduction
    in population. The reduction has association to the more people returning to the countryside as COVID-19
    restrictions effect commercial trade and economic opportunities.

      Useful Information Sources
               UK wide – Public Health England
               Scotland – Scottish Government
               Northern Ireland – NISRA
               COVID-19 deaths in England & Wales – ONS
               COVID-19 Statistics – Worldometer – Johns Hopkins University

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/10th February 2021

WORLD NEWS
     Democratic Republic of Congo
     On 1st February, almost three months after the last Ebola outbreak, a woman near the city of Butembo, in
     the East of the DRC, identified to have symptoms. She later succumbed to the disease in hospital on 3rd
     February. The discovery of the new case could mark the 12th outbreak of the virus in the DRC since its
     discovery there in 1976.

     Denmark
     Politicians in Denmark have given the go ahead for the world’s first energy island. The EUR 28bn project will
     serve as a hub for 200 offshore wind turbines. The 12 sq. km project will provide enough energy for three
     million households. The project expects reach completion by 2033.

     Ecuador
     National elections take place this week to elect a new president. One of the nominees is Andres Arauz.
     Former President Rafael Correa, previously convicted of corruption and is an ally of Venezuelans President
     Hugo Chavez, supports Arauz’s election campaign. Ecuador’s economy has been in a slump since 2015 due
     to the fall in oil prices, exacerbated by the pandemic. An estimated 68% of the population are unemployed.

    Lebanon
    Lokman Slim, a prominent critic of Hezbollah has been shot dead while in in his car in southern Lebanon. Mr
    Slim had been critical over Hezbollah’s intimidation tactics in their attempt to monopolise Lebanese politics.
    Hezbollah has denied any involvement.

     Myanmar
     The army has ordered service providers to block social media platforms, such as Facebook, in use by large
     portions of the population to organise the ongoing civil disobedience campaign along with evening protests.
     On 3rd February health workers from a number of hospitals walked out to protest against the army’s actions.

     New Zealand
     New Zealand welcomed 35 refugees on 5th February, a year after closing its borders due to the pandemic.
     The refugees will still have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said
     that it is still too early to open New Zealand’s borders fully.

     North Korea
     It has emerged that North Korea continued to violate international sanctions throughout 2020 by
     maintaining and developing its nuclear and ballistic missile capacities. According to a UN report, the country
     has been able to continue funding its programme through cyber-attacks, which have generated an estimated
     $300m.

     Pakistan
     Imran Khan, the Pakistani Prime Minister, has promised to allow Kashmiris the right to self-determination if
     residents of the territory (disputed by Pakistan and India) voted to become part of Pakistan in an UN-
     mandated plebiscite. Attempts to hold a plebiscite have been ongoing since mandated by the UN in 1948.

     Russia
     Diplomats from Sweden, Poland and Germany, are facing removal from Moscow for attending a rally in
     support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The rally that took place in St Petersburg in late January had
     attracted tens of thousands of supporters.

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/10th February 2021

Sweden
     Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) published its traffic figures for January 2021. Passenger numbers were down 85%
     compared to January 2020. On 1st February, SAS signed a USD 408m contract to provide air charter services
     to tour operator Apollo, one of the biggest in Scandinavia.

     Uganda
     The International Criminal Court has found Lord’s Resistance Army Commander Dominic Ongwen guilty of
     war crimes. Former child soldier Mr Ongwen faced trial for 61 charges of war crimes and crimes against
     humanity at the ICC. The crimes, including murder and torture, took place in the early 2000s.

     United Kingdom
     A spate of stabbings in London has left two dead and 14 injured, leading stop and search powers emplaced
     across Croydon on 5th February.

   INSIGHTS
   Our Risk Advisory Service regularly publish articles and advisories covering a myriad of subjects. These
   publications can be found within our Insights section on our Risk Advisory Service website.

   The Rise in Dog Crime during the COVID-19 Pandemic

   The UK charity PDSA published in their 2020 report that in the UK there are 10.1m pet dogs in the UK, with
   24% of the population owning one. The number of people owning their dog for less than a year pre lockdown
   was 11%; post lockdown, this has risen to 12% 1. The surge in dog ownership has largely been down to people
   looking for companionship and to aid with mental health during lockdown. Many prospective dog owners do
   little or no research on the many factors associated with dog ownership such as the source of the dog or checks
   with agencies on the legitimacy of the breeder. A survey by the Kennel Club showed that 27% of people have
   bought dogs without seeing the mother with her litter first and 42% of buyers did not request to see the dog’s
   breeding environment either virtually or in person. A further 83% of buyers received no evaluation regarding
   their suitability as a new owner 2.

   Crime organisations and gangs in both the UK and Europe have taken advantage of the increase in demand
   knowing that the sale of the animals can be financially lucrative. Data based on research in November 2020
   shows the prices for the five most desirable dog breeds being at a record high. The average price paid for a
   Dachshund was up 89% compared to March 20203. Modelling has shown that a breeder with 20 French bulldog
   bitches can expect to turn over £120,000 per year.

   A scam known as “dogphishing” involves illegally smuggling sought-after breeds into the UK from puppy farms
   in Eastern Europe, with Romania being the biggest source. The litter is advertised as bred in the UK by a
   licenced breeder to draw interest from the prospective buyer. The reality is however, that the puppies are
   abroad, living in filthy, unhygienic conditions and are snatched away from their mothers at a very early age.
   Many puppy farmers are also willing to arrange for counterfeit health and travel documents for an extra
   charge. Puppies will then make their way to the UK for sale onto the buyer. These journeys often take up to
   33 hours in cramp conditions, often without food or water. Between March 2020 and November 2020, UK
   charity The Dogs Trust rehomed 43 dogs intercepted at UK borders. The estimated street value of these dogs
   was £80,000.

   The unexpected cost and behavioural issues associated with illegally imported dogs has caused an increase in
   abandonment, putting extra pressure on charities who are already struggling due to lockdown.

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/10th February 2021

The demand for dogs has also increased the number of dog thefts in the UK. Domestic criminals are aware of
   the inflated prices associated with sought-after breeds. In 2020, the number of recorded cases of dog theft
   was 320, double that of 2019 and the highest number ever recorded. Many stolen dogs are injected with
   hormones to increase the number of litters that they world naturally produce. In the UK, it is legal for a dog
   to be chipped, however it is not mandatory for a vet to cross check the chip against the register. This is makes
   it very hard for a dog to be reunited with its owner once stolen and sold on to a buyer who thinks they are
   making a legitimate purchase.

   Security forces have uncovered large criminal gangs making millions of pounds from puppy farming. Forces
   have identified that two known drug syndicates have currently put their drug dealing activities on hold in order
   to concentrate on stealing dogs and forced puppy farms. The penalty for dog theft is only a minor fine and the
   possible financial gain is far greater. There have been reports of thieves posing as RSPCA charity officers in an
   attempt to get people to hand over their dogs willingly.

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/10th February 2021

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