Virus outbreak: news and analysis from 11 April

Photographer: Sarah Silbiger / Bloomberg

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The increase in cases in the Middle East has contributed to pushing the number of daily infections in the US to the highest in more than two weeks as the country’s vaccination increase fits.

In India, there is less stock of vaccines, as the second most populous country in the world is facing a new viral wave. The governor of Osaka prefecture in western Japan has warned that he may have to ask the central government to declare a state of emergency if the current steps to suppress the outbreak of Covid-19 are not considered sufficient.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition agrees on the proposed nationwide rules for locks and curfew rules to enforce compliance by some regional governments. European Union officials said the bloc was overcoming the problem of vaccine supply.

Important developments:

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Osaka Can Seek Emergency (09:22 HP)

The governor of Osaka prefecture in western Japan warned that he might have to ask the central government to declare a state of emergency if the current measures to suppress the outbreak of the coronavirus are deemed insufficient.

The effect of stricter measures introduced earlier this month could begin appearing in the week of April 19, and authorities will then decide whether an emergency declaration is needed, Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said in a television program late Saturday. If explained, the measures that are stronger than those taken during a emergency would be required earlier this year, he said.

Osaka, Japan’s third largest province by population with 8.81 million people, sees a sharp increase in the number of infections, more than that of the capital Tokyo. It recorded a daily record of 918 new virus cases on Saturday, compared to 570 in Tokyo.

The weekly deaths in Brazil rise to record (07:22 HK)

Brazil’s deaths have risen to a record high for seven consecutive weeks, with deaths about three times higher than the peak of last summer’s rise, according to health ministry numbers. The country has broken deaths records twice daily over the past seven days as the pandemic continues to worsen.

The health foundation Fiocruz has warned that the country’s South and Midwest will experience a very critical phase of the outbreak in the coming weeks. The prevalence of coronavirus variants and a faster spread among young people will put more pressure on the health care system. Meanwhile, President Jair Bolsonaro reiterated his opposition to lockouts video posted on social media on Saturday.

A total of 351,334 people allegedly died from the virus, most after the US Weekly cases increased again, after a week-long drop during the Easter holidays. The country recorded a total of 13,445,006 infections.

S. African Strain May ‘Break Through’ Pfizer Shot, Study Suggests (17:37 NY)

The coronavirus variant first discovered in South Africa is more likely than other strains to break through and re-infect people who have had two doses of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, according to a Israeli study was released on Saturday.

The study compared infected Israelites who were not vaccinated with those who had one or two doses of the vaccine. The incidence of the South African strain was found to be eight times higher in those who had two doses of the vaccine compared to those who had not been vaccinated, indicating a reduced efficacy against the strain.

The study by Tel Aviv University and the country’s largest healthcare provider, Clalit, warned that the variant in Israel is very low. The study was not evaluated by peer.

Vaccination Goals Against Canada (17:20 NY)

The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau said on Saturday that any adult in the country who wants to be vaccinated can be by the end of the summer fully vaccinated.

“We are on track to live up to our commitment that every Canadian who wants to will be fully vaccinated by the end of the summer,” he said in a speech. The original goal of the government was to vaccinate every citizen by the end of September.

US has approximately 54 million doses in stock (16:00 NY)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a quarter of the doses of Covid-19 vaccine distributed in the United States have not been administered.

Although the CDC data do not give reasons, health officials have expressed concern about the spread of inequality and hesitation against vaccines, especially among rural and minority populations. Of the 233 million doses delivered nationwide, 179 million or about 76% were administered as of Friday.

The CDC says some vaccines will always be withheld to maintain the stock, even for second shots. Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Mississippi and Wyoming have the lowest doses to administer the first doses.

About 68 million people in the U.S., or 20.5% of the population, were fully vaccinated and 34.5% had at least one dose. Among people 65 and older, 59% were fully vaccinated and 77% had at least one dose.

Colorado Supplier Cuts Use of J&J Shot (14:10 NY)

A health care provider in Colorado will discontinue the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at its three mass vaccination sites following adverse reactions.

Centura Health CEO Peter D. Banko said in a statement on Friday night that the decision was based on the reduced transmission of the federal government’s J & J vaccine, as well as 11 reported reactions at one vaccination site. Governor Jared Polis and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said they were looking into the reactions, which include dizziness and nausea – and determined there was no cause for concern.

Centura Health said the J&J vaccine is’ safe and effective ‘and will continue to be used in doctors’ offices and outpatient clinics.

Minneapolis Spike Leads U.S. Subway Areas (13:30 NY)

Weekly Covid-19 cases in ten U.S. metro areas increased the fastest in Minneapolis, home of companies like 3M Co. and Target Corp., according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday.

Cases increased by 27% in the Minneapolis area, followed by increases of more than 20% in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Detroit. Adapted to the population, new cases increased most over the seven-day period in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Buffalo, New York. Minneapolis finished sixth.

Merkel presents German closing plan (10:43 NY)

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition agrees on the proposed nationwide rules for locks and curfew rules to enforce compliance by some regional governments. According to the draft law Bloomberg saw on Saturday, the hotspot directions would be based on infections per country at the provincial level.

Merkel’s biggest obstacle is parliament’s upper house, where her governing parties do not have a majority. German hospitals came under pressure after Covid-19 infection rates began to rise in February, although vaccinations rose and reached daily records.

U.S. Supreme Court Facilitates Worship Bricks (10:24 a.m. NY)

A Divorced U.S. Supreme Court alleviates California’s fight against religious services at home, adding to a series of orders that have freed worshipers from state and local restrictions designed to stem the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an unsigned 5-4 order issued late Friday night, the court cleared two Northern Californians to once again offer weekly Bible studies and community worship for eight to twelve people.

US Business Continues to Accelerate (08:00 NY)

The U.S. added nearly 81,000 new cases on Friday as the virus spread rapidly in its pockets, particularly in the Midwest, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg. The average of seven days rose five consecutive weeks.

Another 962 deaths were reported Friday, the second day off, according to data amid a general decline in deaths. According to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker, the US recorded four million doses of vaccinations on Friday as the pace increased again after the Easter and Easter holidays.

Astra shot linked to blood clots: study (6:53 NY)

According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, a Norwegian study of blood clots and abnormally low platelet levels in five people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19 found that their condition was a vaccine-induced syndrome. is.

“By providing a link between thrombosis and the immune system, these results reinforce the view that vaccination may have caused the syndrome,” the article said.