Virus outbreak: news and analysis from 12 April

Photographer: Noah Seelam / AFP / Getty Images

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A study in Brazil showed that the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. slightly more than 50% effective, raising new concerns about the effectiveness of the China range of Covid-19 shots, which are used in various countries as well as domestically.

In the granted emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, making it the third shot approved for use. The decision came when the country was fighting new wave coronavirus, with a record number of new cases of Covid-19 on Monday driving its total score past 13.5 million infections.

England reopens shops, bar gardens, gyms and hair salons after months of lockdown, while Hong Kong has outlined plans to ease social distance restrictions as an incentive to be vaccinated.

Important developments:

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US cancels trade on Lilly’s single body (07:27 NY)

Eli Lilly & Co. said US health officials canceled an agreement for doses of the single antibody process for Covid-19 to concentrate on the combination of the drug manufacturer.

Health officials in three states have restricted the use of Lilly’s single antibody due to possible reduced efficacy against a new variant spreading in California. Dual antibody doses – including a combination treatment antibody from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. – is considered less likely to occur resistance of new viral strains.

Botswana proves dead over Astra Link (07:01 NY)

The Ministry of Health in Botswana has asked the country’s health regulator to investigate two deaths of people who recently took a Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India Ltd. was made on behalf of AstraZeneca Plc. The regulator was task finding out if the deaths were related to taking the vaccine, the ministry said in a statement Monday.

India approves Sputnik V Shot (07:00 NY)

India allowed emergency approval for Russia’s highly effective Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, making it the third shot approved by the country as it faces an increasing health crisis amid a record daily increase in infections.

India on Monday reported a record 168,912 new cases of Covid-19, with its total score of 13.5 million. According to data from his Ministry of Health, India has so far seen more than 170,000 deaths in Covid and administered 104.5 million vaccinations.

Some parts of India have already imposed partial exclusions, while states such as Maharashtra – where the financial center Mumbai is located – have shortages of vaccines. Adding a third vaccine to the country’s arsenal could alleviate the shortage.

Effective fear of vaccinations in China (18:48 NY)

Concerns are growing that China’s Covid-19 vaccines are less effective in suppressing the disease, and raising questions about countries from Brazil to Hungary that depend on the shots and the country’s own giant vaccination.

Research released on Sunday showed that the rate for Sinovac Biotech Ltd. vaccine – which has been deployed in Indonesia and Brazil – is just over 50%, and that it barely meets the minimum protection required by Covid vaccines by leading global drug regulators. The other Chinese shots reported efficiencies of between 66% and 79%.

Vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc. and the Russian Sputnik shot yielded protection figures of more than 90%.

Iran infections hit New record (17:41 HK)

Iran reported a record 23,311 new cases of coronavirus and another 274 deaths, the highest since December 10. This is another sharp rise after the Persian New Year public holiday, the health ministry said. Iran has so far recorded more than 2 million cases and about 64,764 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

India ready for ‘K-shaped’ recovery (16:40 HK)

India’s economic recovery is likely to be like a K rather than a V, with increasing inequality in terms of consumption and growth prospects, the country’s former central bank governor said.

“A major consequence of the pandemic was the escalation of inequalities,” Duvvuri Subbarao said in an April 9 interview. ‘Growing inequalities are not just a moral issue. This could undermine consumption and hurt our long-term growth prospects. ”

Ireland due to rule over Astra Shot (15:58 HK)

Ireland is expected to announce a decision on AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine later on Monday. A number of countries in Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Greece, have restricted its use to certain age groups.

AstraZeneca Action

Europe does not succeed in mapping the joint rate of Astra vaccine side effects

Source: Bloomberg

Czech infections fall as restrictions ease (15:57 HK)

The Czech Republic recorded 976 new cases of coronavirus within 24 hours to Sunday, the lowest number since 13 September. The country is partially busy opening certain schools and restricting movement between provinces after weeks of strict closure measures.

The Czech Republic leads the world in total deaths per capita due to the virus, which killed nearly 28,000 of its 10.7 million people.

Hong Kong Mulls Vaccine Incentives (15:50 HP)

Hong Kong Hall CEO Carrie Lam said at a briefing Carrie Lam could consider easing some social distance measures if more people get their first vaccination against Covid-19.

Measures being considered include extending restaurant meal times and increasing seating, as well as restricting reopening of pubs and nightclubs, if all staff and customers had their first chance, and the government’s contact tracking app use.

Bangladesh to closing offices, transportation (15:29 HK)

According to Bangladesh, the office, public transport and shopping malls closed from the morning of April 14 until the midnight of April 21, according to a government statement. Until now, offices were allowed during the current closure of the country.

Bangladesh registered 78 new virus deaths on Sunday, most in one day, bringing the total to 9,739. According to government data, infections increased by 5,819 to 684,756.

Asian Nations Watch Jab Programs (14:45 HK)

Malaysia will provide free vaccines to interested private hospitals to speed up the national vaccination program, Health Minister Adham Baba said in a television briefing on Monday.

President Moon Jae-in said the Novavax vaccine, which is being manufactured in South Korea, will be released from June after production begins this month. Concerns about a fourth wave of the pandemic are increasing in the country.

Meanwhile, Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom between India and China, has vaccinated nearly 93% of its adult population in the past six days, according to the Associated Press.

Thailand reaches new high in number of cases (13:40 HK)

Thailand on Monday reported 985 new Covid-19 infections, a daily record, as a new wave of outbreaks related to pubs and pubs in Bangkok spread to more areas. Authorities have instituted regulations and tightened quarantine rules for people traveling between provinces, which poses a higher risk to Covid ahead of the annual Songkran Festival.

Grandpa Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control at the Thai Ministry of Health, had 137 new cases in Bangkok, which has closed hundreds of nightlife for two weeks.

British staff were seen in office again by September (13:00 HK)

British business leaders expect the majority of their employees to be according to the survey under Deloitte’s chief financial officer, it is back in the workplace in the third quarter. Nearly half see staff return during the three months to September, although 5% do not expect them to ever return.

Under the current Covid-19 restrictions, anyone who can work from home must do so, with the guidelines expected to remain in place until at least June.

Office hours

Japan builds jabs for people 65 and older (09:25 HK)

Japan’s vaccination finally Monday about four months after the start of vaccinations in the US and UK, a slow rollout that caused further criticism of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s handling of the pandemic.

The doses for people 65 years and older are the first vaccinations for members of the public in Japan after priority was given to the first vaccination of medical staff.

– With help from Joanna Ossinger, Adam Blenford, Arsalan Shahla, Jason Scott, Philip Heijmans, Toru Fujioka, Andreo Calonzo, Ganesh Nagarajan, Bhuma Shrivastava and Thomas Kutty Abraham