Covid-19 Pandemic: Updates and live news for April 10, 2021

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Cases of growth in the Midwest have helped increase the number of daily infections in the US to its highest level in more than two weeks, as the national push for vaccination picks up pace. A divided US Supreme Court eased California’s borders with religious services at home.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition agreed on the proposal national rules for blockages and extinguishments in an attempt to force compliance by some regional governments. European Union officials say the bloc is outpacing its vaccine supply.

Vaccines are fewer in India, as the second most populous country in the world is facing a new viral wave.

Key developments:

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

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

While the CDC data does not specify reasons, health officials have expressed concern about the fairness of the distribution and the hesitation of the vaccine, especially among rural and minority populations. Of the 233 million doses administered nationally, 179 million, or about 76%, have been reported since Friday.

The CDC says some vaccines will always be retained to maintain inventory, including for second shots. Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Mississippi and Wyoming have the lowest first dose rates they have on hand.

About 68 million people in the United States, or 20.5% of the population, are completely vaccinated and 34.5% have had at least one dose. Of those aged 65 and over, 59% are fully vaccinated and 77% have had at least one dose.

Colorado provider reduces use of J&J Shot (14:10 NY)

A Colorado health care provider will stop administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at all three mass vaccination sites after side effects.

Peter D. Banko, executive director of Centura Health, said in a statement Friday night that the decision is based on both reduced J&J vaccine transfers from the federal government and 11 reactions reported at a single vaccination site. Governor Jared Polis and the US Centers for Disease Control said they had analyzed the reactions – which included dizziness and nausea – and said there were no concerns.

The Health Belt said the J&J vaccine is “safe and effective” and will continue to be used in doctors’ offices and outpatient clinics.

Minneapolis Spike drives US subway areas (13:30 NY)

Weekly cases of Covid-19 in 10 U.S. metropolitan areas grew the fastest in Minneapolis, home to companies such as 3M Co. and Target Corp., according to data as of Thursday, compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cases rose 27% in the Minneapolis area, followed by more than 20% increases in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Detroit. Adjusted for population, new cases over seven days increased the most in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Buffalo, New York. Minneapolis ranked sixth after this measure.

Italy Cases Slow (12:02 pm NY)

Italy reported 17,567 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, 17% less than 7 days ago, in another sign that the outbreak is slowing in the original epicenter of the European pandemic.

The pressure on hospitals is falling, with patients with Covid-19 falling for the fourth day in a row.

Italy will ease the blocking restrictions in most regions, including around Milan, from 12 April.
Schools will reopen with some limitations. However, bars and restaurants will remain in operation only for dining orders, and travel to other regions will still be largely banned.

Merkel presents German blockade plan (10:43 AM NY)

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition agreed on the proposal national rules for blockages and extinguishments in an attempt to force compliance by some regional governments. The hot spot designations would be based on county-level per capita infections, according to the bill seen by Bloomberg on Saturday.

Merkel’s biggest obstacle is the upper house of parliament, where her ruling parties do not have a majority. Hospitals in Germany have been under pressure after rates of Covid-19 infection began to rise in February, although vaccinations have risen and hit daily records this week.

US Supreme Court eases bowsides (10:24 AM NY)

A divided US Supreme Court eased California’s limits on religious services at home, adding to a series of orders that freed believers from state and local restrictions designed to stop the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an unsigned 5-4 order issued late Friday night, the court authorized two northern Californians to resume weekly hosting of Bible studies and communal worship for eight to 12 people.

US cases continue to accelerate (8:00 NY)

The United States added nearly 81,000 new cases on Friday as the virus spreads rapidly in pockets across the country, especially in the Midwest, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg. The seven-day average increased for five consecutive weeks.

Another 962 deaths were reported on Friday, down for the next day, data show, amid a general decline in deaths. The United States recorded 4 million doses of vaccine on Friday as the pace rose again after the Easter and Easter holidays, according to Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.

Italian companies reduce forecast reduction (7:53 am NY)

Italy’s largest industrial lobby group has cut its growth forecasts after an increase in infections in the country earlier this year.

Confindustria now sees Italy’s economic growth at 4.1% this year, up 0.7 percentage points below its October forecast, after the health crisis led to poorer-than-expected performance in the last quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2020. quarter of 2021. He said the new forecast depends on the progress of vaccinations in Italy and the rest of Europe.

Astra Shot Related to Clots: Study (6:53 am NY)

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

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

Denmark and Norway avoid using the Astra vaccine, even though it has been approved for use there, saying they need more time to review the risks. Sweden and Finland only offer it to people over the age of 65.

EU predicts rapid vaccination rate (17:32 HK)

Europe could have full 70% of adults vaccinated before the UK reaches its own dose target for all over the age of 18 by the end of July, Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Vaccine Working Group in Brussels, said in an interview The Guardian.

Europe expected 360 million doses from five manufacturers in the second quarter, with European factories producing 200 million photos a month by September for a total capacity of 2 to 3 billion by the end of the year. The “extremely rapid” increase in European production capacity should allow the 27 EU nations to make up for the shortcomings in the first quarter and allow for “an almost normal tourist season,” Breton said.

Airlines want probe test in UK (17:05 HK)

The global organization IATA has asked the Regional Competition and Markets Authority to launch an investigation into the pricing of Covid-19 travel tests, as separate research has shown that travelers have to pay twice as much for UK PCR tests as in much of Europe, The Guardian reported on Sunday.

While the cheapest pre-departure PCR tests in the UK are available for £ 60 (USD 82) – the subsidized fare for passengers at Gatwick Airport – most passengers receive an average of £ 128, more than double the price for much of Europe, according to research by the Association of British Travel Agents and the Airport Operators Association.

Jet2, one of the largest tour operators in the UK, postponed all holidays until June 23, citing a lack of clarity from the government, the Guardian reported in a separate story. The tour operator said that “not knowing when we can start flying and where we can fly” led to the suspension of flights and holidays.

Cases in Russia are slow, stable deaths (16:09 HK)

Russia has reported 8,704 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, down from 9,150 a day earlier as the number of cases continues to stabilize. Authorities reported 402 deaths from the virus yesterday, unchanged from the previous day.

New Wave Swamps Hospitals in India (12:34 pm HK)