Virus Outbreak: News and Analysis Since April 11

Photographer: Sarah Silbiger / Bloomberg

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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.

Vaccines are fewer in India, 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 it may be necessary to ask the central government to declare a state of emergency if current measures to curb the Covid-19 outbreak are considered insufficient.

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.

Key developments:

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Osaka may seek a state of emergency (9:22 am HK)

Governor of Osaka Prefecture in western Japan warned that it may be necessary to ask the central government to declare a state of emergency if current measures to eliminate the coronavirus outbreak are considered insufficient.

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

Osaka, the third largest prefecture in Japan, with 8.81 million inhabitants, is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of infections, surpassing that of the capital Tokyo. There was a daily record of 918 new cases of the virus on Saturday, compared to 570 in Tokyo.

Brazil’s weekly death is recorded (7:22 am HK)

Deaths in Brazil have risen to a record high for seven consecutive weeks, with deaths about three times higher than last summer’s peak, according to Ministry of Health numbers. The nation has broken daily death records twice in the past seven days as the pandemic continues to worsen.

The Fiocruz Health Foundation warned that the South and Midwest of the country will face a particularly critical stage of the outbreak in the coming weeks. The presence of coronavirus variants and a faster spread among young people will put more pressure on health system. Meanwhile, President Jair Bolsonaro reiterated his opposition to the blockades in a video posted on social media on Saturday.

A total of 351,334 people are reported to have died of the virus, mostly after weekly cases in the US rose again after a one-week drop in the Easter holidays. The nation recorded a total of 13,445,006 infections.

S. African Strain May “Break” Pfizer Shot, Study Suggests (5:37 pm NY)

The coronavirus variant first discovered in South Africa may be more likely than other strains to “break” and reinfect people who have had two doses of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, according to a The Israeli study was launched on Saturday.

The study compared infected Israelis who had not been vaccinated with those who had either one or two doses of the vaccine. The prevalence of the strain in South Africa was found to be eight times higher in those who had two doses of vaccine compared to those who were not vaccinated – suggesting low efficacy against the strain.

The study, conducted by Tel Aviv University and the country’s largest health care provider, Clalit, warned that the presence of the variant in Israel is very low. The study was not evaluated by colleagues.

Canada accelerates vaccine target (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 completely inoculated by the end of summer.

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

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.

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.

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.