Covid-19 Pandemic: Live Updates and News for April 10, 2021

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Increasing cases in the Midwest helped push the number of daily American infections to its highest level in more than two weeks as the country’s vaccination push got back on track. A divided US Supreme Court eased California’s restraint on religious services at home.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government coalition agreed on the proposal national rules for lockdowns and curfews in an effort to enforce compliance by some regional governments. European Union officials said the bloc is overcoming its problem with the supply of vaccines.

There are fewer vaccines in India as the second most populous country in the world faces another viral wave.

Main Developments:

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US Stocks Approximately 54 Million Doses (4:00 p.m. NY)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a quarter of the doses of Covid-19 vaccines distributed in the US have not been delivered.

While the CDC data does not specify reasons, health officials have expressed concerns about equality of distribution and hesitation about vaccines, particularly among rural and minority groups. Of the approximately 233 million doses delivered nationwide, 179 million, or about 76%, were delivered as of Friday.

The CDC says a particular vaccine will always be kept to maintain inventory, including for second injections. Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Mississippi, and Wyoming have the lowest first-dose delivery rates in their hands.

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

Colorado Provider Reduces Use of J&J Shot (2:10 pm NY)

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

Peter D. Banko, CEO of Centura Health, said in a statement Friday night that the decision was based on both reduced deliveries of the federal government’s J&J vaccine and 11 reported responses at one vaccination site. Governor Jared Polis and the U.S. Centers of Disease Control said they were investigating responses – including 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 use it in doctor’s offices and outpatient care clinics.

Minneapolis Spike Leads US Subway Areas (1:30 pm NY)

Weekly Covid-19 cases in 10 US metro parks rose fastest in Minneapolis, home to companies like 3M Co. and Target Corp., according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through Thursday.

The number of cases was up 27% in the Minneapolis area, followed by increases of more than 20% in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Detroit. Population adjusted, new cases increased the most in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Buffalo, New York over the seven-day period. Minneapolis was ranked sixth by that evaluation.

Italy Cases Slow (12:02 am 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 pandemic in Europe.

The pressure on hospitals is easing and Covid-19 patients fall for the fourth consecutive day.

Italy will ease lockdown restrictions in most regions, including those around Milan, from April 12. All retail outlets will be allowed to open and people will have more freedom of movement within their municipalities.
Schools are reopening with some restrictions. However, bars and restaurants will only continue to operate for takeout orders, and travel to other regions will still be largely banned.

Merkel Presents German Lockdown Plan (10:43 am NY)

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government coalition agreed on the proposal national rules for lockdowns and curfews in an effort to enforce compliance by some regional governments. Hotspot designations would be based on infections per capita at the county level, according to the bill seen by Bloomberg on Saturday.

Merkel’s biggest hurdle is the upper house of parliament, where its governing parties do not have a majority. German hospitals have come under pressure after the number of Covid-19 infections started to rise in February, although vaccinations have increased this week and hit daily records.

US Top Court lit up worship turrets (10:24 am NY)

A divided US Supreme Court California eased the curbs of religious services in the home, adding to a series of warrants that have freed worshipers from state and local restrictions designed to stop the Covid-19 pandemic.

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

Continuing to accelerate US business (8 p.m. NY)

The US added nearly 81,000 new cases on Friday as the virus is spreading rapidly in pockets across the country, especially in the Midwest, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg. The seven-day average has risen for five consecutive weeks.

Another 962 deaths were reported Friday, down for the second day, the data shows, amid an overall drop in the number of fatalities. According to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker, the US registered 4 million vaccine doses on Friday, as the pace picked up after the Easter and Easter holidays.

Italian Firms Lower Growth Forecasts (7:53 am NY)

Italy’s largest industrial lobby group has lowered its forecast for economic growth after a spate of infections in the country earlier this year.

Confindustria now sees Italy’s economic growth at 4.1% this year, 0.7 percentage points below the October forecast, after the health crisis led to a weaker-than-expected performance in the last quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. It said the new prognosis hinges on advances in vaccinations in Italy and the rest of Europe.

Astra Uptake Linked to Blood Clots: Study (6:53 am NY)

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

“By linking thrombosis to the immune system, these results reinforce the view that vaccination caused the syndrome,” the article said.

Denmark and Norway avoid the use of the Astra vaccine, although it is approved for use there, and say they need more time to assess the risks. Sweden and Finland only offer it to people over 65.

EU predicts fast rate of vaccination (5:32 pm HK)

Europe could have been complete 70% of adults vaccinated before the UK reaches its own single dose target for all over-18s by the end of July, said Thierry Breton, the European commissioner leading the Brussels vaccine task force, in an interview with the Guardian.

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

Airlines want to probe UK test price (5:05 pm HK)

The global airline IATA called on the UK Competition and Markets Authority to launch an investigation into the pricing of Covid-19 tests for travel, as separate research showed that travelers were charged twice as much for the PCR tests in Great Britain. Britain as in much of Europe. , the Guardian reported Sunday.

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

Jet2, one of the largest tour operators in the UK, has postponed all holidays to June 23 due to government obscurity, The Guardian reported in a separate story. The tour operator said that “not knowing when to start flying and where to fly” led to flight and holiday suspension.

Russia Cases Slow, Deaths Stable (4:09 PM HK)

Russia reported 8,704 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, down from the 9,150 reported the day before, as the caseload continues to stabilize. Authorities reported 402 deaths from the virus yesterday, unchanged from the previous day.

New Wave Swamps Indian Hospitals (12:34 PM HK)