Virus outbreak: news and analysis from April 12

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A study in Brazil showed that the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. just over 50% effective, raising new concerns about the effectiveness of the Covid-19 range of injections in China, which are used in a range of countries as well as domestically.

India has granted emergency use authorization for the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, making it the third admission approved for use. The decision came when the country is fighting against one new wave of coronavirus, with a record number of new Covid-19 cases on Monday, pushing the total number of more than 13.5 million infections.

England reopened shops, pub gardens, gyms and hair salons after months of lockdown, while Hong Kong outlined plans to ease social distance restrictions as an incentive to get vaccinated.

Main Developments:

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US cancels deal for Lilly’s Single Antibody (7:27 am NY)

Eli Lilly & Co. said US health officials canceled a deal for doses of its single-antibody drug for Covid-19 to focus on the drug company’s combination treatment.

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

Botswana Investigates Deaths for Astra Link (7:01 am NY)

Botswana’s Ministry of Health has asked the country’s health regulator to investigate two deaths of people who had recently taken a Covid-19 vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India Ltd. on behalf of AstraZeneca Plc. The regulator has been charge to find out if the deaths are related to taking the vaccine, the ministry said in a statement Monday.

India Approves Sputnik V Shot (7am NY)

India granted Emergency approval for Russia’s highly effective Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, making it the third time it has been approved by the nation for trying to manage an escalating health crisis amid a record daily surge in infections.

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

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

Fears of Efficacy for Chinese Vaccines (18:48 NY)

Concern is growing that China’s Covid-19 vaccines are less effective at suppressing the disease, raising questions about countries from Brazil to Hungary that depend on the shots and the country’s own massive inoculation drive.

Research released Sunday found that the rate for the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. – deployed in Indonesia and Brazil – was just above 50%, barely meeting the minimum protection required by leading global drug regulators for Covid vaccines. The other Chinese shots have reported efficacy rates of between 66% to 79%.

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

Iran Infections Hit New record (5:41 pm HK)

Iran reported a record 23,311 new overnight coronavirus cases and an additional 274 deaths, the highest number since Dec. 10, another surge after Persian New Year’s Day, the country’s Ministry of Health said. Iran has so far recorded more than 2 million cases and about 64,764 deaths since the pandemic outbreak.

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

India’s economic recovery is likely to take the shape of a K instead of V, with growing inequality poised to hit consumption and growth prospects, the former central bank governor said.

“A major consequence of the pandemic is the exacerbation of inequalities,” Duvvuri Subbarao said in an interview on April 9. “Growing inequalities are not just a moral issue. They can erode 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 Monday. A number of countries in Europe, including the UK, France, Germany and Greece, have already limited their use to certain age groups.

AstraZeneca promotion

Europe is failing to chart a coordinated course on the side effects of the Astra vaccine

Source: Bloomberg

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

The Czech Republic registered 976 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours through Sunday, the lowest number since September 13. The country is partially opening some schools and lifting restrictions on intercountry traffic after weeks of strict lockdown measures.

Czech Republic leads the world in the total number of deaths per capita from the virus, which killed nearly 28,000 of the 10.7 million people.

Hong Kong Mulls vaccine incentives (15:50 HK)

Hong Kong will consider relaxing some social distance measures as more people get their first Covid-19 vaccination, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a briefing.

Measures under consideration include extending restaurant dining times and increasing seating capacity, as well as limited reopening of bars and nightclubs, once all employees and customers have had their first chance and used the government’s contact tracking app.

Bangladesh closes offices and transport (3:29 PM HK)

According to a government statement, Bangladesh has ordered the closure of all offices, public transport and shopping centers from the morning of April 14 to midnight of April 21. Until now, offices were allowed to open during the country’s current lockdown.

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

Asian countries want to strengthen JAB programs (2:45 pm HK)

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

President Moon Jae-in said the South Korean-made Novavax vaccine will be released from June after a production start this month. Concerns about a fourth wave of the pandemic are growing in the country.

Meanwhile, Bhutan, a small kingdom in the Himalayas between India and China, has inoculated nearly 93% of its adult population in 16 days, according to the Associated Press.

Thailand hits new high in number of cases (1:40 pm HK)

Thailand reported 985 new Covid-19 infections, a daily record, Monday as a new wave of outbreaks related to pubs and bars in the capital Bangkok spread to more areas. Authorities have imposed travel restrictions and tightened quarantine regulations for people traveling between counties at higher risk of Covid prior to the annual Songkran festival.

Bangkok, which has closed hundreds of entertainment venues for two weeks, saw 137 new cases, Opas Karnkawinpong, director general of the Department of Disease Control at Thailand’s Ministry of Health, told a briefing.

UK staff seen back on duty by September (1pm HK)

British business leaders expect most of their employees to be According to a survey of Chief Financial Officers conducted by Deloitte, back in the workplace by the third quarter. Almost half will see staff return in the three months to September, although 5% do not expect to ever return.

Under the current Covid-19 restrictions, anyone who can work from home must do so, with the expectation that the guidelines will remain in effect until at least June.

Office hours

Japan introduces Jabs for over-65s (9:25 am HK)

Japan’s urge to vaccinate On Monday, about four months after the start of the US and UK vaccinations, Monday is finally gearing up, a slow rollout that has led to further criticism of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s handling of the pandemic.

The doses for people aged 65 and older are the first vaccinations for members of the public in Japan after prioritizing the vaccination of primary care medical personnel.

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