(Bloomberg) — Australia extended a two-month lockdown in Sydney while New Zealand stretched its lockdown for another four days, as outbreaks of the delta variant put pressure on both countries’ Covid Zero strategy.
Japan is facing its biggest challenge yet as cases spiral out of control and strain the limits of its medical-care system. The Philippines is relaxing restrictions on its capital, enabling more businesses to reopen despite a rise in infections.
More U.S. companies delayed plans for office openings, underscoring the challenges businesses still face in returning to normal. President Joe Biden defended his push for booster shots, amid criticism that the move is unfair to other nations still struggling to procure first doses.
Key Developments:
- Global Tracker: Cases top 209.9 million; deaths pass 4.4 million
- Vaccine Tracker: More than 4.85 billion doses administered
- U.S. Spotlight: Covid hospital deaths hit February levels as ICUs overflow
- Nursing homes prep for staff vaccine mandate, booster shots
- Navy’s vaccine campaign has lessons for the corporate world
- SARS survivors offer clues on protecting against future pandemics
Sydney and New Zealand Extend Lockdowns (11:41 a.m. HK)
Sydney’s two-month long lockdown will be extended until at least the end of September as the delta variant outbreak in Australia’s most populous city worsens.
From Monday, outdoor mask-wearing will be mandatory when outside, except when exercising, in all regions throughout New South Wales, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. A curfew will be placed on areas of western Sydney hardest hit by the outbreak.
New Zealand extended a nationwide lockdown by four days after an outbreak of the delta strain of coronavirus spread outside the largest city, Auckland. The outbreaks are placing unprecedented pressure on the so-called Covid Zero strategy pursued by New Zealand and Australia since the start of the pandemic.
Japan’s Situation Worsens, Threatening Health System (11:11 a.m. HK)
Japan is facing its worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic, as cases spiral out of control and strain the limits of the nation’s medical care system. The country recorded 25,156 new infections Thursday, the highest ever and more than 10 times the daily count a month earlier.
Japan’s top Covid adviser, Shigeru Omi, said earlier this week that the state of emergency in Tokyo is not necessarily effective, Jiji reported. Hospitals are facing a shortage of beds, forcing growing numbers of people to recover at home.
The worsening situation is putting pressure on the government. A new survey shows most Japanese firms want Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to be replaced, while polls show the public is dissatisfied with his handling of the pandemic.
U.S. Reviews Moderna Vaccine Link to Heart Risk: WaPo (10:55 a.m. HK)
U.S. federal health officials are investigating reports that Moderna’s vaccine may be linked to higher risk of a heart condition called myocarditis in younger adults than previously thought, according to the Washington Post, citing two unidentified people familiar with the matter. It’s too early to reach a conclusion, one of the people told the Post. Moderna didn’t immediately respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.
Curbs Leave H.K. ‘Trapped’: E.U. Chamber (10:06 a.m. HK)
A major business group has issued an unprecedented open letter warning Hong Kong’s leader that her strict quarantine rules leave residents trapped in the city, threatening its standing as a global finance hub.
The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong sent the letter to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Thursday, calling the city’s newly-tightened quarantine rules this week a “significant setback” following a quickly abandoned attempt to relax some of the world’s strictest requirements for inbound travelers.
Thailand Cases Top 1 Million as Delta Engulfs Nation (9:35 p.m. HK)
Thailand reported 19,851 new cases, taking cumulative infections past 1 million as the more contagious delta strain sweeps across the entire Southeast Asian nation. Still, new cases in the past 24 hours were the lowest since Aug. 10, official data showed Friday. The country has added about 750,000 new cases since the end of June alone.
Philippines Loosens Manila Lockdown (8:25 a.m. HK)
The Philippines will relax its lockdown on the capital, enabling more businesses to reopen even as the delta variant fuels a rise in infections.
The Metro Manila region, which accounts for about a third of the economy, will shift to the second-strictest movement restrictions called “modified enhanced community quarantine” from Aug. 21 to Aug. 31, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
Even with the shift to looser mobility curbs, restaurants will still be limited to delivery and take-out services, salons will remain shut and in-person religious gatherings prohibited.
South Korea to Maintain Social Distancing Level (7:43 a.m. HK)
South Korea will maintain current level 4 social distancing rules in the Greater Seoul area, and level 3 rules in other areas for another two weeks, according to Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. However, restaurants and cafes in the Seoul area will be required to close at 9 p.m., an hour earlier than previously. And up to four people are allowed to meet at cafes and restaurants after 6 p.m. if the party includes two people who are fully vaccinated; currently, no gatherings of more than two people are allowed after 6 p.m.
Return-to-Office Upheaval Mounts (5:48 p.m NY)
More U.S. companies announced plans to keep workers at home as the delta variant spreads across the country. Charles Schwab Corp., based in Westlake, Texas, said Thursday that it has delayed a full return to the office until January 2022, at the earliest. International Business Machines Corp. is temporarily closing its offices in New York City, saying current conditions don’t meet its health and safety protocols. PwC said it will postpone its reopening of U.S. offices until at least Nov. 1.
Meanwhile, Apple Inc. shut its store in Charleston, South Carolina, after more than 20 staff members were exposed to Covid-19, underscoring corporate America’s challenges in returning operations to normal.
Booster Review Pushed Back a Week (5:33 p.m. NY)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has pushed back by one week a meeting by a group of outside advisers who were set to review Covid booster shots as debate swells about the need for a third dose.
The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, originally scheduled to meet and possibly make a recommendation about the need for boosters on Aug. 24, is now set to convene the following week.
Kansas County Declares Emergency (4:40 p.m. NY)
Covid-19 stress on public services led Shawnee County, Kansas, to declare a state of emergency Thursday. Topeka is the county seat and Kansas state capital. The county is “maxed out” on resources “from hospital beds to staffing to everything else,” Dusty Nichols, Covid-19 incident commander, told local officials, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.
Florida County Quarantines 12,000 Students (3:58 p.m. NY)
Florida’s Hillsborough County Public Schools has 11,959 students in isolation or quarantine for Covid-19 infection or exposure, up from 10,384 on Wednesday, according to spokeswoman Tanya Arja.
The district, which includes Tampa, has about 208,000 students who started school last week. After the rocky start to classes, the school board voted Wednesday to mandate masks for everyone except those who provide a doctor’s note. Previously, parents were able to unilaterally opt out of the mask requirement.
Three Senators Have Breakthrough Cases (3:50 p.m. NY)
Three U.S. senators tested positive for Covid-19 despite being vaccinated, bringing to at least six the number of members of Congress to report recent infections.
GOP Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, independent Angus King of Maine and Democrat John Hickenlooper of Colorado revealed getting positive tests Thursday.
Georgia Bars Local Restrictions (3:43 p.m. NY)
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed an executive order Thursday prohibiting local governments from requiring masks or other Covid-19 protection measures at private businesses. He said the order was prompted by mask mandates in Atlanta and Savannah, both of which have been in place for weeks. Savannah Mayor Van Jones has also said he is considering limiting indoor crowd sizes.“Small business should not be punished by local governments just because they are trying to save their businesses and pay their workers,” Kemp said in a press briefing.
Oregon Mandates Teacher Vaccinations (2:33 p.m. NY)
All Oregon teachers, support staff and volunteers must be vaccinated by Oct. 18, or within six weeks of full vaccine approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, whichever is later, Governor Kate Brown said Thursday.
On Wednesday, neighboring Washington State announced it was require all teachers and school employees to be vaccinated. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is expected to announce a similar requirement, NJ.com reported.
U.S. Records More Than 1 Million Daily Shots (2:15 p.m. NY)
The U.S. recorded more than 1 million Covid-19 shots on Thursday, topping that level for the first time in almost seven weeks, a White House official said. Of the 1.02 million doses, 562,000 were given to people who were getting their first shot.
Tennessee Running Out of ICU Beds (1:15 a.m. NY)
Tennessee intensive care beds are full in most metropolitan areas because of the wave of Covid-19 patients, state hospital officials said. The Tennessee Hospital Association said Covid hospitalizations rose almost eightfold between July 1 and Aug. 15, from fewer than 300 patients to more than 2,300.
Michigan, Tennessee Lead U.S. Increases (11:20 a.m. NY)
U.S. cases jumped the most in Michigan, Tennessee and Minnesota during the week that ended Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. While those states recorded the biggest percentage increases, their cases relative to population remain well below the prevalence in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, the top states in that category.
Missouri, an early hot spot of the delta variant, recorded an 8% decline in cases over the period, according to the CDC’s community spread report published Thursday.
Boosters Make ‘Mockery of Vaccine Equity’ (9:41 a.m. NY)
The rollout of Covid-19 booster shots by a growing number of wealthy nations makes a “mockery of vaccine equity,” WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said.
“High-income countries have already, on average, administered more than 103 Covid-19 vaccine doses per 100 people, whereas in Africa that number stands at six,” Moeti said. Nations from Israel to the U.S. have either started administering booster shots or plan to, while less than 2% of Africans are fully vaccinated against the virus.
Biden Defends Booster-Shot Push (9:19 a.m. NY)
President Joe Biden defended his push to give booster shots to all Americans, countering criticism that the move is unfair to other nations that are still struggling to procure a first dose of coronavirus vaccines.
In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that aired Thursday, Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden would soon get their booster shots: “We got our shots all the way back in, I think, December. So it’s — it’s past time.”
Biden’s health team announced Wednesday that, beginning in September, all Americans would be eligible for a booster eight months after their second shot of either of the Pfizer Inc. or Moderna Inc. vaccines.
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