(Bloomberg) — Citigroup Inc., the first major Wall Street bank to impose a strict vaccine mandate, will place office workers who don’t comply by Jan. 14 on unpaid leave, according to a message to staff seen by Bloomberg. Their last day of employment will come at the end of the month.
Moderna Inc. Chief Executive Officer Stephane Bancel, said another round of vaccine boosters will probably be needed this fall. U.S. regulators amended the emergency authorization for Moderna’s vaccine to allow Americans to get a booster five months after receiving the initial first two shots.
In Europe, Germany is poised to tighten restrictions on access to restaurants and cafes in an effort to curb the rapidly spreading omicron strain. U.K. armed forces have been deployed to London hospitals to help relieve staff shortages caused by the outbreak of the variant.
A South African study showed the omicron variant moved with “unprecedented speed” and caused milder illness, indications that the pandemic could be coming to an end.
Key Developments:
- Virus Tracker: Cases exceed 300.6 million; deaths pass 5.47 million
- Vaccine Tracker: More than 9.36 billion shots administered
- Big Take: Covid’s Lost Girls see decades of progress come undone
- Australia says Djokovic not held ‘captive’ in refugee hotel
- Vaccines can delay women’s periods, study finds
- China cases span country, even after Xi’an’s drop
Omicron May Mark Pandemic End: Study (10:46 p.m. NY)
A study of patients infected with Covid-19 at a large hospital in the South African city where the first outbreak of the omicron variant was recorded showed an infection wave that moved with “unprecedented speed” and caused much milder illness than earlier strains.
That, the researchers who analyzed data at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria said, could be an indication that the pandemic is coming to an end.
“If this pattern continues and is repeated globally, we are likely to see a complete decoupling of case and death rates,” the researchers said. That suggests “omicron may be a harbinger of the end of the epidemic phase of the Covid pandemic, ushering in its endemic phase.”
HK Probes Officials Who Attended Party (10:30 a.m. NY)
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has asked for a disciplinary inquiry into the 13 officials who attended a banquet which has so far turned up two positive cases, according to a government statement Friday night.
Lam has instructed Eric Chan, director of Lam’s office, and Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip to conduct the probe, which will review how long they stayed at the party, whether they used the government contact-tracing app and wore masks.
Citi to Fire Unvaccinated Workers (10:06 a.m. NY)
Citigroup Inc. was the first major Wall Street bank to impose a strict Covid-19 vaccine mandate: Get a shot or face termination. With its deadline fast approaching, the company is preparing for action.
Office workers who don’t comply by Jan. 14 will be placed on unpaid leave and a message to staff seen by Bloomberg said their last day of employment will come at the end of the month. While some of the employees will be eligible for certain year-end bonus payments, they’ll have to sign an agreement that states they won’t pursue legal action against the company to receive the funds, the company said in the message.
“You are welcome to apply for other roles at Citi in the future as long as you are compliant with Citi’s vaccination policy,” the company said in the memo.
FDA Shortens Gap for Moderna Booster (9:16 a.m.)
U.S. regulators amended the emergency authorization for Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine to allow Americans to get a booster shot five months after receiving the initial first two shots.
The decision by the Food and Drug Administration echoes a similar move it made earlier this week to reduce the recommended interval between the second and third doses of the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE vaccine for all adults to five months
Romania Tweaks Restrictions (9:05 a.m. NY)
Romania will change quarantine rules for people who are direct contact with a person discovered positive with Covid-19 as new cases surge. Vaccinated people are no longer exempt and will need to quarantine for five days, while the unvaccinated will need to isolate for 10 days compared with 14 days previously.
Austria’s Vaccine Plan Delayed (8:21 a.m. NY)
Austria’s plan to make Covid vaccinations mandatory from February hit a roadblock after the agency implementing the measure said its systems won’t be ready until April.
Greece May Expand Mandatory Shots (6:18 a.m. NY)
Greece is considering the expansion of mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations to people aged 50 to 59, Alternate Interior Minister Stelios Petsas said Friday in an interview with Greece’s Skai TV. The government will make relevant announcements in the coming days, he said. Vaccinations are currently compulsory in Greece for individuals aged 60 and above, with a 100-euro fine for every month of non-compliance.
Armed Forces at London Hospitals (6:15 a.m. NY)
The U.K. sent 200 armed forces personnel into hospitals in London to help relieve staff shortages due to a surge in the omicron Covid-19 variant.
The Ministry of Defence said it will provide 40 medics and 160 general-duty personnel for three weeks to ensure National Health Service hospitals in the capital are able to cope with soaring numbers of cases.
Separately, England’s introduction of new mask rules in schools was based on a study that didn’t provide conclusive evidence of their effectiveness, according to a report from the Department of Education.
Moderna CEO Sees Boosters in the Fall (6:09 a.m. NY)
Moderna Chief Executive Officer Stephane Bancel said another round of vaccine boosters against Covid-19 will probably be needed this fall, even if the super-infectious omicron variant helps move the planet more quickly into a stage of living with the virus.
Sinopharm Says Protein Booster Better (6:12 p.m. HK)
China’s state-owned vaccine maker Sinopharm said its new protein subunit Covid-19 inoculation offers better protection as a booster against the omicron variant than its widely deployed inactivated shot.
EU Says 80% of Adults Now Vaccinated (5:50 p.m. HK)
About 80% of adults in the European Union have now been vaccinated, the European Commission said on Twitter. “Our priority is still to increase vaccination rates across the EU,” it said.
Spike Disrupts Airlines, Tests in Philippines (4:32 p.m. HK)
A surge in Covid-19 cases has prompted airlines in the Philippines to cancel flights, while the health department warned of delays in virus test results amid staff shortage in laboratories.
Germany to Restrict Restaurant Access (3:07 p.m. HK)
Germany is poised to tighten restrictions on access to restaurants and cafes in an effort to keep the rapidly spreading omicron strain of the coronavirus in check.
In a video call later on Friday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and regional leaders are expected to agree that people who are vaccinated or recovered will still have to provide a negative test. They’re seeking to tackle the latest surge in infections without resorting to sweeping lockdown measures like shuttering businesses and schools.
Thailand Junks Quarantine-Free Visas (2:53 p.m. HK)
Thailand indefinitely suspended a quarantine-free visa program for vaccinated visitors and ordered a ban on alcohol sales at restaurants in areas deemed at high risk of Covid infections to curb the spread of omicron.
The nation’s main virus task force spared Bangkok, Phuket and six other tourist destinations from harsh containment measures, but banned alcohol consumption at restaurants and other commercial establishments after 9 p.m.
India Infections Highest Since June (1:54 p.m. HK)
India reported 117,100 new infections Friday, crossing the 100,000-mark for the first time since June 7. Reported deaths rose by 302 to 483,178. The nation’s total confirmed cases stands at 35.2 million.
While the country’s latest wave of infections worsens and states and city administrations impose movement restrictions, the financial hub of Mumbai has no plans to impose a further lockdown, according to the city’s municipal commissioner, Iqbal Singh Chahal. Most patients who needed medical help were not vaccinated, he said.
Separately, India’s cumulative coronavirus deaths probably reached between 3.1 million and 3.4 million by July 2021, six or seven times higher than official tallies, according to a new study published in Science.
U.S. to Reportedly Ship 500 Million Tests to Homes (10:31 a.m. HK)
The White House and U.S. Postal Service are making final plans to deliver 500 million coronavirus test kits to households, the Washington Post reported, citing four unidentified people familiar with the plans.
Shenzhen to Require Negative Test for Departures (9:38 a.m. HK)
Shenzhen authorities said anyone leaving the city will require a negative Covid test after two infections were detected.
The change in the major technology and trade hub takes effect on Saturday, according to a government statement. China is one of the only countries left practicing a zero-tolerance Covid strategy that relies on strict border controls, extensive testing and lockdowns.
Australia Says Djokovic Not Held ‘Captive’ (8:16 a.m. HK)
The Australian government insists world tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic isn’t being held against his will as the vaccine-mandate critic remains confined in a hotel used to detain refugees and asylum seekers.
Djokovic “is free to leave at any time that he chooses,” Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said Friday.
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