Virus outbreak: news and analysis from April 12

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A study in Brazil showed that the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. it is slightly more than 50% effective, which raises new concerns about the effectiveness of China’s Covid-19 series of shots, which are used in several countries and also nationally.

India granted emergency use authorization to Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, making it the third approved shot for its use. The decision came when the country’s battles in new wave of coronavirus, with a record number of new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, which has surpassed 13.5 million infections.

England it reopened shops, pub gardens, gyms and hairdressing salons after months of closure, while Hong Kong outlined plans to ease restrictions on social distancing 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 U.S. health officials canceled a dosing agreement for its unique antibody drug for Covid-19 to focus on the pharmacist’s combined treatment.

Health officials in three states have restricted the use of Lilly’s unique antibody due to the possible reduction in effectiveness against a new variant circulating in California. Doses of double antibodies are considered less likely to occur, including a combined antibody treatment from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. resistance from new viral strains.

Botswana tests deaths by Astra Link (7:01 am NY)

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

India approves Sputnik V shot (7 am NY)

India granted emergency approval for Russia’s highly effective Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, making it the third feature approved by the nation as it runs to contain an escalation of the health crisis amid a record daily increase in infections .

India on Monday recorded a record 168,912 cases of Covid-19, totaling more than 13.5 million. According to data from its health ministry, India has recorded more than 170,000 covetous deaths and has administered 104.5 million vaccines to date.

Some parts of India have already imposed partial closures while states like Maharashtra, where Bombay’s financial center is located, are seeing a shortage of vaccines. The addition of a third vaccine to the country’s arsenal could alleviate the deficit.

Fears of effectiveness for vaccines against China (18:48 pm NY)

Concern is growing over vaccines against Covid-19 in China less effective in stifling the disease, raising questions about Brazil’s nations in Hungary that depend on the country’s own mammoth traits and inoculation itself.

Research released on Sunday showed that the vaccine rate of Sinovac Biotech Ltd., deployed in Indonesia and Brazil, far exceeded 50%, barely meeting the minimum protection required for Covid vaccines by major global drug regulators. The rest of the Chinese shots have recorded efficiency rates of between 66% and 79%.

Vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc. and the Russian shot Sputnik have provided protection rates in excess of 90%.

Iran’s infections hit New disc (17:41 HK)

Iran reported a record 23,311 new cases of coronavirus overnight and 274 more deaths, the highest since Dec. 10, another sharp rise after the Persian New Year holidays, the ministry said. health of the country. To date, Iran has recorded more than 2 million cases and some 64,764 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

India plans to recover in K-shape (16:40 HK)

It is likely that India’s economic recovery will take the form of one K more than a V, with rising inequality about to surpass consumption and growth prospects, said the former central bank governor of the country.

“A major consequence of the pandemic has been the sharpening of inequalities,” Duvvuri Subbarao said in an April 9 interview. “Growing inequalities are not just a moral issue. They can erode consumption and harm our long-term growth prospects. “

Ireland due to Astra shooting rule (15:58 HK)

Ireland is expected to announce a decision on AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine later Monday. Several European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Greece, have already restricted their use to certain age groups.

AstraZeneca action

Europe does not present a concerted course on the side effects of the Astra vaccine

Source: Bloomberg

Czech infections are reduced as restrictions are reduced (15:57 HK)

The Czech Republic registered 976 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours until Sunday, the lowest number since 13 September. The country is partially opening some schools and raising limits on inter-county movement after weeks of strict blockade measures.

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

Hong Kong Women’s Vaccine Incentives (3:50 pm HK)

Hong Kong will do it consider relaxing some social distancing measures if more people receive their first vaccination against Covid-19, executive chairwoman Carrie Lam said in a briefing.

Measures being considered include extending restaurant meal times and increasing seating limits, as well as the limited reopening of bars and nightclubs, if all staff and customers have had the first chance and they use the government contact tracking app.

Bangladesh at closing offices, transportation (3:29 pm HK)

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

Bangladesh recorded 78 new virus deaths on Sunday, most in a single day, for a total of 9,739. Infections increased by 5,819, to 684,756, according to government data.

Asian nations want to strengthen Jab programs (2:45 pm HK)

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

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

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

Thailand reaches peak in case count (1:40 pm HK)

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

Bangkok, which has already closed hundreds of nightlife venues for two weeks, has registered 137 new cases, according to Opas Karnkawinpong, director general of the Department of Health Control of the Ministry of Health of Thailand.

UK staff will be back in the office in September (1pm)

UK business leaders expect it to be the majority of its employees back in the job in the third quarter, according to a survey conducted by Deloitte of top financial officials. Nearly half see staff returning in the three months to September, although 5% plan to never return.

Under the current restrictions of Covid-19, everyone who can work from home should do so, with the forecast that it will remain in place until at least June.

Office hours

Japan Rolls Out Jabs for people aged 65 and over (9:25 am HK)

Japan’s vaccination push it finally launches on Monday about four months after the start of inoculations in the United States and the United Kingdom, a slow deployment that has generated more criticism of the way Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga handled the pandemic.

Doses for people 65 and older are the first vaccines for the public in Japan after priority was given to inoculating front-line medical staff.

– With the assistance of Joanna Ossinger, Adam Blenford, Arsalan Shahla, Jason Scott, Philip Heijmans, Toru Fujioka, Andres Calonzo, Ganesh Nagarajan, Bhuma Shrivastava and Thomas Kutty Abraham