(Bloomberg) — South Africa delivered some positive news on the omicron coronavirus variant on Friday, reporting a much lower rate of hospital admissions and signs that the wave of infections may be peaking.
However, previous Covid-19 recovery provides little shield against infection with the omicron variant, a research team from Imperial College London showed in a large study that underlines the importance of booster shots.
China’s southern Guangdong province is tightening Covid restrictions after a new cluster of infections in the country’s manufacturing hub, and curbs also increased in several European countries. Meanwhile, Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE plan to study a three-dose regimen of their vaccine in young children 6 months to 4 years old.
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Swiss Tighten Curbs on Unvaccinated (9:34 a.m. NY)
Switzerland will exclude the unvaccinated from large parts of public life to curb coronavirus infections and protect the health-care system.
From Dec. 20, the country will limit entry to restaurants, gyms and other public indoor venues to those who have been inoculated or have recovered from the virus, the government said Friday. An additional negative test will be needed for discos and bars. Switzerland will also reintroduce a work-from-home requirement.
Pfizer to Study Doses in Kids (9:19 a.m. NY)
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE plan to study a three-dose regimen of their Covid-19 vaccine in young children 6 months to 4 years old, the companies said in a statement.
The vaccine partners amended their clinical trial protocol following a request by an external, independent data monitoring committee that found that the two-dose regimen did not prompt a strong immune response in blood tests among those ages 2 to less than 5 years old.
Novovax Gets Nod for Developing Countries (9:17 a.m.)
The World Health Organization gave emergency-use status to a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Novavax Inc., the ninth shot to get such approval. The WHO said Friday the vaccine, known as Covovax, will help vaccination drives in lower-income countries.
WHO’s Ryan Says Omicron Less Severe: (8:30 a.m. NY)
There is “some evidence emerging” that the omicron variant “doesn’t appear to cause as severe disease,” WHO emergencies program head Michael Ryan told RTE Radio. Still, if the virus is left to run riot it will cause “many, many cases of very sick people and our hospitals will fill up,” he added. “We’re not even close to the end of this pandemic,” he said, adding that he had hoped that we would be in a better position with the pandemic by now.
Omicron Gets Around Previous Infection: U.K. Study (8:22 a.m. NY)
A previous Covid-19 recovery provides little shield against infection with the omicron variant, a research team from Imperial College London showed in a large study that underlines the importance of booster shots.
Glaxo Gets Green Light from Europe Regulator (8 a.m. NY)
Europe’s drugs regulator authorized a Covid-19 antibody drug from GlaxoSmithKline Plc a week after the company indicated the treatment looks set to stand up well against the omicron variant.
The European Medicines Agency gave the green light for the drug xevudy for patients 12-years-old and up and at risk of severe disease, the company in a statement Friday. The therapeutic from Glaxo and Vir Biotechnology Inc. has already been authorized for use in the U.S. and U.K. and is the third monoclonal antibody against Covid-19 to be cleared in Europe.
German Minister Calls for New Measures (6:45 a.m. NY)
Germany is facing a “massive challenge” from the omicron variant, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach warned, saying the country must adopt new measures to slow the spread in time for vulnerable people to receive booster shots.
“We are at a key point of the pandemic,” Lauterbach said on Friday at a news conference. “We can push back the delta wave a bit with the classic methods that we’re using now. According to everything we know, this won’t be enough for the omicron wave that’s coming. We will need to reach a new level in the battle.”
A panel of health experts is meeting later Friday to advise on what measures are needed, Lauterbach said. He declined to comment on whether they will be necessary before the Christmas holiday.
Sinopharm, J&J, Sputnik Shots Weaken: Study (6:21 a.m. NY)
Covid-19 shots made by China’s state-owned Sinopharm and Johnson & Johnson, as well as the Sputnik vaccine developed by Russia, were found to produce little or no antibodies against omicron in a study, as evidence of the new variant’s vaccine-evading abilities mount.
Researchers at the University of Washington and Swiss drugmaker Humabs Biomed SA analyzed the efficacy of six vaccines against the highly-infectious and most-mutated Covid variant.
However, Sputnik V shows “high” virus neutralizing activity against the omicron variant of coronavirus and is expected to provide strong defense against severe disease and hospitalization, Russian Direct Investment Fund, which backs the developer, said in statement.
Austria to Suspend Lockdown for Unvaccinated (5:47 p.m. HK)
Austria will suspend a lockdown for the unvaccinated during year-end holidays, giving respite from one of the toughest coronavirus policies in Europe.
Unvaccinated people will be allowed to meet in groups of up to 10 on three days around Christmas, as well as New Year’s Eve, Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein told reporters Friday.
Japan Expedites Virus Boosters for Some (5:29 p.m.)
Japan will accelerate the rollout of booster shots for health workers and the elderly, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, as the country braces for the spread of the omicron variant already causing surges elsewhere.
Medical workers and elderly at particularly high risk of suffering severe symptoms would be eligible for booster shots six months after receiving their second immunization, two months faster than planned, Kishida told reporters Friday. Starting next February, other elderly people would be able to receive shots after a seven-month gap.
Sweden to Reintroduce Pandemic Support (4:46 p.m.)
Sweden’s government plans to reintroduce support measures for companies whose business is hit by restrictions as the largest Nordic nation is seeing a new surge in Covid-19 infections. Companies that lose more than 30% of revenue in December will be eligible for compensation of as much as 90% of their fixed costs, according to a statement on Friday.
Ireland Mulls Early Closing Time for Bars (4:15 p.m. HK)
Ireland may close bars and restaurants at 5 p.m. under new proposals to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Health officials have recommended early closing for pubs, restaurants, sport, theater and cultural gatherings from Dec. 20, as part of plans to be discussed by government in Dublin on Friday, according to national broadcaster RTE. Hospitality venues currently have to close by midnight. Capacity should also be cut to 50% for outdoor events, according to the advice.
India Cases in Mumbai Tick Higher (3:12 p.m. HK)
India’s financial capital Mumbai added 279 new infections Thursday, the highest number since Nov. 11, while New Delhi reported 85 new cases, the highest in four months, government data showed.
After soaring well above 400,000 daily new infections during the country’s brutal second wave during the summer, case numbers in India have been ticking lower over the last few months. On Friday, the country reported 7,447 new cases, taking the total infections so far to 34.7 million.
Wales to Resume Social Distancing, Close Clubs (2:50 p.m. HK)
Wales will bring back social distancing rules in offices and close nightclubs after Christmas as it tries to contain a growing wave of Covid-19.
Office workers will be required to keep two meters apart, and extra measures including one-way systems and barriers will be needed in businesses and shops from Dec. 27, the Welsh government said in a statement.
S. Africa Hospitalization Rate Plunges (2:45 p.m. HK)
South Africa’s hospital admission rate as a percentage of new Covid-19 cases identified dropped sharply in the second week of the current infection wave driven by the omicron variant, compared with the same week of the third wave.
Only 1.7% of identified Covid-19 infections in the second week of the fourth wave of infections were admitted to the hospital, compared with 19% in the same week of the third wave, which was driven by delta, South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla said.
Vaccines Stop Serious Cases, Australia Says (12:30 p.m. HK)
Existing Covid-19 vaccines are effective at preventing serious illness from the omicron variant, but they’re not as good as with other strains in preventing transmission and mild illness, Australia’s Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly said at a briefing Friday.
Three vaccine doses are roughly as effective at preventing transmission and severe disease from omicron as two are for the delta variant, Kelly said, highlighting the importance of booster shots in stemming a surge of cases in Australia.
NBA, Players Agree to New Protocols (11:50 a.m. HK)
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have agreed to new Covid-19 protocols for the Christmas holidays amid a jump in cases among players, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported, citing a memo shared with teams.
China’s Manufacturing Hub Tightens Curbs (11:45 a.m HK)
China’s southern Guangdong province is tightening Covid restrictions after a new cluster of infections emerged in the country’s manufacturing hub, and amid signs that the omicron variant may be spreading in the community.
The Dalang township in Dongguan city, one of the province’s most important factory belts, has been locked down after the detection of eight infections, with people not allowed to enter or exit and bus services suspended. A local hospital has closed all but its fever clinic and no patients are allowed to leave.
Biden Asks Supreme Court to Allow Vaccine Mandate (8:40 a.m. HK)
President Joe Biden’s administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let a federal vaccine mandate for health-care workers take effect nationwide, saying it could save thousands of lives during an anticipated Covid surge this winter.
In a pair of filings late Thursday, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar asked the justices to put a hold on lower court decisions that are blocking the rule in 24 states. The Republican-led states sued to block the law, saying the administration was exceeding its authority and infringing on state prerogatives.
Australia Surge Sees Queensland Impose Masks (7:30 a.m. HK)
Australia’s Queensland has made masks mandatory in several settings, after it this week opened its domestic borders to states which are experiencing fresh waves of Covid-19 cases.
From 1am on Saturday, masks will be required in shops, public transport, taxis and ride share services, as there’s been a “dramatic escalation” in cases in neighboring New South Wales, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Friday.
In NSW, Australia’s most-populous state, daily cases surged to a record 2,213 on Friday, from 158 a week earlier, as end-of-year gatherings have sparked super spreader events in venues including nightclubs and pubs. Hospitalizations are rising but remain low at 215, with 24 in intensive care.
Pfizer Seeks Full Approval for Young Teens (5:52 p.m. NY)
Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE asked U.S. regulators to grant full approval for their vaccine in children ages 12 to 15, a move that could open the door to vaccine mandates in schools next year.
The vaccine is currently approved in the U.S. for people 16 and older, and has emergency authorization for children from 5 to 15.
Biden Warns of Winter of ‘Death’ (5:39 p.m. NY)
President Joe Biden warned that unvaccinated Americans face “a winter of severe illness and death” as he urged initial doses and booster shots amid a surge of coronavirus cases and the emergence of the omicron variant.
“It’s past time” to get shots, the president said Thursday following a briefing with his coronavirus team at the White House. “We’re going to protect our economic recovery if we do this. We’re going to keep our school and businesses open if we do this.”
Infections have surged 40% over the past two weeks across the country, and deaths have increased by more than a third during that same period, with more than 1,300 Americans dying of coronavirus daily.
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