(Bloomberg) — U.S. airlines, chiefly United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc., scrapped more than 400 flights the day before Christmas because of personnel shortages linked to a spike in omicron cases as well as some bad weather.
The U.S. announced that it would lift travel curbs imposed on several southern African countries after the omicron variant emerged from the region.
A “large wave” of U.K. hospital admissions should be expected as infections move into older groups, scientists advising the government said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Britons to take care at Christmas, while official modeling estimated that one in 10 people in London had been infected as of on Dec. 19.
The U.K. is looking to plug shortages of care workers with a new visa scheme.
Israel’s plan to administer a fourth vaccine dose to older adults and medical personnel may be delayed or abandoned if the country’s top health official fails to sign off on the program.
Key Developments:
- Virus Tracker: Cases pass 278 million; deaths top 5.38 million
- Vaccine Tracker: More than 8.8 billion shots given
- Covid pill availability may depend on which state you live in
- The quest for a disposable mask that won’t pollute
- All you need to know about rapid test kits
- What we know about omicron, the new virus variant: QuickTake
Ireland Hits Daily Case Record (10:50 a.m. NY)
Ireland reported its most daily coronavirus cases on record, with the omicron variant now dominant in the country.
There were 11,182 newly confirmed cases, the health ministry said in a Twitter post. That’s almost 3,000 more than the previous peak in January.
While hospitalizations have eased in the past month and are at their lowest since October, the government has warned they may increase in the days ahead.
Portugal Cases Highest Since January (10:27 a.m. NY)
Portugal on Friday recorded 12,943 new daily coronavirus infections, the highest level since Jan. 29, as authorities prepare to impose new restrictions, including closing bars and nightclubs, to fight the pandemic during the holiday season.
There were 11 fatalities in a day, taking the total to 18,851 deaths, Portugal’s Directorate General of Health said in a statement.
Hospitalizations have crept up recently, but remain far below last winter’s levels. Portugal has one of the highest coronavirus vaccine levels in the world.
U.K. Expands Carer Visa Program (10:14 a.m. NY)
The U.K. is expanding its visa scheme for care workers in response to shortages, the government says in an emailed statement.
Care staff will be added to the “Shortage Occupation List,” and will become eligible for 12-month Health and Care visas.
Workers recruited to the U.K. under the scheme will be able to bring their dependents, including partner and children, and the visa will offer a “pathway to settlement” should they remain employed and wish to remain in the U.K.
U.K. Omicron Cases Jump Again (10:06 a.m. NY)
The U.K. reported another 23,719 omicron-variant Covid cases, up 41% from the 16,817 cases of the strain it identified on Thursday.
Separately, the nation’s pace of vaccination — first, second and booster shots — continues to be speedy. The latest figures, for Wednesday, showed a total of 932,501 jabs in the U.K. Of those, 840,038 were boosters, up 12.7% from a week earlier.
More vaccine centers have opened across the country — including in shopping centers, football stadiums, and pop-ups such as vaccine buses.
U.S. to Lift African Travel Curbs (9:29 a.m. NY)
The U.S. will lift restrictions on several southern African countries on Dec. 31, White House Assistant Press Secretary Kevin Munoz said in a tweet.
“The restrictions gave us time to understand omicron, and we know our existing vaccines work against omicron, esp. boosted,” Munoz said.
In South Africa, an omicron-fueled fourth wave of Covid cases is easing, and studies have shown the new strain is far less likely to result in hospitalization.
Christmas Eve Flights Scrapped on Covid, Weather (8:55 a.m. NY)
Air carriers cancelled more than 400 U.S. flights on Friday, led by United and Delta, as surging Covid infections grounded crew at one of the busiest travel times of the year.
Delta said its cancellations were due to a combination of reasons, including but not limited to potential inclement weather in some places. and the impact of omicron.
The global tally of scrapped flights was more than 2,000, with China Eastern and Air China ranked one and two, FlightAware reported. United was number three with about 9% of its flights grounded.
South Africa to Stop Contact Tracing (7:48 a.m. NY)
South Africa will stop coronavirus contact tracing and won’t ask those who’ve been directly exposed to infected people to quarantine, indicating a shift away from tough restrictions to contain the pandemic.
Zambia Sees Record Number of Cases (7:35 a.m. NY)
Zambia set a daily record of new cases at 3,672, with a positivity rate of 27% for tests conducted in the past 24 hours, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said. The previous record for new cases was reported in June.
Premier League Delays Another Dec. 26 Game (7:06 a.m. NY)
Soccer’s English Premier League says Everton FC’s fixture at Burnley FC on Boxing Day has been postponed because Everton has insufficient players as a result of Covid cases and injuries. It’s the third Dec. 26 match to be called off, after the league on Thursday delayed Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Watford and Liverpool vs Leeds United.
Merck’s Pill Gets Japan Approval for Emergency (6:56 a.m. NY)
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has granted Special Approval for Emergency for molnupiravir, Merck says in statement.
U.K. Hospitals Face ‘Wave’ of Admissions (6:34 a.m. NY)
“As infections move into older age groups, a large wave of hospital admissions should be expected,” the U.K. government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said in minutes of a Dec. 23 Covid-19 meeting released Friday.
SAGE said hospital admissions for patients with omicron variant are doubling every 4-5 days.
Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics said 1 in 35 people in England had Covid-19 in the week ended Dec. 19, and one in 10 Londoners were infected.
French May Get Boosters After 3 Months (5:43 p.m. HK)
France’s health authority recommended shortening the length of time between primary vaccination and booster shots to three months from four amid surging cases of the omicron variant. The Haute Autorite de Sante also recommended giving booster jabs to adolescents aged 12-17 with existing health risks.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran said in a tweet that an additional 1 million vaccination appointments would be made available next week. “From today, boosters are possible from four months after the last injection/infection,” Veran wrote.
Doubts Over Israel Fourth-Shot Plan (5:19 p.m. HK)
Israel’s plan to administer a fourth vaccine dose to older adults and medical personnel may be delayed or abandoned if the country’s top health official fails to sign off on the program.
The plan, which would have made the country the first in the world to offer a fourth shot on such a widespread basis, was announced on Tuesday by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett following a recommendation from a panel of experts. The decision was based on a forecast showing that fast-paced spread of omicron would leave the population largely unprotected from infection.
Johnson Urges Care During Christmas (4:39 p.m. HK)
Boris Johnson urged Britons to take care at Christmas, as he considers whether to tighten pandemic regulations next week amid a record surge in cases fueled by the fast-spreading omicron variant.
A total of 119,789 new cases were logged on Thursday, more than double the rate seen at the start of the month, and an increase of more than 10,000 on Wednesday’s caseload — which had also been a daily record.
Thailand Warns Over New Year Gatherings (3:50 p.m. HK)
Thailand has registered its first large outbreak of the omicron variant, prompting a caution for New Year gatherings and celebrations.
More than 20 people have been infected with the variant in a cluster linked to two Thais who returned from Europe.
India Under Pressure Over Boosters (3:48 p.m. HK)
India’s government faces a growing clamor from business leaders and public health experts to launch a booster drive and begin vaccinating children as the nation braces for a surge of omicron-fueled infections.
With ample vaccine supplies, India could begin inoculating those under 18 as well as administer third doses to front-line health care workers, the elderly and those at high risk since they got their first shots in early 2021, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the founder and chair of Biocon Ltd. — one of India’s largest drugmakers — told Bloomberg.
Taiwan Reports 11 Omicron Cases; Lab Fined (2:33 p.m. HK)
Taiwan added 11 imported omicron cases Friday, bringing the total to 27.
The government fined Academia Sinica due to its loose oversight over internal biosafety procedures led to a Covid-19 lab infection case, according to a statement from Taiwan Centers for Disease Control.
An initial investigation showed that lab workers didn’t put on equipment such as N95 masks and double glove layers as required, and didn’t follow standard operation procedures when wearing and taking off personal protective equipment.
China Booster Stimulates Antibodies (1:18 p.m. HK)
A booster shot, either in the form of inactivated vaccine or protein subunit vaccine, can still generate neutralizing antibodies against omicron, though the levels are significantly lower compared to protection against the virus’ original strain and delta, according to a study conducted by researchers from China’s National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases.
The inactivated vaccine used in the study is the one developed by China’s Sinopharm while the protein subunit shot is developed by Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co., according to the study.
Hong Kong Boosters for All Adults (12:46 p.m. HK)
Particular groups such as those with travel needs can receive booster at least three months after the second shot, the government said.
Hong Kong will also extend opening hours for nine community vaccination centers.
China Officials Punished for Ineffective Steps (9:43 a.m. HK)
Authorities in northwestern Chinese city of Xi’an punished 26 officials responsible for ineffective work in Covid-19 curbs, China’s top anti-graft agency said in a statement, after the city was locked down amid a flare-up of cases.
Germany Issues Pandemic Warning (7 a.m. HK)
“The pandemic won’t suddenly be gone one day,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in the text of a speech to be delivered on Saturday. “It will occupy us for a long time to come.”
On Thursday, Germany reported almost 3,200 confirmed and suspected cases of the omicron strain after the number tripled last week, according to the RKI public-health institute.
Australia Speeds Up Boosters (5:55 p.m. NY)
Australia has brought forward implementing third-dose booster shots as the nation battles outbreaks of the omicron variant.
From Jan. 4, Australians will be be able to get their booster shot four months after receiving their second dose, from five months currently, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in Canberra. From Jan. 31, the time limit will be cut again to three months.
“These dates have been set out of an abundance of caution to give Australians early continued protection,” Hunt said. About 91% of Australians aged 16 and over have had two shots, he said.
Intel, Google to Pull Out of CES (5:25 p.m. NY)
Google and General Motors Co. joined Intel Corp., the world’s largest chipmaker, and Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous driving unit, Waymo, in pulling out of in-person presentations at the CES technology conference scheduled for next month.
In a blog post on Thursday, Waymo cited “quickly rising Covid-19 infection rates,” but said its executives would participate in virtual events. Similarly, Intel said it will send only a small number of staff to the Las Vegas event and switch its participation to the internet.
An executive board member of Porsche AG, Barbara Frenkel, also canceled her plans to attend the conference scheduled to begin Jan. 5.
NYC to Limit Crowds for New Year’s Eve (2:20 p.m. NY)
New York City is limiting crowds and adding more health and safety measures for revelers at the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square amid a record surge of cases.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the celebration will still be held but only allow 15,000 people in viewing areas. The city will require proof of full vaccination and mask-wearing.
Still, the mayor declined to cancel the event altogether, citing vaccination requirements to attend, the outdoor nature of the event and the precautions taken as adequate safety measures.
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