(Bloomberg) — New York state reported a one-day record of more than 21,000 infections as the spread of the omicron variant accelerates across the U.S. Australia’s New South Wales state recorded its largest ever tally of daily cases, while China posted the biggest number of local infections this month.
After reporting breakthrough cases, the Radio City Rockettes canceled their “Christmas Spectacular” for the season in New York “due to increasing challenges from the pandemic.” Some NFL and NHL games will be postponed. Ohio and Maryland are seeking to ease pressure on overwhelmed hospitals, while California urged testing for all arrivals from other states or countries.
The U.K. government is due to present proposals under which meeting other people indoors would be banned for two weeks after Christmas in England to slow omicron’s spread, The Times reported. Hospital admissions are rising in London amid record infections in the country, while France is curbing New Year’s Eve celebrations as Europe seeks to stem cases of the new variant.
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Germany Records Fewer New Daily Infections (1 p.m. HK)
Germany reported a total of 42,813 new cases, compared with 50,968 the day before, according to the country’s public health authority RKI. New deaths associated with the virus rose by 414, bringing the total to 108,053. The 7-day incidence rate dropped to 321.8 per 100,000 people
China’s Local Cases Rise to Highest This Month (10 a.m. HK)
China reported 125 new coronavirus cases for Friday, of which 89 are local, according to the National Health Commission. That’s the biggest daily tally for local infections since Nov. 30 when the country had 91 domestic cases, all in Inner Mongolia. The nation is facing heightened pressure as it seeks to stamp out recent flareups of the delta variant, while having detected its first omicron cases, putting its Covid Zero approach to the test.
The latest outbreak forced closures of more than a dozen factories in China’s eastern manufacturing hub of Zhejiang province, the epicenter.
Record Cases in Most Populous Australian State (9:34 a.m. HK)
Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales reported a record 2,482 Covid-19 cases Saturday, a day after easing international arrival rules for vaccinated travelers.
The infections in the state are the highest daily caseload for any Australian jurisdiction since the beginning of the pandemic. The omicron variant likely accounts for the majority of today’s cases and people should get booster shots as soon as they’re eligible, NSW Health said in a statement.
Still, in a state of more than 8 million people, only 206 people are hospitalized with Covid-19. Twenty-six are in intensive care and one death was recorded. The vaccination rate for the state is almost 95% of those aged 16 and over.
New Zealand Sees More Omicron Cases (9:30 a.m. HK)
New Zealand reported 39 new Covid-19 cases Saturday, confirming an additional four omicron infections in recent international arrivals, bringing the total new variant cases in managed quarantine to eight. Passengers arriving on flights with identified omicron cases will now have to complete all 10 days of isolation in a facility, authorities said in a statement.
California Urges Testing for Travelers (8:38 a.m HK)
California issued an advisory Friday recommending that travelers from other states or countries should be tested three to five days after arrival. The provision isn’t mandatory, as was the case with many restrictions on travel early in the pandemic.
With the omicron variant detected early in California, the advisory from the state’s Department of Public Health notes that since Thanksgiving average cases have increased 47% and hospitalizations 14%.
JPMorgan Urges Caution in Holiday Gatherings (7:20 a.m. HK)
JPMorgan Chase & Co., stopping short of banning its Wall Street teams from holding year-end gatherings, urged employees to “exercise caution and good judgment” if meeting up and to get tested for Covid-19 before returning to work after the holidays. “We strongly recommend postponing any events where mask wearing will be difficult, such as events centered on eating and drinking,” the largest U.S. bank told staff in a memo.
Big New York Shows Are Forced to Cancel (7:06 a.m. HK)
Two of New York City’s biggest shows, “Hamilton” and the Radio City Rockettes’ “Christmas Spectacular,” have been forced to cancel shows because of Covid-19 outbreaks.
Friday’s performance of “Hamilton” was also called off because of breakthrough cases, the production said in a tweet. The Rockettes initially announced Friday that four shows would be canceled, also because of breakthrough cases, then later said the entire season would end “due to increasing challenges from the pandemic.”
Ontario Reimposes Restrictions (5:11 p.m. NY)
Ontario became the latest Canadian province to reinstate strict capacity limits on restaurants, shops and holiday gatherings as the spread of the omicron variant accelerated across the country.
“Friends, this variant is unlike anything we’ve ever seen and if we don’t take every single precaution we can, the modeling tells a scary story,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said.
NFL and NHL Postpone Games (3:37 p.m. NY)
The National Football League and the National Hockey League have both postponed games as more players tested positive for Covid-19.
The NHL has postponed the games of three teams. The NFL, which on Dec. 16 updated its Covid-19 protocols, has postponed several games after a surge in cases that has seen over 100 players test positive in the past week.
France Curbs New Year’s Parties (3:25 p.m. NY)
French officials will curb outdoor revelry on New Year’s Eve in a bid to limit cases that risk overwhelming hospitals, Prime Minister Jean Castex said.
“I’m appealing to everyone’s responsibility to find other ways to celebrate than large gatherings, and avoiding moments of conviviality,” Castex said in a televised speech, as many people in France began their winter vacations.
N.Y. Breaks Pandemic Case Record (3:16 p.m. NY)
New York state is experiencing a dramatic spike in Covid-19 cases.
The state reported 21,027 new cases Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced, surpassing the previous record of 19,942 set in January. Of the roughly 263,500 people tested, 7.98% were positive for the virus.
The rapid rise comes in lockstep with the emergence of the omicron variant, which has appeared to spread easier than previous versions of the virus.
Texas Cases Surge 43% in One Week (2:26 p.m. NY)
Texas has seen a 43% rise in new cases in the past week as hospitals in some regions of the second-largest U.S. state grapple with the latest wave.
There were 5,011 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, a 17% increase in one day, state health department figures showed on Friday. The surge comes as medical centers in the Amarillo area are running low on adult intensive-case beds and have exhausted pediatric ICU capacity. In the state’s other hot spot, in the border city of El Paso, there are just five adult ICU beds available for a region with almost 900,000 inhabitants, state figures showed.
Ireland Clamps Down With Omicron Rising (1:50 p.m. NY)
Ireland will close bars and restaurants at 8 p.m. from Sunday and cut capacity at indoor and outdoor events in a bid to slow the spread of the omicron variant. While takeaway and delivery services will remain open, hospitality, cinemas, sports and cultural gatherings must end early until Jan. 30, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said.
Omicron now accounts for about 35% of new cases, Martin said, and warned of a “very significant wave” over the Christmas period.
Austria Tightens Rules for Entry (12:51 p.m. NY)
Austria will enforce stricter entry criteria starting next week to limit the spread of the omicron variant, including a negative Covid-19 test for anyone who hasn’t gotten a booster shot.
Only people who have been vaccinated or have recently recovered from the virus will be allowed to enter starting Monday, the Health Ministry said in a statement Friday. Residents can return home, but face a 10-day quarantine if they aren’t vaccinated.
London Hospitalizations Rise (12:15 p.m. NY)
The number of people hospitalized with coronavirus is starting to rise in London, the latest sign that omicron has taken hold in the capital.
It comes as the U.K. reported its third consecutive day of record numbers of new coronavirus cases. Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, warned on Wednesday that the “phenomenal pace” at which the strain is spreading will trigger a surge in admissions to hospitals over Christmas.
British Airways Halts HK Flights (10:58 a.m. NY)
British Airways put flights to Hong Kong on hold until March after the imposition of strict quarantine rules by the Asian financial hub’s government saw airline crews forced to isolate in a makeshift camp.
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.
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 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.
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