(Bloomberg) — Omicron accounted for 73% of all Covid-19 infections last week in the U.S., with almost all of the remaining cases being delta. President Joe Biden tested negative are spending time with an aide who was later found to be infected.
Singapore discovered a cluster of three cases in fully vaccinated people and omicron was confirmed in two patients. Daily infections in South Africa, where the variant was first identified, were down 44% to the lowest in two weeks.
New Zealand delayed its border reopening due to omicron while Australia’s prime minister said his country needed to live with the virus. A new study fueled concerns about the effectiveness of Sinopharm’s Covid-19 booster against the new variant.
Key Developments:
- Virus Tracker: Cases pass 275 million; deaths top 5.36 million
- Vaccine Tracker: More than 8.75 billion shots given
- Omicron cancellations starting to pile up: here’s a short list
- U.S. school closings surge 82% as omicron spreads
- Omicron suddenly upends the world’s return to the office
- What we know about omicron, the new virus variant: QuickTake
Singapore Shots for Kids (9:44 a.m. HK)
Singapore says its first shipment of pediatric doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid vaccine is set to arrive Dec. 22, which means the country will be able to begin vaccinating children ages 5-11 starting later this month as planned.
The city-state earlier said it planned to roll out pediatric vaccination in phases, starting with older children in the 5-11 subgroup, and younger ones in early 2022.
N.Z. Delays Border Reopening (9:24 a.m. HK)
New Zealand is pushing back the phased reopening of its border until the end of February due to the threat of the omicron variant.
“Waiting till the end of February will increase New Zealand’s overall protection and slow omicron’s eventual spread,” Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said Tuesday in Wellington.
Previously, the government said vaccinated New Zealand citizens could return from Australia without undergoing managed isolation from Jan. 17. Hipkins said the rapid spread of omicron, particularly in Australia, has forced a rethink.
Australia Won’t Lockdown (9:20 a.m. HK)
Australia’s Prime Minister reiterated that the country is not going back to lockdowns despite surging case numbers, instead calling for individuals to take personal responsibility for their health by getting vaccinated and taking precautions like wearing a mask.
“We’re not going back to lock downs. We’re not going back to shutting down peoples’ lives,” Scott Morrison told reporters Tuesday. “We’re going forward to live with this virus with common sense and responsibility.”
The country’s most populous state, New South Wales, reported a record 3,057 new cases on Tuesday, with 284 people in hospital and 39 in intensive care. In the second-biggest state, Victoria, cases remained relatively steady at 1,245, with 329 people hospitalized and 73 active ICU cases.
Broadway Show Closed (9:17 a.m. HK)
The rapidly-spreading omicron variant has now closed its first Broadway show. “Jagged Little Pill,” a musical based on the songs of Alanis Morissette, ended performances on Saturday and will not reopen, the New York Times reported.
Other New York musicals including “Hamilton” have had to cancel individual performances, while NBC’s Saturday Night Live broadcast its most recent show with a limited cast and crew and no audience.
Omicron Hits U.S. Military in Okinawa (9:11 a.m. HK)
The governor of Japan’s Okinawa prefecture wants American military personnel banned from leaving Camp Hansen after an outbreak of the omicron variant on the base, the Okinawa Times reported.
Governor Denny Tamaki will speak to Japan’s vice minister of foreign affairs and to the commander of marine forces in Japan about the matter by phone on Tuesday, the newspaper said. There have been more than 180 cases reported on the base and four omicron infections detected in the wider community.
Omicron Troubles for Sinopharm (8:44 a.m. HK)
Sinopharm’s Covid-19 booster shot generated “significantly lower” levels of antibodies against the omicron variant, in a study offering further clues on how one of the world’s most widely used vaccines stands up against the new strain.
A study of 292 healthcare workers given a booster 8 to 9 months after their second dose found that omicron caused a 20.1-fold reduction in neutralizing antibodies, compared to the performance against the original Wuhan strain.
The findings, which have yet to be peer-reviewed, will fuel concerns that the inactivated vaccine from the Chinese developer may offer inadequate protection against omicron infection even after a third dose, at a time when many countries are rolling out booster campaigns.
Missouri Blocks Contractor Vaccine Mandate (8:41 a.m. HK)
A federal court in Missouri blocked the Biden administration’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate for government contractors in 10 states, becoming the latest to grant an injunction as part of a series of challenges to the president’s power to set workplace requirements via executive order.
The ruling will apply to contractors in Arkansas, Alaska, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Biden Tests Negative (8:15 a.m. HK)
President Joe Biden spent time on Friday with an aide who tested positive for coronavirus infection three days later but has so far tested negative himself, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.
The aide was in proximity to Biden for about 30 minutes aboard Air Force One on Friday, Psaki said. The aide is fully vaccinated and has had a booster shot, and tested negative before boarding the plane.
But the unidentified aide began experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 on Sunday and tested positive on Monday, Psaki said. Biden is also fully vaccinated and has received a booster.
Indonesia Mulls Tougher Quarantine (8:04 a.m. HK)
Indonesia could further extend the mandatory quarantine period to 14 days for incoming foreign travelers to stem the spread of the contagious omicron strain in the country.
The period is currently set at 10 days, which was already extended from the initial seven days earlier this month.
The government is preparing a new quarantine facility to accommodate the longer quarantine and widening its travel ban to foreigners coming from the U.K, Denmark and Norway.
Thailand Approves Shot for Kids (8:04 a.m. HK)
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the use of Pfizer’s vaccine in children aged 5 to 11 years to shield them against Covid-19. Before the approval, Pfizer shots were used among children aged 12 years and older, according to the agency’s statement.
N.Z. Approves Ronapreve (7:48 a.m. HK)
New Zealand Ministry of Health’s medicine regulatory arm Medsafe approved a new medicine Ronapreve that can both prevent and treat Covid-19. Ronapreve is a monoclonal antibody drug that mimics the body’s natural defences for fighting disease.
It is known to be effective against the delta variant and research is now focusing on its effectiveness against the omicron variant, according to Medsafe.
Madison Square Garden Shows (4:30 p.m. NY)
MSG Entertainment, which last week said it would cancel the “Christmas Spectacular” Rockettes shows at Radio City due to Covid outbreaks, said Monday’s Billy Joel concert at Madison Square Garden and other shows and events will go on.
A spokesperson for the company said the company’s event schedule is proceeding as normal despite the spike in Covid cases in New York City. That includes big events like the WWE Live Holiday Tour on Dec. 26 and a four-night Phish run at The Garden on Dec. 29.
London Cancels Celebration (4:15 p.m. NY)
London Mayor Sadiq Khan canceled the New Year’s Eve celebration in Trafalgar Square, which was set to welcome 6,500 people, due to a surge of omicron infections. He urged residents to instead to stay at home and watch a live broadcast planned for the night.
“With infections of Covid-19 at record levels across our city and the U.K., I’m determined to work closely with partners in our city to do everything we possibly can to slow the spread of the new variant,” Khan said in a statement.
New Jersey Pushes Boosters (4 p.m. NY)
Just 40% of New Jerseyans eligible for boosters have received the shots, Governor Phil Murphy said.
Among 116 Covid-related New Jersey deaths from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5, none was a breakthrough case, he said. While the virus is spreading, boosters are protecting against serious illness, Murphy said at a Trenton news conference on Monday. Plenty of vaccine is available.
New Jersey reported 7,249 positive tests, the fifth straight day of cases exceeding 7,000. Numbers that high haven’t been recorded in the state since January, he said. In all, 1,902 Covid patients were hospitalized, marking a 12% increase since Dec. 13. Still, medical centers are nowhere near a capacity crisis, Murphy said.
N.Y. Health Chief Tests Positive (3:46 p.m. NY)
New York Health Commissioner Mary Bassett has tested positive for Covid-19, according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
In a press briefing, Hochul said Bassett’s breakthrough case came through a regular rapid test and that Bassett has also received her Covid booster.
The number of Covid cases in New York has surpassed records in recent days, with over 23,000 daily cases, but hospitalizations remain below last year’s winter surge, Hochul said. Hospitalizations were 4,020, and 60 people died on Sunday, she said.
Wisconsin Health Advisory (3:46 p.m. NY)
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Monday issued a public health advisory as a surge in Covid-19 infections threatens to overwhelm the state’s health care system.
“We are seeing daily case numbers that we haven’t seen since the end of last year,” Karen Timberlake, Department of Health Services secretary-designee, told reporters Monday. A total of 96% of the state’s intensive-care unit beds are now occupied, she said.
Quebec Closes Schools (2:10 p.m. NY)
Quebec is closing schools, gyms and bars and making work-from-home arrangements mandatory to stem a wave of coronavirus infections that has reached record levels.
The province recorded 4,571 new infections in 24 hours, far above the levels of last winter, when the provincial government imposed a curfew and closed all restaurants. Nearly 400 people are in the hospital with Covid-19, an increase of 76% in two weeks.
BofA Work at Home (2:10 p.m. NY)
Bank of America Corp. told New York-based employees scheduled to be at its offices that they can work from home over the holiday weeks if they prefer, as Wall Street navigates a fresh wave of virus outbreaks.
The bank is also providing free Covid-19 tests to staff and continuing to encourage employees to take precautions that will keep them safe, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Hospital Use Eases in South Africa Neighbor (1:40 p.m. NY)
Eswatini is having to hospitalize a fewer proportion of Covid-19 cases even as the omicron variant spurs a new wave of infections.
One out of every 100 cases currently seeks hospital care in Africa’s last absolute monarchy, which neighbors South Africa. That’s compared with one in 25 during the peak of the last wave in August.
“This is an indication that much fewer people are getting severe disease that requires admission,” the government said in a statement posted on Twitter Monday. “More than 80% of those admitted are not vaccinated.”
NYC Testing Sites Misstep (1 p.m. NY)
New York City officials defended a move to shut down Covid-19 testing sites right before the omicron surge because of a lack of demand, pledging to ramp up testing again over the coming week.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city had seen demand drop at some sites and moved to a focus on mobile testing vans, but the spread of the omicron variant caught the city by surprise. That, coupled with a surge in people seeking tests ahead of the holidays, have led to hours-long lines across the city.
South Africa Infections Slowing (1 p.m. NY)
South Africa’s daily coronavirus cases almost halved amid a fourth wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant. The country recorded 8,515 new infections in the past 24 hours, data from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases showed Monday. That’s a 44% drop from a day earlier and the lowest number of daily infections since Dec. 6.
The cases were recorded with 29.9% of Covid-19 tests analyzed coming back positive, down from 30.7% a day earlier, the institute said. Covid-19 hospital admissions rose to 8,515 from 7,915 a day earlier, the NICD said in a separate report. The number of patients in need of intensive care remained unchanged at 6.7%.
U.S. Capital Reinstates Masks (12:20 p.m. NY)
Washington, D.C., is reinstituting its indoor mask mandate on Tuesday following a surge in cases, Mayor Muriel Bowser said. The mandate, to last until 6 a.m. on Jan. 31, will apply regardless of vaccination status. The city is also boosting residents’ access to tests and shutting public schools on Jan. 3 and Jan. 4.
Novavax Shot Cleared in Europe (11 a.m. NY)
Novavax Inc.’s vaccine was cleared by European regulators and is set to become the first Covid-19 shot of its kind in the region, giving countries another tool as they race to protect their populations in the face of the omicron variant.
The protein-based shot, known as Nuvaxovid, was recommended by the European Medicines Agency, according to a statement Monday, and a European Commission decision authorizing the vaccine is expected imminently.
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