(Bloomberg) — Infection with the omicron variant may provide some protection against the delta strain, reducing the risk of severe disease, a South African study showed.
With omicron on the advance, global virus cases hit a daily record 1.44 million infections on Monday, two years after the emergence of the virus.
Germany faces protests against tighter restrictions. New Delhi introduced a curfew, with researches warning that India is expected to go through an intense but short virus wave.
Key Developments:
- Global covid cases hit a daily record of more than 1.44 million Monday
- Virus Tracker: Cases top 280.1 million; deaths reach 5.4 million
- Vaccine Tracker: More than 8.95 billion shots given
- Goldman mandates boosters as it stands by office-return plan
- Truck drivers to seafarers quit as Covid shutters borders again
India Faces Short, Intense Outbreak (5:29 p.m. HK)
India may see a spurt in Covid-19 growth rate within days and head into an intense but short-lived wave as the omicron variant moves through the crowded nation of almost 1.4 billion, according to a team of researchers at the University of Cambridge who developed a Covid-19 India tracker.
As omicron-related infections rise, New Delhi will close cinemas, schools and gyms and introduce other restrictions on public gathering, according to a government statement.
The measures include a night curfew between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., 50% occupancy in bars and restaurants and all public transport. Shops in markets and malls selling non-essential items will open on alternate days and schools will only function online.
Omicron Infection Seen Fighting Delta (4:44 p.m. HK)
Infection with omicron can also strengthen immunity against the delta strain, reducing the risk of severe disease, according to a paper released by South African scientists.
While omicron has been shown to be highly transmissible and can evade some antibodies, after two weeks of getting symptoms immunity to subsequent infections from the strain rose 14-fold. A smaller improvement was found against delta, they said.
Abu Dhabi Tightens Entry Rules (4:43 p.m. HK)
Abu Dhabi tightened entry requirements after cases in the United Arab Emirates rose to the highest level in six months.
Vaccinated individuals will require a green status on their mobile-phone health app, while those who aren’t inoculated will need a negative PCR test to enter the emirate from Dec. 30. On Monday, Abu Dhabi tightened rules for hosting indoor and outdoor social events as well as family celebrations.
Germans Protest Against Curbs (3:59 p.m. HK)
Thousands of people across Germany gathered for illegal protests against the government’s Covid rules and the prospect of a vaccine mandate. In the eastern city of Bautzen about 100 people were arrested.
Stricter limits on private gatherings took effect on Tuesday, with as many as 10 vaccinated and recovered people allowed to meet. If unvaccinated people are involved, only two people from another household are allowed.
The country reported 215.6 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days, the lowest level since Nov. 9. Germany, which is discussing a vaccine mandate, aims to fully inoculate 80% of the population by the end of January, compared with 71% currently.
Indonesia Weighs Travel Ban (2:28 p.m. HK)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo discussed a plan to ban citizens from leaving the country in a recent cabinet meeting on concern over surging omicron cases. The government also sought the possibility of tightening health protocols, including ensuring mask wearing in public areas, and expediting booster jabs. No time frame was given for a decision.
At the same time, neighboring Malaysia decided to lift its travel ban on eight African nations. Restrictions “make no sense anymore because omicron is coming from all the other countries,” according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddinin.
Australia Cases Surge (1:47 p.m. HK)
Australia’s daily cases surged past 11,200 Tuesday, just one day after breaking the 10,000 barrier for the first time. Pathology provider SydPath on Tuesday confirmed it had sent 486 patients a negative test result when they had in fact tested positive, as a result of the growing caseload and human error.
Record Global Daily Cases (1:40 p.m. HK)
Daily cases hit a record on Monday, disrupting the holiday season a year after vaccines first started rolling out. The more than 1.44 million worldwide infections smashed the prior record after factoring out a day in December 2020 when Turkey backdated a significant number of cases.
A more conservative gauge — the seven-day rolling average that smooths out one-time fluctuations and holiday reporting irregularities — is also at a record level, thanks to a tidal wave of omicron infections.
Covid Outbreak Festers in Xi’an (10:44 a.m. HK)
A Covid outbreak in the western Chinese city of Xi’an continued to fester, with new cases hitting a record high days after its 13 million residents were locked down.
Daily infections rose to 175, a jump from the roughly 150 cases in each of the past two days, as authorities initiated a fourth round of testing. The outbreak is being driven by the delta variant, and has been traced back to a flight from Pakistan.
Delta Says China Flying ‘Remains Fluid’ (10:36 a.m. HK)
Future Delta Air Lines service to China “remains very fluid” after a flight from the U.S. to Shanghai was turned back because of the procedures needed to clean and disinfect the airplane, the carrier said.
The flight returned to Seattle to comply with cleaning mandates required at Shanghai Pudong International Airport that were issued by the Chinese government on Dec. 21,” Delta said in a statement.
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