(Bloomberg) — Germany reported record new coronavirus cases for the third straight day as the highly transmissible omicron variant swept through Europe’s biggest economy. The U.K. is set to abandon Covid passes this month, the Times reported, citing a government official it didn’t identify.
The pandemic could start moving into an endemic phase in 2022, though countries will need to stay vigilant as the omicron variant spreads, according to Moderna Inc. co-founder Noubar Afeyan.
Hong Kong extends a ban on flights from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan and the Philippines through Feb. 4, the South China Morning Post reported. At least a dozen Hong Kong-based managing directors at banks ranging from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bank of America Corp. to Morgan Stanley and UBS Group AG are stranded in countries from the U.S. to Australia because of the flight bans, people familiar with the matter said.
Key Developments:
- Virus Tracker: Cases near 320 million; deaths pass 5.5 million
- Vaccine Tracker: More than 9.6 billion shots administered
- U.S. Spotlight: Covid hospital admissions show omicron spreading to West Coast
- Chaos at Hong Kong quarantine camp leaves some detainees trapped
- China outbreak reaches six provinces as omicron takes hold
China’s Zhuhai Finds Seven Confirmed Covid Cases: TV (10:20 p.m. HK)
China’s Zhuhai city in Guangdong province found seven confirmed Covid-19 cases from the mass testing, state broadcaster CCTV reports, citing a local government briefing.
Preliminary result from genetic sequencing shows the cases are infected with the omicron variant. Six of the cases are asymptomatic.
Omicron Linked to Higher Hospitalization Rate for Babies in U.K. (9:30 p.m. HK)
Omicron has resulted in a higher hospitalization rate for babies in the U.K. than seen for previous variants of Covid-19, though most hospital stays were short, researchers said.
Infants under the age of one accounted for 42% of children hospitalized during the omicron wave, compared with 30% in May to mid-December when the delta variant was prevalent, the research team said in data presented on Friday. Outcomes for the hospitalized babies have been positive, however, with no deaths, less need for oxygen and proportionally fewer intensive-care admissions than during the delta wave.
Germany Warns Giving Covid Free Rein Would Cost Too Many Lives (9:11 a.m. HK)
Germany warned that letting Covid-19 spread uncontrollably would lead to otherwise avoidable deaths even if the omicron strain is less severe than previous variants of the virus.
“There is still no reason to sound the all-clear,” Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Friday in Berlin. If authorities give the virus free rein, “the number of victims that we would then be mourning is unknown and certainly would be too high.”
EU Regulator Sees Link Spinal Cord Illness and J&J, Astra Shots (8:30 p.m. HK)
European Medicines Agency’s safety committee has recommended a change to the product information for AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria and Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen, according to statement.
Product information to include a warning of very rare cases of transverse myelitis (TM) reported following vaccination. TM is a rare neurological condition characterized by an inflammation of one or both sides of the spinal cord.
EMA’s safety committee says causal relationship between these two vaccines and transverse myelitis is “at least a reasonable possibility.”
Italy Estimates Surge in Omicron Cases (8:05 p.m. HK)
Italy estimates the omicron variant accounted for 81% of new cases as of Jan. 3, up from 28% Dec. 23, the country’s National Institute of Health and Minister of Health said in a statement. The remaining cases were the delta variant, according to a survey based on the sequencing of 2,632 samples.
Moderna Chair Says Covid Pandemic May Shift to Endemic in 2022 (8:03 p.m. HK)
The pandemic could start moving into an endemic phase in 2022, though countries will need to stay vigilant as the omicron variant spreads, according to Moderna Inc. co-founder Noubar Afeyan.
While some countries slowly begin to consider treating Covid as an endemic disease, like the flu, World Health Organization officials have said it’s too early to make that call as cases surge.
Hong Kong Extends Restrictions (6:42 p.m. HK)
Hong Kong extended social distancing measures and the city’s flight ban on eight countries to stem an outbreak of the infectious omicron variant, while announcing economic relief to help businesses cope.
The ban on bars, beaches, gyms and cinemas, as well as dining-in after 6 p.m., will continue until Feb. 3, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a regular press briefing Friday. The Asian financial hub will also extend its passenger flight ban on Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the U.K. and the U.S., until Feb. 4, she added.
Gene Linked to Severe Covid to Provide Clues for Those at Risk (6 p.m. HK)
Polish scientists have discovered a gene that they say more than doubles the risk of falling severely ill with, or even dying from Covid-19.
The Health Ministry in Warsaw expects the discovery to help identify people who are most at risk from the disease, which has already killed more than 100,000 people in Poland alone. It also plans to include genetic tests when it screens patients for potential Covid-19 infections as soon as the end of June.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Tested Positive for Covid-19, TT Reports (5 p.m. HK)
Sweden’s prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, has tested positive for Covid-19 with a so-called quick test, her press secretary told news agency TT.
The prime minister is feeling well, under the circumstances, the news agency reported. Elsewhere in Swedish politics, Center Party leader Annie Loof and Green Party spokesman Per Bolund both tested positive following a debate of party leaders in parliament earlier this week.
The test result comes just days after Andersson announced new restrictions to curb unprecedented transmission of the virus in Sweden.
Omicron Deaths in South Africa Peaked at 15% of Delta Wave (4:07 p.m. HK)
The death rate for those infected with the omicron coronavirus variant in South Africa peaked at 14% to 15% of the rate seen when the country was experiencing a wave caused by the delta variant, Waasila Jassat, a researcher at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said.
Hospital admissions peaked at about 60% of the delta wave, she said in an online presentation on Friday
Omicron Less Severe Even for Unvaccinated, S. African Study Says (4:04 p.m. HK)
The omicron coronavirus variant causes less severe disease than the delta strain even in those who are unvaccinated or who haven’t had a prior Covid-19 infection, a study from South Africa’s Western Cape province showed.
The findings add to growing evidence that while more infectious, omicron may be less virulent than predecessors. Data from South Africa, the first country to have a major outbreak caused by the strain, has so far shown lower hospitalization and death rates.
Virus Tones Down Danish Royal Jubilee (3:41 p.m. HK)
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II celebrated a toned-down version of her 50-year jubilee as monarch of the Nordic country on Friday. Due to the pandemic, the 81-year-old queen postponed until September what was supposed to be a two-day public celebration. Margrethe also had to drop public celebrations of her 80-year birthday in 2020 due to the virus.
Japan to Trim Omicron-Exposed Essential Workers’ Isolation (3:09 p.m. HK)
The Japanese government is preparing to cut the period of time that essential workers need to isolate at home after being designated as close contacts of cases of the omicron variant of Covid-19, FNN reports without attribution. The isolation period will be cut to six days from the current 14, provided the workers test negative on day six.
No Need to Wear Masks Outdoors in Paris (2:23 p.m. HK)
Parisians are no longer obliged to wear masks outdoors after an administrative court struck down a local rule put in place from Dec. 31 to try to stem the spread of omicron, Les Echos reported Friday. The court decision followed another in the neighboring department of Versailles that found the measure to be an “excessive” and disproportionate intrusion on individual rights, the newspaper said.
Hong Kong Bankers Stuck Overseas (1:53 p.m. HK)
Those stranded include division heads in investment banking, wealth and asset management and other functions, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing internal business. The barring of flights from eight countries, part of an outlier Covid Zero strategy, is threatening the city’s appeal as a regional financial hub.
Australia’s Worst Outbreak Near Peak (1:15 p.m. HK)
The country’s most recent Covid-19 wave could peak within weeks, government officials said, potentially easing pressure on crowded hospitals and businesses struggling with supply issues. The country is experiencing its worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic with more than 100,000 cases being posted daily, fueled by the now dominant omicron strain. The variant makes up about 90% of cases and two-thirds of ICU admissions in its most populous state, New South Wales.
Australia’s Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly said he expected to see an easing in new cases as soon as late January or early February, adding that infections in NSW may have already topped out.
Philippines Keeps Curbs on Record Cases (12:19 p.m. HK)
The Philippines will keep movement restrictions in its capital from January 16 to 31 as daily Covid-19 infections and the percentage of positive tests hit record highs. Metro Manila, which accounts for a third of economic output, will remain under Alert Level 3, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a briefing Friday. Outdoor restaurants can operate at half capacity, while cinemas, gyms and other indoor businesses are limited to 30% capacity.
Auto Factories in China Shuttered (11:33 a.m. HK)
Global automakers have been caught in the latest coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city of Tianjin. A factory operated by Volkswagen AG’s joint venture with FAW Group has been shut since Monday, along with a gearbox supplier controlled by the German giant. They join a Toyota Motor Corp. factory that has been closed for five days.
Cases in Germany Soar to a Record (10:41 a.m. HK)
Infections surged by 92,223, the highest one-day increase since the start of the pandemic, according to numbers released Friday by the country’s RKI public-health institute. The seven-day incidence rate per 100,000 people climbed to a record high of 470.6.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz this week issued a strong appeal for Germans to get vaccinated against Covid-19, saying failing to do so puts others at risk as the nation grapples with omicron. More than 72% of the population is fully vaccinated with two shots, and over 45% have had a booster shot, according to the latest RKI data. But there remain pockets of intense opposition to inoculations.
Citigroup Vaccine Compliance (10:01 a.m. HK)
Citigroup Inc. said 99% of its U.S. employees have complied with its vaccine mandate, one of the strictest on Wall Street. The firm expects more employees will comply with the order before the deadline on Friday, Sara Wechter, head of human resources, said Thursday in a LinkedIn post. As part of the mandate, staffers were able to receive exemptions.
Airlines Slash Services to China (9:58 a.m. HK)
China is more cut off from international travel than at any other stage during the pandemic as it tries to stamp out Covid with tight controls on movement. Airlines from key markets have reacted by slashing services from already low levels, with fewer than 500 inbound China flights scheduled this week versus about 10,000 this time two years ago.
China Covid Cases (9:03 a.m. HK)
The country reported 143 new local confirmed infections Thursday, including 98 in Henan province, 34 in Tianjin city, eight in Xi’an, two in Shanghai and one in Zhongshan, according to the National Health Commission. China also reported four new local asymptomatic cases Thursday, including 3 in Shanghai and 1 in Tianjin.
U.K. Set to Abandon Covid Passes (8:14 a.m. HK)
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has decided Covid-19 certification is no longer needed as the Omicron wave subsides in the U.K., the Times reports, citing an unidentified government source. There was always a very high threshold for the policy of requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter large events in England, and it appears that within a couple of weeks that threshold will no longer be met, according to the government source.
South Korea Extends Help to Small Businesses (7:51 a.m. HK)
The country is set to ease curbs on private gatherings for three weeks starting Jan. 17 in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year early February. The government will allow up to six people, from the current 4, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday.
The government plans to allocate extra budgetary support to small business owners and merchants hit by the spread of the coronavirus, and a proposal will be presented to lawmakers before the Lunar New Year holidays later this month, Kim said. While officials prepared to ease private gathering rules, they said closing hours for cafes and restaurants would remain unchanged at 9 p.m.
Canada to Bar Entry of Unvaccinated Truckers (6:42 a.m. HK)
Canada is standing by its plan to impose a vaccine requirement on all truckers entering from the U.S. starting Saturday, despite worries it could undermine supply chains and damage the economy. In a statement Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government confirmed plans to deny entry into the country of unvaccinated truckers if they’re foreign nationals. Meanwhile, unvaccinated Canadian drivers will lose an exemption from testing and quarantine requirements.
U.S. Nurses Protest Worsening Workplaces (5:25 p.m. NY)
Chicago nurses joined colleagues across the country Thursday to protest against working conditions that they say have rapidly deteriorated as hordes of Covid-19 patients push hospitals to the limit.
The protests, organized by National Nurses United, a labor union boasting 175,000 members nationwide, was part of a jam-packed day of action across 11 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. today “to demand the hospital industry invest in safe staffing, and to demand that President Biden follow through on his campaign promise to protect nurses and prioritize public health,” according to the union. In Chicago, members are still working and the action was part of their bargaining process, but other branches are striking.
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