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April 8, 2021 - Brief Issue 180

The Coronavirus Daily Brief is a daily news and analysis roundup edited by New America’s International Security Program and Arizona State University.

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Top Headlines

U.K. Variant Now Dominant in U.S. as Hotspots Emerge Around the Country (Health & Science)

New Coronavirus Shot Could Help With Global Vaccine Inequality (Health & Science)

Covid-19 Linked to Neurological and Psychological Long-Haul Symptoms (Health & Science)

Covid-19 Reinfections Are Unlikely, But U.S. Experts Want More Data (Health & Science)

European Medicines Agency Clarifies Link Between AstraZeneca Shot and Blood Clots; European Countries React (Health & Science)

Amnesty international Warns Pandemic Harmed Human Rights (Around the World)

Merkel Pushes for Lockdown But Local Governors Resist (Around the World)

Greece Reopens Schools Using Self-Test Kits (Around the World)

Nepal Restarts Vaccination Campaign (Around the World)

Argentina Hits Record Number of Infections, Adds Restrictions (Around the World)

Andrew Giuliani Considers Run for New York Governor (U.S. Politics & Government)

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon: Economy in a “Goldilocks Moment” of Fast Growth (U.S. Economy)

Gallup Survey: Americans Are Less Worried About Covid-19 Than Ever (U.S. Society)

InstaCart and DoorDash to Launch Credit Cards (U.S. Society)

Health & Science

There have been 30,923,294 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 559,117 people have died (Johns Hopkins). 33.1% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 19.4% are fully vaccinated. (U.S. CDC). Worldwide, there have been 133,229,961 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 2,890,163 deaths. At least 75,741,855 people have recovered from the virus.

U.K. Variant Now Dominant in U.S. as Hotspots Emerge Around the Country

Five U.S. states – Michigan, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey – accounted for 43% of new Covid-19 cases over the past week, with Michigan leading with an average of 6,600 new cases a day (CNN). These spikes are driven by new coronavirus variants; according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, B.1.1.7, the fast-spreading strain first identified in the U.K., is now dominant in the States (NYT). Dr. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, said these pockets of spiking cases could become widespread as highly infectious variants take root. 

Meanwhile, the White House announced that nearly half of U.S. adults will have at least one dose of vaccine by the end of the weekend; so far, that figure includes almost 80% of school staff and childcare workers (NYT). Still, a quarter of Americans say they would refuse the vaccine if offered, according to an NPR/Marist poll, making some experts worried about whether the country will achieve herd immunity (NPR). Even as vaccination efforts increase, officials continue to warn against reopening states too quickly. "We do have to remember that there are 100 million-plus adults that still haven't been vaccinated," said Andy Slavitt, a senior Covid-19 response adviser. "They're not there yet, and you don't win the war until you bring everybody over with you." 

New Coronavirus Shot Could Help With Global Vaccine Inequality

Spearheaded by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and other collaborators around the globe, a new Covid-19 vaccine, NDV-HXP-S, is entering clinical trials in Brazil, Thailand, Mexico, and Vietnam (UT News, NYT). This vaccine uses a highly stabilized version of the coronavirus spike protein, dubbed HexaPro. Reinforced with six proline molecules, HexaPro retains its shape so that the immune system is able to detect and develop resistance to the coronavirus. Researchers expect this method to generate a robust immune response. 

One key aspect of the NDV-HXP-S shot is that it’s affordable and transportable. Like the flu shot, the vaccine is made in chicken eggs, so many countries already have the infrastructure to produce it. The shot can also be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, a warmer temperature than that required for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Health experts hope HDV-HXP-S will help boost vaccine supply in lower-resource countries: “We are witnessing unprecedented disparities in COVID-19 vaccine access around the world,” said Ilya Finkelstein of the University of Texas at Austin. 

Covid-19 Linked to Neurological and Psychological Long-Haul Symptoms

A study published Tuesday in The Lancet found that about a third of Covid-19 survivors are diagnosed with a neurological or mental health disorder within six months of infection (CNN, Reuters). Researchers reviewed the medical records of over 236,000 Covid-19 patients, most of whom were from the U.S. The most common diagnosis among these patients was anxiety, at a rate of 17%, followed by mood disorders, at 14%. Such “brain disease” effects – especially severe ones, like stroke and dementia – were more common in patients who were hospitalized due to Covid-19, but still frequent among those treated in an outpatient setting. The study also found that Covid-19 patients run a 44% higher risk of neurological and psychiatric symptoms than those diagnosed with the flu: "Our results indicate that brain diseases and psychiatric disorders are more common after Covid-19 than after flu or other respiratory infections, even when patients are matched for other risk factors,” said co-author Maxime Taquet. “We now need to see what happens beyond six months.”

Covid-19 Reinfections Are Unlikely, But U.S. Experts Want More Data

Though the CDC has presented a strategy for reporting reinfections with SARS-CoV-2, data in the U.S. remains limited (STAT). The country doesn’t have ample ongoing studies tracking reinfection, like the U.K. does, and health experts want more information as new variants take hold and social distancing measures are lifted. Globally, reinfection appears rare; there have been a few dozen reported instances, though it’s likely some cases remain unreported. Scientists hypothesize that infection with Covid-19 provides temporary immunity, the timeline of which is unclear and may depend on risk factors and the severity of the initial infection. Research in the U.K and Denmark has confirmed that reinfection, while more common in older adults, is rare, and those who do become reinfected generally have milder symptoms. Immunologist Michael Diamond of Washington University in St. Louis said it’s unlikely reinfections are playing a large role in U.S. case counts at the moment: “We anticipate reinfections will be a part of the epidemiology at some point, but I don’t think they’re accounting for the cases now in any major shape or form.” Diamond said reinfection with contagious new variants is a concern, but an immune system that had previously encountered the virus would likely recognize a new variant and prevent serious illness. 

European Medicines Agency Clarifies Link Between AstraZeneca Shot and Blood Clots; European Countries React

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded Wednesday that blood clotting and low platelet counts should be listed as rare side effects of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, after an “in-depth review” of 86 cases of blood clotting in the European Union (EMA). The EMA safety committee emphasized in its statement that these effects are extremely rare, and the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks. While most blood clotting events have occurred in women under 60 years old within two weeks of the shot, there was not enough evidence to definitively list risk factors. Research is ongoing, but the EMA statement said blood clotting side effects could be caused by an extreme immune response. So far, there have been 79 cases of blood clotting and 19 deaths out of the approximately 20 million AstraZeneca doses administered in Europe (BBC). 

Several European countries have restricted use of the AstraZeneca shot to older people, while Denmark and Norway have paused all use of the shot (Politico). After the EMA’s announcement, U.K. health officials said people under 30 years old should be given an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine: “The balance of benefits and risks is very favorable for older people but it is more finely balanced for younger people,” said June Raine, chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Germany suggested on April 1 that people under 60 who have already received one AstraZeneca dose should follow up with a different vaccine (Reuters). Norway may follow suit, pending forthcoming research. 

Scientists Demand New Investigation Into Covid-19 Origins

An international group of 24 scientists and researchers published an open letter Wednesday calling for a new, more rigorous probe into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic (Reuters). This came in response to a joint China-World Health Organization study, which found that Covid-19 was likely transmitted from bats to humans through another animal and not through a lab leak, published last week. Many scientists and health experts, including WHO Director General Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesu, said this investigation was hampered by politics. Wednesday’s open letter claimed the WHO investigation was based on unpublished Chinese research and China had withheld crucial data. 

Bonus Reads: “Got Your Covid-19 Vaccine? Now Cancel Your Extra Appointments,” (WSJ); Akili’s Therapeutic Video Game Will Be Tested as a Treatment for Covid ‘Brain Fog,’” (STAT).

Around the World

Amnesty international Warns Pandemic Harmed Human Rights 

In its annual report released on Wednesday, Amnesty International warned that the coronavirus pandemic has worsened inequalities and fractured already fraught health and welfare systems around the world (WaPo). The report said the virus disproportionately hit ethnic minorities, refugees, and women and that many governments “weaponized” the pandemic to further repress citizens’ rights. Amnesty International's new Secretary General Agnes Callamard blasted governments for failing to take on leadership roles that would mitigate the impact of the pandemic. She called on leaders to reset and reboot to build a world grounded in equality, human rights, and humanity. "We must learn from the pandemic, and come together to work boldly and creatively so everyone is on an equal footing," she said in a press release (DW).

Europe

Merkel Pushes for Lockdown But Local Governors Resist

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is calling for a short and strict nationwide lockdown in order to lower the number of new coronavirus infections in the country and will meet with local officials next week to discuss potential restrictions. But with only four months left in office, Merkel is having a hard time convincing the country’s 16 governors to agree on a unified plan (NYT). “A common nationwide approach would also be important here,” Ulrike Demmer, the deputy government spokeswoman, said during a daily news conference, in reference to the confusing and often contradictory rules set by state governors. Demmer said the goal of the restrictions would be to lower the number of cases to 100 new cases per 100,000 before the authorities would ease restrictions again. On Tuesday, health authorities recorded an average of 110 infections per 100,000 people over the previous week, but fewer people were tested over the Easter holiday weekend so the true number could be much higher.

Greece Reopens Schools Using Self-Test Kits

Residents of Greece are entitled to one free self-administered coronavirus test per week as part of efforts to tackle a surge of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations (Reuters). The kits are available in pharmacies and will be prioritized for teachers and high school students aged 16-18. Authorities recently announced plans to reopen high schools for students in the final three grades starting on April 12 with students and teachers returning to school required to use test kits twice per week. The country of 11 million people recorded 4,309 new cases on Tuesday, a record high. Hospitals are straining to cope with the influx of patients and intensive care units are at capacity. 

Asia 

Nepal Restarts Vaccination Campaign

Thanks to a donation of vaccine from China, Nepal has restarted administering vaccine shots three weeks after it suspended the campaign (NYT). Nepal was depending on vaccines manufactured in neighboring India but India reduced vaccine exports last month in order to redirect its supply domestically. Nepal’s vaccination effort was halted even though coronavirus infections began to rise. Last week, China donated 800,000 doses of the vaccine made by Sinopharm, a state-owned company. Nepal has vaccinated more than 1.7 million of its 30 million residents and has slowly reopened to visitors, including a few hundred climbers attempting to summit Mount Everest. 

Thailand Confirms First Case of B.1.1.7 Variant

Health officials in Thailand confirmed on Wednesday that the country has the first local cases of the B.1.1.7 variant first discovered in Britain. The variant was discovered among customers of nightlife venues in the capital of Bangkok. Less than 1% of the country’s 69 million people have been vaccinated against the coronavirus (AP). The threat from the variant, which is believed to be more contagious than the original strain of the virus, comes at a particularly vulnerable time for the country as Thais celebrate the traditional Songkran New Year’s holiday during which people leave the cities to visit family in other provinces. 

Americas

Argentina Hits Record Number of Infections, Adds Restrictions

Argentina tightened movement restrictions on Wednesday after the country hit a record number of Covid-19 infections amidst a second wave of the virus. President Alberto Fernandez announced a curfew between midnight and 6 a.m., the closure of bars and restaurants at 11 p.m., and closed casinos, bingo halls, and nightclubs in some areas (Reuters). All nonessential workers are banned from using public transportation. The country recorded 22,039 new cases on Wednesday. By Tuesday, 4.5 million people had been vaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccine.

U.S. Government & Politics

Andrew Giuliani Considers Run for New York Governor

On Wednesday, Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy Giuliani and a former special assistant in the Trump White House told the Washington Examiner that he is considering running for New York governor in 2022 (Washington Examiner, Politico, CNN). Giuliani’s statement comes as current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wrestles with a series of scandals involving allegations of sexual harassment as well as over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and data on deaths in New York nursing homes. He previously considered running but did not run for New York City Mayor in 2021. Even with the ongoing scandals, Republicans will face a real challenge in the governor’s race. As Politico writes, “The GOP has lost significant sway in Albany in recent years, having been shut out of statewide office for more than 15 years and losing its grasp on the state Senate in the 2018 elections. Democrats consolidated their gains in 2020 and now have supermajorities in both legislative chambers, though the GOP did pick up two congressional seats that were held by Democratic freshmen.”

U.S. Economy

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon: Economy in a “Goldilocks Moment” of Fast Growth

On Wednesday, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, the United States’ largest bank, told shareholders in an annual letter that the U.S. economy currently faces a “goldilocks moment” of fast growth (WSJ). Dimon pointed to strong consumer spending, the growing number of vaccinated, and the recent stimulus as promoting growth, stating, “It’s a lot of money, and it’s bound to cause a booming economy.” Last year Dimon projected a more pessimistic note last year. As the Wall Street Journal writes, “Mr. Dimon’s outlook is decidedly rosier than it was a year ago, when he warned shareholders to brace for a “bad recession” in which U.S. gross domestic product could fall by up to 35%.”

Dallas Fed Chief: Economy Still Needs Central Bank Support

On Tuesday, Fred Kaplan, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said that the economy still requires central bank support (WSJ). Kaplan told the Wall Street Journal, “When we’re in the middle of a crisis, we should be aggressively using our tools, so I agree with what we’re doing now in terms of asset purchases and stance of policy generally.” Kaplan, however, did add, “I believe that as we’re making progress toward meeting our goals, I think it would be much healthier—the economy would be much healthier if we wean off these extraordinary measures.”

Bonus Read: “How Bidenomics Seeks to Remake the Economic Consensus,” (WSJ).

U.S. Society

Gallup Survey: Americans Are Less Worried About Covid-19 Than Ever

A Gallup survey from mid-March found that worries about catching Covid-19 have fallen among almost all demographic groups in the U.S. – particularly older adults, many of whom are now fully vaccinated against the virus – since February. Currently, 35% of American adults say they are very or somewhat worried about contracting Covid-19, a 14% drop from February and the lowest figure recorded since April 2020. People who are fully vaccinated are, on average, less worried about the virus, while those who are partially vaccinated express levels of concern on par with the national average. There are still discrepancies along party lines – 50% of Democrats remain very concerned, compared to 30% of Republicans and 17% of Independents – but overall, about 80% of Americans believe the Covid-19 situation is improving. 

InstaCart and DoorDash to Launch Credit Cards

Grocery delivery company InstaCart and food delivery app company DoorDash both plan to launch their own credit cards amid their success driven by pandemic patterns regarding use of delivery services (WSJ). InstaCart plans to partner with JPMorgan Chase for its offering. The Wall Street Journal notes that banks’ interest in such delivery service cards is also shaped by the pandemic, writing, “Banks, for their part, see these new partnerships as a way to diversify beyond travel rewards cards, which fell out of favor with some consumers when the coronavirus pandemic brought travel almost to a standstill. Travel co-branded cards, such as those issued for airlines or hotels, have traditionally drawn affluent consumers who are also big spenders.”

Bonus Read: “Pandemic Wilderness Explorers Are Straining Search and Rescue,” (NYT).

Analysis & Arguments

The Washington Post reports on how Baltimore sports bar Pickles Pub has changed and adapted during the pandemic (WaPo).

Yasmeen Serhan writes that vaccine passports do not help those who most need help (Atlantic).

Mallory Pickett examines how Sweden’s response to the pandemic has fared (New Yorker).

The National Review criticizes 60 Minutes’ coverage of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ vaccine distribution efforts as “dishonest” (National Review).

 Readers can send in tips, critiques, questions, and suggestions to coronavirusbrief@newamerica.org.

The Brief is edited by David Sterman and Emily Schneider with Senior Editor Peter Bergen.

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