No images? Click here
Click here to subscribe to the daily brief.
November 5, 2020 - Brief Issue 115
The Coronavirus Daily Brief is a daily news and analysis roundup edited by New America’s International Security Program and Arizona State University.
Our weekly podcast is back. You can listen to this week's episode here.
Please consider making a donation to support our ongoing analysis of the most important news and headlines surrounding Covid-19.
Top Headlines
U.S. Reports More Than 100,000 New Cases on Wednesday, Following Second-Highest Daily Covid-19 Cases on Election Day; Hospitalizations Increase; Covid-19 Becomes Third Leading Cause of Death in Arkansas. (Health & Science)
England Begins Second National Lockdown (Around the World)
Four Italian Regions Put in the “Red Zone”; Greece Expected to Announce New Lockdown (Around the World)
Record Daily Cases in At Least Six European Nations (Around the World)
China Bars Travelers from Britain, Belgium, Philippines (Around the World)
Canada Is Keeping Schools Open (Around the World)
Exit Polls Show Coronavirus Not Top Election Issue (U.S. Government & Politics)
Treasury Bond Yields Fall Amid Stimulus Doubts (U.S. Economy)
International MBA Students Seek Alternatives to U.S. Schools (U.S. Society)
Health & Science
There have been 9,487,080 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 233,729 people have died (Johns Hopkins). Around 3,743,527 people have recovered, and the United States has conducted 150,969,797 tests. Worldwide, there have been 48,107,322 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 1,225,881 deaths. At least 31,917,411 people have recovered from the virus.
U.S. Reports More Than 100,000 New Cases on Wednesday, Following Second-Highest Daily Covid-19 Cases on Election Day; Hospitalizations Increase; Covid-19 Becomes Third Leading Cause of Death in Arkansas.
The U.S. recorded more than 91,000 new cases of Covid-19 on Election Day, Nov. 3, and more than 100,000 new cases on Wednesday, Nov. 4 (CNN, Johns Hopkins, NYT). Six states – Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania – reported single-day highs on Tuesday. And five states — Maine, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska and Colorado — set single-day case records on Wednesday. The seven-day average for daily new cases now tops 90,000, the highest since the pandemic began and more than twice as high as the average during the low point in early September.
More than 50,000 people were hospitalized with the virus during voting on Tuesday. In the Midwest in particular, hospitalizations are rising steeply. Some Midwest hospitals are under strain as they work to provide care for large numbers of Covid-19 patients.
In Arkansas on Tuesday, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced that Covid-19 has become the third leading cause of death in the state, after cancer and heart attacks. “It is a deadly virus that takes people’s lives,” the governor said. “We want to make sure everybody understands the seriousness of it.” Bo Ryall, president and CEO of the Arkansas Hospital Association, asked residents to “please adhere to safety measures again” to help mitigate the strain on hospitals.
Health Care Facilities Report Mask Shortages Amidst Covid-19 Surge
Manufacturers and health officials are reporting shortages of N95 masks, critical protective equipment for frontline workers (WSJ). Although supplies of masks, gloves, and other equipment have improved since the start of the pandemic, new Covid-19 surges around the country are making it difficult for health care facilities to keep up with demand for N95 masks.
Many facilities are being forced to ration and reuse supplies. In Michigan, approximately two-thirds of health systems report less than a three-week supply of protective equipment, far below the state’s recommended 90-day supply. In New Mexico, 90% of hospitals are now reusing N95 masks. State health officials around the country expect shortages to be exacerbated in the coming weeks as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.
Manufacturers are scrambling to keep up, ramping up production, and working with state officials to direct supplies to areas in greatest need. 3M, the largest manufacturer of N95 masks in the country, is producing four times the number of N95 masks per month compared to pre-pandemic production. Even so, Chief Executive Mike Roman told reporters, “N95s are still in high demand. We have more demand than we can supply.”
Studies Evaluate Covid-19 Risk in Pregnant Women and Newborns
Two U.S. studies published this week in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found elevated risk of preterm birth and severe Covid-related complications in pregnant women infected with Covid-19 (CIDRAP). While the absolute risk for pregnant individuals remains low, the studies highlight the importance of following virus safety measures and seeking prompt medical attention for Covid-19 symptoms during pregnancy.
One of the studies examined 3,912 infants born to mothers infected with Covid-19 during the last two months of pregnancy. Of 610 infants with known Covid-19 test results, only 16 tested positive for the virus. Most of the infants with positive test results were born to mothers with active infections at the time of birth. Of the 16 infected infants, eight were born preterm (before 37 weeks gestation). Of all infants born to mothers with Covid-19, 12.9% were born preterm, compared with the overall national rate of 10.2%. The authors of the study wrote that their data “can help to inform and counsel persons who acquire Covid-19 during pregnancy” but noted that additional study is needed to determine the risks of infection earlier in pregnancy and potential long-term health effects on infants.
The other study examined 23,434 symptomatic pregnant women infected with Covid-19 between January 22 and October 3. The study found that pregnant women were significantly more likely to require ICU admission or mechanical ventilation than non-pregnant women with Covid-19 infections. Pregnant women aged 15 to 24 were three times more likely to require mechanical ventilation, while pregnant women aged 35 to 44 were at 3.6 times higher risk. The authors of this study said that absolute risk for pregnant women remains low – less than four percent of pregnant women in the study required ICU treatment, compared with slightly over one percent of non-pregnant women. However, they caution that pregnant individuals with Covid-19 symptoms should seek prompt medical attention.
Study Finds Poor Performance for a Rapid Covid-19 Test
One strategy in controlling surging Covid-19 cases around the country has been to increase testing among asymptomatic individuals. There are two types of tests. The first is a test known as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which detects Covid-19 genetic information and requires sophisticated laboratory equipment. The second is an antigen test, which detects proteins on the surface of the virus and can return results within minutes without the use of high-tech equipment. The PCR test has long been considered the more accurate of the two, but speed and ease of use made rapid antigen tests an attractive option for surveying potential cases. However, a new study shows that rapid antigen tests fail to detect asymptomatic cases nearly 70% of the time (NYT).
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona, found that a rapid test made by Quidel was far less accurate in asymptomatic individuals than in those who did have Covid-19 symptoms. The test accurately detected more than 80% of symptomatic cases that were found using the PCR test. However, the same test detected only 32% of asymptomatic cases identified by the PCR test. Quidel’s tests are officially authorized only for people with symptoms, but the federal government has encouraged their use among asymptomatic individuals as well. The new study suggests that the rapid tests, while adequate for returning an initial diagnosis for a symptomatic person, may not be useful for detecting cases in asymptomatic individuals.
The study came out just before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to clinical laboratory personnel Tuesday about the possibility of false positives with rapid antigen tests (Reuters). False positives – where a test returns a positive result in an uninfected person – are generally less prevalent than false negatives, where a test returns a negative result on an infected person. However, investigations are being made into several reports from nursing homes about false positives from rapid antigen tests.
Bonus Reads: “Confronting the Notion that Face Masks Reduce COVID Dose,’’ (CIDRAP); “Is it Time for the FDA to be Independent?” (STAT).
Around the World
Europe
England Begins Second National Lockdown
England began its second lockdown today, joining other countries across Europe in imposing restrictions for the next month in a bid to save its healthcare system from being overwhelmed and slow the spread of the coronavirus (AP). All non-essential venues, including pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, entertainment venues, and some retail stores, will be closed until at least Dec. 2. The national lockdown is an about-face for Britain’s government, which had been advocating for a targeted, regional response to the pandemic. But opposition to the lockdown wasn’t enough to block Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s strategy, and the stay-at-home order was approved in parliament by a vote of 516 to 38 (Guardian). The National Health Service warned that hospital beds in England could be filled within two weeks; nearly 500 deaths were reported across the U.K. on Wednesday and more than 12,000 people were hospitalized.
Four Italian Regions Put in the “Red Zone”; Greece Expected to Announce New Lockdown
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday night that four Italian regions are being put under “red-zone” lockdown, meaning they will have severe limits imposed (AP). The regions of Lombardy, Piedmont, Valle d’Aostra, and Calabria will now have very stringent restrictions that require people to stay home unless they need to go to work or shop for essentials. They can only exercise near their home and must wear masks while doing so. Barber shops and hair salons can remain open, but other non-essential shops must close. Classrooms in the rest of Italy remain open except for high schools, but in the “red zone” only nursery, elementary, and the first year of middle-school will have in-person instruction.
In Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce new restrictions today in an effort to curb coronavirus infections, government officials said on Wednesday (Reuters). Greece did well in its fight against the coronavirus earlier this year and reported fewer cases than most other European nations. But its case numbers have climbed steadily since October and it registered 2,646 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily tally since February. The health minister told reporters that health experts have recommended a one-month nationwide lockdown.
Record Daily Cases in At Least Six European Nations
Russia, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Latvia, and Estonia have seen record case increases in the past 24 hours (Guardian). Russia, which has the fourth-highest cases in the world, added over 18,000 new infections on Wednesday, bringing its total to 1,680,579, according to Johns Hopkins University. Swiss authorities announced a record 10,043 coronavirus cases in Switzerland in the last 24 hours. Austria’s daily tally of new coronavirus infections climbed above 6,000 for the first time on Wednesday, setting a new record of 6,211, according to data from the health ministry. Poland hit a daily high of nearly 24,700 confirmed coronavirus cases as the government introduced new restrictions on shops, schools and cultural institutions through November. Health officials in Estonia say the country of 1.3 million confirmed 208 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, putting the cumulative total at 5,333 cases with 73 deaths. Latvia also says it had a record number of new coronavirus cases: 313 in the past 24 hours. The nation of nearly 2 million has recorded 6,752 confirmed cases and 85 deaths.
Denmark to Cull Entire Mink Population
The world’s largest mink producer, Denmark, says it plans to cull more than 17 million minks due to fears that a Covvid-19 mutation moving from mink to humans could jeopardize vaccine efforts (Guardian). At a press conference on Wednesday, the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen said that 12 people were already infected with the mutated virus and that the mink are now a public health risk (Reuters). “We have a great responsibility towards our own population, but with the mutation that has now been found, we have an even greater responsibility for the rest of the world as well,” Frederiksen told a news conference. According to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, the Covid-19 infections have been found on more than 200 mink farms. The estimated value of the 2020 mink population in Denmark is between €350m and €400m ($412.7m and $471.1m).
Asia
China Bars Travelers from Britain, Belgium, Philippines
Mainland China has blocked entry to non-Chinese visitors from Britain, Belgium, and the Philippines and demanded that travelers from the U.S., France, and Germany present results from health tests to gain entry (AP, Reuters). The Chinese embassy in Britain said that even non-Chinese nationals with valid visas and residence permits will not be permitted entry if travelling from the U.K., making the restrictions some of the most stringent border controls imposed by any country in response to the pandemic. China had banned the entry of foreigners in March, but then began allowing foreigners with valid residence permits to enter from Sept. 28 until now. Beginning tomorrow, Nov. 6., all passengers from the U.S., France, Germany, and Thailand must take both a nucleic acid test and a blood test for antibodies against the coronavirus no more than 48 hours before boarding their flights.
Americas
Canada Is Keeping Schools Open
In Canada, all 13 provinces and territories are holding classes in person, with only some operating as a hybrid model or remote-learning option, even as cases surge and authorities impose more restrictions on public life (WaPo). Even as the incidence rate of Covid-19 in people under 20 has increased since schools reopened according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, officials are resisting a wholesale shift to remote learning. Instead, school officials are isolating sick pupils, quarantining whole classes, and sometimes closing schools temporarily. “I think we need to do everything we can to maintain our schools in terms of keeping them open,” Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy chief medical officer of health, told reporters last week. Canada has had 247,703 confirmed cases and 10,331 deaths, according to government data (Government of Canada).
U.S. Government & Politics
Exit Polls Show Coronavirus Not Top Election Issue
Even as the pandemic continued to surge and shaped how Americans voted, exit polls conducted by Edison Research suggested the virus was not the top issue for American voters (WaPo). Voters ranked the economy as a more important issue. The Washington Post reports: “About 4 in 10 voters said they would prioritize the economy over efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Around one-third of voters said they were primarily motivated by the economy — a sentiment that was particularly widespread among Trump supporters, of whom 6 in 10 cited the economy as their top priority.” The findings come as polling more generally on the 2020 election comes under scrutiny, seemingly having underestimated support for Trump in multiple states. Across a variety of exit polls, there were sharp partisan divides in evaluation of the importance of coronavirus as an issue (NYT).
Bonus Read: “A North Dakota Republican Died of Covid-19 in October. He Still Won His Election,” (WaPo).
U.S. Economy
Treasury Bond Yields Fall Amid Stimulus Doubts
U.S. Treasury Bond yields fell on Wednesday, as investors feared that the election outcome might mean smaller stimulus efforts (WSJ). With results suggesting the GOP is likely to hold the senate, investors viewed that outcome as indicative of declining chances for a large stimulus bill. The GOP senate has held out for a smaller relief bill than those pushed either by the Democratic house leadership or the White House. Bonus Read: “Winter Without Stimulus Is Double-Whammy for Some Retailers,” (WSJ).
Trade Deficit Narrows in September
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in September, as exports showed signs of recovery from the pandemic’s impact (WSJ). The deficit stood at $63.86 billion in September, a decline from $67.04 billion trade deficit in August. However, the trade deficit is still up from the $47.84 billion it was in September of last year. The Wall Street Journal notes, “Exports rose 2.6% to $176.35 billion, while imports rose 0.5% to $240.22 billion, their slowest pace of growth since trade bottomed out in May.”
U.S. Society
International MBA Students Seek Alternatives to U.S. Schools
International MBA students are increasingly looking away from U.S. schools to their foreign competitors amid coronavirus related restrictions (WSJ). High tuition costs at U.S. universities and the political climate in the U.S., including tension with China, have also contributed to the shift. The Wall Street Journal reports, “International M.B.A. programs, especially those in Europe and Canada, are seeing an increase in interest from prospective students who want to stay closer to home and from students in Asia and Latin America increasingly turned off to studying in the U.S. The Imperial College Business School in London, for instance, said international applications for its September class jumped 55%, partly driven by an increase in applicants from Asia. Business-school consulting firm CarringtonCrisp, meanwhile, found that nearly half of the prospective students it surveyed considered Canada for their degree this year—up from 38% a year ago.” U.S. business schools are reporting declining international student numbers even as their overall applicant pool has increased.
Analysis & Arguments
Readers can send in tips, critiques, questions, and suggestions to coronavirusbrief@newamerica.org.
The Brief is edited by David Sterman and Emily Schneider with Jessica Scott and Senior Editor Peter Bergen.
Read previous briefs here and stream and subscribe to our weekly podcast here.
About New America
New America is dedicated to renewing the promise of America by continuing the quest to realize our nation's highest ideals. Read the rest of our story, or see what we've been doing recently in our latest Annual Report.
Help us to continue advancing policy solutions and journalism by making a donation to New America.