No images? Click here Click here to subscribe to the daily brief. July 28, 2021 - Brief Issue 235 The Coronavirus Daily Brief is a daily news and analysis roundup edited by New America’s International Security Program and Arizona State University. The Coronavirus Daily Brief will be on hiatus for the month of August. Please consider making a donation to support our ongoing analysis of the most important news and headlines surrounding Covid-19. Top Headlines U.S. CDC Urges Mask Wearing Again (Health & Science) Cases Rise in Every State; Former CDC Director Says 200,000 Daily Cases Possible (Health & Science) European Lawmakers Frustrated with U.S. Restrictions (Around the World) Tokyo Hosts Olympics, Wins Record Case Numbers (Around the World) Biden: Vaccine Mandate for Federal Employees is “Under Consideration;” Biden Will Reportedly Announce Mandate Thursday (U.S. Government & Politics) States That Cut Unemployment Aid Early Haven’t Seen Hiring Booms; But Have Seen Different Employment Demographics (U.S. Government & Politics) GE Says it Sees a Pandemic Rebound But Still Sees Net Loss in Second Quarter (U.S. Economy) U.S. Home Price Growth Hits Record High in May; Phoenix, Arizona Broke the Record for Longest Period Leading the Nation in Annual Price Growth (U.S. Economy) As Cases Surge, Vaccinated Americans Are Getting Angry (U.S. Society) After Pandemic Boom, Lysol Sales Slow (U.S. Society) Health & Science There have been 34,606,631 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 611,304 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 342,607,540 vaccine doses, with 56.9% of all Americans having received their first vaccine dose and 49.2% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 69.1% have received at least one dose, and 60.1% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). Worldwide, there have been 195,411,207 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 4,178,601 deaths. U.S. CDC Urges Mask Wearing Again As U.S. infections rise and the pace of vaccination stagnates, the CDC has issued new guidance that urges vaccinated Americans to wear masks again. On Tuesday, the CDC recommended that even those who are vaccinated against the coronavirus resume wearing masks in schools and in public indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging (NYT, WaPo). The new stance is a reversal from their advice issued two months ago, which said that masks were no longer required indoors for vaccinated people (WSJ). The new recommendations apply to vaccinated and unvaccinated people who live in areas where the CDC has classified Covid-19 transmission as “high” or “substantial,” a health official said — a category that includes much of the South as well as western states like Arizona and Wyoming (Politico). "This weighs heavily on me," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters Tuesday in reference to the decision to issue the new guidance. "Not only are people tired, they are frustrated. We have mental health challenges in this country. We have a lot of sickness and death. Our health systems are being overrun. In the context of all that this, I know this is not welcome news. I just want to convey that this was not a decision that was taken lightly." The change underscores the concern of the Biden administration about the highly transmissible Delta variant and the number of people who remain unvaccinated across the country. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday the U.S. was "at war" with Covid-19 and the Delta variant. "The reality is we are dealing with a much different strain of this virus than we were even earlier in the spring," she told reporters at a White House briefing (Fox). Cases Rise in Every State; Former CDC Director Says 200,000 Daily Cases Possible The U.S. saw the count of coronavirus cases rise in all 50 states last week, according to Johns Hopkins University data (CNN). Rising case numbers are sparking concern. On Monday Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director under Obama, warned that 200,000 new cases a day is a possibility. He said on Monday, “We're heading into a rough time. It's likely, if our trajectory is similar to that in the United Kingdom, that we could see as many as 200,000 cases a day.” He did, however, note that the new case surges are unlikely to bring the same “horrific death tolls” as prior surges. CNN writes, “The US averaged more than 57,300 new daily cases over the last week -- an average that's generally risen since the country hit a 2021 low of 11,351 daily on June 22, according to Johns Hopkins University data.” While the number of deaths and hospitalizations is not growing as fast as cases, they are both still rising as cases rise, according to the New York Times’ tracker (NYT). Bonus Read: “Millions of Vaccines are About to Expire. The U.S. Might Just Let Them Go to Waste,” (WaPo). Around the World European Lawmakers Frustrated with U.S. Restrictions On Tuesday, European lawmakers and business groups voiced criticism of the Biden administration after the White House said its restrictions on nonessential travel would remain in place (WaPo). “From a public health perspective, the entry ban makes little sense if Americans can travel and catch the virus, and given that tests could provide a reasonable solution,” said Tobias Kurth, a German public health expert. Most European countries have allowed vaccinated U.S. tourists to enter for a few weeks now but, as we covered in yesterday’s brief, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that the U.S. would not be reciprocating the easing of restrictions. The White House said that the continued travel ban was due to the highly transmissible Delta variant. Some European nations, like Spain, Britain, and France, have recently seen a rise in cases due to that variant. “I think reciprocity makes sense,” said Radoslaw Sikorski, who chairs the European Parliament’s delegation for U.S. relations. “We have opened up the Schengen zone to American travelers, and the U.S. has not done that to our citizens.” There is “no logical scientific explanation” for the U.S. approach, RND, one of Europe’s largest local news providers, concluded in an editorial on Tuesday, describing the practice as a political scandal and evoking a “wall in the middle of the Atlantic.” Tokyo Hosts Olympics, Wins Record Case Numbers Tokyo recorded 2,848 Covid-19 infections on Tuesday, the highest number for the Olympic host city since the pandemic began (Reuters). Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s ratings are at their lowest level since he took office last September, due in large part to his handling of the pandemic. And many officials and experts fear that the influx of athletes and officials connected to the Olympics will only fuel the surge. According to a poll by the Nikkei daily on Monday, about 31% of respondents believe the Games should be cancelled or postponed again. "Refrain from going out unnecessarily and I want you to watch the Olympics and Paralympics on TV," said Suga addressing the citizens after a meeting of ministers overseeing the coronavirus response convened. "As we have seen a decline in the flow of the people, there is no such option," said Suga, when asked whether there is an option to cancel the Olympics. Tokyo has already declared a fourth state of emergency that will run until after the Olympics due to hospitals being overwhelmed. Bangkok to Convert Train Carriages into a Covid Ward Authorities in Bangkok are going to convert 15 disused railway carriages into a 240-bed Covid-19 isolation ward for patients with less severe symptoms, they announced Tuesday (Reuters). "Some modifications are still to be done such as removing the top bunk beds, installing window nets, as well as water and electricity systems," the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said in a statement. "More toilets and bathrooms will be built outside the carriages." Thailand is battling its worst outbreak since the pandemic began, with 14,150 new cases reported on Tuesday. The surge is putting pressure on the capital city’s medical system. U.S. Government & Politics Biden: Vaccine Mandate for Federal Employees is “Under Consideration;” Biden Will Reportedly Announce Mandate Thursday On Tuesday, President Biden stated that a vaccine mandate for all federal employees “is under consideration right now” (Politico). President Biden said, “If you’re not vaccinated, you’re not nearly as smart as I thought you were,” while speaking with reporters around an address to the intelligence community at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Biden’s comments come as the Department of Veterans Affairs mandated that many of its frontline health workers get vaccinated, and as some states and localities have announced they will mandate vaccination for health workers and some state employees, as we covered in yesterday’s brief. The Washington Post reports that President Biden is preparing to announce that the administration will mandate vaccination or repeated testing for federal workers on Thursday (WaPo). The Post writes, “The new rules will closely align with policies recently put in place for government officials in California and New York City, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to disclose the plan. The White House is not planning on firing government employees who aren’t vaccinated but will impose a number of restrictions on them as a way to encourage them to receive one of the vaccines that have received emergency-use authorization.” However, both Politico and the Post reported that an official told them no final decision has been made yet. States That Cut Unemployment Aid Early Haven’t Seen Hiring Booms, But Have Seen Different Employment Demographics The Washington Post reports that, according to an analysis by the payroll processor Gusto conducted for the Post, the 20 Republican states that cut expanded pandemic unemployment aid early did not see increased hiring, but did see changes in the demographics of those being hired (WaPo). The Post writes that the study found “early evidence suggests something did change: The teen hiring boom slowed in those states, and workers 25 and older returned to work more quickly” and “that small restaurants and hospitality businesses in states such as Missouri, which ended the extra unemployment benefits early, saw a jump in hiring of workers over age 25. The uptick in hiring of older workers was roughly offset by the slower hiring of teens in these states. In contrast, restaurants and hospitality businesses in states such as Kansas, where the full benefits remain, have been hiring a lot more teenagers who are less experienced and less likely to qualify for unemployment aid.” House Democrats Expand Probe of Meddling in the CDC During the Trump Administration The Washington Post reports that on Monday, House Democrats expanded their probe into allegations of political meddling in the CDC under the Trump administration (WaPo). The Post writes, “The expanded investigation centers on efforts to blunt the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs), which offer public updates on scientists’ findings. The reports had been considered sacrosanct for decades and untouchable by political appointees in the past, but Trump appointees pushed last year to edit the findings, worried that they undermined Trump’s more optimistic spin on the coronavirus pandemic.” As part of the expansion, the subcommittee handling the investigation is “requesting interviews with Anne Schuchat, a former CDC deputy director; Nancy Messonnier, a former senior official who held a variety of leadership roles at the CDC during the pandemic; and six current career staff members at the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services. The subcommittee also is requesting interviews with former Trump appointees Kyle McGowan, Amanda Campbell and Nina Witkofsky, who served as top political appointees at the CDC last year.” DHS Secretary Cancels His In-Person Events After Contact with Official Who Tested Positive Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas cancelled his in-person events following contact with a staffer who tested positive for Covid, Politico reports (Politico). DHS spokesperson Marsha Espinosa stated, “Secretary Mayorkas has a virtual schedule this week after coming into close contact with a DHS official who later tested positive for COVID-19.” She added, “The Secretary is fully vaccinated, has no symptoms, and has tested negative twice. Official DHS contact tracing is underway. These recommendations have been informed by the Office of the DHS Chief Medical Officer and are taken in an overabundance of caution.” U.S. Economy GE Says it Sees a Pandemic Rebound But Still Sees Net Loss in Second Quarter On Tuesday, GE reported a net loss in the second quarter, but also reported several financial numbers that suggest it may be seeing a rebound from the impact of the pandemic (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal reports, “General Electric Co. reported higher orders for its industrial machinery and raised its goal for cash flows this year, as the manufacturer continues to recover from pandemic-induced shocks to the global economy. GE said its second-quarter revenue rose 9% to $18.3 billion from the year-ago period, when airlines grounded planes and canceled jet purchases as Covid-19-related lockdowns took hold.” The company also noted that its report surpassed Wall Street’s expectations when one-time charges were excluded. Chief Executive Larry Culp stated on a call with investors, “We’re encouraged by the early signs of the recovery.” U.S. Home Price Growth Hits Record High in May; Phoenix, Arizona Broke the Record for Longest Period Leading the Nation in Annual Price Growth The rate by which U.S. home prices are growing hit a record high in May, according to data from the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index released on Tuesday (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal writes, “The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 16.6% in the year that ended in May, up from a 14.8% annual rate the prior month. May marked the highest annual rate of price growth since the index began in 1987.” As we covered in a prior brief, Phoenix, Arizona was on track to break the record for the city that has led the nation in price growth for the longest period. And indeed, the Journal writes, “Phoenix had the fastest home-price growth in the country for the 24th straight month, at 25.9%, marking the longest any city has held the top spot for annual price growth since the index’s inception.” U.S. Society Bonus Read: “‘What’s Covid?’ Why People at America’s Hardest-Partying Lake Are Not About to Get Vaccinated,” (Politico). As Cases Surge,s Vaccinated Americans Are Getting Angry The New York Times reports that with coronavirus cases resurging across the U.S., many vaccinated Americans are expressing anger with their unvaccinated fellow citizens (NYT). The Times writes, “The country seemed to be exiting the pandemic; barely a month ago, a sense of celebration was palpable. Now many of the vaccinated fear for their unvaccinated children and worry that they are at risk themselves for breakthrough infections. Rising case rates are upending plans for school and workplace reopenings, and threatening another wave of infections that may overwhelm hospitals in many communities.” The Times notes that the anger comes as some communities are returning to mask mandates and other restrictive measures even when it comes to vaccinated people, and that it is helping fuel calls for more coercive approaches to public health even as some experts worry such measures may backfire. After Pandemic Boom, Lysol Sales Slow Reckitt Benckiser Group, the maker of Lysol, saw massive demand for its cleaning product as a result of the pandemic, but now sales are slowing and the company is also facing inflation when it comes to its costs (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal writes, “Reckitt posted record sales last year, boosted by demand for its products like Dettol soap and wipes that strained its ability to keep stores stocked. But with Covid-19 vaccines being rolled out across the world and restrictions easing, the company says those trends have started to moderate in recent months.” The company’s chief executive Laxman Narasimhan stated, “We are seeing shifts in behavior.” On Tuesday, Reckitt reported that its sales fell 1% in the second quarter and that it expects its third quarter sales to also be below the prior year’s third quarter sales. Amid the news, Reckitt saw its stock drop 9% in trading in London. The Journal also reports, “As well as slowing growth, the company—like others in the consumer-goods industry—is also contending with rising prices of things like plastics and paper, and higher freight costs. Reckitt said its operating profit margin for the first six months of the year fell 2.9 percentage points to 21.6%.” Analysis & Arguments Kori Schake writes on the importance of vaccination to military readiness (Atlantic). Olga Khazan explores the return of the debate over masks (Atlantic). Isaac Chotiner interviews Dr. Ashish Jha (New Yorker). Omar L. Galluga examines how the pandemic reshaped Match Group’s online dating empire (Texas Monthly). 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. 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. |