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April 19, 2021 - Brief Issue 184

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 Tuesday April 20.

A new report from New America’s Alexandra Stark and Candace Rondeaux examines how the pandemic fits into changing understandings of national security and how coverage of the pandemic has changed over time (New America).

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Top Headlines

As Variants Take Hold, Biden Administration Pledges $1.7 Billion to Battle New Coronavirus Strains (Health & Science)

Vaccine Producers, Health Experts Discuss Booster Shots and Re-Vaccinations (Health & Science)

Global Covid-19 Death Toll Surpasses 3 Million (Health & Science)

Ontario’s Police Given Sweeping Powers As Cases Grow (Around the World)

France Will Limit and Quarantine Travelers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and South Africa (Around the World)

India’s Capital Running Out of Beds, Oxygen as Country Runs Low on Vaccines (Around the World)

Biden Reverses Trump’s Limits on Use of Fetal Tissue in Scientific Research (U.S. Government & Politics)

Hiring Surged Across the United States in March (U.S. Economy)

Pandemic Reshaped Public Transit in D.C. (U.S. Society)

Health & Science

There have been 31,670,353 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 567,217 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has conducted 416,224,348 tests and distributed 131,247,546 vaccine doses, with 39.5% of Americans having received their first vaccine dose and 25.4% fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). Worldwide, there have been 141,467,403 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 3,021,202 deaths. At least 80,863,575 people have recovered from the virus.

As Variants Take Hold, Biden Administration Pledges $1.7 Billion to Battle New Coronavirus Strains

The Biden administration announced on Friday that it will spend $1.7 billion to detect, track, and fight contagious coronavirus variants (WaPo, Politico). The money, from the White House’s pandemic relief package, will support and streamline genome sequencing of the new variants, funding six new genomic epidemiology centers. “This is part of addressing an immediate need, which is the Covid sequencing to get ahead of the variants,” said Mary Lee Watts of the American Society for Microbiology. “But it also helps to build really an infrastructure for the future so that for the next pandemic, or something even like annual flu, other infectious diseases, we're really building a workforce that can partner with public health and meet the need.” New, fast-spreading are causing surges in Covid-19 cases globally; research from Brazil this week found that the P.1 variant may be twice as transmissible as earlier forms of the virus (Science News). 

Vaccine Producers, Health Experts Discuss Booster Shots and Re-Vaccinations

In a pre-recorded interview released Thursday, Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine would likely be necessary between six months and a year after initial vaccination, followed by annual re-vaccinations (NYT). Johnson & Johnson chief executive Alex Gorksy has made similar remarks, comparing the Covid-19 vaccine to an annual flu shot. Both Pfizer and Moderna claim that their vaccines still offer protection after six months. Vaccine developers are also testing variant-specific booster shots, though chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said a third dose of the original Pfizer or Moderna shot might work just as well as a variant-specific third dose, maintaining high enough levels of immunity in the population to prevent the rapid spread of more contagious strains. Meanwhile, some experts are concerned that next-generation Covid-19 shots – which, like the flu shot, will be tailored to whatever forms of the virus are circulating each year – might not be as effective as initial vaccination, due to a phenomenon called imprinting, where the immune system remembers one form of a pathogen and can’t adapt to newer variants (STAT). 

Global Covid-19 Death Toll Surpasses 3 Million

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the global death toll from Covid-19 soared above 3 million on Saturday (NYT, NPR). Though vaccination campaigns are ramping up, virus hotspots continue to emerge around the globe, in wealthier and less resourced countries alike. The United States leads the death toll with at least 566,000 people having died, followed by Brazil with at least 368,000, and then Mexico, India, and the U.K. Fast-spreading variants and loosening restrictions are driving surges in case counts across the U.S (NYT).

Fauci Predicts Resumption of J&J Shot as Analysis of Rare Blood Clots Continues

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that he suspects the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which health officials recommended suspending over concerns about rare blood clots, will be back in use in some capacity after a vaccine advisory committee meets to discuss the evidence this coming Friday (WSJ, Politico). Fauci predicted that health authorities will recommend age or sex restrictions on who can get the J&J shot – all cases of the rare blood clotting side effect have occured in young to middle-aged women. “I don’t want to get ahead of them, but I believe we’ll be back with some sort of indication a little bit different from before the pause,” he said on ABC. The panel may not, however, be ready to make a conclusive statement by Friday because of a lag in collecting data on blood clots in J&J recipients (Politico). 

These rare blood clots, which have also been linked to the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, are part of a reaction experts dubbed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), marked by clotting and low platelet counts (CNN). According to recent research, both J&J and AstraZeneca recipients who experienced VITT had antibodies to PF4, a protein that helps platelets make clots, in their blood (Science News). This may point toward a rare immune response in which the body attacks PF4. As research on this rare reaction moves forward, state officials worry that the longer the J&J pause lasts, the more Americans’ mistrust of Covid-19 vaccines will amplify (Politico). Bonus Read: “COVID Vaccines and Blood Clots: Five Key Questions,” (Nature).

Independent Pharmacies Are Crucial to Local Vaccination Efforts, But Need More Doses

Independent pharmacies have played a key role in distributing Covid-19 vaccines to people who experience language, technology, or social barriers to vaccination, but local storefronts have struggled to obtain enough shots (WSJ). Even though one in four Americans put their favored independent pharmacy as their first or second choice of vaccination site, half of independent pharmacies in the U.S. describe their vaccine supply as inadequate, according to surveys from the National Community Pharmacy Association. In New York City, vaccine distribution companies report that independent pharmacies have been hit hard by supply constraints and delays compared to bigger chains. The Biden administration pledged in late March to more than double the number of stores included in the Federal Retail Pharmacy program, which distributes Covid-19 vaccine doses, by Monday. 

Poll Illuminates Vaccine Hesitancy Among Young Adults

A new poll from Quinnipiac University finds that younger Americans are less likely to get the Covid-19 vaccine (CNN). While 27% of the overall population doesn’t plan on getting vaccinated, that figure is higher among those under 35 years of age, at 36%. By contrast, only 10% of senior citizens said they would not get the shot.

Homeless Advocates Highlight Need for More Data on Deaths During the Pandemic

A recent tally placed the U.S. Covid-19 death count among homeless people at just 373, but Katherine Cavanaugh of the National Health Care for the Homeless said that’s a “vast undercount” due to limited information: “Housing status is not on any major Covid dashboard” (STAT). While some news outlets have conjectured that homeless populations may have avoided the brunt of Covid-19 due to being distanced and outdoors, and shelter testing programs have yielded low positivity rates, experts are convinced this isn’t the whole picture. A study in New York City found Covid-19 rates to be 75% higher among the homeless than in the city overall; testing, tracking, and autopsies are often not available for homeless people, so cases are likely being undercounted. Deaths of homeless people have spiked over the past year in several major cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. Health experts attribute this not only to complications from Covid-19 but also to increases in drug use, suicides, and homicides during the pandemic. The pandemic may also have accelerated the decline of people who were already sick, worsening their physical and mental health and making hospitals more difficult to access. Plus, it’s possible homeless populations grew during the pandemic, inflating death counts. Kavanaugh emphasized the need for more data on the country’s homeless. “If we want to address homeless mortality, we need to know what is causing homeless mortality,” she said. “We really need data.”

Bonus Reads: “The Covid-19 Plasma Boom is Over. What Did We Learn From It?”, (NYT); “The Race to Curb the Spread of COVID Vaccine Disinformation,” (Nature). 

Around the World

Americas 

Ontario’s Police Given Sweeping Powers As Cases Grow

Ontario announced sweeping new police powers in order to enforce an extended stay-at-home order as the province’s coronavirus case numbers have spiraled out of control. There is growing worry among experts that the healthcare system is being pushed to the brink so the police in Ontario will now be able to stop drivers or pedestrians and ask for their address and reason for being out. Residents could face fines up to $C750 (US$600) if they don’t comply. Checkpoints will be established on provincial borders with Manitoba and Quebec to stop non-essential travel. “We’re losing the battle between the variants and vaccines,’’ Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, said on Friday as he announced the new measures (Guardian). “We’re on our heels. If we dig in, remain steadfast, we can turn this around.” Ford also announced restrictions on playgrounds, camping, and outdoor sports. The new measures faced an almost immediate backlash from civil liberties groups: “Blanket powers for police to stop vehicles like this bends our constitutional freedoms too far, and will cause a rash of racial profiling,” Michael Bryant of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said in a statement. 

Europe

France Will Limit and Quarantine Travelers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and South Africa

French authorities will restrict who can travel to France from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and South Africa and impose a 10-day quarantine on those who do in an effort to keep out worrying variants circulating in those countries (NYT, Reuters). The government announced the new policy on Saturday and said police officers will check on individuals in quarantine to make sure they comply. Entry from the four countries will be limited almost exclusively to French citizens and their families, citizens of E.U. countries, and foreigners with permanent homes in France. Travelers must test negative for the virus right before travel and will be given tests again on arrival. 

Turkey Hits Record High of Covid Cases

Turkey recorded a new high number of coronavirus cases over the weekend, reporting more than 62,000 new infections and 288 deaths in a single day, the Health Ministry said on Saturday (NYT). President Recep Tayyip Erdogan put new restrictions in place last week for the first two weeks of Ramadan as a result of a worrying spike in cases. He extended a nightly curfew and limited the hours of shops. The increase in cases is driven by new variants; the variant first identified in Britain has been confirmed in all of Turkey’s provinces with those identified in South Africa and Brazil present in some as well. The Health Ministry released data on Saturday that showed that just under 70% of intensive care beds across the country were occupied. 

Asia

India’s Capital Running Out of Beds, Oxygen as Country Runs Low on Vaccines

The capital of India, New Delhi, recorded 25,500 coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period, meaning about one in three people tested had a positive result, according to its chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. He said on Sunday that less than 100 critical care beds were available across the city of more than 20 million people. "The bigger worry is that in last 24 hours positivity rate has increased to around 30% from 24% ... The cases are rising very rapidly. The beds are filling fast," Kejriwal told a news briefing (Reuters). The city government said in a separate statement that it had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government about “the dire need of beds and oxygen.” India reported 261,500 new cases on Sunday across the country. 

Vaccine supplies are also dangerously low, with at least five states reporting severe shortages and asking the federal government to take action (CNN). Last week, more than 70 vaccination centers in Mumbai had to close due to a lack of vaccine doses. India is a major producer of vaccines and the Serum Institute of India (SII) is the world’s largest vaccine maker. Last year, SII agreed to manufacture up to 200 million doses for up to 92 countries under COVAX, the global vaccine-sharing initiative. But now with India in the midst of a second wave, SII has shifted its focus to domestic production and will delay deliveries of vaccines from SII to COVAX. 

Middle East

Israel Lifts Outdoor Mask Mandate, Reopens Schools

On Sunday Israel lifted its outdoor mask mandate and schools fully reopened for the first time since September. The country has been a world leader in its vaccination efforts: about 56% of the Israeli population has been fully vaccinated (NYT). Professor Eran Segal of the Weizmann Institute of Science said on Twitter last week that with 85% of people 16 and older in Israel either vaccinated or recovered from the virus, “Life is close to pre-Covid.” Israel has introduced a “green pass” system that allows people who are vaccinated or recovered from the virus to dine indoors, stay in hotels, and attend large cultural or sporting events. 

U.S. Government & Politics

Biden Reverses Trump’s Limits on Use of Fetal Tissue in Scientific Research 

This Friday, the National Institutes of Health lifted Trump-era restrictions on the use of fetal tissue from elective abortions for medical research (NYT, Nature). The Biden administration reinstated the rules that were in place under former President Obama; this new guidance will support research into a wide range of diseases, including Covid-19. Researchers will be able to resume projects and obtain fetal tissue from the same sources that were approved before former President Trump restricted fetal tissue use in 2019, in response to pressure from anti-abortion advocates. 

U.S. Economy

Hiring Surged Across the United States in March

Hiring numbers surged across the United States in March (WSJ). According to data released by the Labor Department on Friday, hiring increased in 49 of 50 states and in the District of Columbia. The Wall Street Journal reports, “Employers in leisure and hospitality, including at restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues, accelerated hiring across the U.S. That allowed some of the hardest-hit states, such as Hawaii, to see strong job growth last month.” Alaska was the only state not to see a growth in payrolls.

Hiring May Lag as Economy Grows

As signs point to strong economic growth, hiring numbers may still lag behind the Wall Street Journal reports (WSJ). The Journal writes, “Consumer spending at restaurants, hotels and salons is already starting to take off as the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic eases and more people get vaccinated and draw on their stimulus checks and savings.” However, it notes, “many economists expect economic activity to pick up faster than payrolls, at least initially, for several reasons, causing bottlenecks and wage pressures” and points out that a similar effect occurred last year as the manufacturing sector began to grow.

U.S. Society

Bonus Read: “Netflix Is Chill About Pandemic’s End,” (WSJ).

Pandemic Reshaped Public Transit in D.C.

A Washington Post analysis of public transit data published on Friday shows that the pandemic has reshaped transit patterns in Washington, D.C. (WaPo). The Post reports, “Public transit demand during the pandemic has shifted to neighborhoods with high numbers of Black, Hispanic and lower-income workers, flattening peak travel periods and forcing transit agencies to respond to new patterns before more workers return to offices this fall, a Washington Post analysis of national transit data shows. No longer does the 9-to-5 work schedule hold as much sway, with telework on the rise and office workers less bound to rigid daily commutes.” According to the Post, the Columbia Heights metro station, which serves the city’s largest Latino population, is now the biggest station, while Union Station, previously the busiest due to its central location for business travel, has seen its passenger numbers fall precipitously. The Post writes, “Rail travel dropped significantly at large transfer stations in Washington’s core, while Metro stations in D.C.’s predominantly Black neighborhoods and the city’s eastern suburbs carry a larger proportion of passengers than before the pandemic.” Amid these changes, D.C. is studying whether such trends are likely to be persistent and whether to change transit practices to reflect different patterns of usage. 

Expat Americans Return for Covid Shots

As the slow pace of vaccination in other countries generates frustration, some American expats are returning to the United States to get vaccinated, the Wall Street Journal reports (WSJ). The Journal writes, “For many, the risks of a long journey home are worth the reward of a vaccine that offers protection and peace of mind. But the trip also comes with the anguish and moral ambiguity of leaving behind friends, colleagues and even spouses who might not get access to a shot for months because they don’t hold a passport from the world’s wealthiest country.” However, for some expats, concerns about how getting vaccinated in the U.S. might affect their ability to get local vaccine passports in other countries have led them to choose not to return.

Bonus Read: “Work-Permit Backlog for Immigrant Spouses Takes Toll on Professional Women,” (WSJ).

Analysis & Arguments

Nelson Lichtenstein reviews a new book on the care economy and its relation to deindustrialization (Nation).

Peggy Ornstein and Ina Park write on how fear of contagion will change and shape people’s sex lives as the pandemic comes to an end (NYT).

Isaac Chotiner interviews Adam Tooze on how the pandemic has changed Europe (New Yorker).

 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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