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March 31, 2021 - Brief Issue 177
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
In U.S., Fourth Wave of Covid-19 Could Be On Its Way (Health & Science)
WHO Report Stirs Up Political Controversy (Health & Science)
Inadequate Syringe Supply in the U.S. Means Vaccine Doses Are Going to Waste (Health & Science)
South African Variant Could Offer Clues for Vaccine Development (Health & Science)
Germany Restricts AstraZeneca Use Again (Around the World)
Scandal Over Breach in Protocol During Covid Vaccine Trial in Peru (Around the World)
Canada Hopes Immigrants Will Boost Economy After Pandemic (Around the World)
Pakistan’s Senior Government Officials Hit with Wave of Covid-19 (Around the World)
White House Takes Executive Action on Anti-Asian Violence (U.S. Government & Politics)
Home Prices Rising at Highest Rate in 15 Years (U.S. Economy)
Health & Science
There have been 30,393,702 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 550,996 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has conducted 390,026,186 tests and distributed 189,451,285 vaccine doses, with 145,812,835 doses administered (U.S. CDC). Worldwide, there have been 128,224,509 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 2,803,806 deaths. At least 72,739,456 people have recovered from the virus.
In U.S., Fourth Wave of Covid-19 Could Be On Its Way
New coronavirus cases increased around 12% nationwide over the past week, with the seven-day average of new daily cases exceeding 63,000 for the first time in about a month (WaPo). Michigan saw more new cases than any other state, with a 57% jump over the past week, and also had the most new hospitalizations, with an increase of 47%. This comes after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky warned against a potential fourth wave of infections (Bloomberg).
WHO Report Stirs Up Political Controversy
Officially released Tuesday, a report based on a World Health Organization visit to China said many questions remain unanswered when it comes to the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, but SARS-CoV-2 was most likely not leaked from a laboratory, as Trump’s former CDC director suggested (WaPo, Politico, WSJ). But some are worried that the investigation moved too slowly and that China limited researchers’ access to information. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said investigators needed more raw data, from earlier on in the pandemic: “In my discussions with the team, they expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data,” he said Tuesday. “I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing.” Tedros also declared that “all hypotheses remain on the table.” The U.S. and over a dozen other countries have called for a new “transparent and independent analysis and evaluation, free from interference and undue influence.” Members of the investigatory team, meanwhile, have defended their process, emphasizing that full analyses of a virus’ origins take time.
Inadequate Syringe Supply in the U.S. Means Vaccine Doses Are Going to Waste
Standard vials of the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines contain up to two extra doses of vaccine, to account for waste and mistakes (Science). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized pharmacies to pull out at least one extra dose per vial; in fact, the sixth dose in Pfizer’s nominally five-dose vial now officially counts towards the company’s vaccination plan. But this extraction requires precision, and many pharmacies, which are still receiving outdated supply kits from the government, don’t have syringes small enough for the task.
Taking advantage of these extra doses is most easily accomplished with a 1-milliliter syringe – specifically one with “low dead-volume,” which helps push every last drop out as the dose is administered – but the size of the syringes in the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed vaccination kits is “all over the place,” said Jenn Wheeler of Community Health Alliance in Nevada. Pfizer updated its kits to include 1-milliliter syringes, most of them low dead-volume. Moderna kits are less consistent, with 1- or 3-milliliter syringes of varying types. “It takes a bit of care to use these large, monstrous 3-milliliter syringes, with a high dead-space system, to get the exact dose,” says Daniel Griffin, a physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Many pharmacies, hospitals, and other vaccination sites have been purchasing their own syringes to smooth out the process, though demand outpaces supply.
Experts Worry About Antibiotic Over-Prescription During Pandemic
A study from the Pew Charitable Trusts has health experts concerned that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to antibiotic over-prescription, which can accelerate waves of drug-resistant bacteria (STAT). Researchers analyzed 5,838 Covid-19-related hospitalizations from February to July 2020, representing 4,980 patients, as some were hospitalized multiple times. The team found that 52% of these patients were prescribed antibiotics, with 36% of them receiving multiple antibiotic prescriptions – Covid-19 is not a bacterial disease, but some hospitalized patients are at risk of bacterial infection. Yet only 20% of the patients in the study were actually diagnosed with confirmed or suspected bacterial pneumonia, and only 9% with a urinary tract infection. The researchers also found that many of these antibiotic prescriptions came preemptively, right at the beginning of the patient’s hospital stay. Expressing concern about over-prescription and antibiotic resistance, the Pew researchers recommended hospitals adhere to antibiotic stewardship programs, which help prevent overuse of these drugs.
Dialysis Clinics to Start Vaccinating At-Risk Patients
President Biden announced last week that the government will begin distributing coronavirus vaccines directly to dialysis clinics, a move experts say will alleviate some vaccination inequity (NPR). Dialysis clinics, where people receive treatment for kidney failure, are often located in lower-income areas with less robust healthcare networks; about half of the U.S.’ 550,000 dialysis patients are Black or Latino. Racial disparities in health care make people more susceptible to both kidney disease and Covid-19, and minority groups may have less access to a vaccination site. Dr. Brent Shealy, who oversees a network of dialysis centers in South Carolina, said distributing vaccines at these clinics will improve vaccine access for underserved people, particularly those in rural areas. "It's really difficult to tell them, 'Hey, just go get a vaccine,' because they may not have the Internet capability to do it; they may not be able to drive to get it," Shealy said. "So it makes complete sense to give it at the dialysis clinic.”
South African Variant Could Offer Clues for Vaccine Development
A team of South African researchers found that people infected with B.1.351, a highly contagious and potentially vaccine-evading coronavirus variant, develop antibodies that help them fight off earlier strains of the virus (Nature). The researchers extracted plasma from “first wave” Covid-19 survivors, most of whom had earlier versions of the virus, and “second wave” patients, most of whom were infected with B.1.351, then tested how effectively these plasma samples neutralized different strains of the virus. According to their study published in Nature, first wave plasma was about 15 times less effective at neutralizing B.1.351 than plasma from people who’d actually had that strain; meanwhile, second wave plasma was only 2 times less effective at neutralizing earlier strains than first wave plasma. This means antibodies from B.1.351 infection may help the body fight off many different strains of the virus. The researchers concluded that vaccines specifically designed to mimic B.1.351 infection could provide a more robust immune response.
Some Marine Mammals Vulnerable to Covid-19
According to a study preprint, some marine mammals are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, which could make its way into marine ecosystems through untreated wastewater. A team of Italian researchers analyzed the respiratory tracts of marine mammals living in Italian waters. Normally, the virus latches onto the body through the ACE-2 protein; the researchers compared this protein in marine animals to the human version, concluding that some of these animals may in fact be susceptible to the virus. This study is part of a growing body of research on the transmission of Covid-19 from humans to animals, and visa versa.
Bonus Reads: “As Mask Mandates Lift, Retail Workers Again Feel Vulnerable,” (NYT); “Vaccines Are About to Become a Free-For-All. Here’s How to Ensure it’s Done Equitably,” (WaPo).
Around the World
Europe
Russia, France, Germany in Talks Over Sputnik V Vaccine
Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, and Emmanuel Macron discussed Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine and the potential for its use in Europe during a conference call on Tuesday, the Kremlin said (Guardian). The statement from Moscow said the leaders talked about the registration of the vaccine in the European Union and the possibility of shipments and joint production in EU nations. Last week, Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said that the German government would be open to using Sputnik V if and when it is approved by the European Medicinces Agency, saying their approval would make the shot “worth considering for Germany.” France has been more circumspect, with the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, last week accusing both Russia and China of using their vaccines to gain influence abroad. “In terms of how it is managed, [the Sputnik V vaccine] is more a means of propaganda and aggressive diplomacy than a means of solidarity and health aid,” Le Drian told France Info radio.
Germany Restricts AstraZeneca Use Again
Germany has restricted the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine in people under 60 years of age over fresh concerns about unusual blood clots in those who received the shots (Reuters). Health Minister Jens Spahn and state officials agreed on Tuesday to only give the vaccine to people over 60 unless they belong to a high-risk category for serious illness and have agreed with their doctor to take the vaccine despite the small risk of a serious side-effect (AP). Germany’s independent vaccine expert panel made the recommendation after the country’s medical regulator released new data showing a total of 31 unusual blood clots, including nine deaths, out of some 2.7 million doses administered in Germany. Bonus Read: “Merkel faults German ‘perfectionism’ for current virus woes,” (AP).
Spain Removes Age Limit on AstraZeneca, Will Give J&J to Those Over 66
Spain has removed the upper age limit of 65 years on AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine and also said it will allow the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be given to people over the age of 66, Cadena Ser radio reported on Tuesday (Reuters). A public health commission approved the changes at a meeting on Tuesday, one week after Spain decided to reintroduce the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged 18-65. Spain was one of several European countries to pause administering the AstraZeneca vaccine over concerns about blood clots.
Ireland Sets Out Plan for Revitalizing Rural Areas
The Irish government announced this week that it would spend about $1 billion to encourage people to settle in rural areas by investing in town centers and providing other incentives in hopes of keeping young people in villages and towns after the pandemic is over. The proposal, called “Our Rural Future,” includes, among other things, legislation that would give employees the right to request to work from home, the establishment of a network of 400 remote-working hubs, and funding for improving internet connectivity nationally (Irish Times). Announcing the plan, the prime minister, Micheal Martin, said, “Ireland is heading into an era of unprecedented change, and with that comes unprecedented opportunity.” He added, “Over the course of the pandemic, we have discovered new ways of working and we have rediscovered our communities.”
Americas
Scandal Over Breach in Protocol During Covid Vaccine Trial in Peru
A clinical trial of Covid-19 vaccines in Peru has sparked outrage and prompted a series of high-profile resignations at universities and in government after vaccines were administered to politicians, researchers, and some of their family members. The breach of standard protocols by administering the vaccines to people not enrolled in the trial is now being investigated. The scandal first made headlines in early February when local media revealed that “then-president Martín Vizcarra had received two doses of a vaccine developed by the Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical group Sinopharm. At the time, a phase III clinical trial was under way to test the vaccine at two universities in Peru; Vizcarra was not part of the trial,” according to Nature. It then emerged that around 470 other people, including 100 high-profile politicians and their family members, also got the vaccine.
Canada Hopes Immigrants Will Boost Economy After Pandemic
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government plans to significantly increase the number of new permanent residents it accepts over the next three years as a way to boost the economy as it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. Canada already relied heavily on immigrants to bolster the economy before the pandemic, net migration accounted for more than 80% of Canada’s population growth, compared with about 40% in the U.S. But the intake of permanent residents dropped by nearly half in 2020 due to border restrictions and administrative processing delays (WSJ). Now, the government is hoping to admit about 60,000 more permanent residents in 2021 than it did in previous years for a total of around 400,000 new residents. That target will then rise by 10,000 during each of the subsequent two years, the government says. “History teaches us that when we grow our immigration levels, we grow our economy,” Canadian immigration minister Marco Mendicino said earlier this year.
Asia
Pakistan’s Senior Government Officials Hit with Wave of Covid-19
As a fresh surge of coronavirus cases is going through Pakistan, senior government officials are not being spared. Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi are among several senior officials to have contracted the virus recently (NYT). The number of cases have continued to climb even as the federal government has imposed a ban on public gatherings, sporting events, and weddings, starting in April. Lahore and Islamabad have placed some neighborhoods under strict lockdown and emergency wards across both cities are filled to capacity with coronavirus patients. Khan was reported on March 20 to have become infected, while President Alvi and the defense minister, Pervez Khattak, tested positive on Monday. The president’s wife, Samina Alvi, said she had tested negative and noted that the couple had received a first vaccine dose in mid-March, although it was not clear which vaccine. On Tuesday, Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, the country’s former finance minister, also tested positive. He was removed from the post on Monday by Khan after failing to stem inflation rates.
U.S. Government & Politics
White House Takes Executive Action on Anti-Asian Violence
On Tuesday, the White House rolled out a series of executive actions aimed at responding to reports of spiking anti-Asian violence across the U.S. (Politico). Politico writes, “Among the moves is a reinstatement of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which was first established during the Clinton administration, with an expanded mandate and an ‘initial focus on anti-Asian bias and violence,’ including gender-based violence. The Biden administration also vowed to appoint a permanent director of the initiative to coordinate policies across the government.” The White House also announced $49.5 million in grants directed at programming for Asian and Pacific Islander victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The moves come in the wake of shootings in Atlanta that killed predominantly Asian American women and a larger increase in hate crimes that some attribute to narratives about the coronavirus and China. They also come following pressure from Democratic senators on the inclusion of Asian Americans in senior administration appointments.
U.S. Economy
Home Prices Rising at Highest Rate in 15 Years
U.S. home prices are rising at their highest rate in 15 years, the Wall Street Journal reports (WSJ). The Journal writes, “From small cities like Bridgeport, Conn., to large ones like Seattle, prices have been steadily moving higher. Two closely-watched house-price indicators released Tuesday posted double-digit national price growth, demonstrating the widespread strength of the market.”
JP Morgan, Salesforce Dump Office Space
JPMorgan Chase and Salesforce are among the latest companies dumping their investment in office space (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal writes, “Large companies typically sign office leases for a decade or longer, giving them few options for reducing their footprint beyond trying to sublease floors to other tenants. At the end of 2020, 137 million square feet of office space was available for sublease across the U.S., according to CBRE Group Inc. That is up 40% from a year earlier and the highest figure since 2003.” The trend away from renting large office spaces is impacting landlords. The Journal reports, “Office rents for more expensive space, including concessions, fell around 17% over the past year in New York and San Francisco and 13% nationwide, according to real-estate firm JLL.”
Bonus Read: “Landlords, Housing Groups Brace for Evictions in Tri-State Area,” (WSJ).
Analysis & Arguments
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