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September 28, 2021 - Brief Issue 242
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
Thousands of New York State Healthcare Workers Rush to Get Vaccinated (Health & Science)
Covid’s Partisan Pattern is Getting Worse in the U.S. (Health & Science)
Oral Antiviral Pills Could be the Answer to Covid; Pfizer Announces Study on Oral Drug (Health & Science)
France Overcame Vaccine Hesitancy Using Incentives and Mandates (Around the World)
Japan to End State of Emergency (Around the World)
Sydney’s Unvaccinated Risk Social Isolation, Warns Premier (Around the World)
U.K. Gas Shortage Fueled by Covid, Brexit (Around the World)
Biden Receives Vaccine Booster Shot (U.S. Government & Politics)
As Cities Across the U.S. Struggle to Recover from Covid, DC Faces Particular Challenges (U.S. Economy)
Fed Official: Return to Pre-Pandemic Labor Market, Inflation Level Possible (U.S. Economy)
McKinsey Survey Finds Women are Redefining Career Ambitions Due to the Pandemic (U.S. Society)
As People Return to the Office, Office Work Looks Like Remote Work (U.S. Society)
Health & Science
There have been 43,117,906 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 690,555 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 390,664,923 vaccine doses, with 64.4% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine dose and 55.4% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 77.1% have received at least one dose, and 66.6% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). Worldwide, there have been 232,436,039 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 4,758,486 deaths.
Thousands of New York State Healthcare Workers Rush to Get Vaccinated
New York state mandated that healthcare workers be vaccinated against Covid-19 by Monday and thousands of workers rushed to comply by the deadline (NYT). Health officials across the state reported that employees had rushed to get vaccinated to avoid being suspended or fired, seemingly helping the state avoid a worst-case scenario of staffing shortages at hospitals and nursing homes. The vaccination rate for hospital employees rose to 92% by Monday night, according to preliminary data from the governor’s office. The rate for nursing homes jumped to 92% as well on Monday, up from 84% just five days earlier.
A vocal minority of workers resisted the mandate and some have tried to get an exemption. At least eight lawsuits challenging the lawsuit have been filed. Hospitals were being divided by the mandate; most workers are vaccinated and want their colleagues to be vaccinated, and the nurses’ union supported the mandate. But unions that represent support workers like nurses’ aides, orderlies, and cafeteria workers, opposed the mandate. Hospital administrators worried that if those workers choose to be fired rather than be vaccinated, their tasks would fall on already overworked nurses (NYT). While it seems that situation has been largely avoided for now, opposition to the mandates remains strong.
Covid’s Partisan Pattern is Getting Worse in the U.S.
In the beginning of the vaccination campaign, some demographic groups lagged behind in getting their shots: Black Americans, Latino Americans, and Republican voters (NYT). It seems that racial gaps have now narrowed, but the partisan gap continues to be extreme. According to a Pew Research Center poll last month, 86% of Democratic voters had received at least one shot while just 60% of Republican voters had. The partisan gap is also evident in state-wide vaccination rates; every reliably red state has a lower vaccination rate than every reliably blue state. As a result, Covid deaths are mirroring that pattern and outbreaks are becoming increasingly concentrated in red America. If you dig into the data even further and look at county-level statistics, the differences are even more pronounced. For example, in counties where Donald Trump received at least 70% of the vote, the virus has killed about 47 out of every 100,000 people since the end of June, according to Charles Gaba, a healthcare analyst. In counties where Trump won less than 32% of the vote, the number is about 10 out of 100,000 people. The New York Times notes that “Some left-leaning communities — like many suburbs of New York, San Francisco and Washington, as well as much of New England — have such high vaccination rates that even the unvaccinated are partly protected by the low number of cases. Conservative communities, on the other hand, have been walloped by the highly contagious Delta variant.”
Oral Antiviral Pills Could be the Answer to Covid; Pfizer Announces Study on Oral Drug
On Monday, Pfizer announced it had started a large study testing an investigational oral antiviral drug for preventing Covid-19 infection. The mid-to-late stage study will test the drug, PF-07321222, in up to 2,660 healthy adult participants aged 18 and older who live in the same household as an individual with a confirmed symptomatic Covid-19 infection (Reuters). Pfizer’s drug is designed to block the activity of a key enzyme needed for the virus to multiply. It will be administered along with a low dose of ritonavir, an older medication used in combination treatments for HIV infection.
Three antiviral pills for Covid are currently being tested in clinical trials and scientists believe that once approved and available, they could dramatically reduce recovery time for Covid-19 (CNN). Pharmaceutical company Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics recently launched a late-stage trial of their drug, molnupiravir, for prevention of Covid-19. Roche and Atea Pharmaceuticals also have a candidate, a drug known as AT-527.
Antiviral pills are already available as treatment for other viral infections, like influenza, hepatitis C, and HIV. The medications work differently depending on the type, but most are engineered to boost the immune system to aid it in fighting infections or to block receptors to keep viruses from entering healthy cells or to lower the amount of active virus in the body. Carl Dieffenbach, director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who is overseeing antiviral development, said, "I think that we will have answers as to what these pills are capable of within the next several months."
Bonus Read: “For many families, the countdown has begun to coronavirus vaccines for younger children,” (WaPo).
Around the World
France Overcame Vaccine Hesitancy Using Incentives and Mandates
France had one of the highest rates of vaccine hesitancy in the world in early 2021, but today, it has one of the highest vaccination rates against Covid-19 among larger Western countries. The government has employed a mix of enticements and mandates in order to convince millions of French residents to get vaccinated (WSJ). More than 14 million people received a first dose of vaccine in the 11 weeks following the government-enacted health pass. The health pass, which shows vaccination status or results of a recent Covid test, is mandatory for dining out, visiting nightclubs, or attending sports events. It will also become mandatory for healthcare workers and other staff in hospitals and nursing homes. Around 88% of people over 12 years old have received at least one shot of vaccine, a percentage that is above that in the U.S., U.K., or Germany. As a result, the infection rate in France is dropping by more than one-quarter each week; it is now below 61 cases per 100,000 people compared with 241 cases per 100,000 in the U.S. as of Sept. 24. “The president’s strategy of maximum incitation to get vaccinated has paid off,” government spokesman Gabriel Attal said last week.
Japan to End State of Emergency
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that Japan will lift a coronavirus state of emergency in all regions on Thursday thanks to falling case numbers (Reuters). It will be the first time in nearly six months that Japan will be out of a state of emergency. "The daily new cases came down from more than 25,000 in mid-August to 1,128 yesterday ... the number of patients with serious conditions has been on a downtrend after peaking in early September," Suga told a coronavirus task force meeting. "Thanks to progress in vaccination and administration of neutralising antibody drugs, we are entering a phase where medical services can be offered in a stable manner even if a certain degree of infections take place." Nearly 60% of the population is fully vaccinated.
Sydney’s Unvaccinated Risk Social Isolation, Warns Premier
New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned on Tuesday that those residents who remain unvaccinated risk being barred from social activities when stay-at-home orders lift (Reuters). Australia’s biggest city will gradually grant freedoms to inoculated residents between Oct. 11 and Dec. 1 under local officials’ roadmap for easing restrictions. But Berejiklian said that those who are not vaccinated could be barred entry to shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues even after the state lifts all restrictions on Dec. 1. "A lot of businesses have said they will not accept anyone who is unvaccinated," Berejiklian told Seven News on Tuesday. "Life for the unvaccinated will be very difficult indefinitely." The two-tier system, which was designed to encourage vaccination, has been criticized for penalizing vulnerable groups who have not had access to vaccines and for not providing real incentives for the vaccine hesitant.
U.K. Gas Shortage Fueled by Covid, Brexit
On Monday the British government put dozens of soldiers on standby to help ease fuel supply problems caused by a shortage of truck drivers due to the coronavirus pandemic and an exodus of foreign workers following Britain's departure from the European Union last year (WSJ). Under post-Brexit immigration rules, EU citizens can no longer live or work visa-free in Britain. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the issue with border closures and quarantine requirements that make it difficult for people to enter and exit the country. People began panic buying fuel late last week and continued over the weekend following media reports of gas stations closing due to dwindling supply.
According to the AP, “The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents almost 5,500 independent outlets, said Sunday that about two-thirds of its members had run out of fuel, as the truck driver shortage set off rounds of gas panic-buying.” Meanwhile, the British Medical Association urged the government to give healthcare workers and other essential services staff “priority access to fuel so they can continue their crucial work and guarantee care to patients.”
South Africa Overcomes Third Wave
South Africa’s National Institute of Communicable Diseases said on Tuesday that the country has officially exited its third wave of coronavirus infections. On Sunday, new infections fell to below 1,000 cases and the positivity rate of tests was 5% (Bloomberg). South Africa has had almost 2.9 million confirmed cases and over 87,000 deaths, making it one of the worst-hit countries in Africa.
Bonus Read: “For Many Families World-Wide, a Dream Home is Out of Reach,” (WSJ).
U.S. Government & Politics
Biden Receives Vaccine Booster Shot
On Monday, President Joe Biden received a booster shot of Coronavirus vaccine and urged Americans to get vaccinated (WSJ, WaPo). Biden stated, “Boosters are important,” adding, “But the most important thing we need to do is get more people vaccinated.” Biden had received his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 11th. First Lady Jill Biden is also reportedly scheduled to receive a booster. The Wall Street Journal writes, “Mr. Biden received the shot days after the Food and Drug Administration cleared a booster developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE for people 65 and older and certain other adults at high risk of severe illness. The decision was also backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Both the president (78) and the first lady (70) meet the age criteria for booster shots. The Biden administration had previously called for booster shots to be made available to all Americans, but the FDA only approved them for some Americans, saying that it lacked evidence to support a broader authorization.
U.S. Economy
As Cities Across the U.S. Struggle to Recover from Covid, DC Faces Particular Challenges
The Wall Street Journal reports that as cities across the U.S. struggle to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, Washington DC is facing a particularly tough set of challenges (WSJ). The city was particularly hard hit with regard to housing development. The Journal writes, “The city lost a net of nearly 19,000 households to moves in 2020, according to U.S. Postal Service permanent change-of-address data. That was more than every state in the U.S. except California, New York, Illinois and Massachusetts.” The Journal notes that with a largely guaranteed government workforce and related industries that are often flexible regarding remote work, the city may be seeing a larger than normal number of people decamp from the city while working remotely. The Journal also notes, “the district’s violent crime rate has risen during the pandemic, with 198 homicides last year, the highest number since 2004. City leaders are also contending with homeless encampments in tourist-dense areas like around Union Station.”
Fed Official: Return to Pre-Pandemic Labor Market, Inflation Level Possible
On Monday, Lael Brainard, a member of the Federal Reserve’s board of governors widely considered a top contender for the chair position next year, stated that she believes that a return to pre-pandemic levels of inflation and labor market conditions is possible (WSJ). Speaking at an economics conference, she stated, “I expect inflation to decelerate, and pre-Covid inflation dynamics to return when Covid disruptions dissipate,” adding, “Once Covid constraints recede, I see no reason the labor market should not be as strong or stronger than it was pre-pandemic.” She noted, however, that some economists fear more persistent effects and also expressed a cautionary note about the impact of the Delta variant, saying, “Delta highlights the importance of being attentive to economic outcomes and not getting too attached to an outlook that may get buffeted by evolving virus conditions.”
U.S. Society
McKinsey Survey Finds Women are Redefining Career Ambitions Due to the Pandemic
According to new data released by McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.Org as part of their annual Women in the Workplace survey, women are reconsidering their career ambitions as a result of the pandemic in large numbers (WSJ, CNBC). The survey found that both men and women are feeling more burnt out this year, but the issue is particularly clear among women. The Journal writes, “About 42% said they felt burned out often or almost always, compared with 35% of men. Among female team managers, more than half described themselves as burned out, while 41% of their male peers did.” The feeling of burn out has led many men and women, but again particularly women, to consider changes to their career aims and current work. The Journal summarizes the findings, writing, “One-third of women said they had considered leaving or downshifting their careers—either temporarily or altogether—over the past year, while 27% of men said the same. And 40% of both men and women said they had contemplated switching to another employer.” The survey polled more than 65,000 North Americans. The Journal notes multiple factors for the gender differences in the survey’s findings, writing, “A big reason, she says, is that women are still shouldering much of the unpaid work at home. Meanwhile, female managers, especially, have become linchpins in supporting other employees though the pandemic, the data shows. Across the board, people who reported to women were more likely to say their boss checked in on their well-being, helped them navigate work-life challenges and ensured their workloads were manageable. Yet more than a third of companies surveyed said that work goes largely unrecognized in performance reviews or otherwise."
As we have covered in prior briefs, the pandemic has taken a particular impact on mothers. The Journal previously reported that “About 3.5 million mothers living with school-age youngsters lost their jobs, took leave or left the labor market when Covid-19 hit last year” (WSJ). Bonus Read: “The Pandemic’s Toll on Women’s Careers,” (WSJ).
As People Return to the Office, Office Work Looks Like Remote Work
The Washington Post reports that even as many people return to working in offices, much of that work has retained characteristics of remote work (WaPo). The Post writes of those who have returned to the office, “They’re still spending most of their time isolated and glued to their computers for Zoom meetings, email and Slack. With more companies implementing permanent hybrid working options — in which some employees work from home and others in the office — the virtual nature of work may far outlive the pandemic. And with it, so may the quirks of the new office environment.” Brian Kropp, chief of HR research for research firm Gartner, told the Post, “There’s this weird tension,” explaining, “We want everyone back in the office, but we still want everyone to do work by video.” The Post notes that Zoom’s earning statements suggest that demand for video conferencing has continued even as people begin to return to the office. Similarly, President and Chief Operating Officer Bret Taylor of Salesforce, which recently acquired Slack, told an earnings call, “Sales meetings have moved from conference rooms to Slack and to Zoom.” Alphabet, the Google parent company, has similarly reported that demand for its similar services “continues to show strong growth.”
Analysis & Arguments
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