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November 16, 2021 - Brief Issue 263
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
Some U.S. States, NYC Approve Boosters for All Before Federal Government Issues Guidance (Health & Science)
New Study Finds 50% of Covid Patients Have Lingering Symptoms (Health & Science)
Nigeria to Begin Mass Vaccination Campaign (Around the World)
U.K. to Extend Booster Program (Around the World)
Amazon, California Settle Over Covid Notifications (U.S. Government & Politics)
Amid Supply Disruptions, Companies Adjust Production Strategies (U.S. Economy)
Inflation Drives Gold to 5 Month Price High (U.S. Economy)
Health & Science
There have been 47,222,900 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 764,427 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 442,005,260 vaccine doses, with 68.4% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine dose and 58.8% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 81.4% have received at least one dose, and 70.6% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). 15.4% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a booster shot. Worldwide, there have been 254,016,834 cases of coronavirus, with 5,110,818 deaths.
Some U.S. States, NYC Approve Boosters for All Before Federal Government Issues Guidance
On Monday, Arkansas joined Colorado, California, and New Mexico in broadening access to Covid-19 booster shots before federal regulators expanded eligibility. New York City became the first major city to tell all adults to get a booster shot if they want one regardless of official eligibility (NYT). “What we’re finding is that we want more people to get their booster shot and that this is somewhat confusing and limiting as to the eligibility,” Arkansas’s Gov. Asa Mr. Hutchinson said, adding, “we’re changing that.” Last week, the governors of Colorado and New Mexico signed executive orders that expanded booster eligibility to all adults. California’s public health director issued a letter last week that expanded eligibility to anyone over 18. And authorities in New York state and West Virginia encouraged all adults to get a booster shot but didn’t issue a formal policy change (WaPo).
New Study Finds 50% of Covid Patients Have Lingering Symptoms
Research on the long-term effects of Covid-19 published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that at least 50% of people who survive infection experience a variety of physical and psychological health issues for six months or more after their recovery. The research was based on data from 250,351 adults and children and found that over half experience a decline in general well-being, resulting in weight loss, fatigue, fever, or pain. The Washington Post writes, “About 20 percent have decreased mobility, 25 percent have trouble thinking or concentrating (called “brain fog”), 30 percent develop an anxiety disorder, 25 percent have breathing problems, and 20 percent have hair loss or skin rashes. Cardiovascular issues — chest pain and palpitations — are common, as are stomach and gastrointestinal problems.” Those who suffer with longer term symptoms include anyone who had Covid-19, even if they had no symptoms initially or just mild ones.
Some Schools Opt for More Testing and Less Quarantine
Covid-related disruptions to schools are now extending into a third academic year and approaches to containing outbreaks have varied. Some schools have moved to a “test-to-stay” approach, meaning children who are exposed to a known Covid-19 case are tested frequently and stay in school as long as the results remain negative (WSJ). Some schools are also making changes to their protocols as children ages 5 to 11 are beginning to be vaccinated. According to the White House, some 900,000 children in that age range received their first shot through Wednesday.
While the CDC has not yet endorsed the test-to-stay approach, it called the practice promising and said it was evaluating it further. The CDC recommends that schools offer weekly screening tests to all unvaccinated students and staff in areas where transmission remains moderate to high, which is about 98% of all U.S. counties. According to the Wall Street Journal, “In Massachusetts, test-to-stay has saved 85,000 school days this year for students who would have otherwise been in quarantine, according to a report from the state’s department of education. More than 2,200 schools in the state have signed up for testing programs, including test-to-stay.”
Around the World
Nigeria to Begin Mass Vaccination Campaign
Later this week Nigeria will begin a mass vaccination campaign with the goal of inoculating half of its population by the end of January (Reuters). The country is aiming to vaccinate 111 million people in order to reach herd immunity. The country so far has vaccinated only 2.9% of those eligible to be vaccinated so far. Boss Mustapha, head of the presidential steering committee on Covid-19, said the government "has enough vaccines in the pipeline to vaccinate about 50% of the target population by the end of January 2022." He also said the government was making efforts to secure booster shots "so as to build a healthy level of antibodies."
U.K. to Extend Booster Program
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of a “blizzard” of new coronavirus infections coming into the U.K. from Europe as the government extended the vaccine booster program (AP). Concerns are mounting about the new wave of the pandemic that is sweeping across continental Europe, which Johnson called “storm clouds.” The independent body of scientists that make vaccine recommendations to the British government said that people aged 40 to 49 will be eligible for a booster shot six months after their initial dose. Until now, people aged 50 and over and those deemed more vulnerable to Covid-19 had been eligible. The U.K. has recorded high but relatively stable levels of infections in recent months after lifting most of its restrictions over the summer.
Bonus Read: “Specter of new restrictions rises in Europe with coronavirus cases spiking once again,”(WaPo).
U.S. Government & Politics
Amazon, California Settle Over Covid Notifications
On Monday, California’s Attorney General announced that the state had come to an agreement with Amazon in a case involving notifications to workers regarding Covid-19 (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal writes, “California said it has secured an agreement with Amazon.com Inc. to rectify how the company handled Covid-19 notifications to warehouse workers and local health agencies. The settlement requires the online retail giant to end practices that California said concealed Covid case counts. Under the terms of the agreement, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Amazon must issue notifications to its more than 10,000 warehouse workers in the state of the exact number of new Covid cases in their workplaces within one day. The company must also notify local health agencies of new cases within 48 hours and submit to monitoring by his office, among other measures.” Amazon will also pay $500,000. Mr. Bonta stated, “Amazon’s practices led to workers not knowing if they had been potentially exposed to two, 20 or even 200 cases of Covid-19.”
Bonus Read: “Dems' bitter pill: Popular health provisions won't kick in until after the midterms,” (Politico).
U.S. Economy
Amid Supply Disruptions, Companies Adjust Production Strategies
The Washington Post reports that many companies are adjusting their production strategies as they wrestle with continuing pandemic-related supply disruptions (WaPo). One such company is the tool-maker Stanley Black & Decker. The Post writes, “Spurred by the pandemic, Stanley is moving on multiple fronts to strengthen its supply lines. Executives in charge of its tools business accelerated plans for two new factories in Mexico and one in Fort Worth. They locked in future supplies of lithium-ion batteries for power tools by funding dedicated production capacity at U.S. and Taiwanese suppliers and stockpiled an extra $1 billion in products.” The company’s chief financial officer told the Post, “With the pandemic, it really has radically shaken the supply chain,” adding, “It does drive home the importance of our strategy of getting closer to where we sell. The more you can minimize the amount of time your product is in transit, the better off you're going to be.” It is not the only company adjusting its strategy. The describes some other examples: “Eaton, an industrial manufacturer, dispatched its own experts to work alongside suppliers. Colgate Palmolive used more costly airfreight to ship its toothpaste and toothbrushes. And, Walmart chartered its own ships to circumvent backlogs.”
Inflation Drives Gold to 5 Month Price High
As we covered in yesterday’s brief, inflation is at a three decade high. As a result, the price of gold is increasing, reaching a five-month high (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal writes, “Most-actively-traded gold futures just notched their best week in six months, rising 2.9% to $1,868.50 a troy ounce after data showed persistent supply shortages and strong consumer demand lifting prices at the fastest 12-month pace since 1990. That data spurred bets that inflation could linger longer than Federal Reserve officials expect, driving gains in assets including Treasury inflation-protected securities and gold.” As a result of the rise, the price hit a five-month high. The Journal notes the importance of the increase as some investors had viewed the prior lack of a surge as a “sign of Wall Street sanguinity about inflation.” The Journal explains that “Investors prize gold for its history as a store of value, so its stability suggested they didn’t expect inflation to erode returns in other assets.”
Bonus Read: “Tyson Foods Raises Meat Prices as Costs Escalate,” (WSJ).
Analysis & Arguments
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