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April 26, 2022 - Brief Issue 319

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

U.S. Nears One Million Covid-19 Deaths (Health & Science)

In U.S., Unused Covid Shots Wasted (Health & Science)

Beijing to Conduct Mass Testing (Around the World)

South Korea Downgrades Covid-19’s Risk Designation (Around the World)

Greece, Switzerland to Permit Restriction-Free Entry Next Month (Around the World)

Travel Mask Mandates Have Majority Support (U.S. Government & Politics)

Stocks Drop Amid Interest Rate, China Fears (U.S. Economy)

Union Vote Begins at Second Staten Island Amazon Facility (U.S. Economy)

Increased Transit Crime Challenges Cities Seeking a Post-Pandemic Normal (U.S. Society)

Health & Science

There have been 81,043,362 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 991,609 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 572,829,658 vaccine doses, with 77.5% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine dose and 66.1% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 88.9% have received at least one dose, and 76% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). 45.6% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a first booster shot. Worldwide, there have been 510,287,941 cases of coronavirus, with 6,221,263 deaths.

U.S. Nears One Million Covid-19 Deaths 

The U.S. is expected to record its one millionth death attributed to Covid-19 nearly two years after the first case was recorded. It’s a once-unimaginable milestone. Death certificates recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list Covid-19 as the underlying cause of death in 90% of the over 990,000 deaths and list the disease as a contributing cause in the remaining certificates (WSJ). Epidemiologists believe the true death toll is likely even higher as deaths were misattributed early on in the pandemic and excess deaths–deaths above the averages from recent years—also reflect issues brought on by the pandemic, including a surge in drug overdoses and a lack of routine medical care for many people. Deaths have been more concentrated among the elderly population, especially those in nursing homes. Black and Hispanic populations have also seen higher mortality rates. 

In U.S., Unused Covid Shots Wasted 

U.S. health officials are urging some Americans to get yet another coronavirus booster but demand for the vaccines has slumped across the country. According to federal data, states received 720 million doses since last winter and more than 570 million of those have been administered. But millions of shots have also been wasted, due largely to a significant decline in demand (ABC). According to analysis by ABC News, about 1.7 million doses have been wasted in Michigan since Dec. 2020, and more than 100,000 more doses are set to expire in the next two weeks. In California, nearly 3.6 million shots are sitting in the state’s stockpile. In North Carolina, 1.7 million shots were wasted after the doses expired or were improperly opened. Oregon reported that nearly 760,000 doses were spoiled or expired. But state officials noted to ABC that the excess number of doses was not unexpected and that it is still low compared to the number of shots that did end up in arms. 

Around the World

Beijing to Conduct Mass Testing

Beijing authorities announced a round of mass testing in response to a small new cluster of coronavirus cases (WaPo). There have been 70 cases since Friday across eight districts in the city, including the largest district Chaoyang. On Sunday, authorities said the 3.4 million residents of Chaoyang must undergo three rounds of testing this week. Then, on Monday, authorities announced another 11 districts–out of a total of 16–would be subject to testing (NYT). Roads have been closed and apartment buildings sealed off with metal fencing and panic of a harsher lockdown or longer quarantine sparked panic buying of food and necessities (WSJ). Residents fear that Beijing will follow the path of Shanghai, which, as we have covered in previous briefs, is struggling to contain its outbreak and has put residents under strict quarantines that have been marred by food shortages and rare public outrage from citizens (CNN). Bonus Read: “Covid Lockdowns Revive the Ghosts of a Planned Economy,” (NYT).

South Korea Downgrades Covid-19’s Risk Designation

South Korea has removed Covid-19 from its list of riskiest infectious diseases–one of the first countries to do so. The downgrade from the highest category of infectious diseases was approved on Monday by health officials and will take four weeks to transition policy measures around the decision. After that transition period, residents who test positive will no longer be required to quarantine. Doctors will no longer need to report positive cases immediately. Local clinics will take over most treatment of patients and the national healthcare system will no longer pay in full for treatment. Vaccines will remain free. Since January, roughly one in three South Koreans have been infected with the coronavirus and 96% of adults have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine (WSJ).  

Greece, Switzerland to Permit Restriction-Free Entry Next Month

Starting in May, all travelers to Greece and Switzerland will be permitted to enter as the two countries become the latest to announce that they’re dropping all Covid-19 entry restrictions. The Greek Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris, said that Greece would no longer apply entry rules to incoming travelers, meaning they will not have to present proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative covid test upon arrival. This means that even those who are not vaccinated can enter without proof of a negative test. Similarly, the Swiss authorities announced that all travelers can enter Switzerland without showing proof of Covid-19 vaccination or recovery or a negative test (Schengen Visa Info).  

U.S. Government & Politics

Travel Mask Mandates Have Majority Support

In its newsletter, Politico notes that multiple recent surveys suggest that the recently struck down federal mask mandate for public transit has majority support among the public (Politico). Politico writes, “ A Harris Poll conducted from April 1 to 3, a Morning Consult/POLITICO survey from April 15 to 17, an AP-NORC poll conducted from April 14 to 18, a daily YouGov poll conducted on April 18 and a Premise poll conducted from April 15 to 17 all show continued support for the mandate, though the methodologies, question wording, sample size and timing of the polls were different. Support for travel mask mandates polled between 56 percent and 62 percent in the five polls, despite increasing support from elected Democrats to do away with masks on planes, trains, buses and other forms of travel.” As we covered in prior briefs, the Biden administration is appealing the ruling that struck down the mandate, but did not ask for a stay. As a result, a number of major transit providers from airlines to Uber and Lyft dropped their mandates.

U.S. Economy

Stocks Drop Amid Interest Rate, China Fears

On Monday U.S. stocks dropped as the market opened (WaPo, NYT, WSJ). The Dow fell about 400 points, continuing a longer trend. The Washington Post writes, “The blue-chip index shed more than 981 points on Friday, its biggest decline of the year as it wrapped up its fourth losing week in a row. It has shed about 8 percent since the start of the year.” Nor was the Dow alone. The Post notes, “The broader S&P 500 fell 1.3 percent on Monday, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 0.8 percent.” Many factors may have played a role in the early morning fall. The Post pointed to concerns about the pace of Federal Reserve interest rate increases, writing, “Analysts attributed last week’s sell-off to the increasingly hawkish tone from the Federal Reserve on interest rates. Investors had already been expecting a series of 0.25 percent rate hikes, but Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell made clear last week that a 0.5 percent increase is a distinct possibility at the May meeting. Meanwhile, St. Louis Fed chief James Bullard has said 0.75 percent should not be ruled out.” Another factor may have been news out of China. The New York Times emphasized the global dynamic, writing that the drop occurred “on fears that a coronavirus outbreak in Beijing could lead to broader lockdowns in China, which would have a negative effect on the world economy.” It added, “Commodities like oil also fell in anticipation that stringent new restrictions would depress growth and exports in the world’s second-largest economy. The Shanghai composite plummeted 5.1 percent, the index’s biggest daily decline since February 2020, and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 3.7 percent. The tightly controlled Chinese currency, the renminbi, also fell 1 percent versus the U.S. dollar, extending recent losses. The wave of selling continued in Europe, where the Stoxx Europe 600 lost 1.3 percent, and on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 fell about 1 percent, adding to a drop of 2.8 percent on Friday.” The Wall Street Journal also noted fears about the continuing impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Union Vote Begins at Second Staten Island Amazon Facility

Voting on unionization begins this week at a Staten Island Amazon facility known as LDJ5 (NYT). Workers at another Staten Island Amazon facility known as JFK5 already voted in favor of unionization, as we have covered in prior briefs. If successful, the LDJ5 warehouse would be represented by the same independent, local Amazon Labor Union as JFK5. The votes will be counted on May 2.

Bonus Read: “Coca-Cola Is Having a Moment,” (WSJ).

U.S. Society

Increased Transit Crime Challenges Cities Seeking a Post-Pandemic Normal

The New York Times reports that as cities seek to return to pre-pandemic ways of life, many are facing challenges due to increased crime on public transit (NYT). The Times reports, “Just as a number of major cities are trying to lure people back to formerly bustling downtowns, leaders are confronting transit crime rates that have risen over prepandemic levels in New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.” While a recent shooting on New York City’s subway grabbed headlines, the increases go far beyond the most-public cases. The Times notes, “In Philadelphia, the number of certain serious crimes reported on public transit is higher than before the pandemic, and in New York about equal to previous levels, even though ridership in both places is significantly lower,” and reports that lower ridership may be increasing some riders’ sense of vulnerability. The challenges come as cities are already wrestling with encouraging people to return to using public transit after the pandemic led many to avoid it.

Bonus Read: “The pandemic was hard on office suck-ups. Now they’re back and ready to schmooze,” (WaPo).

Analysis & Arguments

Evan Osnos shares a personal story of the effort to navigate the distribution of Covid treatments (New Yorker).

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The Brief is edited by David Sterman and Emily Schneider with Senior Editor Peter Bergen.

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