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November 17, 2021 - Brief Issue 264
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. FDA to Authorize Pfizer-BioNTech Booster for All Adults (Health & Science)
Pfizer Asks US to Authorize Covid Pill; Licenses Pill to U.N.-Backed Nonprofit (Health & Science)
Greece’s Tavernas, Coffee Shops Strike, Seeking Pandemic-Related Economic Relief (Around the World)
Hong Kong Disneyland Closes for Staff Covid Tests (Around the World)
DC To Relax Mask Mandate, Will Not Require Masks in Some Public Spaces (U.S. Government & Politics)
CDC Adds Four More European Countries to Level 4 Travel Warning List (U.S. Government & Politics)
Retail Sales Increased 1.7% in October (U.S. Economy)
The Vaccinated Will Be Able to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square (U.S. Society)
Health & Science
There have been 47,312,411 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 765,919 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 443,374,199 vaccine doses, with 68.6% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine dose and 58.9% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 81.6% have received at least one dose, and 70.6% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). 15.7% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a booster shot. Worldwide, there have been 254,562,905 cases of coronavirus, with 5,118,632 deaths.
U.S. FDA to Authorize Pfizer-BioNTech Booster for All Adults
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to authorize booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for all adults as early as tomorrow, Thursday (NYT). Once the FDA approves the booster, the number of Americans eligible for the additional shot would expand by tens of millions. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s independent committee of vaccine experts will meet to discuss data on the booster’s efficacy and safety. If both the FDA and CDC sign off this week, it will be a little over one week since Pfizer asked for authorization of its booster shots -- an incredibly quick turnaround.
Once the Pfizer booster is approved, any adult who received a second dose of the vaccine at least six months earlier would officially be eligible for a booster shot. As mentioned in a brief earlier this week, some state and city officials have already authorized booster doses for all adults ahead of FDA approval. More than 30 million people have already received additional shots.
Pfizer Asks US to Authorize Covid Pill; Licenses Pill to U.N.-Backed Nonprofit
On Tuesday Pfizer asked U.S. regulators to authorize its experimental pill for Covid-19. Pfizer’s pill, called Paxlovid, has been shown to cut the rate of hospitalizations and deaths among those with covid infections if taken within three days of symptoms appearing. The pill is part of a decades-old family of antiviral drugs called protease inhibitors. It works by blocking a key enzyme that viruses need to multiply in the human body.
According to the AP, “Pfizer reported earlier this month that its pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by 89% among high-risk adults who had early symptoms of COVID-19. The company studied its pill in people who were unvaccinated and faced the worst risks from the virus due to age or health problems, such as obesity. If authorized, the FDA will have to weigh making the pill available for vaccinated people dealing with breakthrough infections, since they weren’t part of the initial tests.”
So far the U.S. has approved one other antiviral drug for Covid-19, remdesivir, and authorized three antibody therapies to help the immune system fight the virus. But those treatments have to be given via infusions by health professionals. Pfizer’s pill can be taken at home.
Pfizer is licensing its antiviral pill to Medicines Patent Pool, a United Nations-backed nonprofit, in an effort to make the pill more available to low- and middle-income countries (WSJ). Under the licensing agreement, the nonprofit will work with other drugmakers to manufacture the pill for use in 95 countries, they announced together with Pfizer on Tuesday. “We’re not going to be handing out licenses to just anybody,” MPP Executive Director Charles Gore said in an interview. “At the same time, we want to make absolutely certain that there is enough supply.”
Around the World
Bonus Read: “How COVID-19 became a 'boon' for a battered Indian hospital,” (Reuters).
Greece’s Tavernas, Coffee Shops Strike, Seeking Pandemic-Related Economic Relief
Associations representing restaurants and catering businesses in Greece organized strikes across the country on Tuesday in an effort to gain renewed financial relief from the government amid the pandemic. Giorgos Kavathas, the leader of Greece’s largest small business association, said businesses are seeking tax breaks and rent subsidies from the government.
“We support the public health measures, but we also need assistance,” he told state-run television. “Let’s not forget that in the last 20 months, catering businesses were closed for at least nine, and others without outdoor customer spaces were closed for 12 months. The money that was lost will never be regained, so clearly we need to have a serious discussion” (AP).
Greek health authorities recorded a daily high for infections in a 24-hour period, with 8,129 infections on Tuesday. Greece is also seeing its highest mortality rate from Covid in six months. As a result, the government has re-imposed some restrictions, most of which specifically target the one-third of the population that remains unvaccinated.
Hong Kong Disneyland Closes for Staff Covid Tests
Disneyland in Hong Kong is closed today, Wednesday, in order for staff to take compulsory Covid-19 tests after one person who visited the theme park over the weekend tested positive (Reuters). Disney said in a statement that the closure was out of “an abundance of caution” and asked visitors to reschedule their trip. Hong Kong has recorded hardly any local coronavirus infections in recent months, but authorities have tightened quarantine and patient discharge rules anyway.
U.S. Government & Politics
DC To Relax Mask Mandate, Will Not Require Masks in Some Public Spaces
On Tuesday, Washington DC Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced that the city will no longer require people to wear masks in many public spaces beginning on Monday (WaPo). The decision will relax one of the country’s strictest mask mandates. The Washington Post writes, “Local regulations will still require masks in some settings, including Metro trains and buses, ride-share cars, some government buildings and public schools.” In addition, local businesses can still require people to wear masks. The Post adds, “Bowser said she will issue a mayoral order to bring the changes into effect, but had not yet signed the order when she announced the changes at a news conference Tuesday.”
CDC Adds Four More European Countries to Level 4 Travel Warning List
On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added Iceland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the self-governing British Crown dependency of Guernsey to its list of countries and territories with a level 4 warning recommending that Americans do not travel to them even if vaccinated (WaPo). The Washington Post writes, “Countries and territories in this group have an incidence rate of covid-19 of more than 500 new cases per 100,000 people over the past 28 days (or in the case of Guernsey, which has less than 100,000 residents, more than 500 cases cumulatively over the past 28 days). As of this week, 81 destinations are listed in the Level 4 category.”
U.S. Economy
Bonus Read: “Walmart Raises Forecast and Says Shelves Are Stocked for Holiday Shoppers, (WSJ).
Retail Sales Increased 1.7% in October
U.S. retail sales increased 1.7% in October, according to data released by the Department of Commerce on Tuesday (WaPo, NYT). The increase represented an acceleration from the .8% increase in September. The Washington Post writes, “Economists say rising prices and early gift-buying helped drive the spike in retail sales. Retailers have been encouraging consumers to buy early this year, amid fears of shortages and delays caused by supply chain disruptions. Walmart, Target and Amazon all kicked off holiday sales in October.” Sales numbers still see a pandemic-related shift from services to consumer goods.
U.S. Society
The Vaccinated Will Be Able to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square
On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio announced that vaccinated New Yorkers will be able to ring in the new year in Times Square (WaPo). The Washington Post writes, “The iconic ball drop, which traditionally draws millions of revelers, is back after festivities were scaled back last year amid the pandemic. De Blasio, blowing on a noisemaker during a news conference, said the city expected a ‘full-strength ‘celebration.” However, attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination with a few exceptions. The Post explains, “Those unable to get vaccinated due to a disability will be allowed to attend if they provide a negative coronavirus test taken within the previous 72 hours. Children under 5, who are not yet eligible for vaccination, must be accompanied by an adult who has been vaccinated.”
Analysis & Arguments
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