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February 15, 2022 - Brief Issue 286

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

Germany Hopes Novavax Can Convince Anti-Vaxxers (Health & Science)

DC to End Mask and Vaccination Proof Mandates (Health & Science)

British Face a Record Real Income Decline; Duchess of Cornwall Tests Positive (Around the World)

Traffic Resumes on U.S.-Canada Border Crossing but Protests Continue; Ontario to Lift Vaccine Proof Requirement; Trudeau Invokes Emergencies Act (Around the World)

‘Freedom Convoy’ Protests Spread to Europe (Around the World)

Cook Islands Reports First Coronavirus Case (Around the World)

Hong Kong Ends Mandatory Hospitalizations Amidst Fifth Wave (Around the World)

U.S. Records First Budget Surplus Since Pandemic (U.S. Government & Politics)

Health Workers and Activists Express Concerns About Disparities in Free Test Efforts (U.S. Government & Politics)

Automakers Expect Increased Production After Bridge Protest Cleared (U.S. Economy)

Housing Affordability Worsens (U.S. Economy)

Officials Cite Pandemic-era Stresses as Main Causes for Rise in Pedestrian Deaths (U.S. Society)

Valentine’s Day Flowers Amid Products Hit by Inflation and Supply Disruptions (U.S. Society)

Health & Science

There have been 77,919,052 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 922,473 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 547,446,164 vaccine doses, with 75.9% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine dose and 64.4% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 87.5% have received at least one dose, and 74.6% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). 42.9% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a booster shot. Worldwide, there have been 413,746,208 cases of coronavirus, with 5,827,947 deaths.

Germany Hopes Novavax Can Convince Anti-Vaxxers

In December the European Union approved the use of Novavax’s vaccine, called Nuxavoxid, that is based on a long-established protein-based technology. The newest vaccine to be approved is a two-dose regimen and is already being administered in Germany, where officials hope that it will convince many of the vaccine skeptics to get vaccinated (Reuters). The recombinant protein technology used in the Novavax shot has been in use since the mid-1980s and is used to fight hepatitis B, the human papillomavirus behind cervical cancer, and bacteria that cause meningitis.

Data examined by Reuters suggest that it is already working; some states have even had to open waiting lists for the Novavax shots. In Rhineland-Palatinate, for example, more than 14,300 people have joined the waiting list. "The number is gigantic. We're overwhelmed ourselves by how many people have signed up," said Daniel Termann, a doctor at the Historic Factory vaccination center in Berlin. But other experts aren’t convinced it will do much to sway the anti-vaxxers. According to a recent survey by researchers at the University of Erfurt, Germans did have more confidence in traditional vaccines than in the mRNA technology, but trust generally was still low. Germany has one of the lower inoculation rates when compared to other countries in western Europe: just 74.4% of people are fully vaccinated. 

DC to End Mask and Vaccination Proof Mandates

On Monday, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said that the city would loosen its mask mandate and requirement regarding proof of vaccination (NYT). In December, amid the Omicron surge, the city required that people show proof of at least one shot of vaccine to enter businesses in the city. Mayor Bowser announced that the mandate would end today, Tuesday. The New York Times adds, “In addition, the city will end on March 1 its mandate that masks be worn in bars, gyms, houses of worship, restaurants, and stores. Crucially, masks will still be required in schools, libraries, child-care centers, emergency shelters and public transit facilities.” The mayor justified the decision, saying, “We’ve seen a precipitous drop in case levels for Omicron, and this is where we’ve landed.” She added, “What we know is that we have to be nimble if something should change, like it changed in December with a new, very contagious variant.” The move comes amid a wave of states loosening restrictions, including in Maryland whose Republican governor announced that the requirement to wear masks in state office buildings will end on February 22. Support for ending mandates is not universal. The Times notes, “President Biden recently said that it was probably still too soon to lift indoor mask mandates, though he acknowledged that it was a ‘tough call.’ ‘All the variants have had a profound impact on the psyche of the American people,’ he told Lester Holt of NBC News.”

Around the World

British Face a Record Real Income Decline; Duchess of Cornwall Tests Positive

The Bank of England (BOE) forecasts that average real incomes (meaning income adjusted for inflation) in Britain will fall by 2% this year, which is the steepest decline since comparable records began in 1990 (WSJ). The BOE has raised interest rates twice in the last three months and experts believe additional increases are on the way. “We have not raised interest rates today because the economy is roaring away,” Mr. Bailey said Feb. 3 when explaining the latest increase. “We face a trade-off between strong inflation and weakening growth.” According to the Wall Street Journal, the economy “expanded 7.5% for all of last year, according to data out Friday. However, by the end of 2021, growth had slowed considerably, with output falling by 0.2% in December compared with November, as the Omicron variant surged.” Annual inflation in the U.K. was 5.4% in December.

In other news in the U.K., the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, wife to Prince Charles, tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday (NPR). Camilla is self-isolating. Prince Charles tested positive last Thursday but Camilla tested negative that day and proceeded with three public engagements, according to the BBC. 

Traffic Resumes on U.S.-Canada Border Crossing but Protests Continue; Ontario to Lift Vaccine Proof Requirement; Trudeau Invokes Emergencies Act

After nearly a week, traffic began again over a crucial bridge between Canada and the United States on Monday. The Ambassador Bridge in Windsor connects Michigan and Ontario but it was blockaded by protestors, many of whom were truckers, who disagreed with the Canadian government’s measures taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The demonstrations, loosely organized under the umbrella of the “Freedom Convoy,” began in protest of the mandatory vaccination of truck drivers that crossed the U.S.-Canada border but have now transformed into a battle cry against pandemic restrictions writ large and have spread to other parts of the country (NYT). 

Protests continue to cause traffic jams and disruptions in Ottawa as they move into the third week of a standoff with authorities (Politico). Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, announced on Monday morning that the province will no longer require people to show proof of vaccination to enter any indoor spaces. Although “he stressed that the decision to rescind the so-called vaccine pass was based on the diminishing number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, and was not a concession to the demonstrators,” according to the Washington Post. 

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked Canada’s Emergencies Act as part of the response to the protests (NYT). The New York Times writes, “The move, the first time a Canadian government has taken such action in half a century, is Mr. Trudeau’s most aggressive response since the crisis began. It would allow the federal government to expand measures to reopen impeded border crossings and clear the blockade of about 400 trucks in Ottawa, the nation’s capital, that has been overwhelming the police, snarling traffic, undermining the local economy and disturbing residents in the normally quiet city.” Bonus Read: “Alberta police arrest 11 protesters and seize a cache of weapons near the border,” (NYT).

‘Freedom Convoy’ Protests Spread to Europe

Even as Canadian officials announced the reopening of a critical bridge between the U.S. and Canada that had been blockaded by “Freedom Convoy” protestors, vaccine mandates continue to fuel similar protests around the world. Demonstrators were on their way to Brussels on Monday where authorities expect other convoys from a number of European countries to converge this week (WaPo). In France over the weekend, convoys rolled into Paris and disrupted traffic on parts of the Champs-Élysées where police dispersed crowds with tear gas. Videos of the clash with police spread quickly on social media and now many of the protestors from Paris are heading to Brussels to continue making their displeasure known. As of Monday evening, about 500 vehicles had arrived as part of the protest (Reuters).

Cook Islands Reports First Coronavirus Case

Two years into the coronavirus pandemic, the Cook Islands reported its first case on Sunday (WaPo). Prime Minister Mark Brown said in a briefing on Sunday that the individual who tested positive arrived in Rarotonga on Feb. 10 and is asymptomatic and currently isolating. The South Pacific nation has been bracing for community transmission after a traveler tested positive for the Omicron variant when they returned to New Zealand after spending eight days on the islands. But Brown said the case reported on Sunday is not connected to that visitor.

Hong Kong Ends Mandatory Hospitalizations Amidst Fifth Wave 

As a fifth wave of coronavirus infections spurred on by the Omicron variant sweeps across Hong Kong, the government has decided to end its practice of hospitalizing all people with Covid infections. Up to this point, anyone who had covid-19 was hospitalized regardless of the severity of their infection (WaPo). Priority admission at hospitals will now be given to children, older people, and those in serious condition. The change is a reflection of the skyrocketing case count, which was overwhelming hospitals as it jumped to over 1,000 per day from the low hundreds just a week ago. Authorities blame Lunar New Year celebrations for the spike in cases as many families gathered with relatives and friends to celebrate. 

Bonus Read: “How Much Does a Covid Test Cost Around the World?” (Guardian). 

U.S. Government & Politics

U.S. Records First Budget Surplus Since Pandemic

In January, the U.S. Government recorded a budget surplus for the first time since September 2019 before the pandemic took off (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal writes, “The surplus last month reached $119 billion, the Treasury Department reported Thursday. Government receipts for the month rose by 21% from a year earlier to $465 billion, not adjusting for calendar differences. Federal spending, meanwhile, fell in January by 37% to $346 billion. In January of the previous fiscal year, the government ran a deficit of roughly $163 billion.” The surplus was generated both by the decline in the disbursement of support through various pandemic programs and because “Receipts from withheld payroll taxes climbed 21% in January from a year earlier, according to Treasury data.”

Health Workers and Activists Express Concerns About Disparities in Free Test Efforts

The Washington Post reports that though initially “lauded,” the Biden administration’s provision of free tests to Americans is now receiving criticism from activists and health workers who are concerned about how it interacts with and may strengthen disparities (WaPo). One area of particular concern is the limit of four tests per household, which may pose particular challenges for multi generational homes. The Post notes, “An estimated 64 million Americans live in multigenerational households, according to the most recent data available, a disproportionate number of them people of color and many of them working in essential jobs in cities and communities where the pandemic has hit hardest.” Myron Quon, executive director of the Los Angeles based Pacific Asian Counseling Services told the Post, “There’s no consideration for those who are at higher risk. Every time we roll out a plan, why can’t we put them to the front?,” adding, that the four tests “is just not sufficient. Not even close. They’ll have to ration.” The Post also notes, “Some health-care workers worry that language barriers create another obstacle. Immigrant parents with limited English skills often depend on their children to navigate life in the United States. Even those who manage to figure out how to order the tests may still be at a loss in figuring out how to administer them, they said.” Others have argued that sending tests to community organizations might have been more effective than targeting households.

Bonus Read: “Adams’ unlikely alliance with the head of New York’s teachers union,” (Politico).

U.S. Economy

Automakers Expect Increased Production After Bridge Protest Cleared

After Canada cleared anti-vaccine mandate protesters who were blocking a key bridge linking Canada and the United States, automakers say that they expect to see production increase though some noted that the recovery from the disruption will not be immediate (NYT). Peter Nagle, an auto industry analyst at IHS Markit told the Times, “It’s not like you can flip a switch and get back to where we were production-wise,” adding, “It’s going to take a few weeks.” At the same time automakers continue to wrestle with the impact of chip shortages. The Times notes, “Ford Motor said it hadn’t seen any impact related to the border disruptions since Friday, but that an Ohio facility would be shut down this week because of the chip shortage.” Toyota expects its production to recover over this week, citing the impact of the border protests.

Housing Affordability Worsens

On Thursday, the National Association of Realtors released data showing that the median house price rose again in the fourth quarter, further worsening the affordability of housing amid a pandemic boom in sales and prices (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal writes, “The median sales price for single-family existing homes was higher in the quarter compared with a year ago for 181 of the 183 metro areas tracked by the National Association of Realtors,” adding, “the typical monthly mortgage payment for a single-family home rose to $1,240, from $1,039 a year earlier, NAR said.” Lawrence Yun, the association’s chief economist, noted however that the pace of price growth was slowing, stating, “Home buyers in the last quarter saw little relief as home prices continued to climb, albeit not as fast as earlier in the year.”

Bonus Read: “Omicron’s Threat to Global Economy Increasingly Runs Through China,” (WSJ).

U.S. Society

Officials Cite Pandemic-era Stresses as Main Causes for Rise in Pedestrian Deaths

The number of pedestrian deaths across the country has increased since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 (NYT). States throughout the US “are citing factors from the rise in anxiety levels and pandemic drinking to the fraying of social norms” writes the New York Times . From New Jersey to New Mexico, states are reporting record numbers of pedestrian deaths. The Sun Belt in particular is suffering, but all around the country cities and towns are experiencing an unprecedented number of pedestrian deaths. “Last year was also the deadliest on Utah’s roads since the start of the century, as pedestrian deaths rose 22 percent. Washington State ended 2021 with a 15-year high in traffic fatalities. And pedestrian deaths in Texas climbed last year to a record high.” Contrary to expectation, when the pandemic began, drivers stayed on the roads, drove faster, and police eased up on enforcements out of fear of virus spread through face-to-face interactions.

Valentine’s Day Flowers Amid Products Hit by Inflation and Supply Disruptions

Valentine's Day flowers are among the many products seeing rising prices and supply issues amid the pandemic and other inflationary pressures (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal reports, “Soaring flower prices—driven by supply constraints and rising costs—are prompting florists to get creative to avoid heartbroken customers on Valentine’s Day. Flower sellers say they are asking price-conscious shoppers to consider less-traditional Valentine’s Day bouquets, including shorter-stemmed roses, not-red roses or different flowers.” Katie Hildebrant, an Oregon florist, told the Journal, the wholesale price she gets red roses at increased 30% compared to last year while other costs including for delivery have also increased. The Journal reports, “Flower wholesalers are feeling the pain, too. Rising fuel prices mean it is more expensive to fly flowers into the U.S. from Colombia and Ecuador, and drive them across the country, said Tim Dewey, vice president of procurement and e-commerce for DVFlora, a flower wholesaler based in New Jersey. Wholesale prices of red roses have risen between 10% and 15% across the industry from last year, he said.” The Journal notes that the flower industry was hit by shutdowns during the pandemic and then strained by increased demand for events like weddings as people returned to hosting in-person events.

Bonus Read: “How a Small Alabama Company Fueled Private Equity’s Push Into Hospitals,” (WSJ).

Analysis & Arguments

Charles M. Blow writes there will never be a post-Covid time (NYT).

Andrew McCarthy writes on returning to travel (NYT).

Gabriel Debenedetti examines Colorado’s response to the pandemic (NYMag).

Michael Brendan Dougherty argues that the maskless Super Bowl is a key moment in the move towards ending Covid restrictions (National Review).

 Readers can send in tips, critiques, questions, and suggestions to coronavirusbrief@newamerica.org.

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

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