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February 3, 2022 - Brief Issue 285
The Coronavirus Daily Brief is a daily news and analysis roundup edited by New America’s International Security Program and Arizona State University.
New America’s Political Reform program issues a Call for Proposals on innovative approaches to nuclear security issues (New America).
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Top Headlines
Novavax Asks FDA to Authorize its Vaccine (Health & Science)
WHO Urges Caution as Countries Lift Restrictions (Health & Science)
U.S. Death Rate Higher than Other Wealthy Nations (Health & Science)
France’s Covid Pass Will Stay Until ICUs are Empty (Around the World)
Ottawa Police: U.S. Participants Part of ‘Freedom Convoy’ (Around the World)
German Vaccine Commission Will Recommend Fourth Shot (Around the World)
Eurozone Inflation Rises to New Record (Around the World)
New Zealand Announces Plans to Fully Reopen Borders (Around the World)
Key Republicans Signal Potential Challenges for FDA Nominee (U.S. Government & Politics)
Millions May Lose Medicaid When Pandemic Emergency Ends, States Concerned About Coverage Gaps (U.S. Government & Politics)
Missouri Ousts State Health Director, Following Conservative Pressure (U.S. Government & Politics)
Alabama Amazon Workers Prepare for a Second Vote on Unionization (U.S. Economy)
States See Rising Number of Fraudulent Testing Sites (U.S. Society)
Citing Covid, Mothers are Delaying Weaning Their Children Off Breastfeeding (U.S. Society)
Health & Science
There have been 75,681,309 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 894,316 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 540,630,198 vaccine doses, with 75.4% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine dose and 63.9% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 87% have received at least one dose, and 74.2% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). 41.8% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a booster shot. Worldwide, there have been 385,424,523 cases of coronavirus, with 5,702,683 deaths.
Novavax Asks FDA to Authorize its Vaccine
Novavax has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize its Covid-19 shot for emergency use. If it is approved, it would become the fourth vaccine available for adults. The U.S. government invested $1.6 billion in Novavax in 2020, which at the time was the most it devoted to any vaccine maker, but the company took longer than other manufacturers to develop a shot for regulatory approval. It has also struggled to set up domestic manufacturing for its vaccine so, if authorized, the Serum Institute of India would make the vaccine. The shot is around 90% effective in preventing symptomatic disease in late stage trials in the U.S., Mexico, and the U.K., although these trials were conducted before the Delta and Omicron variants were circulating (Politico).
WHO Urges Caution as Countries Lift Restrictions
World Health Organization officials warned on Tuesday that countries should be cautious lifting coronavirus restrictions as many places have not yet hit the peak of the Omicron surge (WaPo). “We are urging caution because many countries have not gone through the peak of omicron yet,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical leader on covid-19, said in an online briefing. “Many countries have low levels of vaccination coverage with very vulnerable individuals within their populations.” As we covered in yesterday’s brief, Denmark and Norway both relaxed coronavirus-related restrictions. Australia has also shifted its policy to one of “personal responsibility.” About 90 million cases of the coronavirus have been recorded since the omicron variant was identified 10 weeks ago — more than in the whole of 2020 — leading to “a very worrying increase in deaths in most regions of the world,” said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (NYT).
U.S. Death Rate Higher than Other Wealthy Nations
The coronavirus is killing Americans at far higher rates than people in other wealthy nations. Even with the less severe Omicron variant circulating, the death toll is continuing to outpace past waves. Deaths have now surpassed the surge of the Delta variant and are more than two-thirds as high as the record death tolls of last winter (NYT). The U.S. has failed to vaccinate as many people as other large, wealthy countries and has fallen even further behind in administering booster shots. According to the New York Times, the only large European countries to exceed the U.S. death rate this winter have been Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Greece, and the Czech Republic.
Bonus Read: “U.S. parents of young children, still wary, gradually accept vaccines,” (NYT).
Around the World
France’s Covid Pass Will Stay Until ICUs are Empty
France’s Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday that the country’s vaccine pass will remain in place until hospitals can function normally. This means that they can provide non-emergency medical procedures without having to cancel them to make room for Covid patients. Some officials and human rights activists say the health pass infringes civil liberties and the public have taken to the streets to protest (Reuters). "When we have emptied intensive care units, or at least ... when there is no further cancellation of procedures and if no new variant in circulation, then the utility of the vaccine pass will be debatable," the minister told BFM TV. Veran said that there are still 3,700 Covid-19 patients in intensive care and suggested the number would need to get down to around 1,000 before the health passes would be removed.
Ottawa Police: U.S. Participants Part of ‘Freedom Convoy’
On Wednesday, police in Ottawa, Canada said that a “significant element” from the U.S. was involved in the “Freedom Convoy” that jammed streets in the capital to protest public health measures. “They have converged in our city, and there are plans for more to come,” said Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly. He said that the participants, who also include locals and other Canadians, are “putting our city and our residents, our partners and our officers at great risk” (WaPo). The protest was on its sixth day on Wednesday even though the number of protestors declined from the thousands on Parliament Hill over the weekend. “What may have begun as a peaceful assembly quickly turned into an unlawful blockade,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta said in a statement Tuesday, adding that they would take action to clear a blockade if it interfered with critical infrastructure. The protest has garnered support from outside of Canada; former U.S. president Donald Trump and Tesla founder Elon Musk, an opponent of vaccine mandates, have expressed support for the truckers.
German Vaccine Commission Will Recommend Fourth Shot
Germany’s expert panel on vaccine use (called STIKO) will recommend a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose, according to Thomas Mertens, the committee’s lead. "We have data from Israel that shows a fourth dose significantly improves protection from a severe case of illness," Mertens told Funke. "The STIKO will make the recommendation soon," he added (Reuters). The panel will recommend booster shots only with vaccines that are already available.
Eurozone Inflation Rises to New Record
The Eurozone’s inflation rate rose to a new record high in January in spite of expectations of policymakers at the European Central Bank (ECB) who didn’t expect to raise their key interest rate in 2022. The Eurozone’s annual rate of consumer-price inflation ended 2021 at 5% (WSJ). ECB officials believed the first inflation reading of the year would drop as Germany’s sales tax dropped out of annual comparison, but instead, figures released by the EU showed the annual rate of inflation picked up to 5.1% on a fresh surge in energy prices. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal expected to see a decline to 4.3%. According to the Journal, the ECB had “expected the rise in consumer prices to slow as 2022 advances. It expected inflation to fall back below its target in 2023, and said that under those circumstances it was unlikely to raise its key interest rate this year.”
New Zealand Announces Plans to Fully Reopen Borders
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced at a news conference on Thursday that New Zealand will begin to reopen their borders at the end of this month. “Families and friends need to reunite,” she said. “Our businesses need skills to grow. Exporters need to travel to make new connections. It’s time to move again” (NYT). The government is implementing a five-stage plan: beginning just before midnight on Feb. 27, New Zealanders and other eligible travelers who have received at least two doses of a coronavirus vaccine will be able to travel home from Australia. On March 13, the border will reopen to vaccinated citizens from the rest of the world. Noncitizens will be able to return in phases starting in March. First, essential workers and skilled workers earning at least 1.5 times the median wage, as well as their family members, will be permitted to enter. Then in April, the border will repent to international students and temporary visa holders. In July, Australians and all other travelers who normally enter the country without a visa will be permitted to enter the country. New Zealand’s borders have been closed since March 2020
Bonus Read: “One Day in the ‘Parallel Universe’ of a London I.C.U.,” (NYT).
U.S. Government & Politics
Bonus Read: “DoorDash adds an antitrust lobbyist,” (Politico).
Key Republicans Signal Potential Challenges for FDA Nominee
Politico reports that key Republican senators that the White House is counting on to help shepherd through its nominee to head the FDA are signaling that the nominee may face a challenging confirmation process (Politico). On Tuesday, Senator Roy Blount (R-MO) told Politico, “I like him,” adding, “But I haven’t made a final decision on that yet and don’t intend to until the administration appears to be truly ready to push his name forward.” Politico describes Blount as one of a “handful of Republicans in the upper chamber who the Biden administration had been counting on to save the embattled nomination of Robert Califf.” Blount also said he doesn’t believe the administration is actively mobilizing support for the nominee. A White House spokesperson contested that contention, and Politico writes that according to the spokesperson, “Califf has met with 33 senators to date and is scheduled to meet with an additional 14 so far. Of the meetings, 26 are with Democrats and 21 are with Republicans.” Blount is not the only important Republican to send such signals. Politico writes, “Two other moderate Republicans who Democrats have been courting to support Califf’s nomination — Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) — similarly told POLITICO on Tuesday that they remain undecided, and declined to share details about their thought process or outstanding concerns. Toomey did, however, confirm that his office has been hearing from the anti-abortion groups that have mobilized to try to sink Califf’s nomination over his past work at the agency on abortion pills under the Obama administration.” Califf will likely require five Republican votes for confirmation as five Democrats have said they will oppose him over concerns about his record on opioid policy. As we covered earlier this week, Cariff gained support from Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) after making pledges regarding ethics, saying he would not take a pharmaceutical industry job for a set period following his government service.
Millions May Lose Medicaid When Pandemic Emergency Ends, States Concerned About Coverage Gaps
Politico reports that millions of Americans could lose their insurance under Medicaid when the government determines that the pandemic emergency has ended (Politico). The current emergency designation could expire this year, and when it does expire, states will be forced to audit their Medicaid rolls and evaluate eligibility. An Urban Institute analysis estimates that 15 million people (including 6 million children) could lose insurance as a result. Politico reports, “While the Biden administration plans to allow states up to a year to complete their work, a half-dozen state Medicaid, welfare and health insurance exchange agency heads told POLITICO that not having a firm date for when their work is supposed to start is complicating efforts to prepare for what is likely the biggest shift in the health insurance landscape since the Affordable Care Act passed more than a decade ago.” Jeff Nelson, the director of Utah’s Bureau of Eligibility Policy, told Politico, “There’s not a lot of runway here.” The Biden administration extended the emergency, but Politico reports that many expect it will not be further extended beyond its current expiration date of April 15.
Missouri Ousts State Health Director, Following Conservative Pressure
Missouri’s new state health director was effectively ousted from his role when Republicans failed to confirm his nomination before a Friday deadline last week (WaPo). The Washington Post writes, “Gov. Mike Parson (R) said Tuesday that he had accepted the resignation of Health and Senior Services Director Don Kauerauf. Earlier in the day, the Senate adjourned for the week without acting on his nomination — a move the governor blasted.” Parson stated, “It’s unfortunate that we now have to disrupt state operations and the leadership at an entire department because the Missouri Senate chose to indulge a few men’s egos” and called the situation “disgraceful.” Kauerauf had been appointed in September to replace the prior director who resigned in April 2021. The situation came amid conservative opposition to his nomination. The Post writes, “On Monday, a group of about 100 protested Kauerauf’s confirmation at the state Capitol, some carrying signs accusing him of “medical tyranny,” the Associated Press reported. Kauerauf had opposed government mask and vaccine mandates but had noted that vaccines are effective and worked to raise vaccination rates.” Republican State Senator Mike Moon played a key role in the opposition, and stated, “We had an overwhelming outpouring from the people of Missouri from all over the state, and their voices were heard.”
Bonus Read: “Biden Promised 500 Million Free Covid Tests. Then He Had to Find Them,” (NYT).
Bonus Watch: “Youngkin’s school mask policy sparks backlash among Va. parents,” (WaPo).
U.S. Economy
Alabama Amazon Workers Prepare for a Second Vote on Unionization
Workers at Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama facility are preparing to vote for a second time on whether they should unionize (WSJ). In 2021, amid growing labor activism tied in part to the pandemic, 71% of workers at the facility still voted against unionization. However, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Amazon had violated labor laws around the election and thus required a new vote. The Wall Street Journal writes, “The National Labor Relations Board on Friday will start to send ballots to roughly 6,100 workers at the facility in Bessemer, Ala. In recent weeks, organizers and managers at the facility have clashed over election procedures and company policies. The ballots must reach the NLRB regional office by March 25.” Organizers expressed hope that the higher vaccination rate will allow them to campaign more effectively this time around. One organizer and worker, Kristina Bell, told the Journal that there’s also hope that people are better aware of the effort this time. Amazon disputes that it violated the law last time, and the Journal writes, “Amazon has said it opposes unions because it prefers to negotiate with workers directly. The company has held meetings at the Bessemer center to discourage workers from unionizing. Since the last election Amazon has raised wages and introduced bonuses of up to $3,000. Amazon’s starting wage averages $18 an hour, and the company recently said it eased some of its requirements for the pace at which workers must sort or prepare packages.” The Journal explains the root of the NLRB’s decision, writing, “The revote is happening after the NLRB determined in November that Amazon broke the law during the first election, which was also held by mail, primarily because of a mailbox the company had installed in front of the facility. A labor-board official said the box could have made voters believe the company played a role in counting the votes.”
U.S. Society
States See Rising Number of Fraudulent Testing Sites
Several states including New Mexico, Oregon, Florida, Minnesota, New York, and Illinois are experiencing a rise in fraudulent Covid testing sites (WSJ). These sites are offering corrupt testing procedures—late or false results—and are being shut down by state officials. The sites often steal people’s personal information such as their social security numbers. The Wall Street Journal reports, “The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has warned that ‘scammers are preying on people looking for Covid tests.’” The sites are often nothing more than a table and chair and make money by billing patrons directly or by making false reimbursement claims to the federal government. The Journal writes, “Public-health authorities often tightly regulate labs that analyze Covid-19 tests, but don’t closely monitor sites that conduct the tests, creating regulatory gaps.”
Citing Covid, Mothers are Delaying Weaning Their Children Off Breastfeeding
Mothers around the country are choosing to delay weaning their children off breastfeeding, citing Covid as the main reason (WaPo). Some mothers are hoping their vaccine antibodies will carry through to their children who are still too young to be vaccinated. Grace M. Aldrovandi, the chief of UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital’s infectious diseases division told the Washington Post, “Breast milk is loaded with antibodies and other factors that protect infants,” adding, “When a mother gets an infection, antibodies and immune cells traffic to the milk.” However, she noted it is not clear if the dynamic occurs with Covid. Institutions all over the world are conducting research on the matter. The University of Rochester and the University of Massachusetts Amherst have published studies that suggest a correlation between breastfeeding and the passage of antibodies to children, but a study from Spain still leaves open the question of whether the antibodies offer more protection to children.
Analysis & Arguments
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