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January 20, 2022 - Brief Issue 277

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

Surgeon General: Omicron Hasn’t Peaked in U.S. (Health & Science)

Sewage Could Hold Clues About Omicron Receding (Health & Science)

India Could be Nearing Peak of Omicron (Around the World)

UK to Ease Virus Rules Next Week (Around the World)

Brazil’s Bolsonaro Opposes Vaccination of Youth (Around the World)

Caribbean Sees Steep Increase in Cases (Around the World)

Canada Inflation Reaches 30-Year High (Around the World)

Biden Gives First 2022 Press Conference, Acknowledges Covid-19 Frustrations (U.S. Government & Politics)

Biden to Distribute 400 Million N95 Masks for Free (U.S. Government & Politics)

Some Apartment Residents Have Trouble with Rapid Test Website (U.S. Government & Politics)

House Republicans Protest New Testing Request for House Intelligence Committee (U.S. Government & Politics)

Missouri AG Threatens Lawsuits Against Schools with Mask Mandates (U.S. Government & Politics)

New Girl Scout Cookie Illustrates Supply Chain Troubles (U.S. Economy)

Smithsonian and National Zoo to Operate on Limited Hours Indefinitely (U.S. Society)

Health & Science

There have been 68,569,958 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 857,778 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 530,430,844 vaccine doses, with 75.2% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine dose and 63.1% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 87.1% have received at least one dose, and 73.6% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). 39% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a booster shot. Worldwide, there have been 338,164,251 cases of coronavirus, with 5,567,251 deaths.

Surgeon General: Omicron Hasn’t Peaked in U.S.

The top doctor in the U.S., Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, said on Sunday that the country has not yet reached a national peak of the Omicron variant and urged caution. “We shouldn’t expect a national peak in the next coming days — the next few weeks will be tough,” said Murthy (WaPo). Murthy explained that “the challenge is that the entire country is not moving at the same pace. The omicron wave started later in other parts of the country.” Washington, D.C. and Maryland are showing signs of reaching the peak and other Northeast cities, including New York and Boston, seem to be nearing the end of their winter waves. Bonus Read: “Inside a Rhode Island hospital E.R. overwhelmed by omicron,” (WaPo). 

Sewage Could Hold Clues About Omicron Receding

Sewage has been a tool used by scientists since the start of the pandemic to gather hints about the coronavirus and its spread since people who contract the virus shed it in their stool. Virus levels in local wastewater provide a strong indicator of how much of the virus is circulating in a community at a given time. New data from Biobot Analytics, a company tracking the virus in wastewater in 183 communities across 25 states, reveals that viral levels have already begun to decline in big cities but are still rising in smaller communities (NYT). For example, Biobot’s data suggests that the wastewater viral load has been falling in the Boston area since early January but parts of Ohio, Utah, Florida, and wide swaths of rural Missouri have yet to see the peak of the Omicron wave. 

Around the World

Asia 

India Could be Nearing Peak of Omicron 

Covid-19 cases in New Delhi and Mumbai have declined sharply in recent days following a surge of the Omicron variant, raising hopes that India is on it’s way to reaching the peak of the current wave (WSJ). Health officials hope that prior infections and natural immunity will offset the relatively low vaccination rate but they warn that the country as a whole is still a few weeks away from reaching the peak of current infections. Daily hospitalizations and deaths will likely continue to climb. In New Delhi, new cases have been on the decline for five straight days and in Mumbai, 6,149 cases were reported on Tuesday, after a peak of over 20,000 cases on Jan. 7. “The virus is meeting up with a whole population of people already previously infected and immune or vaccinated and immune,” said T. Jacob John, a retired professor of virology at the Christian Medical College in India’s southern city of Vellore. “That adds to the mildness of the disease.”

Europe

UK to Ease Virus Rules Next Week

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that coronavirus restrictions in England would be eased next week in a move that some say is meant to quiet his critics amidst a series of political scandals (NYT). Johnson said the requirements for mask wearing and showing proof of vaccination would be lifted and the government would no longer advise people to work from home. “As Covid becomes endemic, we will need to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others,” Mr. Johnson said. The prime minister is under intense political pressure over allegations that he lied to Parliament about parties that were held in Downing Street during the national lockdown. 

Americas

Brazil’s Bolsonaro Opposes Vaccination of Youth

In Brazil, a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign for children aged 5-11 began on Monday in spite of opposition from Brazil’s own president, Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro has been criticized at home and abroad for his pandemic response, his dangerously cavalier attitude towards the virus, and his tendency to share false information about treatments. Between March 2020 and November 2021, 308 children aged between 5 and 11 have died from Covid-19, according to data from the Ministry of Health. Yet, just days before the vaccination program for children began, Bolsonaro falsely claimed in an interview to TV Nova Nordeste that no children have died of Covid, before later saying in the same interview that "some children must have died, but they must have some comorbidity" (CNN). Bolsonaro remains unvaccinated himself and has said that he will not vaccinate his 11-year-old daughter, saying that "children have not been dying in a way that justifies a vaccine." 

Caribbean Sees Steep Increase in Cases

World Health Organization officials said on Wednesday that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the Americas once again. The Caribbean countries “are witnessing the steepest increase in Covid-19 infections since the start of the pandemic,” Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, the director of the Pan American Health Organization, a division of the W.H.O., said at a news conference. Cases have at least doubled in more than 17 countries in the Caribbean and hospital capacity remains limited. The Caribbean countries are also dealing with high rates of vaccine skepticism driven by fake news and rumors about the vaccines (NYT). 

Canada Inflation Reaches 30-Year High 

Canada’s annual inflation rate reached a three-decade high in December. Prices for food rose at their fastest pace in roughly 13 years and the cost of homeownership rose by the most in about 14 years, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal writes: “Canada’s consumer-price index increased 4.8% on a year-over-year basis in December, Statistics Canada said Wednesday, or slightly faster than the 4.7% rise in November. December data matched market expectations, according to TD Securities. Excluding gasoline, annual prices rose 4% in December. The last time annual inflation in Canada exceeded 4.8% was in September, 1991, when the consumer-price index rose 5.5%.”

IRC Says Haiti, Honduras, and Venezuela Most at Risk for Humanitarian Crises in 2022

Haiti, Honduras, and Venezuela are the three countries in Latin America and the Caribbean most at risk of humanitarian deterioration in 2022, according to a report by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The countries are expected to face humanitarian risks that include ongoing conflict and violence, higher vulnerability to the effects of natural disasters and climate change. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic was also cited as one of the main risks for the three countries.

U.S. Government & Politics

Bonus Read: “The long slide: Inside Biden’s declining popularity as he struggles with multiple crises,” (WaPo).

Biden Gives First 2022 Press Conference, Acknowledges Covid-19 Frustrations

On Wednesday, President Biden gave his first news conference of 2022 discussing numerous parts of his agenda (WSJ, WaPo). The record-long conference lasted almost two hours. During the press conference, Biden discussed the frustrations and progress made on the pandemic and other agenda items, saying, “It’s been a year of challenges, but it’s also been a year of enormous progress.” He also stated, ““Should we have done more testing earlier? Yes.” Biden dismissed claims that the pandemic response is complete and that people should adjust to a new normal. Biden also faced questions on the origin of the virus, saying, “I made it clear that China has an obligation to be more  forthcoming on exactly what the source of the virus was.” 

Biden to Distribute 400 Million N95 Masks for Free

On Tuesday, a White House official stated that the Biden administration plans to distribute 400 million N95 masks for free (Politico, WSJ, NYT, CNN). The masks will be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile, which according to the official has 750 million masks at the moment. N95 masks offer the highest available level of protection against Covid, according to the CDC, and many public health experts have urged the public to adopt their use due to the more rapid spread of the Omicron variant. The official stated, “This is the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in U.S. history.” The move comes as the Biden administration seeks to expand its Covid response, and as the Biden administration has faced criticism over its failure to deliver on agenda items ranging from Covid response to broader health care issues, as we covered in yesterday’s brief.

Some Apartment Residents Have Trouble with Rapid Test Website

As we covered in yesterday’s brief, the federal government’s website enabling people to obtain free at-home rapid tests went live on Tuesday. However, some users have had difficulty in organizing delivery to apartments and other multi-unit residences (Politico). Politico writes, “Some residents in multi-unit dwellings tried to register to have tests delivered but received error messages saying tests already had been ordered for their address. An administration official said the problem was not widespread and that orders are being prioritized for people in areas facing disproportionate Covid-19 cases and deaths — the first 20 percent of test orders processed will be for people in vulnerable ZIP codes.” According to the U.S. Post Office, the issue arises from situations where buildings are not registered as being multi-unit. Other issues also remain to be addressed including the lack of a phone hotline for those who lack Internet access. White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki stated, “Every website launch in our view comes with risk. We can’t guarantee there won’t be a bug or two.” She added, “But the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.”

House Republicans Protest New Testing Request for House Intelligence Committee

On Wednesday, House Republicans lodged protests against a new request for Covid testing for all members and attendees of the House Intelligence Committee’s activities, promulgated by Representative Adam B. Schiff, the committee’s Democratic chair (WaPo). Representative Michael R. Turner, the committee’s ranking Republican, said that Republicans would not comply with the request. At a news conference, Turner stated, “While Americans struggle to just get basic access to testing … Chairman Schiff believes that members of Congress should be tested just to show up for work. The American public does not have this privilege, and we will not comply.” A committee official said that the request was not mandatory, adding, “The Committee does not intend to confirm compliance with this request, but given the current high rate of infections and the necessity of conducting classified hearings in a confined space, the Chairman believes everyone should choose to prioritize the health and safety of all attendees.”

Missouri AG Threatens Lawsuits Against Schools with Mask Mandates

On Tuesday, Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt threatened to sue school districts that impose mask mandates (WaPo). Schmitt released a statement that read in part, “The decision to mask children in school should rest solely with parents and families. Last month, I informed a number of school districts that their decision to continue to enforce mask mandates is illegal and must be stopped immediately,” adding, “My Office is currently finalizing lawsuits against all non-compliant districts to end the forced masking of schoolchildren.” Doug Hayter, the executive director of the Missouri Association of School Administrators, argues that the law is not on Schmitt’s side. The Washington Post notes that Schmitt’s threat “comes in the midst of an explosion of coronavirus infections, with cases and hospitalizations hitting pandemic peaks in recent weeks. Multiple school districts have recently imposed new mask rules, according to the Missouri Independent.” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said via tweet that the mask mandate his city council recently imposed amid increasing spread will remain in force “Regardless of any threats issued today.”

Bonus Read: “Florida health official placed on leave after encouraging employees to get vaccinated,” (WaPo).

U.S. Economy

Bonus Read: “Covid-19, Endemic or Not, Will Still Make Us Poorer,” (WSJ).

New Girl Scout Cookie Illustrates Supply Chain Troubles

The Washington Post reports that the launch of a new cookie - Adventurefuls - by the Girl Scouts is the latest food related story to illustrate the extent and character of supply chain disruptions in the wake of the pandemic (WaPo). The cookie, described by the Post as “a brownie-adjacent confection,” is in short supply in the DC region. The Post reports that the product team for the cookie sent out a message stating, “As you know our nation is experiencing supply chain issues related to the pandemic,” noting that it could fulfill individual scout orders but not for the booths that sometimes operate outside of grocery stores. The message also stated, “Due to extremely high demand and unprecedented covid related labor shortages in the facility where Adventurefuls are produced, our Adventureful cookie order will be capped at 7% of our total cookie sales.” As the Post notes, the cookies are not the first such supply issue: “Supply-chain problems have threatened many a culinary treasure in recent months: Thanksgiving turkeys, Buffalo wings and champagne are among the items to be snarled in the pandemic-era’s famously clogged routes that products take to get to customer’s tables.”

U.S. Society

Smithsonian and National Zoo to Operate on Limited Hours Indefinitely

The Smithsonian Institution and National Zoo will both operate with limited hours indefinitely as a result of pandemic pressures (NYT). The New York Times identifies  “A shortage of staff, brought on by the relentless surge in coronavirus cases caused by the Omicron variant” as the key factor. The Times writes, “The National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture are open five days a week, Thursday through Sunday. The National Museum of American History is also open five days, but Friday through Tuesday. Many of the Smithsonian’s other museums in Washington and the National Zoo are operating four days a week, from Thursday through Sunday. In addition, the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall, the National Postal Museum and the Anacostia Community Museum are closed to visitors.”

Bonus Read: “I Had Breakthrough Covid. Can I Start Living Like It’s 2019?,” (NYT).

Analysis & Arguments

Lucy King and John M. Kessell argue that greed not Covid is the root of hospital staffing crises (NYT).

William Hanage writes on how Omicron will change the pandemic (NYT).

At National Review, Kevin Williamson and Michael Brendan Dougherty debate the merits of Australia’s approach to Novak Djokovich’s unvaccinated entry (National Review, 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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