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April 28, 2022 - Brief Issue 321

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

Fauci: U.S. No Longer in ‘Full-Blown’ Pandemic (Health & Science)

Most Americans Have Had Covid (Health & Science)

Study: Unions May Have Helped Dampen Covid’s Spread in Nursing Homes (Health & Science)

EU Says Emergency Phase of the Pandemic is Over (Around the World)

Public Outrage in China Tests Government's Propaganda (Around the World)

BA.2 Subvariant Accounts for Majority of Cases in Japan (Around the World)

Lacking Congressional Funding, Providers End Covid Care for the Uninsured (U.S. Government & Politics)

Biden to Comply with Expected Court Order to Continue Title 42 (U.S. Government & Politics)

California Lawmakers Retreat from Fighting for Vaccine Requirements (U.S. Government & Politics)

Senator Chris Murphy Tests Positive for Covid; Debate Emerges Over White House Correspondents Dinner Covid Safety (U.S. Government & Politics)

WTO Says Pandemic, War Causing Shift in Supply Chains (U.S. Economy)

National Health Service Corps Takes Hard Line on Student Debt Relief (U.S. Society)

AEI Research: Virtual Enrollment May Partially Explain Differences in Enrollment (U.S. Society)

Afghan Evacuees Struggle in D.C. Area, One Factor is the Pandemic’s Effect on English Language Classes (U.S. Society)

Health & Science

Fauci: U.S. No Longer in ‘Full-Blown’ Pandemic

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical advisor, said on Wednesday that the United State is “out of the full-blown explosive pandemic phase” (WaPo). “We’re really in a transitional phase, from a deceleration of the numbers into hopefully a more controlled phase and endemicity,” Fauci told the Washington Post. “The world is still in a pandemic. There’s no doubt about that. Don’t anybody get any misinterpretation of that. We are still experiencing a pandemic,” Fauci said. But Fauci and other experts now believe the population has built up enough immunity through vaccinations and previous infections that another devastating surge in hospitalizations and deaths is unlikely. 

Fauci’s comments come a day after Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the White House’s new Covid-19 coordinator, said that the administration is not seeking to stop every infection (NYT). In his first appearance at a White House news briefing since he took up the new role, Dr. Jha said the decline in the number of deaths and hospitalizations in spite of the rising number of cases around the country amounted to a promising “inflection.” Dr. Jha said that with such a contagious virus spreading, it would be “hard to ensure that no one gets Covid in America.” He explained: “That’s not even a policy goal,” and added, “The goal of our policy should be: obviously minimize infections whenever possible, but to make sure people don’t get seriously ill.”

Most Americans Have Had Covid

Sixty percent of Americans, including 75% of children, had been infected with the coronavirus by February, according to federal health officials (NYT). The highly contagious Omicron variant was responsible for many of the infections and began spreading in December 2021, when only about 30% of the population had antibodies indicating prior infection, according to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday that the new data shouldn't be interpreted as a reason to discontinue vaccinations, particularly in kids,” writes Politico. As many as 30 percent of children hospitalized with Covid-19 end up in the intensive care unit.

Study: Unions May Have Helped Dampen Covid’s Spread in Nursing Homes

The coronavirus pandemic has been a catalyst for workers at some of the largest companies in the U.S. to unionize: an independent union won a victory at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island and Starbucks workers have been winning union elections. At the forefront of the unionization movement are workplace safety conditions, primarily in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Unions say they can make conditions safer for workers and they could be right. According to a new study published in the journal Health Affairs, unions made a life-or-death difference for residents and workers at nursing homes. According to an article for the Washington Post written by the study’s authors, “In nursing homes throughout the Northeast, four out of every 10 workers have been infected with the coronavirus. But in many U.S. nursing homes — especially in the South — worker infection rates have been twice as high.” The difference, it seems, could be related to unions. The authors explain: “Unionized nursing homes were far safer places for workers, we found, with coronavirus worker infection rates 6.8 percent lower than in non-unionized nursing homes. And these union benefits spread to nursing home residents, who were 10.8 percent less likely to die of covid-19.” 

Around the World

EU Says Emergency Phase of the Pandemic is Over

The European Union said on Wednesday that it was moving out of the emergency phase of the Covid-19 pandemic and would now focus on vaccination, pandemic surveillance, and testing. The number of deaths and hospitalizations across the continent have declined as the less severe Omicron variant has swept through the populations and vaccination rates have risen. “Three quarters of Europeans are fully vaccinated and over half have received a booster shot,” writes the New York Times. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, said that it was crucial to stay vigilant. “New variants can emerge and spread fast,” Ms. von der Leyen said. “But we know the way forward. We need to further step up vaccination and boosting, and targeted testing — and we need to continue to coordinate our responses closely in the E.U.”

Public Outrage in China Tests Government's Propaganda

Anger over the lockdown in Shanghai, which is now in its fourth week, and the threat of a similar lockdown in Beijing, is threatening China’s credibility with the public. Officials have defended their zero-covid strategy and their use of heavy-handed lockdowns with propaganda that says only the government can confront and overcome the virus. But that narrative has been challenged by growing evidence of the costs of the government’s approach– stories about the lack of food, inability to procure medical treatment, and children being separated from their parents have been circulating online. Rage, frustration, and despair have been bubbling under the surface and could be a political test for China’s leader, Xi Jinping, who “has staked his legitimacy on successful control of the pandemic, a message that has only been amplified ahead of this fall, when he is expected to claim an unprecedented third term” (NYT). Footage of confrontations between locked down residents in Shanghai and authorities and pictures of rotting food delivered to those who can’t leave their homes have evaded censorship just long enough to spread to other parts of China. On such video, called “Voices of April,” included recordings of “residents chanting for the government to provide supplies; of a son begging for his sick father to be admitted to a hospital; of a tearful official explaining to a frustrated caller that she, too, was exhausted and helpless,” writes the Times. 

BA.2 Subvariant Accounts for Majority of Cases in Japan

Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant now accounts for about 90% of new cases in Japan, according to an expert panel at the health ministry. The panel said on Wednesday that antivirus measures should continue as a large number of people are expected to travel during the Golden Week holidays starting on Friday (Kyodo News) "There is a very high possibility that the holidays will lead to increased numbers of infections," Takaji Wakita, the head of the panel, said. Daily new Covid-19 cases totaled 46,267 on Wednesday, up about 6,000 from the previous day, with the capital Tokyo logging 6,052 cases.

U.S. Government & Politics

Lacking Congressional Funding, Providers End Covid Care for the Uninsured

Politico reports that with Congress having failed to provide funding, many care providers are ceasing to provide Covid care for the uninsured (Politico). For example, Community Health Development, a health center in Uvalde, Texas near the border with Mexico, “now offers free Covid-19 vaccines one day a week instead of six. It has restricted testing and may have to eliminate services, increase patient fees or even lay off staff if Congress doesn’t soon approve additional Covid money,” according to Politico. Mayela Castañon, the center’s CEO, stated, “We can’t spend money like the government can. We have to make it with what we have,” adding, “Hopefully Congress will stop fighting and think about what we’re going through.” The center, serving 11,000 people largely uninsured and Hispanic, is not alone. Politico writes, “Curative, a large private testing company, no longer offers its services to uninsured people at more than 10,000 testing sites across the country. In New York, a pharmacist who was administering thousands of vaccine doses a week to underinsured communities has stopped his outreach work. In Maine, a community health center that serves one of the state’s poorest areas is putting plans on hold to expand its dental and mental health services to pay for Covid care.” As we covered in prior briefs, the cut off of care for many uninsured people has raised concerns about how it will amplify already existing economic and racial disparities in the pandemic.

Biden to Comply with Expected Court Order to Continue Title 42

On Tuesday, the Biden administration signaled that it will comply with an expected court order blocking its decision to cease using the Title 42 authority to deport people on public health grounds (Politico). A senior administration official told reporters, “If and when the court issues the TRO [temporary restraining order] the department is planning to comply with that order.” The official criticized the order, saying, “It really makes no sense to us that the plaintiffs would demand and the court would order that [Department of Homeland Security] be stopped in its use in expedited removal, which is going to prevent us from adequately preparing for the aggressive applications for immigration law when public health expires.” However, as we covered yesterday, Politico reported that the order may provide a political benefit for Democrats by reducing the immediacy of tensions over the policy that have split Democrats. In contrast, Politico notes, “Democrats in swing states worried that lifting the order would worsen the politics of immigration for them and Biden heading into the midterms.”

California Lawmakers Retreat from Fighting for Vaccine Requirements

Politico reports that lawmakers in California, who were prominent in pushing forward vaccine requirements despite significant protest activity, are now retreating from recent vaccine mandate proposals (Politico). Politico writes, “In recent weeks, lawmakers have shelved a proposed private employer mandate and a bill to eliminate personal belief exemptions at schools for Covid shots. Another contentious measure — to let children 12 and over get vaccinated without a parent’s consent — is yet to be scheduled for a hearing despite looming deadlines to advance bills this session. And Gov. Gavin Newsom, the first governor to announce a public school vaccine mandate, this month pushed back the much-hyped order to 2023, citing the slow-moving FDA approval process for younger children.” Hemi Tewarson, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, commented, “The conversation has shifted and there doesn’t seem to be, across the country, a big push to require the Covid vaccine.” 

Senator Chris Murphy Tests Positive for Covid; Debate Emerges Over White House Correspondents Dinner Covid Safety

On Tuesday Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) announced via Twitter that he had tested positive for Covid (Journal Inquirer). Murphy tweeted, “FYI after feeling mild symptoms overnight, I tested positive for COVID this morning. We've done the contact tracing and let people know.” Murphy urged people to get vaccinated and boosted, adding, “It's a bummer, but I'm sure if I wasn't fully vaccinated I would be feeling a lot worse. So remember to get your booster!.” The Journal Inquirer notes that Murphy “is among several top Connecticut politicians who have contracted COVID-19 within the past month, including Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General William Tong and Treasurer Shawn Wooden.” As we have covered in prior briefs, coronavirus has also been circulating among many in D.C. and near the Biden administration, including with Vice President Kamala Harris recently testing positive, as we covered in yesterday’s brief.

Meanwhile, the Vice President’s positive test as well as the substantial spread of coronavirus following the Gridiron Dinner have fueled debate over the wisdom of holding the White House Correspondents Dinner, and President Biden’s decision to attend (NYT, WaPo). The event is expected to draw 2,600 attendees. The New York Times writes, “As the nation lurches out of the acute phase of the pandemic and into what some are calling the new normal, the dinner — like so much of American life — is prompting a good deal of risk-benefit calculation. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Mr. Biden’s top medical adviser for the coronavirus, said on Tuesday that he had decided not to attend ‘because of my individual assessment of my personal risk.’ But Mr. Biden, who at 79 is two years younger than Dr. Fauci, will be there, as will his wife, Jill Biden.” White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki said the Vice President’s positive test had not changed Biden’s decision, saying, “Just like many Americans, he makes risk assessments.” She added, “That’s an event he’s attended many times in the past, and he made a decision through consultations that it was an event he could attend and wanted to attend again.” The Times notes, “In interviews, public health experts were largely, though not entirely, supportive of Mr. Biden’s choice. The organizers of the dinner are taking precautions, including requiring all attendees to be vaccinated and to provide proof of a negative Covid test taken that day. With vaccines and antiviral drugs available, some experts said, the time for shunning large gatherings is in the past, at least for most healthy people.” The dinner is also turning to the use of technology including UV light in an effort to avoid an outcome like that which followed the Gridiron Dinner.

Bonus Read: “Warren tries to 'light the fire of urgency' for Democrats,” (Politico).

U.S. Economy

WTO Says Pandemic, War Causing Shift in Supply Chains

Global manufacturers are cutting their reliance on China and now factories across a number of countries are being used, said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO chief, on Tuesday. The coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has convinced companies to continue overhauling their global supply chains and put value on resilience over cost savings (WaPo). “They’re trying to manage risks, and they want to de-concentrate manufacturing. They’ve seen that manufacturing of certain inputs and outputs are too concentrated,” Okonjo-Iweala told a small group of reporters in Washington. “That approach — of trying to de-concentrate manufacturing — could actually benefit developing countries. If they move their manufacturing to these, it could bring them into the mainstream of globalization,” she said. “We see at the WTO a clear opportunity for this decentralization to go to countries that normally don’t benefit from the global supply chain and could be brought in.”

U.S. Society

National Health Service Corps Takes Hard Line on Student Debt Relief

The National Health Service Corps, a federal agency that provides health care workers who work in underserved areas with student loan relief, is taking a hard line on student debt relief (WSJ). The Wall Street Journal notes, “As clinics closed their doors and laid off staff after the pandemic hit, large numbers of healthcare workers suddenly found themselves in violation of their contracts with the National Health Service Corps. When workers broke those contracts—voluntarily or not—they were exposed to heavy penalties, sometimes amounting to many times the loan relief received.” The Journal reports, “The number of requests for suspensions, which allow workers to pause their contracts for 90 days or as long as a year at a time without penalty, nearly doubled from fiscal year 2019 to 2020, from 974 to 1,853, according to data the Service Corps provided to The Wall Street Journal in response to a public-records request. The total annual requests hit 1,911 in fiscal year 2021. A significant funding boost last spring allowed the program to expand participation by 23% to about 20,000 clinicians. Yet the Service Corps approved a smaller share of suspension requests after the pandemic struck than before it: 85% in fiscal year 2021 and 84% in 2020, down from about 87% in 2019, 2018 and 2017.” In 2021, the agency also granted fewer waivers than in any year since 2017. The Journal interviewed a number of workers who ran into issues with the agency, writing that many “said they struggled to find new jobs that qualified and to navigate the Service Corps’ bureaucracy.”

AEI Research: Virtual Enrollment May Partially Explain Differences in Enrollment

The Washington Post reports that while many public schools saw enrollment numbers fall during the pandemic, differences in whether and the extent to which school enrollment recovered may be partially explained by whether districts embraced virtual schooling, citing research from the American Enterprise Institute (WaPo). The Post writes, “Districts that operated in person last school year were far more likely to rebound in enrollment this year than those that continued to operate virtually, according to data released Wednesday by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a right-leaning think tank.” Nat Malkus, deputy director of AEI’s Education Policy Studies program, told the Post, “How schools operated affected family decisions.” The research also showed racial and urban-rural differences in the data. The Post writes, “Schools in urban areas and those with more students of color were, in general, slower to return to in-person schools than others. That’s partly because Black and Hispanic communities, hard-hit by the virus, were often more hesitant to go back to in-person classes.” 

Afghan Evacuees Struggle in D.C. Area, One Factor is the Pandemic’s Effect on English Language Classes

The Washington Post reports that Afghans who fled the Taliban takeover of the country and were brought to the D.C. area are struggling to pay rent and settle in (WaPo). The factors challenging the evacuees are numerous, including months-long delays in government provision of necessary documents and work authorizations. The Post also notes that one factor is the pandemic, writing, “Many of the evacuees don’t speak English and, since arriving in the area, have been offered only online language courses — a pandemic precaution that has made it more difficult for them to develop enough proficiency to interview for a job.”

Bonus Read: “Reeling From Anti-Asian Attacks, Chinatown Fights City’s Shelter Plan,” (NYT). 

Analysis & Arguments

Jason Blum writes on how a scrappier model might help save Netflix (NYT).

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

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