Virus Revolution: News and Analysis From January 7, 2021

Photographer: Octavio Jones / Getty Images

We monitor the latest information on the coronavirus revolution and the global response. Sign up here for our daily newsletter on what you need to know.

AstraZeneca Plc vaccine has shown limited efficacy against mild disease caused by the South African variant of Covid-19, according to early data in small-scale test.

New U.S. issues continued to signal a declining trend. While deaths remain high, the average daily increase of infections fell 20% from the previous week. New things fell in Brazil for the third week in a row.

China reappeared in northern areas, with only one new local issue in Jilin district.

Key Developments:

Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from the Bloomberg Prognosis team here. Click on CVID on the end-tool for global data on cases and deaths.

The Chinese Revolution (8:42 HK)

China reported just one new local issue in the Jilin region as the country controls coronavirus recovery in its northern regions. There were 1,176 cases still in the country yesterday, the National Health Commission said.

Australian State Tightens Quarantine Test (7:48 am HK)

Australia’s largest resident state tightened Covid-19 quarantine test rules in an effort to stop the virus from entering the community. Overseas travelers in New South Wales now have to be tested two days after completing 14-day hotel quarantines, NSW Health said in a statement.

Kentucky passes 4,000 deaths (7:02 am HK)

Kentucky reported 49 new deaths, surpassing 4,000 since the outbreak began. “Despite things falling apart, we are still losing our people at an alarming rate,” Governor Andy Beshear tweeted. “That’s why we knit out and follow the lead. We need protection from the loss of those we love. “Cases and hospitals have been falling steadily in Kentucky over the past month, while deaths have fallen slightly.

Astra vaccine shows less impact against South African variety (5:46 pm NY)

The AstraZeneca Plc Covid-19 vaccine has shown limited efficacy against mild disease caused by the variant first identified in South Africa, according to early data in small-scale test.

Efficacy against adverse cases of Covid-19, hospitalization and deaths has not yet been proven, “because the subjects were mostly healthy young adults,” a spokeswoman for AstraZeneca said in a statement.

None of the study participants died or were hospitalized, according to the Financial Times, which first reported the findings of the study.

The UK’s first Vaccine Target can be reached early (5:42 pm NY)

The UK vaccine rollout plan, which aims to include nine priority groups in early May, is going so well that the target could be met by April, the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing sources or -identity of the government.

Ministers are also discussing a plan for mobile teams to go to workplaces to vaccinate people age under 50, the report said. The government is still assessing whether to provide views to those most at risk or to put emergency workers and teachers at the head of the line.

Australians get vaccinated on phones, SMH says (5:24 pm NY)

Australians will have access to their Covid-19 vaccine certificates on their mobile phones, giving them access to high-risk hospitals and areas, and possibly beyond state borders, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The plans are being discussed with federal cabinet ministers before Australians start receiving shots later this month, the newspaper said.

Brazil weekly affairs, slow deaths (5:20 pm NY)

New Brazilian cases fell for the third week in a row, with 50,630 diseases reported on Saturday, Ministry of Health data display. Although the declines show that the second wave in the country is slowing down, things are still as high as they were at the time of last summer. Total cases are close to 9.5 million, the highest after the US and India.

Deaths are at the same level as last summer, although the weekly number declined. A further 978 deaths were reported Saturday, for a total of 231,012, mostly after the U.S.

London Mosque tries to overcome vaccine trust (4:43 pm NY)

A mosque in London has become a vaccination center aimed at overcoming mistrust among Muslims over admission, Media Association recitation. An official at the London Muslim Center said only three of 200 people recently contacted to receive the vaccine showed up for an AstraZeneca bullet.

“We’re telling people it’s wise to get vaccinated because you’re not only helping yourself but you’re helping the community and beyond,” he said. was the mosque officer, Asad Jaman.

Covid-Year Super Bowl Advice (3:18 pm NY)

The Super Bowl may not be a real holiday but public health experts treat it like others in the past year: a time when Covid-19 could spread, now at a time when diseases are falling again.

“Enjoy the Super Bowl but don’t do it with a large crowd in your house,” Dr Anthony Fauci told MSNBC on Friday. “Having a small superspreader event in your home is a great place to be. Don’t do that. ”

French Deaths, Slow Matters (2:52 pm NY)

France reported 191 new deaths, a decline, while the 7-day average of new cases fell to its lowest level in two weeks, according to data from Sante Publique France. 2,112,192 vaccine pictures have been given since the start of the release, of which 88% are the first dose, the health ministry said.

California Positive Test Level, New Cases Slide (2:15 pm NY)

California’s 14-day positive test rate continued to decline, falling to 6.3%, down from 12.7% a month ago and the lowest level since Nov. 29. The state has administered 43.7 million coronavirus tests in total.

There were 12,394 new Covid-19 cases in California yesterday, lower than the 14-day rolling average of 16,844, according to the health department. website. The number of deaths at 623 was higher than the average of 520. The total number of Covid-19 cases has risen to 3.32 million, with 43,647 deaths.

Irish issues hit six-week low (12:50 pm NY)

Ireland announced the few new cases in six weeks, as the country received its first batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine. 827 new virus cases were registered on Saturday. That’s the lowest level since Dec. 28. The first batch of 21,000 AstraZeneca vaccines was delivered earlier in the day, with the first doses given Monday, health minister Stephen Donnelly tweeted. Ireland also reported a further 55 deaths.

Italy raises slow issues, death toll rises (11:31 am NY)

Italy reported 13,442 cases on Saturday, down from 14,218 days earlier, and up to 385 deaths from 377 on Friday. The detection rate fell to 4.8% from 5.3%, while patients in intensive care units decreased 32 to 2,110.

Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said he signed the mandate to allow emergency use of monoclonal antibodies, based on the indications of the country’s Aifa pharmaceutical group and the public health institute, according to a post Facebook Saturday. He added that Italy, along with vaccines, is “another way to fight Covid-19.”

UK Hospital Cases Under 30,000 (11:13 am NY)

The UK said 29,326 people were being treated in hospitals with Covid-19 as of February 4, the lowest level since January 3. The country reported 18,262 new cases on Saturday and 828 deaths, both below the average 7-days earlier. The average number of deaths fell below 1,000 for the first time in about a month.

NY hospital decline (10:45 am NY)