Record U.S. Deaths; Tokyo Medical System Strain: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S reported 3,835 deaths on Wednesday so far, another daily record as the country rushes out vaccine doses in an effort to slow down the virus’s spread, according to Bloomberg data.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government raised its warning on the city’s medical system to “under strain,” the highest of four levels, for the first time since the alert system was laid out in July.

The move, announced by Tokyo’s virus monitoring committee Thursday, comes after the Japanese capital hit a new record number of daily cases -- 678 -- the previous day, and as the number of hospitalized patients rises. The medical system warning had been kept at the second-highest level since July.

The European Commission is said to be pushing for expedited approval of the vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE. Germany recorded its biggest increase in deaths since the pandemic began as Chancellor Angela Merkel hinted that a hard lockdown will remain in force longer than planned.

The first hiccups in the distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine in the U.S. included a holdup in delivering 3,900 shots to two states and the announcement that Pfizer Inc. would ship about 900,000 fewer doses next week than are set to ship this week. A health-care worker in Alaska who received the shot experienced the first known severe allergic event in the U.S.

Key Developments:

Tokyo to Report Record of at Least 800 New Cases: NHK (1:30 p.m. HK)

Tokyo will report at least 800 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, a record daily amount, NHK reported, citing a metropolitan government official. That beats the previous record of 678 cases on Dec. 17.

Tokyo Raises Medical System Alert to Highest (12:30 p.m. HK)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government raised its warning on the city’s medical system to “under strain”, the highest of four levels, for the first time since the alert system was laid out in July.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt Tests Positive (12:30 p.m. HK)

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday before a planned meeting with President Donald Trump.

Fujifilm’s Avigan Virus Study Reported Inconclusive (9:50 a.m. HK)

Japan’s health ministry has found it difficult to reach a conclusion on the effectiveness of Fujifilm Holdings Corp.’s anti-viral drug Avigan in treating Covid-19 patients, according to domestic media reports citing unidentified government sources. Fujifilm’s stock fell as much as 4.2% in Tokyo trading Wednesday on the news. Fujifilm had applied in October to expand usage of Avigan to include treatment for coronavirus in Japan, where the drug is already approved for use against novel influenza. Japan’s health ministry is likely to make the decision on Monday, according to the news reports.

Pence, Biden to Get Vaccine to Build Public Confidence (8:50 a.m. HK)

Vice President Mike Pence will publicly receive the coronavirus vaccine on Friday, and President-elect Joe Biden is expected get vaccinated as soon as next week, amid concern that many Americans may refuse the injection.

Extra Doses in Pfizer Vaccine Vials Can Be Used, FDA Says

Some vials of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s Covid-19 vaccine may contain usable extra doses, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

Sydney on Alert as Run Without Local Transmission Ends (7:35 a.m. HK)

Australia’s largest city Sydney is battling to prevent an outbreak of Covid-19 after five new cases in the past two days ended a more than month-long run with limited community transmission in New South Wales.

Virus Spreads in Canada Oil Patch (7:05 a.m. HK)

Oil workers in Alberta are falling victim to a growing spread of the pandemic in the Canadian province’s remote north, with a Chevron Corp. site among the latest to be struck.

EU Pushes for Fast Vaccine Approval (5:45 a.m. HK)

European authorities are pushing for a compressed approval timeline for the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, according to people familiar with the plan, which could enable a rollout on the continent before Christmas.

Should the vaccine win the backing of a key drugs oversight committee on Monday, the European Commission is planning for a sign-off as soon as the same day, two people said. That would enable shipping the first shots to vaccine centers as early as Dec. 23, one of the people said.

Alaska Health Worker Has Allergic Reaction (4:15 a.m. HK)

A health-care worker in Alaska experienced the first known severe allergic event in the U.S. since administration of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s Covid-19 vaccine began this week.

The person, who had no history of allergies, experienced flushing and shortness of breath 10 minutes after receiving the shot, the Alaska health department said in a statement Wednesday. The person was admitted to the emergency room and received Pepcid, Benadryl and epinephrine through an intravenous drip. The patient stayed overnight and is in stable condition, according to the department.

Pfizer is coordinating with local officials and will closely monitor all reports suggesting serious allergic reactions and will update labeling language if needed, spokeswoman Jerica Pitts said in a statement. Reports of serious allergic reactions in the U.K. prompted U.S. regulators to recommend not administering the shot to people with a known history of allergies to any component of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine.

New Zealand to Inoculate Entire Population (4:10 a.m. HK)

New Zealand aims to begin vaccinating its entire population against Covid-19 in the second half of next year in its largest-ever immunization program, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

The government has secured two additional vaccines from pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Novavax and will have enough for all 5 million New Zealanders, Ardern said Thursday in Wellington. If proven to be safe and effective, immunization will begin with border workers and essential staff in the second quarter of 2021 followed by the general population in the second half, she said. The vaccines will be free to the public.

New Zealand has eliminated community transmission of the virus, but its border remains closed, a big blow for the important tourism industry and the economy. Vaccines will be key to the reopening of the border, but the government cautioned Thursday that the start of the immunization program “will not mean any changes to our borders initially.”

California Shatters Daily Records (3:20 a.m. HK)

California reported a record 53,711 new virus cases and 293 deaths, according to state health department data. The daily case count includes 41,081 newly reported infections -- shattering the prior record by more than 5,000 -- while the remaining reflect a backlog from previous days due to a new processing system, the department said in a statement.

Hospitalizations jumped 4.3% to a record 15,886 patients, reflecting a deepening crisis that threatens a shortage of intensive-care beds and medical staff.

France to Get 1.16M Vaccine Doses by Dec. 30 (3 a.m. HK)

France expects to receive 1.16 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by Dec. 30, Prime Minister Jean Castex said in a parliamentary debate. He said France, in coordination with other European countries, will do “everything possible” to start vaccinating in the last week of the year. France is counting on a further delivery around Jan. 5, and an additional 1.6 million doses in February.

Irish Authorities See ‘Troubling’ Trend (2:41 a.m. HK)

Ireland Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan warned of “significant and concerning indicators that this disease in moving in the wrong direction” after figures Wednesday showed daily cases rising about a third to 431.

Health authorities will meet Thursday to consider the renewed surge, which came after Ireland reopened non-essential stores, restaurants and some bars even as many governments across Europe tighten restrictions over Christmas.

Spain Moves to Tighten Christmas Curbs (2:35 a.m. HK)

Spain granted regional administrations the power to further restrict movement and limit the size of Christmas gatherings, as new cases rose to the highest in almost a month.

“We are concerned by the increase in recent days,” Health Minster Salvador Illa told reporters Wednesday, following a meeting with his counterparts from Spain’s 17 regions. Although gatherings are allowed, Illa said citizens should “stay at home and not move” over the holidays.

Spain reported 6,196 new daily infections, the most since Nov. 19.

Under the existing plan, no more than 10 people will be able to meet for festive celebrations on Dec. 24, Dec. 25., Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day and these gatherings are limited to families. Travel between regions is limited.

N.Y. Expects Shots for Public in January (1:05 a.m. HK)

New York State could begin vaccinating certain members of the general public in late January, pending federal deliveries, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. The state will issue a directive requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of the vaccine for all New Yorkers, Cuomo said.

The state has received 87,750 doses from Pfizer, and an additional 80,000 doses are expected in the next few days, Cuomo said. The state is prioritizing the most at-risk health-care workers for the vaccine, as well as nursing home staff and residents. Phase two includes other essential workers, as well as members of the general public who have pre-existing conditions, Cuomo said.

New York is also expecting 346,000 Moderna doses, pending U.S. emergency approval, he said.

NYC Vaccinates 1,600 Medical Workers (12:30 a.m. HK)

About 1,600 health-care workers have been vaccinated in New York City in 48 hours, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

Two health-care workers at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens were the first public-hospital employees in the city to receive the new Covid-19 vaccine. Elmhurst bore the brunt last spring as the pandemic overwhelmed the city’s medical system and forced a shutdown of non-essential businesses and schools.

The hospital faces another wave with the city’s seven-day average of new cases reaching 2,785 as of Dec. 14.

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