Auckland Set For Lockdown; J&J Gets FDA Panel Nod: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) --

Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot coronavirus vaccine secured the backing of a panel of U.S. government advisers, paving the way for authorization of a third U.S. immunization against the deadly virus. New Zealand’s largest city Auckland is set to enter a lockdown while authorities investigate a new case of Covid-19 in the community.

President Joe Biden said his administration would undertake a major effort to reassure Americans of the safety and effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines. The UN Security Council approved a U.K.-drafted resolution calling for cease-fires in conflict zones so that vaccinations can take place.

Japan plans to allow entry for participants in the summer Olympics and the Paralympics after the state of emergency that runs to March 7, according to the Nikkei. The Philippines will get its first vaccine doses from Sinovac on Sunday, allowing the nation to kickstart an inoculation effort weeks after some of its neighbors started theirs.

Key Developments:

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Germany Transport Ban May Be Extended (5:52 p.m. HK)

Germany plans to extend a transport ban for people entering the country from areas with a high proportion of Covid-19 mutations to March 17, Funke Mediengruppe newspapers reported, citing a government document. The government also plans to discuss on Monday whether border controls with the Czech Republic and Austria’s Tyrol state should be prolonged.

Germany’s total confirmed cases climbed to 2,436,506 on Saturday, a rise of 0.4% from a day ago with 9,437 new cases recorded. Deaths increased to 69,939, with the reported 596 new mortalities the highest number since Feb. 18.

Poland Hospital Patient Numbers Rise For Ninth Day (5:51 p.m. HK)

Poland reported 12,100 new coronavirus infections and 303 deaths over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said. The country has registered an increase in the number of Covid patients in hospitals for a ninth day, the longest streak since November.

Auckland Lockdown (4:10 p.m. HK)

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a lockdown for Auckland while authorities investigate a new case of Covid-19 in the community. The city will enter a seven-day lockdown from 6 a.m. Sunday, Ardern said at a news conference late Saturday after an emergency Cabinet meeting.

Auckland will now move to alert level three, while the level for the remainder of New Zealand will rise to two, she said. The city was under a three-day lockdown earlier this month.

Russia Sees First Increase in Infections For Nine Days (4:02 p.m. HK)

Russia reported 11,534 new confirmed coronavirus infections in the past day, the first increase in new cases in nine days. It raises the total to 4.235 million, according to data from the Russian government’s virus response center.

In the past day, 439 people died of the disease, bringing the total death toll to 85,743. Meanwhile 16,020 people recovered, taking the total to 3.799 million.

H.K. to Open Registrations for BioNTech Vaccine (1:39 p.m. HK)

Hong Kong will open online registrations for the BioNTech vaccine injection starting next week, with additional details to be announced soon, the government said in a statement.

About 585,000 doses arrived this morning and the rest is expected to be shipped in early March, according to the government. The city has secured at least 1 million BioNTech vaccines.

European Leaders Head to Israel to Expand Vaccine Co-operation (1:29 p.m. HK)

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will travel to Israel next week to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on vaccines, Kurz said on Twitter.

The leaders will travel March 4 and plan to work on research and production of vaccines and medicines. Kurz added. Austria will continue to deal with Covid-19 mutations and the nation should be prepared for the post-summer phase of the virus.

Malaysia Gets Sinovac Vaccine For Regulatory Testing (12:39 p.m. HK)

Malaysia received vaccine from Sinovac on Saturday, adding a second brand of Covid-19 shots days after kicking off its inoculation program.

The vaccine will e processed into 300,000 doses, according to Pharmaniaga Bhd., the firm that will package and distribute the shots. The company last month signed an agreement for Sinovac Biotech Ltd. to supply 14 million doses in stages that will cover 22% of the population.

Malaysia has secured 66.7 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from producers, including Sinovac, AstraZeneca Plc, Sputnik V, and CanSinoBio. Pfizer remains the only manufacturer to receive the government’s conditional approval for usage, and is set to deliver a total of 32 million doses.

Philippines Says First Covid-19 Vaccines to Arrive Sunday (10:12 a.m. HK)

The Philippines will get its first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines on Sunday, with 600,000 doses coming from Sinovac, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement on Friday

Roque said that the government is confident “many” health care workers would use the vaccine from the Chinese company even though the local Food and Drug Administration has said it’s against its use, citing its low efficacy to those frequently exposed to the virus.

Mexico to Get Additional Sinovac, Pfizer Doses (9:37 a.m. HK)

Mexico will receive 800,000 Sinovac doses on Feb. 27 and 852,150 Pfizer doses on March 2, Health Ministry official Ricardo Cortes said at a Friday evening press conference.

So far, Mexico has received 1.77m doses of Pfizer vaccine, 870,000 of AstraZeneca, 200,000 of Sinovac and 200,000 of Sputnik, according to data presented by Cortes at the conference. Mexico has administered 2,271,032 doses of vaccine and 562,311 people have received a second dose, Cortes said

Supreme Court Again Backs Indoor Church Services (9:28 a.m. HK)

The U.S. Supreme Court said a California county must let five churches hold indoor services, adding to a line of orders that have curbed the power of government officials as they battle the spread of the coronavirus.

The latest high court action follows a Feb. 6 order that let indoor worship services resume in most of California at 25% capacity. Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, said its ban remained valid because it was part of a broader prohibition on indoor gatherings at both religious and secular establishments.

Japan Moves to Allow Entry for Olympians: Nikkei (8:51 .m. HK)

The government plans to allow entry for participants in the summer Olympics and the Paralympics after the state of emergency that runs to March 7, according to the Nikkei.

The country has effectively closed its borders to foreigners, making exceptions only for special circumstances such as family reunions and medical treatment. The government plans to expand that category to include athletes and coaches, the newspaper reported without saying where it obtained the information.

Visitors will be able to skip a two-week quarantine, but will be forbidden to use public transport and move beyond their lodging and places of training, it said.

Trudeau Sees Canadians Vaccinated by End of Summer (8:43 a.m. HK)

Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau said that while the vaccine program wasn’t going as fast as people would like, he expects everyone to be vaccinated “by the end of summer,” according to a transcript of an interview with Meet the Press.

He said Canada would continue to engage with the White House on when to start easing border measures, although restrictions will remain in place at this time.

Biden to Undertake Campaign on Vaccine Safety, Efficacy (7:53 a.m. HK)

President Joe Biden said his administration would undertake a major effort to reassure Americans of the safety and effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines, in order to overcome reticence among some people to take the shots that could end the pandemic.

About a quarter of Americans say they won’t take a dose of the coronavirus vaccines, and there is a partisan divide on the issue -- much as around public health guidance to wear masks and take other precautions against infection. More than four in 10 Republicans say they’ll avoid a vaccine if they can, compared to just 10% of Democrats, according to a poll by Monmouth University published Feb. 3.

UN Security Council Backs Cease-Fire Calls for Vaccinations (7:27 a.m. HK)

The council approved a U.K.-drafted resolution Friday calling for local cease-fires in conflict zones so that coronavirus vaccinations can take place.

The passage of the resolution, which calls for cooperation to overcome “logistical barriers to equitable access,” was seen as an early sign of cooperation between the new Biden administration and China, which supported the document without too much bickering over language.

FDA Working Rapidly Toward Finalizing J&J Vaccine Review (7:22 a.m. HK)

The FDA will work toward finalization and issuance of an emergency use authorization for the J&J vaccine, the agency said in a statement. Federal partners were also notified so they could plan distribution, the FDA said.

FDA Advisers Back J&J Vaccine (5:08 p.m. NY)

Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot coronavirus vaccine won the backing of a panel of U.S. government advisers, paving the way for authorization of a third U.S. immunization against the deadly virus.

Experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted 22-0, with no abstentions, that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh its risks in adults 18 and older, a decision that could help bolster the vaccine supply as new variants continue to spread. The FDA usually follows the non-binding recommendations of its advisory panels and could authorize the shot within days.

Czechs Impose 3-Week Lockdown (4:50 p.m. NY)

The Czech government announced the strictest lockdown measures since the start of the pandemic to stem one of the world’s deadliest outbreaks and avoid a collapse of the health-care system.

For at least three weeks starting on Monday, the central European country will restrict travel between counties and close all schools, pre-schools and some of the shops that are currently open, Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his health, interior and industry and trade ministers say at a televised briefing in Prague on Friday.

California Positivity at 18-Week Low (4:26 p.m. NY)

California’s 14-day positive test rate dropped to 2.9%, the lowest since Oct. 23, according to the health department’s website. The state said there were 5,400 new cases yesterday, below the average of 6,008. Still, deaths climbed by 391, above the 384 average. California has administered almost 48 million tests in total.

Shot Scandals Widen in Latin America (3:54 p.m. NY)

Ecuador health minister Juan Carlos Zevallos resigned Friday, becoming the third top Latin American health official forced out in a week as outrage grows over the ability of the region’s richest and most powerful to obtain vaccinations before the rest of the population.

President Lenin Moreno, whose term ends May 24, posted the minister’s resignation letter on Twitter. Zevallos’ departure was quickened after he sent letters to university presidents inviting them to skip the line, and after prosecutors launched an investigation into his mother’s vaccination in January.

In the past seven days, Argentina’s health minister resigned, as did both the Peruvian health minister and his deputy.

Portugal Eyes Gradual Reopening (3:48 p.m. NY)

Portugal will present in March a gradual plan to ease restrictions, and it’s “natural” that the first steps may be schools, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said Friday.

Daily infections eased in February after one of the most difficult months in the pandemic. The government said on Jan. 21 that the variant that first emerged in the U.K. was spreading quickly, forcing it to adopt additional measures such as closing schools.

Covid Levels Below Holiday Spike (2:12 p.m. NY)

February is on track to show just a fraction of the monthly Covid-19 cases seen during the worst parts of the holiday surge that drove infections to records.

The U.S. this month has already seen more than 2.17 million cases, which is more than any month prior to the surge, according to the Covid Tracking Project. But February looks likely to post about a third of the cases seen in December, the pandemic’s worst month.

The figures are a reminder of how much the daily case situation has improved, but also how far the country still has to go. Improvements are fragile, and rapidly accelerating variant cases pose serious threats to the efficacy of vaccines being rushed to patients.

CDC Raises Alarm on Variants (12:32 p.m. NY)

States should maintain Covid-19 restrictions such as mask wearing and capacity limitations as case numbers halt their decline, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday, citing the circulation of new variants and infection rates that remain alarmingly high.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky issued a sobering warning during a press briefing Friday, where she said the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant, first found in the U.K., now accounts for an estimated 10% of current U.S. cases, and that variants in California and New York also appear to spread more easily.

Italy Cases Highest Since New Year (11:55 a.m. NY)

Italy’s infections rose to the highest point since Jan. 1 as restrictions were set to tighten again in some regions, including Milan, according to Ansa newswires.

The country reported 20,499 new cases, compared with 19,886 the day before. Giovanni Rezza, head of prevention at the Health Ministry, said he is worried that many regional clusters are related to new virus strains.

Greece Extends Lockdown (11:36 a.m. NY)

Greece extended a strict lockdown for high-risk areas of the country, which include Athens and the surrounding area, by one week to March 8, Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias said Friday, citing a rise in new virus cases.

All people entering the country by land will be subject to rapid tests, with those testing positive barred from entry. The occupancy rate of intensive care units in Athens and the Attica region is now 88%, Health Ministry officials said.

Belgium Defers Easing (10:50 a.m. NY)

Belgium’s federal government and regions agreed to postpone a decision about relaxing restrictions by a week amid a surge in hospital admissions in recent days, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said.

Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said he’s asking hospitals to reserve as much as 50% of ICU beds for Covid-19 patients. Current ICU occupation by Covid-19 patients ranges from 7% to as much as 35%, depending on the region.

The Caribbean Asks for Help (9:43 a.m NY)

The 15-country Caribbean Community has asked wealthy nations to share their supply of Covid-19 vaccines, saying their economies won’t be able to recover from the pandemic without them. In a statement issued late Thursday, CARICOM said it was “dissatisfied and deeply concerned about the inequitable access to vaccines” it was facing.

While members states belong to the WHO’s Covax Facility, the only vaccines received so far have been 170,000 shots that the government of India donated to Dominica and Barbados, the group said. Those two nations have been sharing their supply with other CARICOM members.

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