EU Starts Sputnik Review, Germany to Ease Curbs: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- The European Union’s medicines regulator started a rolling review of Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine, the first major step in gaining approval for the shot’s use in the region.

An experimental vaccine developed by India’s Bharat Biotech International Ltd. showed 81% efficacy in an interim trial. The U.S. is averaging 2 million inoculations a day for the first time.

In Germany, officials agreed on a plan to gradually unwind restrictions on Europe’s largest economy. Countries where more than half of adults are overweight have recorded Covid-19 mortality rates more than 10 times higher than other nations, according to the World Obesity Federation.

Key Developments:

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Covid Deaths Surge Where Obesity Rates Are High (5:55 p.m. HK)

Countries where more than half of adults are overweight have recorded Covid-19 mortality rates in excess of 10 times those in other nations, according to a report by the World Obesity Federation.

Of the 2.5 million pandemic deaths reported by the end of February, 2.2 million were in countries above the 50% threshold, the study showed, suggesting obese people should be included in priority groups for testing and vaccinations.

U.K. to Fast-Track Approval of Vaccines for Variants (5:45 p.m. HK)

U.K. health regulators said authorized Covid-19 vaccines that are modified for new variants of the disease will be fast-tracked through the approval system.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency issued guidance -- in step with partners in Australia, Canada, Singapore and Switzerland -- that will reduce the time taken for the new vaccines to be ready for use, according to a statement on Thursday.

Vaccine manufacturers will need to provide robust evidence that the modified vaccine produces an immune response, but time-consuming clinical trials will not be needed. Instead a small trial will be used to assess the main adverse effects which could take a few weeks rather than months.

EMA to Start Review for Sputnik V Vaccine (5:12 p.m. HK)

The European Medicines Agency said it has started a rolling review of Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine to test compliance with safety and quality standards, the first major step in gaining approval for use in the European Union.

“The rolling review will continue until enough evidence is available for formal marketing authorization application,” the agency said in a statement Thursday. “While EMA cannot predict the overall timelines, it should take less time than normal to evaluate an eventual application because of the work done during the rolling review.”

Hungary to Announce New Lockdown (5:07 p.m.)

Hungary will announce a one-month lockdown until the Easter holiday to contain a surge in coronavirus cases, the news website Index reported without saying where it got the information.

The lockdown, to be announced on Thursday, will include closing schools and shops after health authorities reported the highest daily new Covid-19 case count in three months, Index said. Curbs already in effect include an evening curfew.

Finland Hospitals Under Strain With Infections at Record (5:03 p.m. HK)

The coronavirus pandemic is starting to burden Finland’s hospitals as the weekly number of confirmed infections hit a record, the health ministry warned.

While more patients are forecast to need treatment in hospitals and intensive care units in the coming week, ICUs continue to have capacity, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health said on Thursday. The government is set to invoke emergency powers on Friday, which would allow non-urgent care to be delayed as the pandemic spreads.

According to the current estimates, an infected person passes the virus on average to about 1.15 to 1.35 others, as the more infectious U.K. strain circulates. Just under 60,000 people in Finland have tested positive for the coronavirus and 759 people have died

UAE Chose Sinopharm Because of Early Availability (3:03 p.m. HK)

The United Arab Emirates hinged its inoculation program on the vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm Group, given early availability and the potential to produce the shots locally, according to Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health.

The oil-rich nation has so far administered 6.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines and aims to inoculate half of its 10 million mostly expatriate population before the end of this month. The Sinopharm vaccine is the most widely used shot in the UAE and showed an efficacy rate of 86% in local Phase III trials.

Top Chinese Lawmakers Get Vaccinated (2:49 p.m. HK)

More than 5,000 lawmakers and political advisers in Beijing for the annual parliamentary session this month have received doses of the vaccine developed by state-owned Sinopharm, the head of the pharmaceutical giant’s drug distributing unit told local media on Thursday.

China is ramping up inoculation in the capital to avoid a potential virus outbreak among senior leaders and lawmakers at the National People’s Congress.

China has also recently expanded the use of home-developed shots to people 60 and older, and the drug regulator is reviewing newly submitted data from Sinopharm as it weighs whether to distribute the shot to children.

California, Texas, Michigan Change Vaccine Policies (2:35 p.m. HK)

California officials say they’ll dedicate 40% of future vaccines doses to residents in places that have have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by California Public Radio.

Michigan lowered its vaccine eligibility age to 50 from 65 starting March 8 for Michiganders with medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus, with access for everyone over 50 beginning March 22.

Texas opened its inoculation drive to teachers, school staff and licensed childcare providers, effective immediately, according to the state health department.

Hong Kong Rugby Sevens to Resume (10:33 a.m. HK)

One of Hong Kong’s biggest social events, the Rugby Sevens, is set for Nov. 5-7, the organizer said in a statement Wednesday.

Typically scheduled in April, the event has been on hold since 2020, when the tournament was canceled for the first time in its 44-year history.

Germany Lays Out Plan for Opening Up (6:56 a.m. HK)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel set out a plan to gradually unwind restrictions on Europe’s largest economy, bowing to pressure from the pandemic-weary public.

After hairdressers resumed operations on Monday, the next step will start on March 8, the German leader said late Wednesday after more than nine hours of tense talks with regional officials.

Remaining restrictions -- including the closure of hotels, restaurants and other non-essential retail outlets -- will continue with further easing steps tied to local contagion rates. An “emergency brake” was set up to react to hot spots.

U.S. Vaccination Pace Hits 2 Million a Day (6:45 a.m. HK)

The U.S. is administering an average of 2.01 million doses a day, the first time it has crossed that threshold, according to the latest analysis from the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.

A surge in make-up doses that were temporarily delayed during the winter storms last month, combined with increasing U.S. vaccine supply, has pushed the seven-day average of doses administered above the 2 million mark.

In total, 80.5 million doses have been given in the U.S., with 1.91 million reported on Wednesday. At least 52.9 million people have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Indian Vaccine Shown to Be 81% Effective (6:10 a.m. HK)

An Indian coronavirus vaccine that generated controversy when it was granted emergency approval before finishing its final stage testing has shown to provide strong protection against Covid-19 in an interim analysis of an advanced clinical trial.

Covaxin, developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd. and the Indian Council of Medical Research, showed an efficacy rate of 81% in those without prior infection after a second dose. That’s better than Bharat Biotech’s guidance last year of around 60% and the country’s benchmark of 50%.

Another Day of Record Deaths in Brazil (4:10 p.m. NY)

Brazil reported record deaths from the coronavirus for a second straight day as the country’s richest state tightens rules to contain the spread. Brazil also said it reached an agreement to buy Pfizer Inc.’s vaccine.

Deaths rose by 1,910 in last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said, pushing the total to 259,271. Confirmed cases increased by 71,704, to 10,718,630.

Sao Paulo state said all non-essential businesses, such as shops and gyms, will remain shut for two more weeks.

NYC Could Open Vaccines to All by April (3 p.m. NY)

New York City could offer Covid-19 vaccines to all residents by late April, the city’s health commissioner said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg News.

“I would estimate for New York City sometime in, I hope, late April to May, we will have sufficient supply to be able to offer a vaccine to every New Yorker who wants one,” Dave Chokshi, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said by telephone.

N.Y. Eases More Restrictions (1:52 p.m. NY)

New York state said starting March 22 the outdoor limit on residential gatherings will increase to 25 from 10. Limits for social events will rise from 50 to 100 people indoors and to 200 outdoors. Venues that hold fewer than 10,000 people can open at 33% capacity from April 2, with up to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. Social distancing and face coverings are still required for attendance.

Governor Andrew Cuomo also said domestic travelers would not longer be required to quarantine or test-out within 90 days of full vaccination.

Montenegro Turns to Army on Masks (12:50 p.m. NY)

Montenegro, with one of the highest infection rates in Europe, is relying on police and the army to enforce virus restrictions, including mandatory face masks and social distancing, according to a government statement Wednesday.

The Adriatic state of 650,000 is also curbing intercity travel and suspending non-essential services as a last-ditch attempt to avoid a complete lockdown, Finance Minister Milojko Spajic said in a briefing in the capital city of Podgorica. “The pandemic is also a financial problem, but we cannot chose between health and the economy,” Spajic said.

CDC Urges Texans to Keep Wearing Masks (11:55 a.m. NY)

Federal health officials called on Texas and Mississippi residents to keep wearing masks as governors there lift Covid-19 restrictions, saying it’s premature to abandon mitigation efforts and that the virus can still erupt again.

Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that though cases have halted their decline from January highs, it’s not yet time to lift restrictions.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday that the state would lift its mask mandate and reopen businesses next week. He also banned counties from fining or jailing people who disregard local measures, in defiance of previous warnings from Walensky and others.

Greece Tightens Restrictions (11:55 a.m. NY)

Greece announced more measures to further restrict movement after recording 2,702 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily increase since Nov. 19. The number of patients in intensive-care units also rose. Citizens will only be allowed to carry out essential shopping in the municipalities where they live while the use of cars to travel for personal exercise is prohibited, Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias said. Measures go into effect March 4 at 6 a.m. The current lockdown in high-risk areas is extended by one week until March 16.

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