U.K. Faces India Shots Delay; EU’s Astra Verdict: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- A delayed shipment of AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine from India is behind a cut in the U.K.’s supply starting later this month, prompting the government to shift focus and offer remaining doses to the people most at risk of Covid-19.

The European Union is bracing for a decision by its health regulator on whether AstraZeneca’s shot is safe to use while a shortages of doses is fueling an escalation in the bloc’s dispute with the U.K. over supplies.

Brazil surpassed 90,000 new cases in one day, while India topped 35,000 for the first time since early January. Tokyo’s state of emergency will end on Sunday.

Key Developments:

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H&M Reverses Reopening of Stores (6:09 a.m. NY)

H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB has shut stores due to new restrictions in countries such as Italy and Poland, with around 1,050 shops temporarily closed as of March 17, or about 21% of all its outlets. The retailer had been reopening stores gradually and had 900 outlets closed as of March 13, after having 1,800 shops not trading at the end of January.

Japan to End Tokyo Emergency (5:54 p.m. HK)

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the state of emergency in the Tokyo region will end on Sunday after targets for relieving strain on the health care system were reached, even as coronavirus cases in the capital rose slightly. While Tokyo recorded 409 new cases on Wednesday, the highest figure since Feb. 18, an expert panel approved the lifting of the restrictions.

Shipment From India Behind U.K. Delay (5.14 p.m. HK)

A delayed shipment of AstraZeneca’s vaccine from India is behind a cut in the U.K.’s supply starting later this month, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Vaccine doses made by one of Astra’s manufacturing partners, the Serum Institute of India, were delayed, said the person, who didn’t want to be identified because the supply details are private. The Serum Institute has already contributed to the U.K. supply with doses this quarter, the person said.

The supply crunch prompted the government to shift focus and offer remaining doses to the people most at risk of developing severe forms of Covid-19.

ECB Urges Prompt Rollout of Fiscal Plan (4:27 p.m. HK)

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said governments must make sure to roll out their historic joint spending plan on time to ensure the region’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The European Union’s 750 billion-euro ($896 billion) recovery fund “should become operational without delay,” Lagarde told lawmakers in the European Parliament. “By brightening economic prospects for firms and households, fiscal policy would also strengthen the transmission of our monetary policy measures.”

Bali May Reopen to Foreign Tourists in June (2:39 p.m. HK)

Foreign tourists may be able to visit the Indonesian island of Bali again as soon as June under a travel corridor program to help revive the economy, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said. The arrangement will be offered to countries that are deemed successful in their vaccination programs, are able to contain the spread of the coronavirus and could offer reciprocal benefits, Uno said in a statement.

German Armed Forces Ready for Vaccine Help (2:15 p.m. HK)

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer wants the armed forces to operate 24-hour vaccination centers to help speed the roll-out of Covid-19 shots.

“We have been preparing to provide more support for vaccinating the population since November 2020 with other members of the Bundeswehr,” Kramp-Karrenbauer told WirtschaftsWoche, adding that the armed forces has the capacity to run 28 such centers. “If enough vaccine is available in the federal states, we can administer up to 20,000 doses per day throughout Germany,” she said.

Australia Population Drops (1:28 p.m. HK)

Australia recorded the first quarterly drop in its population since World War I as more people departed the nation than arrived in the three months through September. International border restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19 resulted in the population falling by 4,200 overall, with 55,400 people departing Australia and 20,600 arriving from overseas in the three months.

Taiwan Mulls Travel Bubble With Singapore (12:48 p.m. HK)

Taiwan is studying setting up a “travel bubble” with Singapore, Taipei-based United Daily News reported, citing Health Minister Chen Shih-chung. Chen said Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center hasn’t received an official proposal from Singapore yet.

Earlier, Taiwan said it had agreed an arrangement with the Pacific archipelago nation of Palau, under which group tourists could travel between the two provided they test negative for the virus before departure and haven’t tested positive within three months.

India’s New Cases Rise Back Above 35,000 (11:48 a.m. HK)

India’s Health Ministry reported 35,871 new cases as the nation’s infection count continues to rise. The total was the highest since the first week of January. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged an increase in testing and tracing to curb the rise in infections.

AstraZeneca’s Korean Partner Doubles in Debut (8:06 a.m. HK)

Concern over the side effects of AstraZeneca’s shot failed to dent the trading debut of its Korean partner SK Bioscience Co., which more than doubled its market value to 12.9 trillion won ($11.5 billion). Shares of the vaccine-making unit of conglomerate SK Group rose by their 160% daily limit in South Korea’s largest domestic listing since 2017.

Some European Union countries including Germany and France temporarily suspended use of the AstraZenaca shot on concern about blood-clotting in a few patients. Korean health authorities said on Wednesday it has no reports of blood-clotting in the country after the shot. President Moon Jae-in is set to receive the U.K.-developed vaccine next week.

South Korea plans to inoculate 12 million people by July, with early batches mostly from SK Bioscience, which also signed a licensing agreement with Novavax Inc. last month.

Tanzanian Leader Who Scoffed at Covid Dies (5:45 p.m. NY)

Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who drew widespread criticism for his policy on the coronavirus pandemic, has died five months after he won a second term in a disputed election. He was 61. Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Magufuli died of a “heart illness.”

Magufuli insisted his country was free of Covid-19, discouraged the use of face masks and advised his people to pray and undergo steam therapy to safeguard their health. While most of the rest of the world clamored to access vaccines, his administration eschewed them and said it was working on developing alternative natural remedies.

Brazil Surpasses 90,000 Cases in Record Day (5:35 p.m. NY)

Brazil registered more than 90,000 Covid-19 cases for the first time, a second straight day of record numbers as the country fights against a health system collapse.

The occupancy rate of ICUs at public hospitals is above 80%, a threshold considered critical, in almost all states. In 19 of 27 state capitals, more than 90% of beds are occupied.

NY Eases Curbs, Expands Vaccine Eligibility (3:55 p.m. NY)

New York restrictions on fitness classes and curfews for casinos, movie theaters and gyms will be lifted in the coming weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.

On Monday indoor fitness classes in New York City will be allowed at 33% capacity, with social distancing, sanitizing and mask rules in place, Cuomo said during a virus briefing. The state on Monday also will lift restrictions in Queens, the Bronx and other zones, allowing them to once again align with more relaxed statewide Covid restrictions.

The 11 p.m. curfew in place for businesses including casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys and gyms will be lifted on April 5, but will remain in place for restaurants and catering halls for the time being, Cuomo said.

Earlier, New York expanded vaccine eligibility to three more categories of workers, Cuomo said in a tweet. The age-based cutoff remains at 60.

Cuomo received a Johnson & Johnson vaccination on Wednesday in Harlem, surrounded by Black leaders who heaped praise on the embattled governor. He faces growing calls for his resignation by members of his own party and a legislative impeachment investigation over accusations of sexual harassment.

In neighboring New Jersey, indoor capacity limits for restaurants, gyms and health clubs, recreational facilities and arcades and personal care businesses will increase to 50% effective Friday at 6 a.m., Governor Phil Murphy said in a tweet.

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