India Hits Daily Record; Variant Common in U.S.: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- India recorded its highest-ever number of daily Covid-19 cases as its fight to curtail a renewed wave of infections is beset by vaccine shortages in several states and cities, including Mumbai. Tokyo is eyeing a return to stricter measures as infections in the city hit a two-month high.

The European Union failed to unify in responding to links between AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine and a rare type of blood clots. EU Health ministers say they’ll continue talks on the issue.

The variant of the coronavirus first found in the U.K. has overtaken the initial form of the virus in the U.S. and is now the country’s most common strain. President Joe Biden will offer vaccine shipments to all of the nation’s community health centers. To the north, Canada’s largest province, Ontario, declared a state of emergency.

Key Developments:

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Tokyo Eyes Tighter Restrictions as Japan Cases Rebound (1:45 p.m. HK)

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said at a meeting Thursday that the metropolitan government would ask the central government to designate the capital as an area that requires stricter measures, adding that the number of cases with the N501Y mutation -- considered more contagious -- was quickly increasing in the Japanese capital.

Austria’s Vaccine Panel Keeps Recommendation to Use Astra (1:30 p.m. HK)

Austria’s national vaccine panel recommended the country keep using AstraZeneca’s vaccine for all age groups and genders after the European drug regulator said there could be a link between the shots and rare blood clots. The benefits still outweighed the risk of the vaccine in all populations, the body said in a statement late Wednesday.

India Hits Record Daily Case Total (1:10 p.m. HK)

New infections in India rose to a daily record as more than 126,700 cases were reported Thursday, pushing the country’s total tally past 12.9 million. It’s third day this week that the daily surge has exceeded 100,000 cases, as a new coronavirus wave grips the nation and vaccine shortages hobble its inoculation drive -- notably in hotspot Maharashtra state, home to financial hub Mumbai.

Deaths rose to 166,862, and more than 90 million people have received vaccination so far, according to health ministry data. The surge is infections has forced several state governments tighten social distancing rules and put India on course to reclaim its spot from Brazil as the world’s second-worst hit country.

Read more: India’s Virus Epicenter Has Only Three Days of Vaccines in Stock

Philippine FDA Urges Halting Astra Shots for Under-60s (12:45 p.m. HK)

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration recommended that the country’s health department halt the use of AstraZeneca vaccines for people below 60 years old. The Southeast Asian nation has run out of AstraZeneca shots, and the local regulator will issue new guidelines before more supplies are expected to arrive this month, said FDA head Eric Domingo. The regulator has also allowed the use of Sinovac’s vaccines FOR senior citizens, as the nation seeks to speed up inoculations amid a new surge in Covid-19 cases.

Vaccination Concerns in Denver Area (12:03 p.m. HK)

Eleven people suffered adverse effects such as nausea and dizziness Wednesday after receiving the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine at a community vaccination event in a Denver suburb, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said. Two of the people were transported to a hospital for observation “out of an abundance of caution” and the others received first aid at the site in Commerce City, the department said.

South African Variant Emerges in Bangladesh: Report (11:05 a.m. HK)

Bangladesh discovered a “dramatic change” in the distribution of coronavirus variants after a new South African strain appeared, Dhaka-based health research organization Icddr,b said in a report.

It became the country’s most prevalent strain in the third week of March, according to the report. Researchers tested 16,265 specimens between January 1 and March 24, of which 2,751 were positive. The South African variant accounted for 81% of the positive cases, Icddr,b said.

Canada’s Biggest Province Declares Emergency (9:25 a.m. HK)

Ontario -- home to more than 14.7 million people -- declared a state of emergency, forcing most retail stores to operate under new restrictions. It said it would change its inoculation strategy as it battles a new, more dangerous Covid wave.

Ontario issued a stay-at-home order starting April 8 at 12:01 a.m. Toronto time, in place for four weeks. Most categories of stores will be required to shut their doors, serving customers only through delivery or outdoor pickup.

Uruguay Could See First Vaccine Gains By Late April (8:16 a.m. HK)

Uruguay could start to see the benefits of its vaccination program as soon as late April or early May, President Luis Lacalle Pou said. Some 860,000 people will have received two Coronavac doses by the end of May, and the government is seeking more vaccines in case it decides to inoculate people under age 18 -- or give adults a third dose.

Puerto Rico Boosts Restrictions Amid Surge (7:30 a.m. HK)

Puerto Rico is expanding its nightly curfew and banning all large gatherings from Friday, even as the U.S. territory prepares to open up vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 years and older starting April 12.

Under the new restrictions, the curfew will run from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.-- rather than beginning at midnight. Establishments will be required to close at 9 p.m., rather than 11 p.m. And all large gatherings will be banned unless they receive special permission. Governor Pedro Pierluisi made the announcement in his annual address and said details would be made public Thursday.

EU Fails to Find United Response to Astra Risks (6:43 a.m. HK)

The European Union failed to form a united response to links between AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine and a rare type of blood clots.

At a meeting that ran until late Wednesday, EU health ministers promised in a statement to continue discussions on vaccination planning. The EU’s immunization program has been bogged down by poor planning, supply delays and increasingly a lack of solidarity.

Mexico FM to Visit U.S. Seeking Doses (4:36 p.m. NY)

Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard will soon travel to the U.S. to press for more vaccines from its northern neighbor to help get through a supply crunch during the next three months, Ebrad’s deputy said Wednesday.

Delgado said Mexico had a “permanent petition” for any available vaccines from the U.S., such as the AstraZeneca shot that has yet to be approved by regulators there.

Italy Clears Astra Shot for People Over 60 (3:30 p.m. NY)

Italy is recommending the use of AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine for people over 60 years of age, government health adviser Franco Locatelli said during a press conference in Rome. France and Germany made similar recommendations.

Qatar Reimposes Strict Limits (1:10 p.m. NY)

Qatar reimposed strict restrictions on group activities and businesses after recording three consecutive days of more than 900 new cases -- the highest official counts since June. According to state-run QNA, restaurants will close to in-person dining starting Friday, while cinemas and salons will close completely. Offices will be limited to 50% capacity, and gatherings in open spaces will be limited to five vaccinated people.

Alabama to Drop Mask Mandate (12:25 p.m. NY)

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey lifted the state’s mask mandate, saying the order would go into effect on Friday. Individuals are still “strongly encouraged” to wear face coverings when in public or in close contact with others, the governor said in a statement. Texas and Indiana also dropped their mask mandates.

U.K. Variant Most Common Strain in U.S. (11:25 a.m. NY)

The B.1.1.7 variant of the coronavirus, first found in the U.K., has overtaken the initial form of the virus in the U.S. and is now the country’s most common strain, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said at a briefing that the version had overtaken other mutations that have emerged, as well as the initial version of the virus in the U.S.

Biden Expands Program at Health Centers (10:20 a.m. NY)

U.S. President Joe Biden will offer Covid-19 vaccine shipments to all of the nation’s community health centers, adding 2,500 delivery sites in a program aimed at closing the racial gap in inoculations.

The White House will announce Wednesday that 520 more such centers will be eligible to receive vaccine shipments, increasing the total to about 1,470 across the U.S., an official familiar with the plans said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.

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