Novavax Shot Progress; U.S. Deaths Near 600,000: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) --

Novavax Inc.’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate showed strong efficacy against the coronavirus, including mutated variants, in a large trial. The company plans to file for vaccine authorization in the U.S. and Europe in the third quarter. The U.S. death toll is approaching 600,000.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a four-week extension in pandemic restrictions beyond June 21 because of a surge in the delta variant.

The Group of Seven backed Japan’s plan to proceed with the Olympic Games in Tokyo as a symbol of global unity in the battle against Covid-19. Meanwhile, the group fell short on a pledge to donate 1 billion additional vaccine doses to developing nations.

Key Developments:

Hospital Workers Lose Vaccine Mandate Case (8:35 a.m. NY)

Houston Methodist Hospital workers lost their bid to block a policy requiring them to be vaccinated against Covid-19 after a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas dismissed their lawsuit.

The workers’ claim that the currently available Covid-19 vaccines are experimental and dangerous “is false, and it is also irrelevant,” Judge Lynn N. Hughes said in a five-page court opinion.

Moderna Names Burton Chief Medical Officer (8:10 a.m. NY)

Moderna Inc. named former Johnson & Johnson executive Paul Burton chief medical officer to replace Tal Zaks, who is leaving the Covid vaccine-maker after six years. Burton spent 16 years with J&J in a variety of roles, most recently as chief global medical affairs officer of Janssen Pharmaceuticals. He’ll assume the role at Moderna July 6, according to a statement.

Germany’s Soeder Rejects ‘Vaccine Tourism’ (7:05 a.m. NY)

Bavaria Premier Markus Soeder has called for rules to be introduced to prevent people traveling to other countries for a Covid-19 shot.

“We don’t want vaccine tourism, that is wrong,” Soeder said Monday at a news conference. He was addressing a report that a group of more than 100 workers from an Italian luxury resort traveled to Munich in May and were inoculated in a hotel at the Bavarian capital’s airport then immediately returned to Italy.

Novavax Posts 90% Vaccine Efficacy (6 a.m. NY)

Novavax Inc. said its Covid-19 vaccine was 90% effective at preventing symptomatic Covid and 100% effective at preventing moderate and severe symptoms. The shot was 93% effective against variants of concern, it said. The company expects to be able to manufacture 100 million doses a month by the end of the third quarter and 150 million daily by the end of the fourth quarter.

Iran Approves Locally Developed Vaccine (5:28 p.m. HK)

Iran issued an emergency license for use of its locally developed COVIran Barakat vaccine, Health Minister Saeed Namaki told state TV on Monday, in a boost to the vaccination drive in the Middle East’s worst coronavirus outbreak. Officials previously said the jab is 100% effective against the alpha variant first identified in the U.K.

Approval for a second vaccine, jointly developed by Iranian and Cuban scientists, is expected “early next week,” the minister said.

U.K. Workers Going to Offices Increase (4:19 p.m. HK)

Employees entering offices in major U.K. cities rose to 35% of pre-Covid levels last week from 33% a week earlier, according to data from Metrikus, which installs sensors in office buildings to measure occupancy rates.

U.S. Death Toll Nears 600,000 (3:24 p.m. HK)

The U.S. is approaching 600,000 deaths from Covid, even as new fatalities, infections and hospitalizations continue to plummet nationwide. The vaccination drive has slowed significantly but the results are clear: Masks are disappearing, the country is largely reopening.

Daily deaths have fallen from a peak of more than 5,000 per day in February to an average of about 300 over the last week. That slowed the growth of the U.S. death toll, which hit half a million on Feb. 22, almost four months ago. Before then it took just over a month for the tally to rise from 400,000 to 500,000.

The U.S. has administered over 309 million vaccines, with almost 87% of people 65 and older receiving at least one dose and 76% fully vaccinated. The ratio of death among the elderly compared with people aged 18-49 has dropped 66%, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deaths among the vaccinated are exceedingly rare. A total of 603 people among the 139 million fully inoculated in the U.S. died in the past six months.

Ireland May Lift U.K. Quarantine Requirements (3:11 p.m. HK)

Ireland’s government is considering lifting quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated passengers arriving from Britain, though it may extend the minimum period of home isolation for others, the Irish Times reported.

Travelers from Britain are currently requested to quarantine at a home address for 14 days on arrival, but can exit quarantine with a negative or “not detected” Covid-19 PCR test result after five days. That period may be extended to 10 days under changes likely to be discussed by the Cabinet on Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

Ho Chi Minh City Extends Social Distancing (1:14 p.m. HK)

Ho Chi Minh City extended social distancing measures for two more weeks from June 15, newspaper Tuoi Tre reported, citing Mayor Nguyen Thanh Phong during a Monday meeting.

Vietnam’s commercial hub is experiencing a number of new clusters even after two weeks of restrictions and more areas in the city may experience lockdowns, Phong said, according to Tuoi Tre. Extended social distancing applies to Go Vap district and a ward in district 12, which have been locked down since May 31 following a cluster tied to a religious group, the report said.

The city, which imposed 15 days of social distancing on May 31, has reported 209 more local Covid cases since June 12, according to the health ministry.

Johnson Set to Delay Lifting U.K.’s Covid Rules (12 p.m. HK)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to delay his plan to lift England’s pandemic restrictions amid concerns that a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases could put hospitals under strain.

The surge in the delta variant first identified in India has forced Johnson and his team to rethink their blueprint for ending social distancing rules on June 21. Instead, officials now expect the premier to announce a delay of as long as four weeks to the easing of most rules when he sets out his decision to the nation on Monday evening.

Japan Gains G-7 Backing for Olympics (8:06 a.m. HK)

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga gained the support of U.S. President Joe Biden and other Group of Seven leaders for Tokyo’s hosting of the Olympics next month, in a boost for the premier’s plans to push ahead with the event despite virus concerns.

“President Biden affirmed his support for the Tokyo Olympic Games moving forward with all public health measures necessary to protect athletes, staff and spectators,” the White House said in a statement following a conversation between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in the coastal Cornwall region of the U.K.

The final communique from the G-7 leaders also mentioned their support for the holding of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo in a safe and secure manner “as a symbol of global unity in overcoming Covid-19.”

Malaysia May Review Lockdown: Star (7:55 a.m. HK)

Malaysia is studying the possibility of easing the standard operating procedures of its current nationwide lockdown if daily Covid-19 infections drop below 4,000, Star reported, citing Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The government will hold a meeting to discuss the matter, he said. However, any relaxation of movement restrictions will be subject to advice from the health ministry.

California Vaccinations Near 40 Million (7:08 a.m. HK)

California’s vaccinations are approaching 40 million ahead of the state’s reopening on Tuesday.

“Everyday life will feel a lot like before Covid-19,” the Department of Developmental Service said in a tweet. “Restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, and most everyday places will be open as normal with no capacity limits or social distancing required.”

A total of 39.5 million shots have been administered, the equivalent of the state’s population. A total of 18.7 million people are now fully vaccinated, health authorities said. The Golden State on Sunday reported just four deaths, bringing the total to 62,512.

Germany Could End Outdoor Masking (7 a.m. HK)

German Health Minister Jens Spahn suggested ending the mask mandate for outdoor activities as Covid-19 infections recede.

“With falling incidence rates, we should proceed in stages,” Funke Media Group quoted Spahn as saying in an interview. “As a first step, compulsory masks can be dropped outside.” Face masks will remain recommended “when in doubt,” for instance when traveling or meeting indoors, he said.

Daily deaths in Germany attributed to Covid-19 declined to 18, the Robert Koch Institute health agency said on its website Sunday, the fewest since October.

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