EU Envoys Back U.S. Travel Curb Lift; U.K.’s Vote: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- European Union government envoys agreed to lift travel restrictions for U.S. residents, a diplomat familiar with the meeting said, the latest step toward a return to normal despite concerns over the spread of new variants.

The U.K. Parliament will vote on prolonging England’s pandemic restrictions, with members of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s conservative party saying this extension must be the last, 15 months after the country first went into lockdown. Indonesia reported the most new coronavirus cases since late February.

California fully reopened its economy, while New York lifted its remaining restrictions. The developments took place on a day when U.S. pandemic deaths topped 600,000, a grim reminder of the toll the virus has taken on the nation.

Key Developments:

Pandemic to Last Two Years for U.K.’s Hopkins (7:10 a.m. NY)

Coronavirus variants will continue to emerge and “we will not be through this pandemic until the whole world has the ability to get vaccinated,” Susan Hopkins, deputy director of Public Health England’s National Infection Service, said at a House of Commons science committee meeting. “And that realistically is two years away.”

EU Doesn’t See J&J Meeting Deliveries (7:09 a.m. NY)

The European Union doesn’t expect Johnson & Johnson to fulfill its commitment for 55 million vaccine deliveries this quarter, a spokesman of the bloc’s executive arm said. While the European Commission isn’t in a position to give a precise estimate of how many vaccines the drugmaker will deliver this quarter, its spokesman told reporters in Brussels that the delay won’t derail the bloc’s plans to vaccinate 70% of its adult population this summer.

Moscow Orders Inoculations as Infections Spike (6:48 a.m. NY)

Moscow ordered service-sector and municipal workers to get vaccinated amid a spike in infections, as the Kremlin denied any reversal in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s opposition to compulsory inoculation. At least 60% of workers at consumer-facing businesses and city employees, including health professionals and teachers, must receive a dose of one of Russia’s domestically-developed vaccines by July 15.

Japan to Lift Virus State of Emergency (6:56 a.m. NY)

Japan decided to lift the coronavirus state of emergency for Tokyo and other areas, excluding Okinawa prefecture, when it expires June 20, broadcaster NHK reported.

EU’s Sputnik Review Delayed, Reuters Says (5 p.m. HK)

EU clearance for Russia’s Sputnik vaccine may be delayed until September or later after a June 10 deadline to submit key clinical trial data was missed, Reuters reported, citing a German government official and another unidentified person familiar with the matter. The European Medicines Agency has given Russia’s Gamaleya Institute an extra week to provide the necessary data, according to the report.

Indonesia Cases Reach Highest Since February (4:43 p.m. HK)

Indonesia reported 9,944 new virus cases, the highest since the end of February.

EU to Lift Travel Restrictions for Americans (4:27 p.m. HK)

European Union government envoys in Brussels agreed to lift restrictions on non-essential travel for U.S. residents, a diplomat familiar with the ongoing meeting said.

It’s the latest step toward a return to normal despite concerns over the spread of potentially dangerous coronavirus variants. While some EU member states already allow vaccinated Americans to visit, the move means that restrictions will be lifted across the bloc. It also means that member states are free to allow quarantine-free travel from the U.S independently of vaccination status.

Singapore New Cases Cloud Easing Plan (4:27 p.m. HK)

Singapore’s government is evaluating the timing and scope of the next stage of reopening given that new cases “are breaking out” and there’s a major new cluster, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said in a Facebook post.

Singapore’s authorities found 14 new locally-transmitted coronavirus cases, including four untraceable infections. The island nation pursued a strategy of aggressively testing and quickly ring-fencing clusters as it moves toward a loosening of restrictions. Over the weekend, a spike in cases from a shopping mall and food center prompted government officials to shut down the locations as well as test and quarantine staff and tenants.

The government loosened restrictions on gatherings as of Monday and is slated to resume dining-in at restaurants and the opening of fitness classes from June 21.

Sputnik Not as Effective on Delta Variant (4:06 p.m. HK)

Russia’s Sputnik shot provides some protection against the delta variant, but like other vaccines it doesn’t work as well as against the original strain. Sputnik is up to 60% less effective against the mutation, the head of the Gamaleya Institute, which developed the vaccine, told Interfax.

Russian scientists have also identified a modified version of the delta variant in Moscow and are currently testing Sputnik’s effectiveness on it. The number of daily cases in Moscow has spiked this month and is approaching the December peak, forcing the Russian capital to reopen some hospital wards and impose a number of restrictions.

Angry U.K. Tories Warn Delay Must Be Final (2:51 p.m. HK)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to prolong England’s pandemic restrictions is the last extension many in his Conservative Party will bear, 15 months after the country first went into lockdown.

Johnson’s decision to push back the final stage of reopening the economy planned for June 21 has triggered a backlash from Tory members of Parliament, who had dubbed the lifting of the curbs as England’s “Freedom Day.” Many Tories will reject the extension, while “lots” more privately agree with the rebels even though they’ll ultimately vote with the government, one MP said. The delay is due to be put to a Parliament vote on Wednesday.

Hong Kong’s Banker Exemption on Hold (12:37 p.m. HK)

A new program to allow senior business leaders to visit or return to Hong Kong without mandatory hotel quarantine has been put on hold. Bank executives who applied to take trips in June have been told to postpone indefinitely while officials consider the details and implementation of the policy.

Announced at the end of May, the new rules would have allowed financial firms to apply for two quarantine exemptions per month for resident bankers and two for visiting executives. All would be subject to extensive monitoring, restrictions and testing during the incubation period but could go to work and have business meetings.

Tokyo Olympics May Usher State of Emergency (11:52 a.m. HK)

Japanese experts from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Kyoto University said their projections point to the need for a fresh coronavirus state of emergency during the Tokyo Olympics, which is scheduled to start in about five weeks, Kyodo reported.

Hong Kong Finds Covid on Thai Crocodile Ribs (9:03 a.m. HK)

A sample from the packaging of frozen crocodile spare ribs imported from Thailand tested positive, according to a government statement. The source of the virus on the sample, which was taken at the residence of a confirmed patient, is still unknown.

Hong Kong authorities said they have asked the vendor of the crocodile ribs to stop selling them and provide more samples for testing. In China, officials have previously reported finding the coronavirus on product packaging and said that imported refrigerated goods risk re-introducing the virus into the country.

Malaysia’s Royals to Meet (5:45 a.m. HK)

Malaysia’s royal leaders will meet Wednesday amid growing public anger over the government’s handling of the pandemic during a state of emergency that has allowed embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to suspend parliament and enact emergency laws without legislative approval to bring the outbreak under control.

The meeting, to be chaired by King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad, comes as daily infections averaged about 5,800 in the past seven days, almost double than when Malaysia declared emergency rule in January.

“The issue now is whether the emergency, which is set to end Aug. 1, should be continued,” wrote Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who heads the youth wing of the ruling United Malays National Organisation. “What’s the use of an emergency if it’s not helping the people?”

Maldives Eases Virus Curbs (4:45 p.m. NY)

The Indian Ocean nation of Maldives eased a curfew in its capital as new infections continued to decline. Residents, who’d previously been confined to their homes for 16 hours a day, will be allowed out between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. to exercise as of Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. provided they get a household permit or special police authorization, according to the state news agency Public Service Media News. The country of roughly 540,000 has about 8,155 active Covid-19 cases.

Amazon.com Selling Its Own Covid Test (4:40 p.m. NY)

Amazon.com Inc. has started selling its FDA-approved Covid-19 test to the public on AmazonDx.com, STAT News reported. That web site was previously available only for the company’s employees.

California Fully Reopens Economy (3:30 p.m. NY)

California Governor Gavin Newsom marked the full reopening of the world’s fifth-largest economy Tuesday with a lottery awarding 10 vaccinated residents $1.5 million each. Speaking at Universal Studios near Los Angeles, he touted the most-populous U.S. state’s virus progress while saying he is taking variants seriously and “won’t let our guard down.”

The first state to shut down, California is lifting capacity limits and social distancing requirements and removing most mask mandates for vaccinated individuals. After recording almost 3.7 million virus cases, the most in the U.S., California now boasts one of the lowest test-positivity rates in the country.

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