Singapore Medical Bills; ICUs Fill in Western U.S.: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- Singaporeans who choose not to get vaccinated could face medical bills of almost $20,000 if they get infected and end up needing intensive care and therapeutics.   

Hospitals in some parts of the U.S. are starting to see the impact of an autumn wave of Covid-19 infections, the latest sign that the health-care system still faces serious pressure, even in places that have achieved relatively high vaccination rates. The head of the organization representing companies in labor relations at the largest ports in the U.S. is worried that the federal vaccine mandate set to take effect in January could worsen the supply-chain crisis.

One of Austria’s regions is planning a lockdown for unvaccinated residents, with tighter rules also looming for those without an inoculation in the Czech Republic. New cases in Germany jumped by more than 50,000 in a single day, as the southern state of Bavaria declared the latest wave a “disaster situation.” 

Key Developments:

Singapore’s Readies High Medical Bills (9:03 a.m. HK)

Singapore’s Covid patients who choose not to get vaccinated could face high medical bills. 

In general, Covid-19 patients who need both care in intensive care units and therapeutics in hospitals may have to pay about S$25,000 ($18,460), according to a median estimate released by the health ministry on Thursday, in response to Bloomberg News queries. 

Japan to Expand Local Travel Subsidy (8:13 a.m. HK)

The Japanese government plans to expand a subsidy program to encourage local travel within the year, Nikkei reported, without saying where it got the information.

Discounts of 50% of travel costs, capped at 5,000 yen a night, would apply to travel to surrounding prefectures in addition to prefecture of residence. Aims to gradually boost travel demand beginning locally before it resumes its “Go To” travel program.

The subsididy will be incorporated into an economic package set to be announced on Nov. 19. 

Takeda Seeks Approval of Moderna Third Dose (8:12 a.m. HK)

Takeda filed an application to obtain Japan approval for a third dose for Moderna’s vaccine, Nikkei reported, citing the Japanese drugmaker.

Japan’s Health Ministry on Thursday approved use of Pfizer vaccine for third shot. 

Maine Outbreak Worsens Among Unvaccinated (7:12 a.m. HK)

The outbreak in Maine, one of the U.S.’s most vaccinated states, continues to worsen in what some experts say is a glimpse of the next wave of the pandemic. Maine has the fifth-highest rate of vaccination in the U.S., according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. 

But the seven-day average of cases is the highest in a month, as infections spread among unvaccinated areas of the state, with outbreaks in more than 150 schools. The outbreak is not expected to improve as winter comes and people spend more time indoors. 

“Unfortunately, this is unlikely to change in the near term,” Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director, said on Wednesday, according to the Portland Press Herald.

Judge Denies LAPD Challenge to Shot Mandate (3:45 p.m. NY)

The union representing Los Angeles Police Department officers failed to win a court order blocking a mandate that all city workers be vaccinated against Covid-19.

California Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff on Wednesday denied the union’s request for a temporary restraining order on the mandate, which sets a Dec. 18 deadline for vaccination. 

Detroit Hospitalizations Spike (3:39 p.m. NY)

Detroit is “once again becoming a hot spot” as hospital admissions in the metro area surge, Nick Gilpin, a doctor with the area’s biggest medical system, said Thursday. He said his warning was aimed particularly at unvaccinated people.

The area’s infection level has risen to “substantial to high,” Gilpin, an infectious disease specialist at Beaumont Health, said in a briefing. “We’ve to to stay vigilant.”

Hospitalizations across Michigan have increased about 20% in the last week. Slightly less than 59% of people in Michigan have received a first dose of vaccine, compared with a national average of almost 68%, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. 

Moderna Sells Vaccine in Africa at Lower Price (12:29 p.m. NY)

Moderna Inc. is selling its Covid-19 vaccine to the African Union at $7 a dose, much less than the price other countries paid for the shot earlier this year.

Moderna’s vaccine was seen as one of the more expensive shots, with the company’s chief executive officer having given a range of $25 to $37 per shot for the two-dose vaccine.

Poll Shows Opposition to Kids’ Shot Mandate (11:52 a.m. NY)

Only 44% of Americans support requiring Covid-19 vaccines for schoolchildren aged 5 to 11, who became eligible for the shots last week, according to a Monmouth University poll.

The survey, conducted by phone Nov. 4-8, also found that around 59% supported school-based vaccine mandates for teachers and staff. Around 53% backed the requirements for kids 12 and older. The survey’s margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Mauritius Tightens Curbs (11:04 a.m. NY)

Mauritius is reimposing restrictions as cases and deaths rise again amid the spread of the delta variant. Starting Friday, bars and nightclubs will be closed, and sports activities, concerts and picnics will be banned, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said in a statement on national television. Fewer people can attend funerals and weddings. 

“People went to the beach, did shopping and attended parties without taking the necessary precautions,” the prime minister said. “With such carelessness, the situation has deteriorated ... We must react.”

Vaccine Mandate May Worsen Port Snarls (11:02 a.m. NY)

The head of the organization representing companies in labor relations at the U.S.’s largest ports is worried that the federal vaccine mandate set to take effect in January could worsen the current supply-chain crisis.

James McKenna, president of the Pacific Maritime Association, which negotiates labor agreements for 70 companies at 29 West Coast ports, said he’s concerned that some workers who aren’t vaccinated won’t report for duty if there’s a mandate in place. McKenna estimates 30% to 40% of local dockworkers aren’t vaccinated.

“Probably the worst thing that could happen to us is to have less bodies available to man these terminals,” McKenna said in an interview.

Europe Backs Regeneron-Roche Cocktail (10:35 a.m. NY)

Roche Holding AG and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s antibody cocktail was recommended by a European Medicines Agency committee for authorization as a treatment for Covid-19.

That paves the way for the use of Ronapreve, the drug combination, in the European Union. The drugmakers already have approval for it in the U.S. 

Myanmar Eases Curbs (10:32 a.m. NY)

Myanmar announced lifting of the stay-at-home order imposed on 17 townships in seven provinces where Covid-19 cases sharply declined in the past two weeks, according to the Ministry of Health

Moderna Defends Vaccine’s Heart Safety (10:18 a.m. NY)

Moderna Inc. held a brief conference call to defend the safety of its Covid-19 shot from a barrage of questions about associated heart risks in young people.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton acknowledged on the call that the company’s Covid-19 vaccine does appear linked to increased chances of an inflammatory heart condition known as myocarditis in young men. Moderna maintains that the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the extremely rare risk of myocarditis, he said Thursday. 

Hospitals in U.S. West Under Siege (10:14 a.m. NY)

Hospitals in some parts of the U.S. are already starting to see the impact of an autumn wave of Covid-19 infections, the latest sign that the health-care system still faces serious pressure from the virus, even in places that have achieved relatively high vaccination rates.

Intensive-care beds occupied by Covid-19 patients are climbing in 12 states from two weeks earlier, with most of them in a contiguous strip running from Arizona and New Mexico, through the Great Plains and into Minnesota. In several Western states, many doctors and nurses haven’t caught their breath from the last round of infections.

Record Cases in Netherlands (9:39 a.m. NY)

The Dutch national health service reported 16,364 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, the highest daily number since the start of the pandemic.

The Outbreak Management Team, which advises the cabinet, is recommending a two-week period of “lockdown-like measures” in a bid to prevent infections from rising further, according to Dutch news network NOS.

Austrian Region Plans Curbs for Unvaccinated (9:20 a.m. NY)

The Austrian region with the highest coronavirus infection rate will impose a lockdown for unvaccinated people in an effort to contain the pandemic.

Upper Austrians who haven’t taken the vaccine will only be allowed to leave home for work and to buy everyday goods from Monday, several newspapers said Thursday, citing state leader Thomas Stelzer. The national Covid task force has recommended a similar measure for neighboring Salzburg state.

Israel’s Covid ‘War Games’ (3:34 p.m. HK)

Israel started a national drill in the format of a war game to test the nation’s readiness for the outbreak of a new, lethal Covid-19 variant.

The drill will test national management of new strains yet to be discovered in Israel and will take place over three sessions. 

While Israel remains among the most protected nations worldwide because of its vaccine rollout, the government is preparing for all scenarios, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.

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