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New Zealand’s Vaccine Plan, Brazil’s Record Deaths: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) — Brazil reported a record number of Covid-19 deaths, while New Zealand, a world leader in its pandemic response, released plans for a targeted rollout of vaccines over the next few months to those in the most at-risk groups. China extended its stretch without local infections. BioNTech SE may be able to produce 3 billion doses of its Covid-19 vaccine with partner Pfizer Inc. next year. The shot has shown a high ability in lab experiments to neutralize strains first detected in Brazil, the U.K. and South Africa.The European Union will propose a certificate that could ease travel for those who have taken vaccines. In the U.S., airlines are urging the Biden administration to develop virus passports as infections spread at the slowest pace since the pandemic began. Malaysia is easing some curbs on travel between states.Key Developments:Global Tracker: Cases pass 117.5 million; deaths top 2.6 millionVaccine Tracker: More than 319 million shots given worldwideU.S. Spotlight: Death forecast drops as pandemic indicators improveVaccine success brings a despised president back from the brinkAfrica can save the world from a never-ending pandemicHow the pandemic darkens the picture on women’s pay: QuickTakeSubscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on cases and deaths.China Extends Stretch Without Local Infections (10:40 a.m. HK)China reported five new infections today, but all were imported. The last time the country had a local transmission was Feb. 6, underscoring the success of a stringent strategy that includes border curbs, mass testing and hard lockdowns on anywhere with Covid-19 cases. Those tough measures included the likes of January’s full lockdown of Tonghua, a city of 2 million people in Jilin province, in which residents were banned from leaving their homes.The action successfully curbed a winter flare-up in China which at times saw more than 100 people a day infected. Infections subsequently declined even as many families braved the pandemic to gather during lunar new year holidays in the middle of February.At the ongoing National People’s Congress in Beijing, delegates have continued to wear masks, though President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang appeared without masks on Friday.Mexico’s Death Toll Reaches 191,789 (10:30 a.m. HK)Mexico had a further 866 Covid-19 deaths, bringing the total to 191,789, according to the Health Ministry. Some 26% of general hospital beds are occupied, and 30% of beds with ventilators are occupied, it said. Mexico has administered 3,100,868 vaccine doses. with 605,801 people having received a second dose.Separately, El Financiero reported that Health Ministry official Ruy Lopez Ridaura confirmed that eight Mexican states received Sinovac’s vaccine at between 11 and 12 degrees Celsius, when it should be kept between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. Lopez Ridaura said the vaccine can be kept up to 25 degrees for more than a week without losing its potency, and at that temperature it wouldn’t begin to lose effectiveness until day 14, the report said. New Zealand Releases Vaccine Rollout Plans (9:08 a.m. HK)New Zealand, which tops Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking measuring which places best-handled the pandemic, will have a targeted rollout of vaccines over the next three-to-four months to reach 2 million people in the most at-risk groups. Those in South Auckland aged over 65 or with underlying conditions will get shots from the end of this month.The country has already started inoculating border and managed isolation facility workers and their families, along with 480,000 frontline workers and people living in high-risk settings. From May, shots will go to 1.7 million people who are at higher risk.“The rest of the population will be able to be vaccinated from July onwards and our plan is to have as many people as possible vaccinated by the end of the year,” Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement. “Every New Zealander will be able to get a vaccine and the vaccine will be free.”San Francisco Backs Hazard Pay for Grocery Workers (8:55 a.m. HK)Workers in chain groceries and pharmacies in San Francisco may be eligible for an extra $5 per hour in pandemic-related hazard pay under an emergency measure the city’s Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday, Bloomberg Law reported. The bill will take effect immediately if signed as expected by the mayor.U.K. Panel Questions Test-and-Trace Costs (8:35 a.m. HK)The U.K.’s coronavirus test-and-trace program has failed to demonstrate it has contributed to a fall in infection rates, despite its “unimaginable” 22 billion-pound ($30.6 billion) cost so far, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee said in a report.Parliament’s spending watchdog said the program had failed to deliver on its “central promise” to prevent a second national lockdown in England — or a third.“British taxpayers cannot be treated by government like an ATM machine,” committee Chair Meg Hillier said in a statement. “Despite the unimaginable resources thrown at this project, test-and-trace cannot point to a measurable difference to the progress of the pandemic.”Britain May Cut Air Passenger Duty on Domestic Flights (8:30 a.m. HK)The British government will launch a consultation to reform the levy for internal U.K. flights, the Department for Transport said. This could mean a “return leg exemption” so passengers only pay for their outward flight, or a new lower domestic rate.The proposal is part of a review aimed at exploring how transport can better connect all parts of the U.K., after the collapse of Flybe at the start of the pandemic.Cathay to Reveal Hit From Covid Travel Slump (8:25 a.m. HK)Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. will later today release full-year earnings that may underscore the damage to the airline from lockdowns and travel curbs, after a first-half loss of HK$9.87 billion ($1.3 billion) and a recapitalization in July. The airline is Hong Kong’s primary carrier.How Cathay’s Calamitous Year Unravelled After Covid Struck Malaysia Eases Curbs on Tourist Travel Between States (8:10 a.m. HK)Malaysia is allowing travel between states subject to the Recovery Movement Control Order, Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a briefing late Tuesday. Travel must be for tourism purposes only, and travelers must use the services of registered travel agencies, using their vehicles to cross state lines. Malaysia will also allow live performances with an audience present, subject to Covid-19 protocols, from today.Japan’s AnGes Completes Phase 2/3 Trial of Vaccine (8:05 a.m. HK)Japanese biotech startup AnGes says it has completed the inoculation of 500 people participating in the phase 2/3 trial of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate and will report its findings after “several months” of observation. The vaccine candidate is a two-shot regimen and was administered to participants in the Tokyo and Kansai areas.Maryland to Ease Restrictions on Businesses (6:55 a.m. HK)Maryland will lift restrictions on most businesses beginning Friday, eliminating the 50% capacity limit that had been in place for religious facilities, retail establishments, bars, restaurants and fitness centers.Quarantine requirements and other restrictions regarding out-of-state travel will also be lifted. Large outdoor and indoor venues will expand to 50% capacity, including conference and wedding venues, concert venues, conventions, theaters, racing facilities, and sporting venues.Brazil Covid Deaths Hit a Record (5:13 p.m. NY)Brazil reported a record number of deaths from coronavirus as the country rushes to seal new vaccine deals.The Health Ministry said 1,972 died from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, pushing the total to 268,370. Confirmed cases increased by 70,764, to 11,122,429. Brazil trails only the U.S. in number of deaths globally, and ranks third in infections.Hospitals across the country are reaching capacity, as a combination of year-end and carnival gatherings and a new, more contagious variant contribute to a spike of infections even as the virus recedes in most of the world. At the same time, a short supply of vaccines is slowing a mass immunization campaign in the country of 212 million.BioNTech Sees Boost in Vaccine Production (4:23 p.m. NY)BioNTech could have capacity to make 3 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine with U.S. partner Pfizer next year, the German company’s chief executive officer said, making their pioneering shot far more widely available around the world.“In principle, we could further increase manufacturing capacity,” BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg TV.Pfizer and BioNTech have committed to make 2 billion doses of their two-shot vaccine this year. Pfizer promised to ship two-thirds of the U.S.’s 300 million-dose order by the end of May. In the European Union, the partners have promised to ship at least 500 million doses this year, with an option for an additional 100 million doses.Texas Capital to Defy Governor on Masks (3:37 p.m. NY)When the Texas mask mandate lifts tomorrow, the state capital of Austin plans to continue requiring face coverings, directly contradicting Governor Greg Abbott’s move to reopen the second-largest U.S. state. Officials in bigger cities such as Houston have expressed displeasure with Abbott’s order but so far have stopped short of open defiance.U.S. Vaccine Shipments to Rise Next Week (2:10 p.m. NY)Pfizer and Moderna vaccine shipments to U.S. states, tribes and territories will rise next week to 15.8 million doses, from 15.2 million a week earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.Shipments to pharmacies will rise to 2.7 million from 2.4 million a week earlier.N.Y. Lowers Vaccine Eligibility to 60 (11:10 a.m. NY)New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would lower the age for vaccine eligibility to age 60 starting Wednesday as the state ramps up its vaccine campaign.The governor said the state will also open up vaccine eligibility to public employees and nonprofit emergency workers as of March 17. Public-facing building workers will also be eligible, he said in a Tuesday virus briefing.“They are essential for us to continue operating,” he said.New York has administered nearly 6 million doses of the vaccine so far, Cuomo said. Previously eligibility was open to people 65 and older. Cuomo, 63, said he would personally make an appointment to take the vaccine now that his age group will be eligible.EU Certificate Could Ease Travel (9:05 a.m. NY)The European Union will propose a certificate that could ease travel for those who have taken EU-approved vaccines as well as others, like the Chinese and Russian shots, that have only received emergency national authorizations.The “EU Covid Card/digital green certificate” will comprise three documents that will specify if the holder has gotten a vaccine and which one; the results of a coronavirus test if taken; and details on whether they have recovered from a Covid-19 infection, according to a person familiar with the European Commission’s draft regulation.No Overseas Fans at Tokyo Olympics: Kyodo (8:37 a.m. NY)The Japanese government decided to exclude overseas spectators from attending the Tokyo Olympics, Kyodo reported, citing officials with knowledge of the matter. The government concluded that fans from abroad aren’t possible given concerns about the virus and different variants detected in other countries.Latvia Offers to Take Patients From Estonia (7:38 a.m. NY)Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins on Tuesday offered to take in some of neighboring Estonia’s Covid patients after its prime minister announced a lockdown and tighter restrictions to control the spread of the British strain and rising cases.German Industry Resolves Testing Spat (7:30 a.m. NY)Germany’s leading industry associations have resolved a spat with Chancellor Angela Merkel over Covid-19 tests and issued an appeal to companies to help expand rapid- and self-testing of employees.“Until a vaccination offer can be made to all citizens, we want to support the testing strategy of the federal and state governments with all our energy,” four of the biggest industry lobbies, which represent more than 90% of Germany’s workers, said in a joint statement coordinated with Merkel’s administration.Merkel last week canceled a video call with business leaders because she wanted more substantial proposals on testing workers than those initially on the table.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.