The U.K. will relax self-isolation requirements for fully vaccinated people in England, even as Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned that getting back to normal could mean new cases jump to 100,000 a day.
Germany is easing rules for travelers arriving from Britain, Portugal and other nations. Meanwhile, the delta variant continued to push up case numbers worldwide, with Indonesia and Bangladesh reporting record infections and Sydney considering whether to extend its lockdown.
The Australian Grand Prix Formula One race planned for November has been canceled, and Japan plans to hold the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics without fans, according to reports. Africa health ministers advised 15 million vaccine doses donated by the U.S. are ready for distribution.
Key Developments:
U.S. Vaccines Headed to Africa (9:28 a.m. NY)
The African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have advised health ministers on the continent that they have 15 million Covid-19 vaccines donated by the U.S. ready for distribution.
The shipment, to be distributed by the vaccine-sharing initiative Covax, consists of 5 million Johnson & Johnson doses, administered in a single shot, and 10 million doses of the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE vaccine, given in two shots. The advisory, seen by Bloomberg, came in a July 5 communication from the two groups to member states.
The allocation to each country will be communicated by the end of next week, according to the advisory.
Bangladesh Sees Record Cases in Day (8:19 a.m. NY)
Bangladesh on Tuesday reported a record 11,525 virus cases, raising the overall tally to 966,406 as the delta variant spreads in both urban and rural areas despite a stringent lockdown.
The South Asian nation logged 163 new deaths from the disease.
The government has redeployed doctors to the Covid-19 units of hospitals in remote districts, according to Health Minister Zahid Maleque. Bangladesh extended its lockdown measures by a week to July 14.
“Urgent action” is needed to increase vaccine supplies for Bangladesh as “hospitals reach capacity and oxygen supplies run short across the country,” the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in an emailed statement.
U.K. to End Isolation for Vaccinated Contacts (7:49 a.m. NY)
From Aug. 16, “anyone who is a close contact of a positive case will no longer have to self-isolate if they have been fully vaccinated,” U.K. government Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in Parliament. School-aged children under age 18 will also no longer have to automatically isolate if exposed to the virus.
Javid warned on Tuesday that new cases could rise to 100,000 a day over the summer as the country prepares to relax rules on July 19.
“By the time we get to the 19th, we would expect case numbers by then to be at least double what they are now, so around 50,000 new cases a day,” Javid said on the BBC Radio “Today Programme.” “As we ease and go into the summer, we expect them to rise significantly and they could go as high as 100,000 case numbers.”
What matters most is that the link with hospitalization and death “has been severely weakened,” he said.
Factory Sleepovers Guard Vietnam’s Workers (7 a.m. NY)
As Vietnam battles a resurgence of Covid-19, the nation is going to extraordinary lengths to protect its reputation as a vital cog in the global tech supply chain — with thousands of workers sleeping on factory floors to minimize disruption.
In the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, a key manufacturing hub that’s home to Samsung Electronics Co. and leading Apple Inc. suppliers, authorities say about 150,000 workers are living at industrial parks to reduce the risk of infections. In the commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, 22 companies with a workforce of 25,000 also set up sleepover sites for an unspecified number of employees.
Germany’s Vaccination Targets (6:28 a.m. NY)
Germany should aim to fully vaccinate at least 85% of people ages 12 to 59 by the end of this summer and 90% of those 60 and older to prevent a fourth wave that could fill up intensive care units again, according to a government report.
The country also needs to continue using basic hygiene measures like face masks and maintain some social distancing, the modeling report from the Robert Koch Institute public health agency said. To achieve those vaccination levels, shipments of shots must arrive on time and people can’t put off getting inoculated during vacation season, the report said.
The modeling takes into account the higher transmissibility of the delta variant.
Indonesian Deaths Set Record for Third Day (5:29 p.m. HK)
Indonesia has reported record infections and fatalities for three straight days as hospitals become overwhelmed and local oxygen supply struggles to keep up with surging demand.
There were 31,189 confirmed cases in the 24 hours through midday Tuesday, with 728 deaths.
Air France Paris-Tianjin Flights Suspended (5:26 p.m. HK)
China’s aviation regulator suspended Air France’s Paris-to-Tianjin flight for two weeks after six passengers flying the route tested positive, according to a statement. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Xi Jinping by video on Monday, urging the Chinese leader to allow more flights from Europe.
Russia Reports Record Deaths (5 p.m. HK)
Russia’s coronavirus task force reported a record of 737 Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday as the country struggles against a surge from the delta variant. As was the case in previous months, death statistics are likely to be revised upward by Russia’s Federal Statistics Service when it releases monthly figures.
England Cricket Players Test Positive: BBC (4:30 p.m. HK)
England will select a new cricket squad for its One Day International matches against Pakistan -- scheduled for Thursday in Cardiff -- after three players and four staff members tested positive, the BBC reported.
Thailand Plans Booster for Health Workers (3:32 p.m. HK)
Thailand plans to give booster shots to health-care workers as authorities step up efforts to stem the spread of the delta variant. The workers were inoculated with Sinovac Biotech Ltd.’s vaccine.
“The delta variant reduces the efficacy of the vaccines, so we need a booster shot for individuals with high exposure risks, including medical personnel,” Udom Kachintorn, an adviser to the country’s Covid-19 task force, said on Tuesday. Vaccines made by AstraZeneca Plc and Pfizer Inc. will be used as the booster shots, he said.
Israel New Cases Rise to Highest Since March (3:24 p.m. HK)
Some 501 new cases were confirmed in Israel on Monday, the highest number for a single day since March, according to Health Ministry data. At the same time, the number of serious cases dipped to 33 from 35. About 42% of the newly diagnosed had been fully vaccinated. The efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech SE’s vaccine has declined in the past month, though it continues to shield well against severe illness, the ministry said on Monday.
Londoners Will Travel to Shop (3 p.m. HK)
London’s West End shopping area is almost as busy as it was before the pandemic, while the financial districts remain only half full. That suggests more residents are comfortable traveling into crowded centers, but are in no rush to return to the office.
Last week’s transaction volume at Pret A Manger Ltd. sandwich stores in the West End was 78% of what it was before the pandemic, the highest level since lockdown measures began easing in March, according to Bloomberg’s Pret Index.
A social distancing sign outside a book stall in Guildhall Market in Bath, U.K., on Monday, July 5, 2021. The U.K. is in a race to vaccinate the population against the fast-spreading delta variant quickly enough to be able to lift social-distancing curbs and reopen more businesses on July 19.
Japan’s Moderna Supply Misses Target (2:51 p.m. HK)
Japan’s Covid vaccine minister, Taro Kono, said that the supply of Moderna vaccines through end-June was cut by about 60% to 13.7 million doses from an initial target of 40 million, the Mainichi newspaper reported.
The government discussed issue with Moderna before May’s Golden Week holiday, when surging global demand for the vaccine was cited as a reason. The missed doses will arrive by the of September, leaving Japan’s plan to import 50 million shots unchanged.
S. Korea, Israel Sign Vaccine Deal (1:43 p.m. HK)
South Korea signed a vaccine swap deal with Israel to receive about 700,000 doses of Pfizer’s shot, South Korea’s Disease Control & Prevention Agency said. As part of the deal, Israel will receive an identical number of Pfizer doses from Korea in September through November.
Three Thai Islands to Welcome Tourists (1:12 p.m. HK)
Samui, Phangan and Tao islands in Thailand’s Surat Thani province are preparing to welcome fully inoculated foreign tourists from July 15, following the reopening of resort island Phuket.
Germany Eases Travel Rules for U.K., Portugal (1:09 p.m. HK)
Starting Wednesday, Germany wilo longer designate nations including the U.K. and Portugal as virus variant areas, lifting a requirement for all inbound travelers -- including those fully vaccinated -- to quarantine for 14 days.
The RKI public-health institute updated its list of variant countries late Monday, also removing Russia, India and Nepal. Still on the list are nations including Brazil, South Africa and Uruguay.
India Records Fewest Cases Since March (1:07 p.m. HK)
India recorded its lowest tally of confirmed cases in a day since March 17 when the delta-driven second wave started gripping the nation, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums.
The country added 34,703 cases Tuesday, taking the total to 30.6 million. It has administered 357.6 million vaccine shots so far as it races to avert subsequent waves. Covid-related casualties rose by 553 in a day to 403,281, according to latest data by the Indian Health Ministry.
Hong Kong Eyes Singapore Covid Strategy (12:18 p.m. HK)
Hong Kong will assess Singapore’s new Covid-19 strategy as the two sides try to revive a quarantine-free travel corridor that was initially planned to open last November.
“We need to understand more about that new strategy and whether it will have any impact on the arrangements that we have devised,” Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a briefing when asked about the so-called travel bubble. “The situation is very stable on both sides, so this is something that we will be working very closely on.”
Singapore is set to loosen restrictions on activities such as dining out next week as its vaccination rate improves, and more opportunity for travel could open up further down the line. The country plans to have two-thirds of its population of almost 6 million fully vaccinated by Aug. 9.
Philippine Cities Halt Shots on Supplies (9:46 a.m. HK)
Several cities in the Philippine capital region halted their first-dose vaccination programs as supply from the national government runs out.
Makati City, home to the nation’s main financial district, said the scheduled inoculation of frontline workers receiving the vaccine for the first time won’t push through on Tuesday. It also shut several vaccination sites in malls and schools, the city government said on Facebook.
Paranaque, Caloocan and Valenzuela cities have also stopped first-dose vaccinations as they await for additional supplies, while Malabon and Muntinlupa announced they will no longer entertain walk-ins.
Australia Herd Immunity Threshold Seen Rising (8:46 a.m. HK)
Australia needs to vaccinate at least 85% of the population to achieve herd immunity, a James Cook University researcher said in a statement Monday.
“Herd immunity has become more difficult to achieve with the delta variant, as it is both more infectious and less amenable to vaccination,” said Emma McBryde, professor of infectious diseases epidemiology and modelling.
Even without herd immunity, “vaccinated people are protected against severe disease and much less likely to be hospitalized or die,” McBryde said.
Researchers Plea for Science, Not Speculation (8:32 a.m. HK)
The strongest, most credible evidence indicate SARS-CoV-2 evolved in nature, and suggestions of a laboratory leak aren’t backed by scientific evidence, scientists wrote in a letter to the Lancet Monday.
“Allegations and conjecture are of no help,” wrote the authors, who include Rita Colwell, Peter Daszak, Christian Drosten, Jeremy Farrar and Juan Lubroth. “It is time to turn down the heat of the rhetoric and turn up the light of scientific inquiry if we are to be better prepared to stem the next pandemic, whenever it comes and wherever it begins.”
Japan to Open Olympics Without Fans (7:39 a.m. HK)
The Japanese government is planning to hold the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics without fans, giving up earlier plans to have spectators at the July 23 event, the Asahi newspaper reported, citing several unidentified government officials.
IOC committee members, sponsors and other officials will be allowed to attend the ceremony, but the government will attempt to further downsize the number. Venues with capacity of 10,000 people or more will be banned from having spectators as well as games scheduled later than 9 p.m.
— With assistance by Jonas O Bergman, Jason Gale, Malavika Kaur Makol, Iain Rogers, Tim Loh, Arun Devnath, Loni Prinsloo, and Antony Sguazzin
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