COVID-19 Outbreak: Weekly Global Report for Friday, February 19, 2021
AdvaMed recognizes that its members, particularly those with global government affairs responsibilities, are tracking COVID-19 related developments around the world to assess the public health and economic impacts on their businesses. Knowing that companies are consuming information from a variety of sources, AdvaMed's global team would like to provide members with a weekly snapshot of the key statistics, policy developments and advocacy initiatives underway in our priority markets. If you have any suggestions, we welcome your feedback.
Global
- Weekly COVID-19 statistics: global cases topped 110 million. Deaths around the world have exceeded 2.43 million. The countries with the most reported cases continue to be the U.S. (27.8 million), India (10.9 million), and Brazil (10 million).
- U.S. cases exceeded 27.3 million with deaths increasing to 492,000.
- Staff Contact: Ralph Ives (rives@advamed.org).
China
- Overview: The Lunar New Year holiday week is coming to an end. The wave of outbreaks across northern China in January—the most severe uptick in local cases since last summer—appears to be under control. China’s regulator on Feb. 5 approved a second vaccine for general use, the CoronaVac vaccine. Over 31 million Chinese citizens have received a COVID vaccine as of Feb. 5.
- Weekly COVID-19 statistics: China’s total COVID cases now stand at 100,248, an increase of 426 cases over the previous week. Deaths now stand at 4,833, an increase of 6 compared to last week.
- Hebei outbreak: 26 million residents in Hebei are still required to stay at home. Experts said Hebei’s outbreak has possibly revealed holes in the country’s coronavirus prevention strategy for villages, as many rural patients chose to treat themselves rather than go immediately to a hospital for a proper diagnosis.
- Beijing tightens entry requirements: from Jan. 28 until March 13, Beijing will require people arriving from low-risk areas in China to show negative COVID-19 test results, tightening curbs ahead of the Lunar New Year and the annual parliament meetings in early March known as the “Two Sessions.” People entering the capital from those areas will need to undergo a 14-day health observation period after arrival.
- Travel rules related to Lunar New Year holiday: people traveling over the holiday period will need to show a negative test issued up to seven days before their departure. Such travelers then need to observe a 14-day quarantine while at home, during which they need to take a COVID-19 test every seven days. Many observers speculated that the highly complex and strict procedures could dissuade many people from returning to the rural areas during the holiday.
- State Council warns against local overreach: on Feb. 3, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council warned local governments against arbitrarily expanding travel restrictions for the upcoming spring festival, including banning cross-province returnees in the name of pandemic control. It further advised against the application of nuclear acid tests for low-risk populations moving across low-risk areas.
- Vaccine roll-out: China’s regulator on Feb. 5 approved a second vaccine for general use: Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine. This follows China’s approval of the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 31 last year. Results from ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials showed an efficacy rate of 79 percent for the Sinopharm vaccine. However, the lack of details by Chinese regulators and Sinopharm has raised concerns in some circles. According to the National Health Commission, 31 million Chinese citizens have received the vaccine as of Feb 5.
- Hiccup in second vaccine: in January, Brazilian researchers celebrated results showing 78% efficacy for the vaccine developed by Beijing-based Sinovac. However, the Brazilian research institute conducting the trials apparently released only partial results, creating unrealistic expectations. Updated results show an efficacy rate of around 51%. Indonesia and Pakistan have approved the Sinovac-developed vaccine for emergency use.
- Updated estimates on 2020 hospital visits: according to the National Health Commission, the total number of hospital visits/medical consultations in January through September 2020 reached 3.9 billion, a decrease of 15.3% over the same period in 2019. It is important to note that this percentage decrease has gotten progressively smaller since June, perhaps indicating Chinese patients have become more comfortable in visiting medical institutions in the second half of 2020.
- WHO team investigating COVID: The researchers concluded their trip earlier this week, having made a high-profile visit to the Wuhan Institute of Virology last week. Many analysts believe the WHO’s investigation and findings are unlikely to calm the debate around the virus, however. For instance, the U.S. State Department said it will work to verify the WHO’s findings and continued to fault the Chinese government for its lack of transparency.
- The Chinese economy: China’s factory activity grew at the slowest pace in five months in January, hit by a wave of domestic coronavirus infections, but still in line with the ongoing recovery in the world’s second-largest economy. The official manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) fell to 51.3 in January from 51.9 in December.
- S.-China relations: Presidents Biden and Xi spoke by phone last Thursday, which was preceded by a lengthy call between Secretary of State Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi. In a recent television interview, President Biden said the U.S. is engaged in “extreme competition” with China. Overall, the new administration is continuing to review the Trump-era inheritance and has not made any sudden policy changes yet.
- Staff Contact: Kyle Churchman (kchurchman@advamed.org)
India
- Weekly COVID-19 statistics – 10,950,201 total cases, 137,342 active cases/156,014 deaths/ 10,656,845 discharged (John Hopkins & MoHFW) as compared to 10,871,060 total cases, 142,562 active cases/155,360 deaths (John Hopkins & MoHFW) last week. 9,422,228 people have been vaccinated.
- Amid encouraging reports of the continuing drop in COVID cases since September leaving experts across the globe stumped, the Maharashtra government announced on Thursday the 18th a slew of new guidelines including lockdowns amid a surge of COVID cases. The measures came on a day when Maharashtra reported 5,427 new COVID-19 cases, a daily tally not seen in more than two months. For more information about the Maharashtra lockdowns, read details here.
- According to a new Deloitte report, India could become the world’s second largest COVID vaccine maker in the world. PS Easwaran, a partner at Deloitte India, said more than 3.5 billion COVID vaccines could be made in the country in 2021, compared to around 4 billion in the U.S. For more details, read here.
- On Wednesday the 17th, the government announced that COVID-19 molecular tests will be mandatory for people arriving directly or indirectly from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil in an attempt to contain the spread of more infectious virus variants found in those countries. The government said airlines would be required from next week to segregate inbound travelers from those countries. India does not have direct flights with Brazil and South Africa, and most people travelling from these countries generally transit through Middle Eastern airports. For more details read here.
- Speaking at a virtual COVID-19 workshop on Thursday attended by major South Asian countries, Prime Minister Modi laid out his 5-point plan to address the pandemic. Seeking greater regional integration, Modi proposed a visa scheme for doctors and nurses to facilitate movement throughout the region during health emergencies. The proposal was reportedly well received by all nations including Pakistan. For more details, read here.
- Following a call between Prime Minister Modi and Canada’s leader Justin Trudeau, to smooth over a row over the Delhi farm protests, the two sides agreed that India’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India, would ship COVID vaccines to Canada within the next month. For more details, read here.
- Staff Contact: Abby Pratt (apratt@advamed.org).
Japan
- Weekly COVID-19 statistics – 422,747 reported cases and 7,312 reported deaths compared to 412,633 reported cases and 6,817 reported deaths last week.
- The first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in Japan last week and the country’s first vaccinations were given to health care providers on February 17. Vaccination of a further 3.7 million front-line health care providers is set to begin in March, followed by 36 million people age 65 or above from April. People with pre-existing conditions and those working at elderly care facilities will be next in line, followed by the general population.
- Japan has contracted with Pfizer for 120 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to be delivered in the first half of 2021, and for enough vaccine for 72 million people by the end of 2021. Japan has also contracted for 50 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and 120 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine. Astra Zeneca will manufacture 90 million of those doses in Japan. The company submitted its application for approval on February 8.
- Japan plans to inoculate its entire population with a COVID-19 vaccine by the time the Olympics start in July 2021.
- It has asked local governments to make arrangements to allow 30-40 million elderly citizens to be vaccinated by the end of March. About 10,000 healthcare workers who work with COVID-19 patients should receive the vaccine by the end of February, and around 3 million other healthcare workers will receive it by mid-March.
- The government announced that the current State of Emergency will continue for an additional month, until March 7. The overall pace of new cases has slowed in recent weeks, but Japan still had the largest number of cases in one month in January (averaging over 7,000 new cases per day).
- Under the State of Emergency, the relevant prefectural governors are asking people to stay at home after 8 p.m., while restaurants, pubs and cafes that serve alcoholic beverages are requested to serve them only from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and close by 8 p.m.
- The central government has asked companies to reduce the number of workers going to the office by 70% and facilitate telecommuting and staggered commuting hours.
- In addition, under the States of Emergency, physicians now have the option, in consultation with patients, of postponing procedures if they feel their hospital’s bed will be needed for COVID-19 patients.
- Hospitals in COVID-hit regions are severely strained, with some reportedly on the brink of collapse. The Chair of the Japan Medical Association said that Japan doesn’t have enough doctors and nurses to deal with the caseload.
- According to a recent survey, 44% of advanced medical care hospitals are experiencing significant postponements of procedures due to patients’ concerns about COVID-19.
- The pandemic has had a severe impact on the financial situation of Japan’s hospitals. Nearly 70% of Japan’s hospitals are now operating in the red.
- Japan confirmed that the UK variant of the virus has been found in the country and has banned all foreign tourists from entering Japan as a result.
- In addition, Japan temporarily suspended an arrangement allowing business travelers from 11 Asian countries and regions to enter Japan, effectively banning the entry of nonresident foreign travelers. This suspension will be in effect through February 7. Japanese and foreign nationals with valid legal statuses are permitted to return to the country under the latest entry restrictions.
- Japan's Ministry of Health has adopted priority regulatory review procedures for new COVID-related medical devices.
- Staff Contact: Phil Agress (PAgress@AdvaMed.org).
Korea
- South Korea’s numbers currently are at a 15-day high as the Lunar New Year holiday ends. They are reporting 621 new cases up from 504 last week. Some health experts have said this is the onset of a new wave of infections, as case rates were by some accounts modelled to decline in February. One projection has the new higher rates peaking in March or early April. New deaths are slightly increased at 10 per day. However, South Korea continues to avoid the dramatic spikes that many other countries are experiencing.
- South Korea has 85,567 total cases, 8,127 active cases, with 1,544 deaths, reporting 10 deaths per day. Total cases per million population have remained low compared to most of the world at just 1,668 (S. Korea ranks as one of the lowest among the more highly populated countries). Deaths per million remain comparatively low as well at just 30.
- The South Korea Prime Minister attributed the recent spike in cases to ‘people’s waning commitment to COVID-19 precautions.’ In response to easing measures designed to assist local businesses, crowds have been returning to bars and nightclubs and many don’t seem to be wearing masks in those settings. But some experts are saying the spiking is attributable to increased social interactions during the recently concluded new year festivities.
- Notwithstanding recent spiking, Korea’s Disease Control and Prevention Agency this week publicly stated they expect the COVID-19 pandemic to be sufficiently tamed by November or earlier. The statement also indicated a key factor in their assessment is the expectation that Korea’s vaccination program will be in full effect soon.
- Under South Korea’s vaccination plan, 1.3 million people will be vaccinated by March, 9 million by June, and the rest of the 33.25 million in the following months. Over 75 percent of the vaccines will be distributed in the latter half of the year. Government officials have stated that they into to roll out the COVID-19 vaccinations as planned to reach herd immunity by November.
- The vaccination plan rollout will begin with front-line health care workers in the Seoul area, where the active outbreaks have been concentrated. From March, older adults and workers at long-term care homes and other congregate settings and first responders, including contact tracers, will be getting vaccinated. Next in line are adults aged 65 or older, residents of group homes and the rest of health care personnel, who can expect their inoculations in May. Then comes the turn for essential workers such as police officers, firefighters and educators and adults with medical conditions in July. Some of the high-risk medical conditions being considered for priority vaccination are diabetes and heart and lung diseases.
- Koreans who are under 50 and healthy may be able to get their shots in the last few months of the year. The government vowed that all Koreans would eventually be vaccinated in phases except for pregnant women and children under 18, unless future trial results demonstrate otherwise.
- South Korean workplaces have little sympathy for workers when they get sick. But “toughing it out” constitutes a public health hazard during a pandemic, experts say. Workplaces have emerged as one of the most common settings for coronavirus outbreaks in Korea. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s January data, 18 percent of all locally transmitted cases diagnosed that month were workplace-related, up 7 percent from the month prior.
- At least 2.71 million doses of coronavirus vaccines are expected to arrive in South Korea in the first half of this year through an international vaccine procurement program, health authorities said Thursday. The country will receive 117,000 doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines and 2.59 million doses of vaccines by AstraZeneca through the World Health Organization's global vaccine project, known as the COVAX Facility.
- South Korea, 52 million population, has secured access to coronavirus vaccines enough for 56 million people. The COVAX project will supply 20 million doses of vaccines to inoculate 10 million people.
- South Korea has deals in place to secure vaccines from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, which require two shots, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen, which requires one jab. The nation is also close to striking a deal to buy coronavirus vaccines from US drug-maker Novavax. It has no plan to purchase Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
- A panel of South Korean medical experts said AstraZeneca's vaccine can be administered to elderly people.
- Korea has kept in place its current restrictions for social distancing as the Lunar New Year holiday begins. Health authorities plan to announce whether they will lower restrictions over the weekend, but it appears unlikely. Importantly, authorities chose not to impose stricter measure ahead of Lunar New Year, as was contemplated. Currently, Level 2.5, the second highest in the country's five-tier scheme, has been applied in the greater Seoul area, with Level 2 in other areas. Private gatherings of five or more have been banned across the country, while the operation of restaurants has been limited after 9 p.m.
- South Korea’s current snowballing budget deficit, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic “can be offset by gradual consolidation” in coming years, the International Monetary Fund said Thursday. The remark by Andreas Bauer, Korea mission chief at the IMF, apparently aims to alleviate concerns surrounding the nation’s government debt surged by four rounds of supplementary budgets implemented to finance COVID-19 relief programs.
- South Korea continues to impose suspension of direct flights from Britain.
- Foreigners arriving at South Korean airports face a mandatory 14-day quarantine procedure, and must present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of their departure to the nation.
- Foreigners from Britain and South Africa who fail to present negative PCR test results will be banned from entering the nation, and incoming Korean nationals without test results will be isolated in temporary living facilities for two weeks upon their arrival in the nation, the KDCA said.
- South Korea’s movement toward implementation of a proposal that would potentially reduce the price of certain cardiac and peripheral stents has been at least temporarily postponed. A December meeting that was scheduled to occur to discuss the proposal has been postponed. AdvaMed is in touch with members and the medtech association in Korea and has had several discussions with the US Government on this topic. We have sent a letter to the health ministry expressing opposition to the proposal.
- We have submitted a letter in response to a recently issued request for comments on the proposal for potential implementation of pricing controls on stents. Please contact Joseph Gatewood (jgatewood@advamed.org) if you have an interest in this matter and are not already engaged.
- Resources: http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/en/.
- Staff Contact: Joseph Gatewood (jgatewood@advamed.org).
ASEAN
- Weekly COVID-19 statistics – ASEAN now has 2,310,498 reported cases and 49,917 reported deaths compared to 2,218,404 reported cases and 48,114 reported deaths last week.
- The vast majority of cases are in Indonesia, the Philippines, and more recently Myanmar and Malaysia. Indonesia surpassed 1.25 million cases last week and the Philippines has reported over 553,000 cases.
- Indonesia’s total COVID-19 deaths have reached 32,969, the highest level in East Asia. The Philippines reported 11,577 deaths.
- Myanmar is now reporting 141,690 total cases and 3,192 deaths, although there is likely underreporting since February 1 due to the military coup.
- Cambodia and Laos have each reported zero deaths, while Brunei has reported 3 deaths, and Singapore has reported 29 deaths (despite having over 59,000 cases). These numbers are unchanged from last week.
- Cases of COVID-19 infection continue to climb in Vietnam following a new outbreak in late January. The total number of confirmed infections has risen to 2,329 in 11 separate provinces or cities. Ho Chi Minh City has decided to close all non-essential services and entertainment activities until further notice in an effort to contain the resurgence.
- Thailand, which in mid-December had just over 4,000 cases of COVID-19, experienced a major surge that originated in a shrimp market southeast of Bangkok. It is now reporting over 24,961 cases ad 82 deaths. Thailand will begin vaccinations in late February.
- Indonesia has secured orders for 600 million doses of vaccine from four producers. This includes between 13.7 million and 23.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX system. The vaccines will arrive in two phases: 25-35% of doses in Q1 2021, and 65-75% in Q2. The Ministry of Health said this vaccine can be used for those who are over 60, unlike the Sinovac vaccine, currently in use in Indonesia. President Jokowi has set a target of finishing the vaccination process within this year.
- Malaysia expects to receive the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines on February 26. The government agreed to buy 12.8 million doses of the vaccine in November and an additional 12.2 million doses in January. Once delivered, the vaccines will be distributed nationwide over a period of one to two weeks. Malaysia has also signed agreements for 18.4 million doses of vaccines produced by Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute and China's Sinovac.
- Elective surgeries have resumed in Thailand and Vietnam.
- In Indonesia, provincial hospitals are resuming elective surgery with COVID-19 protocols in place.
- Malaysia maintains limits on elective surgery except in emergency cases.
- Singapore restricts most elective surgeries but allows certain procedures including cancer screening, surgical operations for advanced cataracts, flu vaccinations, and dental procedures.
- The Philippines extended its State of Calamity by a year to counter the pandemic. This extension will give national and local governments latitude to continue utilizing appropriate disaster relief funds and affords the government powers to monitor and control necessities and provide essential services to the affected populations.
- Hospitals in some parts of Indonesia, including Java and Bali, are on the brink of collapse as the nation passed one million confirmed cases.
- As of January 1, Indonesia has closed its border to foreign nationals to mitigate the increased spread of COVID-19. The new policy provides exemptions for holders of diplomatic visas and official visas related to foreign officials at the ministerial level, holders of limited stay permits, and permanent resident permits.
- Malaysia has adopted lockdown measures that will apply to most of the country as daily coronavirus cases in Malaysia continue to surge. Five essential sectors including construction, agriculture, and manufacturing will remain open with limited capacity, while interstate domestic travel is banned and a number of businesses will be required to close under the Movement Control Order (MCO). The MCO has been extended through February 18.
- The Philippines has imposed restrictions on travelers from the United States and 20 other countries where cases of the new COVID-19 variant were reported.
- As of February 1, Singapore suspended its Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) arrangements with Malaysia, Germany, and South Korea for three months due to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Travelers who have already been approved to enter Singapore under these RGLs can continue to do so. The move does not affect Singapore’s Periodic Commuting Arrangement with Malaysia, which includes longer-term workers and business travel. Following this latest suspension, only the green lanes with Brunei and a few cities in China remain open.
- Thailand now allows long-term stay visitors, including business travelers and tourists, who will be able to remain in the country for up to 90 days (with up to two extensions possible). Visitors must be from a designated low-risk country, must undergo testing, and must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Thailand.
- Thailand has extended its nationwide state of emergency through February 28 and deferred a proposal to shorten the quarantine period for foreign tourists to 10 days to prevent a COVID-19 resurgence during the peak holiday season.
- Vietnam has banned flights from countries that have recorded the new COVID-19 variant. The country will limit inbound repatriation flights until mid-February.
- Staff Contact: Phil Agress (PAgress@AdvaMed.org)
Europe
- Europe’s numbers of new daily cases are mostly decreased from last week. However, countries are still struggling with persistently high numbers even if there is reduction or flattening in the rate of increase.
- In terms of new cases, the numbers appear to be flattening throughout most of Europe and in some cases decreasing significantly (prior week figures in parentheses). France leads with 25,018 (25,387), Spain 10,829 (18,114), Russia 12,828 (14,494), UK 12,718 (13,013), Italy 12,074 (12,947), Germany 9,618 (9,246). Portugal has dropped from 9th most new case in Europe to 15th, virtually halving its new daily cases from last week with 2,324 (4,387). Italy’s numbers have been on a significant downward trend, and it appears with this week’s numbers that Spain is in that category as well. France remains at virtually the same level of new cases as it had last week. Germany’s new cases are showing a slight uptick but remain overall good, below 10,000. The UK’s numbers have decreased as well, but it remains behind only France and Russia in terms of new cases.
- The UK leads Europe in deaths at 118,933 followed by Italy, France, Russia, Spain and Germany. (see chart below). Russia's reported numbers on COVID remain problematic with perhaps the highest number of total cases of any country at 4,071,185 (slightly higher than the UK’s total) and 81,446 reported deaths (and reporting one of the lowest death rates in Europe at 558 per million). By comparison, Germany with more than 1.6 million fewer cases (2,362,384) reports 67,074 deaths and a death rate of 799 per million.
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