COVID-19 Outbreak: Weekly Global Report for Friday, January 15, 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 reached 92.9 million. Deaths around the world are within a whisker of 2 million. The countries with the most reported cases continue to be the U.S. (23.2 million), India (10.5 million), and Brazil (8.3 million).
- U.S. cases exceeded 23.2 million with deaths increasing to 387,000.
- Staff Contact: Ralph Ives (rives@advamed.org).
China
- Overview: Hebei province, grappling with China’s largest outbreak in months, has expanded its lockdown to 26 million people. The Sinovac vaccine has a much lower efficacy rate than previously reported, according to Brazilian researchers who conducted the clinical trials. The Chinese government has finally permitted entry to the WHO team investigating the origins of the virus.
- Weekly COVID-19 statistics: China’s total COVID cases now stand at 97,355, an increase of 923 cases compared to the previous week. Deaths now stand at 4,796, an increase of 8 compared to last week. So far in January, most new cases have been locally transmitted.
- Hebei outbreak: with cases continuing to rise, authorities have expanded the lockdown beyond the provincial capital Shijiazhuang. 26 million residents in Hebei are now required to stay at home. The outbreak remains China’s biggest rise in COVID-19 infections in recent months. 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.
- Cases in neighboring Beijing: Beijing has locked down villages on the outskirts of its Shunyi district after the discovery of new, locally transmitted cases. The city also temporarily banned large scale gatherings, increased the frequency of trains to ensure sufficient commuter spread, and cancelled events to contain the outbreak. Over 1 million people in Beijing have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine according to the city’s health commission.
- Vaccine roll-out: On December 31, China approved the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine, the country’s first for general use. Results from ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials showed an efficacy rate of 79 percent. However, the lack of details by Chinese regulators and Sinopharm has raised concerns in some circles. Current estimates show that nearly 4 million Chinese citizens have received the vaccine so far.
- Hiccup in second vaccine: Last week, 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 has 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.
- New NHC advisory body: The National Health Commission established an advisory panel of 67 experts to provide recommendations on how to prevent coronavirus infections in Chinese hospitals and clinics.
- WHO team investigating COVID: China on Jan. 14 finally permitted entry to the WHO researchers investigating the origins of COVID-19. The Chinese government had previously blocked their arrival, claiming visas for some members of the group had not yet been approved.
- New requirement for foreigners travelling to Beijing: at a press conference Tuesday, Beijing city officials said people entering the Chinese capital from abroad must quarantine for 21 days — seven days longer than the city’s previous policy. While the first 14 days must be spent at a government-designated facility, the remaining week can be completed at a private residence with approval from local authorities.
- Trade surplus: China’s exports continued to surge in December. Exports grew by 18.1 from a year earlier. December 2020 marked the seventh consecutive month of export growth, with China’s factories continuing to capitalize on coronavirus lockdowns in the West.
- S.-China relations: relations remain strained as the Trump administration issued export controls on Chinese oil giant CNOOC. Also, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Jan. 9 issued a blocking order aimed at countering U.S. secondary sanctions on Chinese entities. The order, while apparently aimed at third countries and not aimed at U.S. regulations on U.S. companies, is somewhat ambiguous and has created some confusion.
- Staff Contact: Kyle Churchman (kchurchman@advamed.org)
India
- Weekly COVID-19 statistics – 10,512,831 total cases, 213,603 active cases/151,727 deaths as compared to 10,395,938 total cases, 228,083 active cases/150,336 deaths last week. India’s seven-day rolling average of daily Covid-19 cases has now fallen to nearly 18,000, continuing its decline that reflects a steady slowdown in the pandemic in most parts of the country.
- Vaccines update: Shipments of Covishield from the Serum Institute of India’s left Pune to other parts of India on Tuesday morning, kickstarting the biggest rollout of a vaccine in the country’s history. Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, the four major regional depots for vaccines, received their quantum of Covishield doses within 10 hours since their dispatch began from the SII premises at 4.30am on Tuesday. Overall, 55 lakh of the total 1.1 crore doses were dispatched from the SII premises till 5pm on Tuesday, January 12, officials confirmed. “The transport exercise for the remaining doses will continue till Wednesday evening,” a senior SII official said.
- A senior government official told Reuters that any vaccine maker, including Pfizer, which has sought emergency-use authorisation for its Covid-19 vaccine in India, must conduct a local "bridging" safety and immunogenicity study to be considered for the country's immunisation programme.
- The World Health Organisation has asked the Serum Institute of India to submit its data from clinical trials of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine conducted in India for prequalification, to kick off the distribution of vaccines under the Covax Facility.
- As the Covid-19 vaccine completes its journey from laboratory to hospital, its pricing is being questioned. Public health activists and industry experts have said that the government’s purchases of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech’s vaccines were “overpriced”.
- Even as the government plans to roll out the Covid vaccination drive with Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, recipients may not have an option to choose which one they want to be inoculated with. “Many countries across the world are using more than one vaccine.
- The number of people who have tested positive for the new UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 in India has climbed to 96, the health ministry said on Monday, January 11, 2021. Till Saturday, the number of such people was 90.
- After receiving emergency use authorisation (EUA) approval for indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, Bharat Biotech has now applied to the country’s drug regulator for permission to conduct phase I and II trials of its intranasal vaccine candidate.
- South Africa will receive one million Covid-19 vaccines from the Pune-based Serum Institute of India this month, followed by an additional 500,000 doses in February, the health minister told Parliament on Thursday, January 7, amid a spike in coronavirus deaths and infections in the country.
- Staff Contact: Abby Pratt (apratt@advamed.org).
Japan
- Weekly COVID-19 statistics – 311,353 reported cases and 4,353 reported deaths compared to 267,716 reported cases and 3,899 reported deaths last week.
- Japan adopted a state of emergency in Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures through at least February 7 due to a surge in cases over the past several weeks. It has also adopted a state of emergency in seven additional prefectures around the country.
- Under these declarations, the relevant prefectural governors will ask 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 will also ask 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.
- 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 has contracted with Pfizer to purchase 120 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to be delivered in the first half of 2021. Approval of the Pfizer vaccine is expected around February 2021. Pfizer is currently conducting a small-scale trial of the vaccine in Japan. Japan has also contracted for 50 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and 120 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
- Vaccinations are not expected to begin in Japan until late February.
- Japan announced that it 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.
- Hospital beds are running low in many of the hardest hit regions.
- Kanagawa Prefecture’s Governor requested nearly 60 hospitals to postpone non-essential surgeries for one month on January 5 in order to free up beds for Covid-19 patients.
- 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'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 seem to be on a slightly downward trend. They are reporting 524 new daily cases, including 496 local cases (the remainder of cases originated overseas), with 10 deaths per day. New cases seem to have settled down again well below the 1,000 per day spikes that were seen during late December. South Korea continues to avoid the dramatic spikes that many other countries are experiencing.
- Korea ranks 86 in the world in cumulative cases and 83rd in the world in number of deaths (1,195).
- South Korea has 70,728 total cases, 13,761 active cases, with 1,195 deaths, reporting 10 deaths per day. Total cases per million population have remain low compared to most of the world at just 1,379. Deaths per million remain comparatively low as well at just 23.
- The Level 2.5 social distancing rules in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province and Level 2 rules for the rest of the country are in place until at least Jan. 17. An additional ban on private gatherings of five or more people has also been extended to the same date. Level 2.5 rules categorically disallow the operation of indoor sports facilities, but the government made exceptions allowing small cram schools and ballet and taekwondo schools in the capital region to hold classes for up to nine children at a time. The continuation of new cases in the 500 range means it is likely Korea will extend the current distancing measures at level 2.5.
- The South Korean government said there would be “stiff penalties” for people not heeding social distancing rules, as the third and worst wave of COVID-19 in the country has begun to mellow. From its recent peak of over 1,000 cases a day, the daily case count has fallen to below 600 this week -- a figure not seen since early December. A senior official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare told a news briefing that social distancing was a “civic promise for keeping each other safe,” and that those not complying with the rules will be subject to “stern consequences based on the laws and principles.” Since early December, 434 people have been caught breaking social distancing rules, according to police data. Police have referred 23 of them to the prosecution, with investigations still ongoing for the other 411.
- South Korea’s economy last year suffered its worst year for job losses in 22 years, as companies of all sizes struggled to keep employees in the face of the prolonged pandemic. The number of employed people here came to 26.9 million last year, down 218,000 from a year earlier, as hotels and restaurants slashed employment. The largest annual job loss on record was 1.27 million jobs in 1998, when the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis took a harsh toll on the country’s economy.
- In December, the number of employed people saw the sharpest monthly decrease since February 1999, losing 628,000. The dramatic decrease is attributed the fall to job cuts at hotels and restaurants as they were forced to comply with the government’s social distancing rules. The restrictions were elevated to Level 2.5 -- the second-highest in the five-tier system -- in the Seoul metropolitan area in early December after a resurgence of virus cases.
- A coronavirus antibody treatment under development by local drug maker Celltrion has shown a clinical improvement rate of 54 percent among mild and moderate COVID-19 cases, the company announced Wednesday. The immediate reaction from the industry was that a 54 percent improvement rate is too low to be considered a treatment. However, antibody treatments are meant to only alleviate, not cure.
- More than 900 prisoners in South Korea will be released on parole this week as part of the government's precautionary measures against COVID-19 spread, the justice ministry announced Wednesday. The ministry cited the need to ease overcrowding at correctional facilities for a "stable and swift" response to the virus infections. "The early parole (measure) will be taken tomorrow," it said. The ministry has lowered the bar for parole, especially for inmates who are vulnerable to the virus, including elderly ones and inmates with underlying diseases, as well as exemplary prisoners.
- The move came as the government has been struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus at correctional facilities nationwide. A mass outbreak in a Seoul detention center, in particular, has led to more than 1,200 infections since late November. It became the second-largest infection cluster in the country following a minor religious group responsible for an early surge of COVID-19 in March.
- As South Korea gears up for COVID-19 vaccinations, with the first batch of vaccines to be shipped here next month, the government is weighing whom to push to the front of the line. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Tuesday outlined the groups that would be granted priority: seniors aged 65 and above, those aged 19 or above who have health conditions, health care workers, child care workers, emergency dispatchers, police, firefighters and service members.
- The agency said the inoculations would serve three aims: sustaining the health care system and other essential functions of society, reducing rates of mortality and morbidity, and curtailing community spread of the virus. Dr. Jung Jae-hun, a public health policy expert and preventive medicine specialist at Gachon University of Medicine and Science, said the stated order of priority might be subject to change depending on how many doses arrive and when. “It is still unknown exactly when Korea will have how many of which vaccines. If we have access to only a smaller amount in the spring, it might be wiser to vaccinate medical workers ahead of the at-risk populations, as they are fewer in number,” he said. Rollout by age would be the standard approach, according to a preventive medicine professor of Korea University.
- Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday confirmed the lower court’s decision to sentence Park to 20 years in prison and levy an 18 billion won ($16.37 million) fine for her part in a corruption case that cost her the presidency in 2017. The court also confirmed an additional forfeiture of 3.5 billion won.
- In July, the Seoul High Court sentenced Park to 15 years in prison for bribery and five more years for abuse of power and other criminal charges, a ruling that was appealed by the prosecution. Park was undergoing two separate trials regarding the corruption scandal until the two cases were merged in December 2019.
- The ex-president was indicted for conspiring with her close aide Choi Seo-won, also known as Choi Soon-sil, to make conglomerates cough up 77.4 billion won for Choi’s foundations. She was also accused of illegally accepting 3.5 billion won from three former heads of the National Intelligence Service until September 2016.
- To block the more transmissible coronavirus variant from the UK, South Korea has extended the suspension of direct flights from Britain until Jan. 21.
- Foreigners arriving at South Korean airports 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.
- Health authorities will continue to conduct further tests, known as next-generation sequencing, on infected people from Britain and South Africa to detect the mutant virus and are set to implement strengthened measures on those from abroad.
- 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 1,699,643 reported cases and 38,249 reported deaths compared to 1,597,647 reported cases and 36,092 reported deaths last week.
- The vast majority of cases are in Indonesia, the Philippines, and more recently Myanmar and Malaysia. Indonesia surpassed 858,000 total cases and the Philippines has reported over 492,000 cases.
- Myanmar continues to experience a major surge that started in September. It is now reporting 132,260 total cases. The number of deaths is 2,902.
- The Philippines and Indonesia account for 90.5% of the deaths from COVID-19 in the region. Indonesia’s total COVID-19 deaths have reached 24,951, the highest level in East Asia. The Philippines reported 9,699 deaths.
- Cambodia and Laos have each reported zero deaths, while Brunei has reported 3 deaths, and Singapore has reported 29 deaths (despite having over 58,000 cases). Thailand has reported 67 deaths. These numbers are unchanged from last week.
- 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 10,991 cases. Thailand will begin vaccinations in late February.
- Indonesia has million doses of China's Sinovac vaccine, and Indonesia’s President received the country’s first vaccination. The first batch of doses will be distributed to medical workers and other high-risk groups.
- 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.
- As of January 1, Indonesia has closed its border to foreign nationals to mitigate the increased spread of COVID-19. The border will remain closed until at least January 25. 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 announced new lockdown measures that will apply to most of the country as daily coronavirus cases in Malaysia are forecasted by the government to surge as high as 8,000 in the coming weeks. Five essential sectors including construction, agriculture, and manufacturing will remain open with limited capacity, while interstate domestic travel will be banned and a number of businesses will be required to close under the new Movement Control Order (MCO).
- Malaysia has entered a state of emergency which will last until August 1 or earlier, depending on the state of COVID-19 infections. The government has tightened COVID-19 restrictions until January 26 in a renewed effort to combat alarming rise of COVID-19 cases.
- Malaysia has imposed an entry ban on citizens of countries recording more than 150,000 cases of COVID-19.
- The Malaysian government will allow expatriate and professional visit pass holders from 23 countries to enter the country, provided they receive approval from the Malaysian Immigration Department and a support letter from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.
- Malaysia and Singapore partially reopened their border on August 10. Both governments have agreed to implement a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA). The RGL will enable cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes between both countries and the PCA will allow residents of Singapore and Malaysia who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country to enter the country for work.
- 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.
- Singapore will pilot quarantine-free business travel starting in January. Short-term business travelers from all countries will be able to stay, work and meet at dedicated facilities from mid-January, without the need for prior quarantine, as efforts get under way to draw them back to Singapore.
- Singapore is requiring travelers who are not Singaporeans or permanent residents entering Singapore from high-risk countries to take a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before their departure.
- Singapore and Indonesia announced a green lane between the two countries aimed at keeping essential business going. Applications for travel include strict health protocols and controlled itineraries. Singapore also maintains agreements with Australia, Brunei, China, Malaysia, and Korea on fast-lane arrangements for essential travel.
- Singapore is piloting a new business travel pass for senior executives with regional or international responsibilities. Travelers on this pass would need to keep to a strict itinerary while abroad. On returning to Singapore, they would have the option of a COVID-19 test in lieu of a stay-home notice and would need to self-isolate until the results are released.
- Singapore has lifted border restrictions for all visitors from mainland China and Australia’s Victoria State.
- Singapore has liftied border restrictions for visitors from Taiwan. Upon arrival, visitors from Taiwan must undergo COVID-19 testing and if the result is negative, are allowed to enter Singapore without serving a stay-home notice.
- Singapore and Japan agreed to launch a Reciprocal Green Lane for essential business and official travel between the two countries.
- 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.
- Staff Contact: Phil Agress (PAgress@AdvaMed.org)
Europe
- There is continued increase across the EU. The UK is now first in deaths. The spiking of cases in the UK remains serious but is at a lower level than the previous week. In terms of new cases, the UK again has the lead in Europe at 47,525. Spain is second at 38,869. Germany also remains surprisingly high at 23,461. Of the larger European countries, France is 3rd with 25,379, followed by Russia (24,217), Italy (20,331), and Spain (16,588). The UK now also leads in deaths, followed by Italy, France, Russia, Spain, Germany and Belgium (see chart below). Russia's reported numbers on COVID remain problematic with perhaps the highest number of total cases of any country at 3,471,053, new cases at 22,850 and 63,370 reported deaths (and reporting one of the lowest death rates in Europe at 434 per million). By comparison, Italy, with much fewer (2,319,033) cases, reports 80,326 deaths and a death rate of 1,330 per million.
- Europe overall continues to report a substantial number of cases with over 1.8 million new cases and 36 000 new deaths, increases of 10% and 7% compared to the previous week, respectively. The three countries reporting the highest number of new cases remain the same as last week with United Kingdom (417
- 620 new cases; 615.2 new cases per 100 000, 21% increase), Russian Federation (165 167 new cases, 113.2 new cases per 100 000, 11% decrease) and Germany (142 861 new cases, 170.5 new cases per 100 000, 14% increase). These three countries accounted for almost 40% of all cases reported in the region with the United Kingdom accounting for 23% of all new cases.
- The highest numbers of deaths were reported from the United Kingdom (6298 new deaths; 9.3 new deaths per 100 000, 51% increase), Germany (6071 new deaths; 7.2 new deaths per 100 000, 35% increase), and Italy (3409 new deaths; 5.6 new deaths per 100 000, a 1 % increase). (Note some discrepancies may exist between the numbers in these last three bullets and the chart and numbers below due to reporting windows of different timeframes).
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