The weekly global report provides brief updates on AdvaMed’s global activities related to COVID-19. For additional information, please contact Ralph Ives at Rives@AdvaMed.org.
COVID-19 Outbreak: Weekly Global Report for Friday, December 17, 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 as we ramp up this work stream, we welcome your feedback.
Global
Weekly COVID-19 statistics. Global cases reached 272 million.
Deaths around the world have exceeded just over 5.3 million. Around 8.6 billion vaccines have been administered.
U.S. cases exceeded 50.4 million with deaths increasing to 803,000.
The latest: As the world grapples with the extremely transmissible Omicron variant, the Chinese government is confident its “zero-Covid” strategy can prevent a major outbreak across the nation. That said, Omicron cases have already appeared in Guangdong and Shandong provinces and the dominant Sinovac vaccine has been described as “inadequate” against Omicron, according to Hong Kong researchers. At timesdefensiveagainst external and internal criticism of its zero-tolerance approach, the Chinese government believes Omicron vindicates zero-tolerance. China’s CDC recently published an article that predicts that, if China adopts the epidemic prevention strategy of some countries like the US, UK, Israel, Spain and France, the number of new infections is likely to reach hundreds of thousands per day with about 10,000 seriously ill cases. The same article says that zero-COVID has prevented at least 200 million COVID-19 infections and 3 million deaths.
Sinovac’s effectiveness against Omicron is “inadequate”: Two doses of the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine, one of the most commonly used jabs in China and around the world, provide “insufficient” antibodies against the Omicron coronavirus variant, according to researchers in Hong Kong. The findings from a study released by the University of Hong Kong have stoked anxiety as Omicron surges in many parts of the globe and the first two cases were detected in mainland China this week. China has administered morethan 2.5bn doses of a Covid-19 vaccine — most of them Sinovac or Sinopharm — and adopted a “zero Covid” strategy that has subjected vast numbers of people to compulsory government quarantine. The new coronavirus strain had already raised questions over the efficacy of Chinese vaccines and Beijing’s ability to keep the virus under control. “[Omicron] has left the Chinese vaccines even more ineffective against the threat posed by Covid,” said Nicholas Thomas, an associate professor at the City University of Hong Kong who specialises in Chinese foreign policy and health security in Asia.
Outbreak in Zhejiang province: Major Chinese manufacturing province Zhejiang is fighting its first COVID-19 cluster this year, with tens of thousands of citizens in quarantine and virus-hit areas suspending business operations, cutting flights and cancelling events. The outbreak in three Zhejiang cities - Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou - was developing at a "relatively rapid" speed, while the situation nationwide was largely stable, National Health Commission official Wu Liangyou said last Saturday. Before the current outbreak, Zhejiang - home to a legion of small and medium-sized enterprises, many of which are exporters - reported only one local case in 2021. More than a dozen Chinese-listed companies said they had suspended productionin parts of Zhejiang owing to tightened COVID-19 curbs.
China to supply Africa will more vaccines: Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to supply another 1 billion doses of vaccines to African countries, as the world’s poorest continent grapples with the emergence of a new and potentially more transmissible Covid-19 variant. Xi said 600 million doses will be donated while the rest will be jointly produced by Chinese enterprises and African countries, without providing details. He was speaking via video at the eighth triennial Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in the Senegalese city of Diamniadio on Monday. “We need to put people and their lives first, be guided by science, support waiving intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines, and truly ensure the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in Africa to bridge the immunization gap,” Xi said in a speech. China has already sold 136 million vaccine doses to Africa and pledged 19 million in donations, according to the Beijing-based Bridge Consulting, which tallies deliveries through government press releases and news reports. Beijing has delivered 107 million of those doses, and another 11.6 million through the Covax initiative, the consulting firm said Monday.
Shaanxi province’s strict containment measures for domestic travelers: The northwestern province of Shaanxi has imposed some of the strictest entry control measures for domestic travelers, mandating at least 14-day quarantine — similar to international arrivals in China — for anyone coming from locations designated “medium- and high-risk” in the country, the provincial government said last week. Authorities said the policy would bekept in place from “this winter to next spring” for visitors or returning residents from areas with at least one confirmed or asymptomatic infection.
Mixing of booster shots to be permitted: China will allow the mixing of Covid-19 vaccines for its booster shots drive, with an “an optimal immunization combination” to be introduced very soon, a senior health official said. The new strategy will help to reduce severe illness and deaths from Covid-19 and win the country time to adjust its strict pandemic controls, National Health Commission official Zheng Zhongwei told state broadcaster CCTV on Monday. China has thus far prohibited the mixing and matching of vaccines, or sequential immunization, despite studies around the world on its effectiveness and some countries recommending such a regimen. CanSino is likely to benefit from the possible strategy change on booster doses, as its single-dose shot is the only approved vaccine to use a different technology from the inactivated varieties. Zheng’s remarks also offer hope for possible regulatory approval for an mRNA vaccine jointly developed by Germany’s BioNTech and China’s Fosun Pharma.
Approval of COVID therapeutics: China is on track to approve its first drug for Covid-19, possibly within weeks. This comes as Chinese scientists race to find an effective treatment for the disease, crucial for the country with a zero-tolerance strategy before it can consider reopening its borders, even as vaccination remains a priority. Conditional approval may be given to a neutralising monoclonal antibody treatment co-developed by Chinese and USresearchers by the end of the year, according to an official publication of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Brii Biosciences, a multinational pharmaceutical firm based in the US and China, developed the therapy with scientists at Tsinghua University and the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen. Interim data from an international trial showed the medication could reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death for Covid-19 patients by 78 per cent. If approved, the company would first target the China and US markets, while it would also prioritise countries where it has held clinical trials, including Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina and the Philippines. The interim results also showed that the drug was effective against Covid-19 variants such as Delta.
Vaccination program for children aged 3-11: China has launched a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign for minors aged three to 11, in a bid to increase mass vaccine coverage and accelerate the building of herd immunity, as a new rebound in cases hits almost one-third of the country and becomes one of the worst since the initial outbreak in 2020. Furthermore, local city and provincial-level governments in at least five provinces issued notices in recent days announcing that children aged from three to 11 will be required to get vaccinated. China in June had approved two vaccines – Sinopharm’s from the Beijing Institute of Biological Products and Sinovac – for children aged three to 17, but it has only been vaccinating those aged 12 and older.
Status of the vaccination campaign: 1.09 billion Chinese citizens (77% of the population) have received at least one COVID vaccine dose as of this Monday, according to the National Health Commission (NHC). Among them, nearly 970 million have been fully vaccinated with two shots. About 162 million doses of Covid vaccines have been given to minors ages 12 to 17. The NHC recently said it would allow some groups of people at higher risk, including those 60 or older, to take a booster shot six months after full vaccination. The decision was based on data from domestic vaccine makers Sinovac and Sinopharm on the performance of their inactivated-virus vaccines after six months.
China to build permanent quarantine centers for foreign arrivals: Health authorities have ordered cities in China to build or convert facilities into permanent quarantine centers for overseas arrivals, as Beijing pushes ahead with its zero-tolerance policy on COVID-19. City governments have been told to move away from using hotels for quarantine and instead provide dedicated facilities. There should be 20 quarantine rooms per 10,000 people available by the end of October, according to National Health Commission official Cui Gang.
Weekly COVID-19 statistics: China’s total COVID cases now stand at 112,636, an increase of around 500 cases over the previous week The number of reported deaths remained unchanged at 4,849.
Weekly COVID-19 statistics: 34,718,602 total cases, 87,245 active cases/ 476,478 deaths/discharged 34,154,879 (John Hopkins & MoHFW) as compared to 34,666,241 total cases, 94,742 active cases/474,111 deaths/ discharged 34,097,388 (John Hopkins & MoHFW). 1,352,536,986 doses have been administered.
Omicron cases spreading at unprecedented rate globally raising concerns. The detection of eight new cases in the state of Maharashtra takes the states tally of cases to 28, the highest number of cases reported anywhere in the country. This takes the tally of total cases in the country to 61 till Wednesday, December 15. Seven out of eight cases were reported in Mumbai and one in Vasai Virar. The patients have no international travel history with one travelling to Bangalore and one to Delhi. Maharashtra was the worst affected state at the beginning of the pandemic, reporting the maximum number of covid cases for a long time.
Amid concerns about a possible surge in Covid-19 cases due to the new Omicron variant, the Centre on Wednesday, December 15 reviewed the status of oxygen supply, equipment, ventilators and concentrators among other things with States and UTs, urging them to monitor their availability on a daily basis to ensure that there is absolute preparedness to tackle any rise in the number of infections. In a review meeting with the states and UTs, the Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised states to ensure the gap between equipment and systems delivered to the districts and installed at the healthcare facilities is reduced to zero. States have also been asked to conduct mock drills of all installed and commissioned PSA plants to ensure that they are fully operational so that oxygen of required quantity, purity and pressure reaches the intended patients at their bedside.
Online fraudsters have come up with a new way to cheat people-this time in the name of Covid vaccine booster dose. Police said the fraudsters are calling people posing as representatives of the health department and asking people to register for booster dose. They allegedly tell residents that the government has decided to give booster doses in the wake of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and take money on the pretext of registration. Earlier, Gurgaon cyber police station had received several complaints related to Covid frauds, wherein residents were cheated by people promising oxygen cylinders, medicines and consultations with doctors.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) plans to launch the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine for children in the country in six months, its CEO said on Tuesday, December 14, adding Global vaccine supplies were outstripping the absorption capacity of many countries. The Novavax shot, which the world’s largest producer of the vaccines calls Covovax, has shown good results in trials in children aged three and older. Ina conference organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Adar Pooniwala, CEO of SII said that “Our vaccine will be launched in six months, it is under trails and has shown excellent data all the way down the age group of 3.”
Decks have been cleared by the ministry of health to roll out the Zydus Cadila vaccine in the vaccination drive. “raining is being completed and we are hoping to start giving it from next week,” said a senior government official. To begin with, seven states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal will use the vaccine. These states have identified districts with high number of first dose left out to introduce the vaccine. The government has decided to give it to the adults. The drug regulator had on August 20 given emergency use authorization (EUA) to the three-dose Covid-19 vaccine the first in India that can be given to people 12 years and above.
As demand for the booster doses gather momentum in the wake of the new Omicron variant, Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore is set to conduct a study to test the efficacy of a booster dose on those who have received two doses of Covaxin. CMC Vellore has called for volunteers among those who have had two doses of Covaxin jabs. “Need volunteers for a clinical trial. People who have been administered two doses of Covaxin three to six months ago are eligible to enrol in a booster dosing study,” Gagandeep Kang, a leading virologist, tweeted. It is looking to enrol people in Vellore, Chennai, Bengaluru and Delhi.
People previously infected with Covid-19 and those vaccinate will have some “stronger than basic” protection against Omicron, according to one of the earliest peer-reviewed studies looking into the recently identified variant of coronavirus. However, the study conducted in a lab suggests that Omicron exceeds” all other variants in its potential capability to evade the protection gained from previous Covid-19 infection or vaccination. The findings, published in the journal Emerging Microbes & infection, also suggest that although a third dose of vaccines can significantly boost immunity, the protection from Omicron “may be compromised.”
Even though most companies are encouraging their employees to return to work, 90% in India believe they and their colleagues at workplaces should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, while 93% agree they should wear mask when in public areas or in proximity with others, according to a global survey conducted by the World Economic Forum. The survey covered over 14,000 respondents across 33 countries between 22 October and 5 November 2021, shortly before the emergence of the Omicron variant. “Most workers across the world support vaccine and mask mandates and would feel uncomfortable going to work if these were not put in place, “ said the survey.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has advised against suddenly introducing a third Covid vaccine dose or recommending any change in the time gap of Covishield shots in the wake of Omicron cases. Dr Samiran Panda, head of ICMR’s epidemiology department, said that as of now the apex biomedical research body would underscore the importance of attaining greater coverage with two-dose vaccination. “With Omicron cases being mild not only in India but the world over, there should not be any knee-jerk reaction like introducing a third dose or recommending any change in the interval of Covishield doses,’ he said. “
Amid rising cased of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in Dibrugarh, Assam has designed a testing kit that well be able to detect the virus in two hours’ time. The development has come at a time when the Omicron variant is making its presence felt in various states, with at least 33 cases being detected in the country so far Till now it was a real concern for the authorities to quickly detect the variant. It used to take three to four days’ time to detect the Omicron variant with the help of kits currently available in the market.
Gennova Biopharmaceuticals , subsidiary of Pune-based drugmaker Emcure which is developing mRNA Covid vaccine said it plans to finish the phase 2/3 trials by January end next year and will seek emergency use authorization from Indian drug authority. Gennova has commenced Phase-2 and Phase-3 clinical trials of its mRNA based vaccine HGCO19 across 35 centres pan India. The Phase 2 study will be conducted in 400 healthy subjects while Phase III part of the study will enrol 400 healthy subjects who are 18 years and above up to 80 years. Samir Mehta, chief operating officer of Emcure and director of the Board of Gennova said the company has learned lessons from the challenges of recruiting subjects in Phase-1, and has scaled up recruitment by adding more centres in Phase-2 and Phase 3 trails.
Scores of anti-Covid beneficiaries are still scrambling for their overdue second doses with CoWIN somehow showing them full vaccinated. Though these beneficiaries had received only the first shots, their user accounts on CoWIN showed them as fully vaccinated. As a result, they could not get the second dose of the vaccine despite crossing the due date. “There is a scramble for second doses after the emergence of Omicron variant of Covid. Hence, we wish to take out second shots as soon as possible. But somehow, my family and I are being shown as fully vaccinated on CoWIN with the final certificates in our names.
Weekly COVID-19 statistics – 1,729,764 total reported cases and 18,390 total reported deaths compared to 1,728,780 total reported cases and 18,383 total reported deaths last week.
Japan continues to see an extremely low number of new cases and deaths. It is averaging around 100 new cases and one death per day. New daily cases had reached a peak of around 25,000 in August.
Japan has placed a daily cap on arrivals from overseas at 3,500, with no in priority between Japanese citizens and foreign residents. Reciprocal business travel arrangements that were forged with China, South Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam remain suspended.
The Japanese government lifted the attendance cap of 10,000 at large-scale events such as concerts and sports events. The government lifted the COVID-19 state of emergency covering 19 prefectures including Tokyo at the end of September. The emergency mainly involved requests for restaurants and bars to reduce their hours and not serve alcohol. With the lifting, Japan is free of emergency requirements for the first time in more than six months.
Japan has fully vaccinated 77.4% of its population.
Japan started administering third doses of COVID-19 vaccine in December to medical workers who had their second doses at least 8 months ago.
Japan has approved the Moderna vaccine booster shots for those 18+ years old who got their second doses at least six months ago. It previously approved the Pfizer vaccine booster for the same cohort.
Japan is easing its quarantine restrictions for travelers entering the country who been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer, Moderna, or Astra Zeneca vaccines. They will no longer be required to self-isolate in designated facilities for 3 days before completing a 14-day quarantine. Instead, they will need to self-quarantine at home for 10 days and then pass a PCR test.
Korea added 7,622 cases todayto reach 544,117. 7,591 of 7,622 (99.59%) were locally transmitted while 31 (0.41%) originated overseas.
43,197,555 first doses (84.1% of the population), 41,871,536 second doses (81.5% of the population) and 8,866,898 third doses (17.3% of the population) of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Korea.
Please note the following updates regarding COVID-19-related policies in Korea:
[NEW]Stricter Social Distancing Measures(December 18, 2021 – January 2, 2022): Korea will implement stricter social distancing measures, limiting gatherings to 4 people nationwide starting this Saturday, December 18. More details will be made available later this week.
International Arrival Quarantine Measures Extended (December 3, 2021 – January 6th, 2022): All international arrivals into Korea must undergo a10-day quarantine regardless of their nationality and vaccination status until January 6, 2022.Quarantine exemption certificatescan be issued for important business trips, diplomatic visits, and other humanitarian reasons.
Vaccination Registration Policy: Starting December 9, non-Korean citizens fully vaccinated abroad can register their records at local health centers and get their vaccination status recognized in Korea.
Latest entry and exit requirements for travel between the U.S. and Korea can be found at the US Embassy website.
Korea will recognize foreign nationals' vaccination history abroad so they can be verified as "vaccinated" against COVID-19, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Thursday.
During a COVID-19 response briefing, Thursday, KDCA chief Jeong Eun-kyoung warned that at this pace, the country may see up to a 10,000 daily caseload this month and as much as 20,000 in January. Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol asked for public cooperation and understanding on the tightened social distancing measures and urged people to refrain from unnecessary gatherings.
President Moon Jae-in offered an apology for the toughening of quarantine measures, which have come about six weeks after the administration kicked off its "Living with COVID-19" strategy. "The government has failed to curb the surge in critically ill patients and secure enough hospital beds during the phased return to normalcy," Moon was quoted as saying by presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee.
The President vowed to stabilize the current situation through the newly imposed measures, while providing small business owners with sufficient compensation for their losses, according to Park.
ASEAN now has14,472,102 total reported cases compared to 14,308,411 total reported cases last week. It has a total of 298,720 total reported deaths compared to 296,055 reported deaths last week.
The ASEAN region continues to experience a decline in new cases overall. Vietnam and Thailand are the exceptions, with number of new cases in Vietnam remaining high and Thailand experiencing an uptick.
Indonesia: New cases and fatalities continue to fall to extremely low levels. Indonesia is now reporting 4,259,857 total cases and 143,979 total deaths compared to 4,258,560 total cases and 143,918 total deaths last week. Indonesia accounts for 48% of total deaths in ASEAN since the start of the pandemic.
Malaysia: Total reported cases grew from 2,673,019 to 2,703,140 last week. Total deaths have grown from 30,746 to 30,989 over that time.
Thailand: Total reported cases grew from 2,156,587 to 2,181,960 last week and reported deaths have increased from 21,082 to 21,284 over that time.
Philippines: New case numbers in the Philippines has dropped considerably and the country is starting to ease restrictions on some businesses. The Philippines is now reporting 2,837,016 total cases, up from 2,835,996 last week. Total reported deaths have increased from 49,936 to 50,496 over that time.
Vietnam: Total reported cases grew from 1,367,433 to 1,459,175 last week. Total reported deaths grew from 27,146 to 28,616 over that time.
Singapore: The number of new cases in Singapore moderated again last week. Total reported cases increased from 271,297 to 274,617 last week. The total number of deaths increased rose from 726 to 807 over that period.
Cambodia: Cambodia has experienced nearly seven weeks of extremely low case counts. Total reported cases increased from 120,312 to 120,397 last week. Total reported deaths grew from 2,974 to 2,998 over that period.
Laos: Laos reported a growth in total cases from 84,503 to 93,061 last week. It reported 256 total deaths, up from 224 last week.
Vaccinations
Indonesia authorized the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use on July 15. Only 38.2% of the population is fully vaccinated.
Malaysia now has one of the highest vaccination rates in the region. The government announced that civil servants may face disciplinary action or termination if they fail to complete the COVID-19 vaccination process. Malaysia has fully vaccinated 78.8% of its population.
The Philippines has considerable vaccine resistance. Polls show that fewer than one third of Filipinos are willing to be vaccinated due to fears of the potential side effects. Currently, only 38.9% of the population is fully vaccinated.
Singapore has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. Currently, 87% of the population is fully vaccinated. The country announced that it will cease covering the medical costs of patients who are eligible to get vaccinated but choose not to. Costs for partly vaccinated patients will be covered through the end of the year to allow time for second shots. It is also considering tightening restrictions on those who decline to receive the vaccine – beginning January 1, unvaccinated employees will be barred from entering the workplace, unless they undergo tests each time.
Thailand began a mass vaccination program using the AstraZeneca vaccine on June 7. Currently, 62.5% of its citizens have been fully vaccinated.
Thailand's Food and Drug Administration approved Siam Bioscience as a manufacturing facility for the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine. Thailand plans to export the vaccines to eight Southeast Asian countries.
Vietnam has fully vaccinated 54.7% of its population to date. A Vietnamese pharmaceutical company has begun second phase trials on a coronavirus vaccine.
Cambodia: 81.2% of the population has been fully vaccinated, making it the second-highest country with total inoculation in Southeast Asia, after Singapore.
Travel
Singapore and Malaysia reopened one of the world's busiest land borders to vaccinated travelers after nearly two years.
Singapore is not allowing visitors who have a 14-day travel history to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa.
Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) is now available to fully vaccinated visitors from nearly a dozen countries, including Brunei, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.
Indonesia: Vaccinated travelers from Indonesia can now travel quarantine-free to Singapore. Indonesia remains closed to general travel from Singapore. Sponsored business visas are once again available, though a five-day quarantine in a designated hotel is still required. Indonesia reopened international flights to Bali on October 14 for foreign visitors from countries with a positivity rate of less than 5% and who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Thailand approved a plan to end quarantine for vaccinated air travelers from the U.S., U.K, China, Germany, and Singapore starting November 1, in a bid to boost tourism ahead of the year-end holiday season. The tourists are allowed to enter all regions in Thailand by air with no quarantine requirements.
Malaysia and Singapore announced that they will launch a vaccinated travel lane (VTL) between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Nov 29.
Vietnam announced the resumption of international flights between nine destinations deemed to have “high vaccination rates and good pandemic control.” The destinations include China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, and the United States.
Philippines: Fully vaccinated international travelers from countries classified as “green” (low-risk) will no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine if they provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of their departure.
Cambodia: Effective 29 November, all travelers who have been physically present or have transited Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, and Zambia are prohibited entry into Cambodia.
Other than the above, those who have received a second COVID-19 vaccine shot of any sort can now travel anywhere in Cambodia. Travelers will have to show their negative test 72 hours before travel and have two vaccine doses. Cambodia has lifted all quarantine requirements for vaccinated inbound travelers entering Cambodia by air, waterway, or land border checkpoints. Travelers will be required to take a rapid antigen test on arrival. Those who are unvaccinated will be quarantined for 14 days.
Negative trends remain significant in Europe, with dramatic spiking in case numbers in most countries. (Germany and France are notable exceptions). Deaths are also increasing but not at a rate commensurate with the dramatic increases in cases, which seems to support that Omicron may be less deadly than prior strains, but is nonetheless definitely much more transmissible.
The UK is back in the lead with the most new cases, and by a wide margin. France, Germany, Spain and Russia round out the top 5 in Europe. The Russian reported figures of only 69,383 cases per million are far below virtually any other country in Europe. Only Norway, Iceland, Finland and Vatican City have lower figures in the cases per million category. Experts believe the reported numbers from Russia are highly inaccurate, and that the situation in Russia is 7 to 10 times worse in terms of fatalities due to significant under-reporting.
New Daily Case numbers appear in the chart below, and in this section are also compared to last week are as follows: France 60,866 (61,340); Spain 28,900 (10, 952); Russia 28,486 (30,752); UK 88,376 (51,050; Italy 26,109 (17,948); Germany 44,997 (68,832); and Belgium 11,851 (10,878).
In terms of total cases in Europe, see chart below for the specific numbers. The UK has the most COVID cases, followed by Russia, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Poland, Ukraine, Netherlands and Czech Republic round out the top ten.
In terms of cases per million in Europe, Czech Republic is the 4th highest in Europe with 221,527. The UK is 12th highest with 2,148. Netherlands is 9th with 170,841; Belgium, is 10th with 169,779.
The UK continues to be fourth worst in the world in terms of total cases, behind USA, India, and Brazil. Russia is fifth worst in the world in total cases.
In terms of deaths per day, Russia remains by far the highest in Europe, at 1,133. Germany is now at third with 403. The UK is sixth with 146. Russia’s consistent lead in deaths per day is in contrast to most of its other reported numbers and is another indicator that its numbers are under reported. Along with Russia, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, France and UK comprise the top 6 countries in Europe in deaths per day.
In terms of deaths per million, Belgium is the 23rd worst in the world with 2,378. Italy is 28th, with 2,243. The UK is 29th with 2,148. Other rankings in this category are Spain, 37th, and France 40th. (The US ranks 20th with 2,469 deaths per million).
The figures for deaths per day (which tend to lag any increased infection rates) are as follows: Russia 1,173 (1,179); UK 146 (161); France 188 (133); Spain 48 (18); Italy 112 (88); Germany 403 (448); Belgium 44 (43).
Germany continues to lead Europe in the number of vaccine doses administered with over 138 million doses and over 69% fully vaccinated. German authorities are encountering resistance from many Germans who do not want to be vaccinated. Russia is now second in Europe with over 137 million vaccine doses administered and 42.5% fully vaccinated. The UK is third with just shy of 130 million doses administered, just shy of 69% fully vaccinated. France has administered over 114 million doses and is now over 71% fully vaccinated. Italy has administered over 103 million doses and is over 73% fully vaccinated. Spain has administered just under 82 million doses and is just under 81% fully vaccinated. These numbers continue to increase, but the rate of increase has slowed in some countries due to population segments who refuse to get vaccinated.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the bloc by mid-January. But von der Leyen said she is confident the EU has the “strength” and “means” to overcome the disease, with over 66% of the EU's population now fully vaccinated. “Like many of you, I’m sad that once again this Christmas will be overshadowed by the pandemic,” she said. The new variant was first identified by South African researchers and was designated a "variant of concern" in late November. It appears to spread much more quickly than previous COVID-19 variants.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned that vaccination alone will not prevent Omicron from spreading. Dr Andrea Ammon, director of the EU public health agency, said that "a further, rapid increase in Omicron cases is imminent" in the European Union and the European Economic Area.
"We assess the probability of further spread of the Omicron variant in the EU/EEA as very high and it is considered very likely to cause additional hospitalisations and fatalities," Ammon said in a video statement.
She called for countries to take urgent "strong action" to reduce transmission and alleviate the burden on health care systems.
Europe is bracing for an Omicron winter, with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen saying on Wednesday: "We're told that by mid-January, we should expect Omicron to be the new dominant variant in Europe." The timing is perilous. Although many EU countries are in the global vanguard in terms of vaccination rates, the roll-out is patchy across the 27-nation bloc. Nine EU countries have vaccination rates below 60 percent.
Omicron's apparent ability to mute the effects of existing vaccines has galvanized efforts to get booster shots into arms. But the EU health agency ECDC on Wednesday warned jabs alone now would not be enough, given that Omicron infections double around every two days. "There will be no time to address the vaccination gaps that still exist," Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, said. "The coming months will be difficult," acknowledged EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides.
The European Central Bank is being pulled two ways: It's caught between a scheduled end of its pandemic stimulus and growing alarm about the new omicron variant of the coronavirus even as other central banks around the world decide to take steps to combat soaring consumer prices.
The dilemma faced by the bank and President Christine Lagarde at their meeting on Thursday in Frankfurt is compounded by a wave of infections caused by the earlier delta variant. On top of that, persistent shortages of parts and raw materials also are contributing to a late-year slowdown of the recovery in the 19 European Union countries that use the euro.
European Union guidance (nonbinding) has recommended a pause on all non-essential travel from the US as Covid-19 cases surge. The recommendation is nonbinding, meaning individual countries will be allowed to decide if they still wish to allow US visitors with proof of vaccination, negative tests, or quarantine.
The EU executive proposed at an internal meeting with health experts from member states last week to impose PCR tests on all incoming travelers from outside the bloc, two of the sources said, a step prompted by a lack of firm information so far on the risks posed by the Omicron coronavirus variant. The EU introduced COVID-19 passes in July to facilitate travel for people who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus, have recovered from the disease or have a negative PCR test. As evidence increased about the waning protection from vaccines, in November the European Commission proposed a nine-month validity limit for COVID-19 passes from the time a person has received two doses (or one in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). We have seen confirmation that this has been finalized.
All EU Member States are issuing and verifying a COVID Digital Certificate in a bid to boost tourism across the region this summer and beyond. The EU’s COVID Digital Certificate is an EU-wide scheme for travel within the EU, and is available in digital or paper form, free of charge. https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en. EU citizens and their families, and legal EU residents, may use it. There are discussions underway to allow US and UK citizens to obtain and use the digital certificates. The pass is proof that a person has: Been vaccinated against COVID-19; Tested negative for COVID-19; and/or Recovered from COVID-19.
The Swiss Federal Council has indicated that there remain "substantial differences between Switzerland and the EU on key aspects of the agreement" and "the conditions are thus not met for the signing". The main stumbling blocks were freedom of movement, the level playing field and state aid rules.
The Swiss government argues that incorporating a 2004 EU law called Citizens' Rights Directive (CRD), which gives citizens from the European Economic Area (an area that includes the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) the right of free movement and residence, could entail "higher social security costs" and "effectively constitute a paradigm shift in Switzerland's migration policy".
Among the particular objections, Switzerland didn't want to incorporate the notion of permanent residence for EU citizens and access to social security for non-employed residents, such as job-seekers and students. Switzerland was not comfortable either with the concept of EU citizenship, although Brussels insisted that this aspect was not part of the deal.
While discussions could be restarted at any time, this has not occurred. The Implications for the medical technology industry from the failure of the EU and Switzerland to reach an agreement on a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) include the following:
For all new devices, Swiss manufacturers will be treated as any other third country manufacturer intending to place their devices on the EU market. In particular, new Swiss medium and high-risk devices must be certified by conformity assessment bodies established within the EU.
Existing certificates issued under the MRA by conformity assessment bodies established in Switzerland will no longer be recognized as valid in the EU.
For existing certificates issued under the MRA by conformity assessment bodies established in the EU, Swiss manufacturers and third country manufacturers whose authorized representative was previously established in Switzerland, must designate an authorized representative established in the EU.
On 19 May 2021, the Swiss Federal Council adopted an amendment to the Swiss Ordinance on Medical Devices establishing conditions for trade of medical devices covered by EU issued certificates on the Swiss market. This includes the recognition of existing certificates issued under the MRA by conformity assessment bodies established in the EU and transitional timelines for the designation of a representative in Switzerland for EU/EEA manufacturers of medical devices.
The following links may be of interest on the Swiss/EU MRA issue
While the schedule says ‘not yet passed’ it became effective when the MRA was not renewed on May 26.
The EU currently allows all travelers with proof of vaccination into the EU, with some restrictions. Please check if you intend to travel as these situations can change rapidly. See link for full explanation: COVID-19: travel from third countries into the EU - Consilium (europa.eu). For incoming US travelers, EU countries in most instances now allow entry with proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID-19 test result. Those showing proof of vaccination can enter in most instances without restrictions. Again, please check before you travel as situations can change.
Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss has travelled to Spain toimprove UK/EU relationships.
The UK is expected to announce a Free Trade Agreement with Australia this week.
The Department of International Trade has published a transcript of Trade Minister, Penny Mordaunt’s speech at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
NHS England has appointed a new interim regional director for London, Sir David Sloman.
Baroness Heather Hallett has been appointed to lead the inquiry into the Government’s handling of the covid-19 pandemic.
The UK recorded 78,610 covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest figure since the pandemic began.
The UK Government has rejected advice from anindependent inquiry into healthcare professionals who are suspected of posing a risk to patient safety.
A trust in London has asked for staff to be redeployed tomanage hospital admissions due to rising cases of covid-19.
Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty has said the rapid rise in covid-19 cases will cause ‘quite substantial rota gaps’ in the NHS.
The Local Government Association has said the government aredelaying the Integration White Paper until spring 2022.
A report from the European Council on Foreign Relations has revealed the British public see the EU as more of a ‘key future partner than the US’.
The Department for International Trade has published a report on advancing the WTO agenda via plurilateral trade agreements.
The Prime Minister has said the UK’s drive toincrease the number of booster vaccinations will cause disruption to the health service before Christmas.
The Health Secretary, Sajid Javid has said the Omicron variant couldoverwhelm the NHS even if symptoms are less severe.
Nursing leaders have expressed concern over the ‘scale and pace’ of the booster programme given the current capacity in the NHS.
Hospital trusts are experiencing a large increase in the number of long stay patients in NHS England.
International Trade Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan left the US today having made little progress to smooth the steel trade dispute.
Testing requirements are eased for fully vaccinated arrivals to England from open countries, who will no longer have to take a COVID-19 test before traveling. Travelers will still need a test after landing, but from the end October an inexpensive lateral flow test will suffice, rather than a more sensitive - but pricier - PCR test.
Unvaccinated travelers will still have to self-isolate for 10 days, as well as taking coronavirus tests before and after their trips. In a boost to tourism, Britain said it will recognize vaccinations given in 17 more countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea. It previously had recognized only shots given in the U.K., the U.S. and the European Union.
A wide range of waiting times data has been released by the British government as part of its return to treatment initiative. The number of people waiting for over a year for treatment in England has reached its highest levels since 2008. The official and detailed data from NHS England on waiting times can be found here:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/.
If you are experiencing issues with exporting goods to the UK from the EU, or to the EU from the UK, please let us know immediately and advise the UK’s Border and Protocol Delivery Group at this e-mail address: enquiries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Germany is scrambling to procure more vaccines to fuel what the new health minister on Thursday called a “very offensive” and fast booster strategy that would leave the country better prepared for the onslaught of the new omicron variant.
Germany on Wednesday administered nearly 1.5 million shots, its highest one-day total so far. As its vaccination campaign has revved back up, an average of some 988,000 people per day have been vaccinated over the past week. German officials remain dissatisfied with the difficulty they are having in both procuring sufficient quantities of vaccine and in administering the vaccine to the approximately 30% of the population that remains unvaccinated. Many of the 30% are reluctant to take the vaccine.
Police in Germany's eastern state of Saxony have launched a series of raids after death threats were made against Premier Michael Kretschmer for backing coronavirus measures. Far-right anti-vaccination activists are suspected of plotting violence with crossbows or other "piercing weapons". Saxony has the lowest Covid vaccine take-up in Germany.
Karl Lauterbach has been appointed as new health minister. The SPD health politician, physician and health economist Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach is the successor to Jens Spahn (CDU). Lauterbach has been a member of the Bundestag since 2005 and has gained widespread public recognition since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic.
The President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) Lothar Wieler has urged people in Germany to cut down on social contact at Christmas to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant. Speaking during a press conference with Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, Wieler, called for Christmas to be celebrated with a small group of close family and friends. “We all want to spend the holidays with family and friends, yes – but we all also have to work together to ensure that Christmas does not become a kick-start for Omicron,” he said.
He urged people in Germany to spend the festive season in a way that would “not be a celebration for the virus”.
A draft law on mandatory vaccination is still on track to be submitted to parliament for entry into force in February or March. Masks are to be required in schools, and new limits imposed on private meetings. The moves follow a ruling from a top German court upholding government measures to tackle all-time high COVID-19 infections. The Federal Constitutional Court found that a curfew and school closures were in line with the country's constitution.
BVMed, the German MedTech association, expects the new German government to ensure that the core topics of the future-oriented medical technology industry are also reflected in the coalition agreement for the new legislative period. In the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR), BVMed is lobbying for an "addendum" in order to establish solutions for the transition periods as well as existing and niche products. In order to strengthen Germany as a medical technology location, BVMed is proposing a "Medtech 2030 Initiative" to the new German government to coordinate measures between research, economic, labor, and health policy.
According to a recent industry survey by BVMed, the MDR is already having a dramatic impact on the medtech market. More than 70 percent of BVMed member companies have discontinued individual medical devices or entire product lines due to the new MDR regulations. This is the result of a BVMed survey in which 88 member companies participated. More than 55 percent of the companies indicated that previous suppliers have already discontinued their business activities due to the MDR.
France will ban non-essential travel to and from Britain from the weekend to slow the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant that is causing record numbers of cases on the other side of the Channel, the government said Thursday.
From midnight Saturday (2300 GMT Friday) there will be a "requirement to have an essential reason to travel to, or come from, the UK, both for the unvaccinated and vaccinated... People cannot travel for touristic or professional reasons," the government said in a statement. "Faced with the extremely rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, the government has chosen to reinstate the need for an essential reason for travel from and to the UK," the statement said. It added that French citizens and EU nationals could still return to France from the UK. "We will put in place a system of controls drastically tighter than the one we have already," government spokesman Gabriel Attal told BFMTV channel.
French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged "political disagreements" with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a visit to Budapest on Monday, but reiterated that France was willing to "work together for Europe" with Hungary as Paris prepares to take over the EU presidency.
Speaking to reporters at a summit for East European leaders in the Hungarian capital, Macron acknowledged that he had “well known political disagreements” with Orban. But ahead of France taking on the EU rotating presidency on January 1, 2022, Macron said he was “willing to discuss the sovereignty of Europe – what that means”, with the Hungarian leader.
In a bid to encourage older people to come forward for a third dose of the vaccine, President Macron has said that from mid-December, a booster jab will be needed in order for people aged over 65 to have their health passes extended.
COVID screening tests in France are no longer free. This change signals a new phase in the government’s strategy to quell coronavirus infections by encouraging people to get inoculated.
Unvaccinated people in France essentially have to pay to enter cafes, restaurants and theaters, because under a law enacted this summer, entering many indoor venues requires proof of being fully vaccinated, of a recent negative test or of a recent Covid-19 recovery. Tests will remain free for vaccinated people.
France has made it mandatory to show the health pass – proving that you are vaccinated or have tested negative for Covid-19 – for access to public venues for more than 50 people since July 21. On August 9 the health pass requirements were extended to a range of new settings, including long-distance transport, restaurants and cafés – even France’s outdoor terraces.
Any of the following documents can be used as a health pass in France:
Proof of having completed a vaccination program (two doses of an EU-approved vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson)
A negative PCR or antigen test taken within the last 48 hours
A Covid-19 recovery certificate that is less than six months old
Anyone who enters an establishment without showing a valid pass can be fined €135 for a first offence.
Meanwhile, vaccinated tourists from France's "orange" list, which includes the UK, and most countries in Africa and Asia, will no longer need an essential reason to travel. These visitors will be exempt from quarantine but must still present a negative COVID-19 test. Here is a description of the categories and how they work:
Red
Vaccinated: Inoculated visitors from red countries must provide results of a PCR or antigen test no more than 48 hours old, provide an essential reason for travel, self-isolate for seven days and take a mandatory antigen test upon arrival.
Unvaccinated: Those who haven’t gotten their shots have the same requirements as vaccinated travelers from red countries, but their isolation time is increased to 10 days, and their compliance is checked by authorities.
Orange
Vaccinated: If you’re vaccinated and coming from an orange/amber country, you will need a PCR test no more than 72 hours prior to departure or an antigen test that’s no more than 48 hours old. Travelers can visit for any reason, such as tourism, provided they meet these other requirements.
Unvaccinated: Unvaccinated arrivals must observe the same testing requirements as vaccinated travelers under the orange/amber category, but they must also provide a “pressing reason” for travel (i.e., essential travel), take additional tests on arrival and self-isolate for seven days.
Green
Vaccinated: There are no restrictions if you are vaccinated, and arriving from a country labeled green.
Unvaccinated: If you are not vaccinated, you need a PCR or antigen test within 72hrs before departure.
If you are experiencing difficulties with exporting PPE from the EU, please let us know immediately. We have not seen any instances of this occurring since an initial incident was resolved.
If you are having any issues moving medical supplies or medical products from the EU to the UK, or vice versa, please let us know immediately.
AdvaMed's joint programs in Germany and the UK continue to provide COVID-19 updates and support on IVDR and MDR implementation.
Med Tech Europe White Paper on Companion Diagnostics under the IVDR: https://www.medtecheurope.org/resource-library/joint-medtech-europe-efpia-white-paper-on-companion-diagnostics-under-the-ivdr/
ProspectivaCOVID 19 LATAM Weekly Updates for December 13, 2021
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS – COVID 19
Argentina: Government launches "Health Pass" for vaccinated people.
Bolivia: Government announced to rollout COVID-19 vaccines for children between 5 and 11 years old.
Colombia: International travelers to present their vaccination certificate upon entering the country.
Chile: Government ruled out extending the emergency family income (IFE) until March.
Ecuador: The Minister of Health announced a massive purchase of medicines to supply both the Ministry of Public Health and the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS).
Mexico: President AMLO led the start of the COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Campaign for senior citizens.
Paraguay: Ministry of Health will intensify house-to-house vaccination in Alto Paraná.
Peru: Peru exceeded 70% of the target population vaccinated with two doses.
Uruguay: After validating 671,631 signatures, the Electoral Court authorized the referendum against the Urgent Consideration Law (LUC).
