Monday Morning News & Notes
Omicron spurs COVID numbers across the globe to never before seen heights
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Back to school on January 5 is a go according to Denmark’s Education Minister Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil. The minister told the newspaper Jyllands-Posten that even if the pandemic remains in the way of everyday life parents shouldn’t be nervous about sending their kids back to school.
“The decision was made after careful consideration by the health authorities on the basis that a large part of the population had been vaccinated and had received a third dose.”
Schools will keep infection control measures in place including classes not mixing, school gatherings and events being cancelled, and weekly COVID testing. All school staff and students from grade one and up are encouraged to get tested twice a week. Parents of young children will be contacted to give their permission for their child to be given twice a week COVID self-tests either at school or at home.
Denmark has purchased 65 million COVID self-testing kits, with the first planeload arriving just before Christmas. Already nine-million kits have been doled out to Danish municipalities.
Director of the Local Government Association Christian Harsløf spoke to Ritzau:
“Over the next few days they will be completely out in the institutions. If you as a parent have not yet had the opportunity to pick them up, the opportunity will come in the days right up to the start of school, so that the children can meet being freshly tested [for COVID] right up to January 5.”
Danish National Health Board Director Søren Brostrøm said in a press conference last week that children should get tested right before school starts and then take a self-test twice weekly once classes resume.
The COVID self-testing kits are not just for students and school staff, they will also be used for people who work in daycares, hospitals, and seniors care.
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While Denmark has one of the most robust COVID testing regimes in the world, at least one Danish epidemiologist thinks even more testing is needed. Aarhus University Hospital Ward Doctor Christian Wejse tells DR that the sky-high positivity percentage tells him that even Denmark’s vaunted testing regime isn’t catching nearly enough cases.
“When the positivity percentage among those having taken a PCR test is over ten percent, it shows we actually test too few. We must assume that there is also a very large number of escapes. So the numbers show that we have many infected and contagious people out in the community.”
He says only once the positivity percentage is below five percent can we be sure that an adequate number of tests are being conducted.
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After posting a record high 23,228 new infections on December 29, followed by another extremely high 21,403 cases the following day, there was no COVID report on New Year’s Eve. Denmark then began 2022 with 19,836 corona infections on New Year’s Day before posting a suspiciously low 7,954 new infections on Sunday. This is likely reflective of a holiday hangover on the staffing side in processing test results, but also due to a massive decline in COVID testing numbers on Saturday. All in all, the first two or three days worth of COVID reports of this week should be very interesting in showing how big the ‘catch-up’ numbers are.
On Saturday, there were just 136,176 total corona tests done, of which a mere 65,325 were PCR tests equaling a positivity percentage of an extremely high 12.17%.
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The COVID situation across Denmark remains dire, with 95 out of the 98 Danish kommunes having a coronavirus incidence rate per 100,000 people of 1,000 or higher. Of those, 37 municipalities have an incidence rate above 2,000, with Tårnby being the hardest hit with an incidence rate of a jaw-dropping 2,949.
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Several of Denmark’s health regions are reminding people that as of today (Monday) patient’s rights to treatment in a timely manner have been suspended. This is to ensure that there is both sufficient capacity in hospitals and hands on deck to deal with the Omicron infection wave.
This is the 3rd time in the pandemic that the Danish parliament has suspended patient’s rights.
Region Nordjylland Regional Council President Ulla Astman says the suspension will last from today until at least January 30.
“In practice, patients in North Jutland will not experience any major changes. They will continue to receive a letter of invitation with information about the time and place. And here it will continue to be stated that patients can contact the Unit for Hospital Elections to hear about their options.”
The region has reached an agreement with some private hospitals to handle some of the surgeries and procedures that otherwise might have to be postponed.
In Region Sjælland Regional Council Chair Heino Knudsen says they too will lean on private hospitals to share some of the load.
“It is important for us that our healthcare system can take care of the most critically ill patients such as cancer patients and patients with life-threatening diseases. Therefore, we have adopted the suspension so that our hospitals can have full focus on those patients. At the same time, it is a priority for us that we utilize the possibilities for treatment of patients in private hospitals and clinics as much as possible.”
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Overall COVID hospitalizations (709) continue to surge (+62) which is concerning, but the sliver of good news is that intensive care and fatalities remain uncoupled from general corona admissions. This is thanks to the protection offered by vaccinations. The number of infected people in an ICU (76) crept upward (+3) while of those the number on a ventilator (50) also inched upward (+1).
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A concerning number of COVID infections have occurred inside Danish hospitals, according to the newspaper Berlingske, citing figures from the Staten Serum Institut. The data from the SSI for hospitalizations from November 22 to December 23 shows one out of every ten people who were admitted to hospital were infected with the coronavirus. University of Southern Denmark Professor of Clinical Microbiology Hans Jørn Kolmos told the newspaper this is the sad reality of having a hyper-contagious Omicron variant ripping through the population.
“It is potentially deadly and tedious for patients to be exposed to infection in the hospital. But it is unfortunately also almost inevitable with a variant like Omicron.”
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The New Year’s hangover extended to COVID vaccinations, with a mere 7,974 inoculations administered on Saturday, with most, 6,754, being booster doses. Just 358 people began their vaccination process on New Year’s Day.
To date, 81.8% of the total population have one vaccine dose, 77.9% have a 2nd dose, and 47.9% have had a booster shot.
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Vaccination offered strong protection against infection among people at home when a member of the household became infected with either the Omicron or Delta variant. Researchers from University of Copenhagen, Statistics Denmark, and the Statens Serum Institut have published a new study, comparing the attack rate between the two variants.
In a nutshell, the study found Omicron had a higher attack rate (spread within a household) than Delta due to its ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity. There were 11,937 households with 27,874 people examined in the study with 2,225 of them being homes dealing with Omicron infections. 6,397 people tested positive within the first week after someone in the home first because infected. The study then calculated the attack rate as 31% for Omicron and 21% for Delta.
Looking at vaccination rates of people in the homes, the study concluded, as you might expect, that either variant spread much faster among those who were unvaccinated. Infection rates were also very low among those who had a booster shot compared to those with two doses.
For those who want to read the pre-print study in full, you can find it HERE.
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Can COVID vaccines be tailored to individual people? That is the question Danish researchers are tackling as they look at why coronavirus vaccines appear to work differently from person to person. In what is called the “Enforce project’ researchers from Rigshospitalet, Aarhus University Hospital, and Aarhus University are examining blood samples from 7,000 people in Denmark. The goal is to determine if changes can be made to increase vaccine effectiveness, according to Rigshospitalet Department of Infectious Disease Professor Jens Lundgren.
“Some of the people who have been vaccinated have not actually had as high degrees of immunity as expected. We are doing a very thorough study trying to understand who they are, where they are from, and what we can do to boost their immunity.”
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Sweden will provide its first update of the week on Tuesday.
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The Omicron variant wave has arrived in Sweden, with the Swedish Public Health Agency noting infection numbers are increasing rapidly. It says during week 51, overall coronavirus cases rose by 13% compared to the week before. The agency says across the country’s regions the Omicron variant accounts for anywhere between three to 51% of all sequenced positive test results, and it says those numbers will continue to rise.
Of all the confirmed cases in week 51 36% were among people who were unvaccinated. The agency says even measuring it by the metric of cases per 100,000 people “the number of cases was significantly higher in the group unvaccinated than vaccinated.”
On the hospitalizations front, the Swedish Public Health Agency says admissions are increasing but not to the extent seen in previous infection waves thanks to COVID vaccines. In week 51 there were 52 coronavirus patients admitted to intensive care units. It says in the four weeks prior the number of infected people on ICU per 100,000 people was 12 times higher among the unvaccinated.
Sweden’s Chief Epidemiologist Anders Tegnell:
“Although we have seen an increase in the number of people who need care due to covid-19, the vaccines mean that there are much fewer now compared to previous periods of high infection spread. This shows the importance of even more people being vaccinated, and that those who are now offered a booster dose should also take that dose.”
So far, 29% of the eligible population 18 years old and older has received a 3rd dose. Among those 65 years old and older, 79% have had a booster shot.
Rolling average of confirmed infections over the last three weeks per 100,000 people by vaccination status/Swedish Public Health Agency.
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In Southern Sweden, Region Skåne is warning that infection numbers are rising quickly. The region says COVID infections have increased by 24% from one week to the next. It is also seeing a positivity percentage of around 15%.
Infection Control Doctor Eva Melander:
“We have an increasing infection spread and the Omicron variant is judged to be a continuously increasing part of this. We are also seeing an increasing burden on healthcare. The situation looks more or less the same throughout Sweden.”
The region says infections are increasing across all age groups except among children nine years old and younger and those 70 years old and older.
“With the risk of being annoying, I cannot stress enough how important it is that we now all follow the advice, recommendations and restrictions that apply. And that we all get vaccinated when we are offered it. Data unequivocally show that vaccination protects well against serious illnesses and that it limits the spread of infection.”
The region has administered over two-million vaccine doses. 80% of everyone in the region 12 years and older now has at least two vaccine doses. The region is now increasing its vaccination capacity in order to get even more needles into the arms. Region Skåne has signed a deal with three private vaccination clinics specifically to administer more booster doses, but the clinics will also be able to give first and second doses as well.
The new vaccination clinics will be located in Malmö, Arlöv, Ängelholm, Helsingborg, Hässleholm, Kristianstad, Löddeköpinge, Kävlinge, Simrishamn, Ystad, Lund, and Trelleborg.
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While Finland doesn’t provide COVID updates over the weekend, it absolutely smashed every previous daily infection record on Friday when it registered 11,334 COVID cases over a 24 hour period. The Finnish Institute for Health attributes the explosion in infection numbers at least partly to all the social contacts over Christmas.
Finland will table three days worth of coronavirus data later today.
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In Finland’s Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, the Omicron variant is now dominant, with the health region saying it made up about 70% of all sequenced positive test results during the last week of 2021. The region says the number of Omicron infections is doubling about every two days.
Chief Physician of Infectious Diseases Asko Järvinen spoke to YLE:
“The transmission rate of Omicron is in a league of its own. It is spreading faster than any previous COVID variant. I assume that January will see the biggest spike in Omicron in Uusimaa. That's how fast it will go through the entire population."
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Finland has made vaccinations mandatory for healthcare workers who are in close contact with seniors or patients considered to be high-risk. The measure was voted through with majority support from the Finnish parliament. Employers will now be able to legally mandate healthcare workers and senior care staff to be fully vaccinated.
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To date, over 1.2 million booster shots have been administered in Finland, which equals a vaccination coverage rate for a 3rd dose of about 21% of the population .
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In Norway it looks like some holiday hangover may be in play, with the number of daily cases falling by about half over a four day period. The country reported 4,018 new infections on December 30, followed by another 3,045, and then 2,156 on New Year’s Day, before tabling 2,903 more infections on Sunday.
Since Wednesday of last week, the country has lost 47 more lives to the virus.
COVID hospitalizations (314) and the number of infected people in an ICU (107) both remain unchanged day to day.
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“We encourage all unvaccinated people to show up at the vaccination centers in the new year to start vaccination.”
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is strongly urging people to get vaccinated as fast as humanely possible, be it a 1st, 2nd or 3rd dose. The agency is warning that it is expecting a significant infection wave to arrive very soon.
Agency Director Camilla Stoltenberg:
“It's urgent. We expect a big wave of infection right after the New Year. The risk of becoming infected is now greater than ever. Vaccination protects well against serious illness. I therefore ask those who have so far refused to be vaccinated to think again. In all the country's municipalities, they are ready to give you a first dose. When so many are infected in a short time, the risk of becoming seriously ill will be greater than ever for those who have not been vaccinated.”
The NIPH says unvaccinated people make up a full half of all COVID hospitalizations.
Norway has opened access to booster doses for anyone 45 years old and older and those at high risk within 20 weeks (4.5 months) after having received a second shot.
“If 20 weeks have passed since the second vaccine dose, anyone over the age of 18 can receive a refresher dose. We are particularly concerned that risk groups and everyone over the age of 45 receive a booster dose. There is no shortage of vaccines, and municipalities do a very good job of offering vaccinations throughout the country. So my call for the new year is: Show up and get vaccinated.”
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Beginning today, France has reduced the mandated quarantine time for fully vaccinated people who have tested positive from ten days down to seven. This applies no matter the variant involved in the infection. The isolation can be reduced further to just five days depending on a negative test result. Fully vaccinated people are also no longer required to isolate at all if they are a close contact, but they have to take a COVID test every other day for six days. France counts someone as being fully vaccinated if they have had all three doses.
For those who are unvaccinated and become infected, a full ten-day quarantine is required unless they can show a negative test on day seven. And an unvaccinated person must isolate for seven days if they are a close contact.
Health Minister Oliver Véran spoke to the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanch!
“The goal is to achieve the right balance that ensures that the virus is controlled while economic activity is maintained.”
As of January 15, France is set to no longer recognize a negative coronavirus test in its vaccine passport system. Meaning only fully vaccinated people or those with a recent infection will be able to attend events, eat in restaurants, or take long distance public transport.
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As it sees daily COVID numbers obliterate records due to the Omicron variant Italy is tightening restrictions. Beginning January 10, only those who are vaccinated or who have had a recent infection will be allowed to use hotels, go to conference centers, attend parties, use ski-lifts, or take local or long-distance public transport. It is joining France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in no longer recognizing a negative corona test in its vaccine passport system. This is aimed squarely at unvaccinated people in an effort to motivate them to get their shots.
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This is the latest COVID risk assessment map of Europe from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Europe largely continues to be a swath of high risk, deep red.
The Omicron variant is pushing daily COVID case counts across the EU to never before seen heights as country after country reports smashing all previous daily infection numbers.
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While most of the world races to get 1st, 2nd, and 3rd vaccine doses to people Israel has begun administering a 4th round of vaccinations. The country has approved a fourth dose for high-risk and vulnerable populations. This would include seniors, those who are immunocompromised, and healthcare employees working close to high-risk people.
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Israel’s Health Director, Nachman Ash, feels herd immunity in the country may be within reach thanks to the ferociously contagious Omicron variant.
According to Reuters, Ash thinks between vaccinations and the new variant tearing through the population, there is a real chance of reaching herd immunity against the coronavirus.
“The infection rates have to be very high to achieve herd immunity. But we would rather have it happen because people get vaccinated.”
Israel looked to be keeping Omicron at bay until the end of December, when infection numbers began to rapidly climb.
So far, there have been over 1.3 million infections in Israel but it fears that the Omicron wave could see somewhere between two and four million people get infected. The country has a population of about 9.4 million people making the herd immunity math a little suspect.
WHO 🦠🌍
In a year end press conference World Health Organization Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared both a warning and some hope. On the bad news side, he said, the biggest threat right now is the variant-fueled infection wave sweeping the globe.
“Right now, Delta and Omicron are twin threats that are driving up cases to record numbers, which again is leading to spikes in hospitalizations and deaths. I am highly concerned that Omicron being more transmissible, circulating at the same time as Delta is leading to a tsunami of cases. This is and will continue to put immense pressure on exhausted health workers and health systems, on the brink of collapse, and again disrupting lives and livelihoods.”
Dr. Tedros also continued to warn about the dangers of vaccine inequality.
“Populism, narrow nationalism and hoarding of health tools, including masks, therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines, by a small number of countries undermined equity, and created the ideal conditions for the emergence of new variants. This is the time to rise above short-term nationalism and protect populations and economies against future variants by ending global vaccine inequity."
And he spared some harsh criticism for those spreading misinformation.
“Misinformation and disinformation, often spread by a small number of people, have been a constant distraction, undermining science and trust in lifesaving health tools. In the huge waves of cases currently seen in Europe and in many countries around the world, misinformation which has driven vaccine hesitancy is now translating to the unvaccinated disproportionally dying.”
But Dr. Tedros also offered some hope for the new year ahead.
“But, I still remain optimistic that this can be the year we not only end the acute stage of the pandemic, but we also chart a path to stronger health security."
Dr. Mike Ryan Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program concurred albeit with caution.
“With regards to the pandemic, we have been saying this for a very long time the acute phase of the pandemic, the pandemic that has been associated with the tragedy of deaths and hospitalizations, that can end in 2022. The virus itself is very unlikely to go away completely and will probably settle down into a pattern of transmission, low levels, causing occasional outbreaks in under-vaccinated populations. And we hope that, that is the end game here, but we’re certainly not there yet. This is going to be a bumpy road on the way to low levels of COVID. But I think the most important thing at this moment is we need to be careful about changing tactics and strategies immediately on the basis of what we are seeing in early Omicron data.”
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The COVID situation in Canada is pretty ugly. While the government COVID dashboard hasn’t been updated since December 30, the picture from the provinces that did report over the weekend is pretty dire.
On Saturday, Ontario recorded a record 18,445 new infections followed by another 16,714 on Sunday. The province has 1,117 people in hospital with 224 in an ICU. Reports on Sunday suggest the provincial government is about to further tighten restrictions to try and wrestle down a skyrocketing infection curve.
Quebec is also seeing its infection curve rocket straight upward, with 17,122 new COVID cases reported on Saturday, followed by another 15,845 on Sunday along with 21 more deaths. The province has a positivity percentage of a brutal 30.9%. An evening curfew is now in place, restaurant dining rooms have been closed, and the reopening of schools has been delayed.
P.EI logged a record-high 175 corona infections on Saturday and another 137 on Sunday.
Nova Scotia reported a two day total of 1,893 infections, with 709 on Saturday and then another 1,184 on Sunday.
Newfoundland and Labrador broke records with 466 cases on Saturday and then 431 more infections on Sunday.
Manitoba also saw record-breaking daily infections with nearly 1,500 corona cases on Saturday, along with five more fatalities. It does not appear to have provided an update on Sunday.
Even Nunavut started 2022 with record COVID numbers seeing 50 new infections on New Year’s Day.