The Evening Report - Apr 7
Russia blusters. Denmark’s pandemic picture improves.
🇺🇦/ 🇷🇺 War
In a historic vote at the United Nations, Russia has been suspended from its seat at the UN Human Rights Council table. Russia becomes the second country after Libya to be voted off the council. The vote was 93 for, 24 against, and 58 countries abstained.
In a separate campaign, the United States and its allies are also trying to get Russia kicked off the UN Security Council as well.
Denmark’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jeppe Kofod was quick to respond.
“Historic decision by the international community. Russia’s membership rights in the UNHRC have just been suspended after gross and systematic human rights violations in Ukraine. It was a necessary step.”
🇪🇺/ 🇺🇦 🇷🇺
The European Union Parliament adopted a resolution that called for a full embargo on Russian coal, oil, nuclear, and natural gas imports. It also called for the complete abandonment of both the Nordstream 1 and 2 pipelines. The parliament also wants member states to impose further sanctions on public figures who are helping to spread Russian propaganda. The resolution also called on EU leaders and the heads of other countries to exclude Russia from the G20 and other multilateral cooperative organizations.
🇩🇰/ 🇷🇺
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is flatly dismissing Russian warnings about an agreement between Denmark and the United States that could result in American soldiers being stationed on the island of Bornholm. The Russian Ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir V. Barbin, claims that Russia and Denmark have an agreement that no American soldiers can be stationed on the island.
Mette Frederiksen rejected the claim:
“I can answer that very briefly. The Russian ambassador should not interfere in what is happening in Bornholm. I want to make it very clear. Russia has no right to interfere in Danish defense policy, not even what happens on Bornholm.”
The Russian Ambassador is referring to an agreement reached after World War II when Russian troops took Bornholm from the occupying Germans and then occupied the island themselves for a year after World War II came to an end.
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Russia’s Ambassador is also directing threats at Danish energy company Ørsted. Vladimir Barbin says unless the company must pay its Russian energy bill in rubles and if it doesn’t, then Russia will shut off the company’s supply of Russian gas. Ørsted doesn’t seem to be shaking in its boots over the threat.
The company’s Communications Manager Martin Barlebo told DR this changes nothing.
“The ambassador's statements do not change anything for us. We have no intention of paying in rubles. We are in close dialogue with other energy companies and the authorities on a common European response.”
Further, Barlebo says that Ørsted condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and that because it is opposed to the war, it is trying to severe all Russian ties in any way it can.
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Another Danish company is pulling the plug on its Russian operations due to the Ukraine war. Hempel, a company producing paint for ships, writes in a press release it is permanently withdrawing all of its business in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine
Hempel's CEO Lars Petersson believes that the company had no choice.
“We are deeply troubled to see the continued development of the war in Ukraine. In March, we suspended all our activities in Russia due to increasingly problematic trade conditions. We have now made a decision to leave Russia completely.”
The company has about 124 employees in Russia.
🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺
Russia is extremely unhappy with Finland after Finnish customs officials confiscated three shipment of art worth some €42 million that was bound for Moscow. Artwork is included on a long list of growing sanctions the European Union is piling on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
The Kremlin has called the seizure illegal and demanded Finnish officials release the shipments and allow them to proceed to their destination in Russia. It is also demanding compensation. According to YLE Kremlin summoned the Finnish Ambassador over the matter.
The shipments are believed to be valuable paintings, sculptures, and other cultural heritage works that were on loan to museums in Italy and Japan.
🇸🇪 🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺
Russia is also reiterating threats to both Sweden and Finland should one or both countries decide to join NATO. Public support for joining the military alliance has exploded in both countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland says it will make a decision one way or another before the summer. Sweden’s government is being more coy in the face of mouthing political pressure and a groundswell of public support.
In response this week, Sergei Belyayev, the head of the Russian foreign ministry’s European department, spoke to Russian news agency Interfax and warned of “serious military and political consequences” should Sweden or Finland join NATO.
“It is obvious that [if] Finland and Sweden join NATO, which is a military organization to begin with, there will be serious military and political consequences. [It] would require changing the whole palette of relations with these countries and would require retaliatory measures.”
Another Russian Senator was even quoted as saying Finland would ensure the destruction of their country by joining NATO.
Sweden’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ann Linde kept her cool in responding when she spoke to Dagens Industri.
“We shy away from such statements. The Swedish security policy is determined by Sweden. Russia has nothing to do with our independent decisions.”
It is worth noting that Russia has had enormous losses of military equipment and has had thousands of soldiers killed in its senseless attempt to invade Ukraine. Military experts say the Russian army has been seriously compromised, which drastically limits its ability to follow through on any of its current bluster.
🇩🇪/ 🇺🇦
Politico Europe is reporting that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is delaying a promised delivery of around 100 tanks to Ukraine. The media outlet cites sources “familiar with the deliberations” that the German Chancellor is delaying a final decision on the transfer of tanks despite growing pressure from other top officials. Scholz has cited a need to coordinate with NATO and other allies before sending the tanks to Ukraine.
🇱🇻 🇱🇹/ 🇺🇦
Embassy staff from both Latvia and Lithuania have returned to Kiev after being evacuated shortly after the Russia invasion. The embassies for both countries will be reopened in the Ukrainian capital and services will resume.
🇨🇦/ 🇷🇺 🇺🇦
Canada has joined a growing list of western nations that are suddenly sinking billions of dollars into revitalizing their armed forces in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the federal budget tabled on Thursday, the Trudeau government pledged to boost military spending to $8 billion.
🇸🇪/ 🇺🇦
The Swedish regions have come together and agreed to donate badly needed medicine and medical equipment to Ukraine.
Region Stockholm Vaccine Coordinator Magnus Thyberg:
“Given the situation that prevails in Ukraine, it feels good that the regions can contribute in this way with medicine that I am sure will make a difference on the spot in Ukraine.”
All told supplies will include some 40 different medicines. They will come out of a medical stockpile in Sweden’s National Stores.
The Medical Products Agency and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency are tasked with coordinating the transport of the medicine and equipment to Ukraine.
🇸🇪/ 🇺🇦 🦠
In Southern Sweden, health officials launched a vaccination outreach effort aimed directly at Ukrainian refugees. Prior to the Russian invasion, Ukraine had a very low vaccination rate. This week, mobile vaccination teams from Region Skåne were in Arlöv where many Ukrainian refugees are living in temporary shelters.
Operations Manager Anna Lindén:
“These efforts take place in cooperation with the Swedish Migration Board, municipalities, and the County Administrative Board. The aim is to make it easier for people who have fled Ukraine to get information and access to free COVID vaccination.”
Sweden has put processes in place for vaccination and registration for those who do not have a Swedish social security number.
🦠Pandemic🦠
🇩🇰
Denmark’s pandemic picture continues to improve according to the latest weekly snapshot from the Statens Serum Institute. COVID hospitalizations dropped last week to 961. The declines were reflected across all age groups, with the exception of those 90 years old and older where a small increase was seen. Seniors 70 to 89 years old continue to make up the largest group of new admissions. The proportion of those hospitalized directly because of a COVID infection, as opposed to being admitted for another reason but with an infection, edged up from 46% to 47% from week 10 to 11.
As for intensive care admissions, there has been a slight decrease. However, there has also been a slight increase in the number of ICU admissions directly due to a coronavirus infection, which was 67% as of last week. The SSI cautions data for last week are incomplete, so this number should be taken with caution.
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COVID hospitalizations (989) continue to fall (-37) while the number of severe #COVID infection cases in an ICU (18) crept upward (+2) and of those the number on a ventilator (9) also edged up (+4). Admissions to a psychiatric ward (297) declined (-7).
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Looking at the much less reliable case numbers, and they have dropped as well, with a COVID incidence rate per 100,000 people falling to 390 last week. Region Syddanmark has the highest incidence rate among the five Danish regions with 460 per 100,000 people. Overall, the incidence rate declined across all five regions from week to week.
By age, the COVID incidence rate was highest among those 60 to 69 years old (649 per 100,000 population) followed by the 70 to 79 year old group (635).
Nursing homes, which have been hit hard in recent weeks, are seeing a much improved situation, with 483 confirmed infections last week, a drop from the 668 of the week before. Pandemic deaths among seniors in care also eased, going from 65 to 50 from week to week.
The positivity percentage has also kept falling, dropping from 24% to 20% from one week to the next. This is despite a 22% decline in PCR tests taken over the same time period. Region Nordjylland has the highest positivity percentage of the five regions with 23.4%. This is followed by Region Midtjylland with 23.1%.
On the much more reliable COVID wastewater surveillance, virus activity decreased both at the national level and among all five regions.
Pandemic fatalities have also continued a downward slide, with 126 deaths last week, a drop from the 199 the week before. Excess mortality rates have been increasing over the last two weeks. The SSI theorizes that the resurgent influenza season may be to blame.
Below is the latest look at COVID-related deaths within 30 days of a positive test, where the actual cause of death may not be pandemic-related (yellow) and fatalities directly due to a coronavirus infection (red).
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Denmark reported 2,747 COVID infections (underreported), including 149 reinfections, and 24 more coronavirus deaths in the last day.
Yesterday, there were 18,838 PCR corona tests taken equaling a positivity percentage of 14.58%.
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The Staten Serum Institute has updated the COVID variant picture. While it cautions that due to much less sequencing of positive test results, the results it doesn’t provide a definitive picture, a number of new Omicron variants are now on the board. The BA.2 Omicron sub-variant continues to absolutely dominate, making up about 99% of all sequenced positive test results. But, a new variant BA.2.1, has been identified, and it appears to be gaining a little steam. BA.2.1 has grown from 1% of all positive test results to 2.79% in the last four weeks.
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On the vaccination front, things continue to creep along with just 523 booster doses administered yesterday.
To date, 82.3% of the total population have one vaccine dose, 80.8% have two, and 61.5% have a booster dose.
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The suddenly resurgent influenza season appears to be easing off a little. After five weeks where cases of the seasonal flu doubled each week, last week’s influenza activity declined. The SSI says the drop in flu cases was also reflected in a falling positivity percentage and influenza-related hospital admissions.
🇸🇪
Sweden has added 4,128 new infections (wildly underreported) and suffered another 141 corona deaths since its last update last Thursday.
So far, 87% of the population 12 years old and older have one dose, 84.8% have two, and of those 18 years old and older 63.2% have a booster dose.
🇳🇴
Norway added 2,609 infections (underreported) and another 149 pandemic deaths in the last 48 hours.
Norge doesn’t report hospital stats anymore.
So far, 80.4% of Norwegians 12 years old and older have one dose, 74.7% have two, and 54.1% have a booster dose.
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The Omicron-driven infection wave that has raged across Norway appears to be easing its grip on the country. The latest weekly report from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health paints a picture of pandemic indicators dropping almost across the board.
COVID hospitalizations dropped from 352 to 230 from one week to the next, a 35% decrease. Again, it is elderly people bearing the brunt of the pandemic, with hospitalizations by age highest among those 75 years old and older. ICU numbers also declined albeit just slightly. There were 25 new patients admitted to intensive care last week, compared to 32 the week before.
Pandemic fatalities have also continued to fall since they peaked in week 11. There have been 99 COVID deaths registered so far last week, and while that number could change, it is so far a significant drop from the 167 fatalities the week prior. The median age for coronavirus deaths last week was 86 years old, with 68% of fatalities occurring at a health institution, hospital, or nursing home. The NIPH says excess mortality has been creeping up in recent weeks, especially in the older age groups of those 65 years old and older.
The NIPH says the number of reported infection cases has fallen 41% from week 12 to week 13. The agency says both family doctors and emergency rooms are reporting fewer COVID-related patients. Keep in mind testing numbers are also falling fast in Norway, so coronavirus case counts are very likely to be significantly underreported.
The Omicron sub-variant BA.2 rules the roost in Norway, accounting for 93% of all sequenced positive test results.
🇫🇮
Finland registered 7,216 infections (underreported) and 26 more virus deaths since yesterday’s update.
COVID hospitalizations (964) are unchanged.
To date, 80.2% of the total population have one dose, 76.9% have two, and 51.4% have a booster shot.
Among the age groups, 85% of those 60 years old and older have three vaccine doses, 18% of those over 80 who have had a third dose have also now had a fourth.
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The COVID wave that has been battering Finland is showing no signs of abating, according to the latest weekly assessment from the Finnish Institute for Health. The agency says with hospitals still under significant pressure, it is now up to people to voluntarily take the actions necessary to prevent infection spread.
The institute says in the last two weeks, there have been 853 pandemic admissions, with 84 of those needing intensive care. It says about one-third of those in special care and one-quarter of ICU patients with a coronavirus infection were admitted for a non-pandemic reason. This is roughly at the same level as the previous two week period.
The Finnish healthcare system continues to pay a steep price during the pandemic as it struggles with staff shortages, long queues from delayed treatment, and low morale among healthcare workers. Mental health services are especially under pressure right now.
Finland is seeing a marked increase in pandemic deaths, with 406 lives lost in just the last two weeks. The median age of COVID fatalities is 83 years old. The institute warns that coronavirus infections are “spreading widely” among elderly populations. That said, the agency says the number of deaths in proportion to people infected is at its lowest since the beginning of the outbreak
The institute says COVID wastewater surveillance continues to show a high level of virus activity.
🇩🇪
Germany recorded 201,729 more infections (underreported) while losing another 328 lives to coronavirus since yesterday’s update.
It added 1,922 new COVID hospitalizations, while the number of severe infections in an ICU (2,111) decreased (-49). As a percentage of overall intensive care beds in the country infection cases are taking up 9.6%.
So far, 76.6% of the total population have one dose, 76% have two, and 58.9% have a booster dose.
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German Health Minister Professor Karl Lauterbach said proposed legislation in the German parliament (Bundestag) that would have introduced compulsory vaccinations beginning with people 60 years old and older has failed. Lauterbach says 90% of all COVID fatalities right now are in that age group where “the vaccination gap in this group is particularly important.” However, the draft proposal ultimately failed to pass its first legislative hurdle and will not proceed further.
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“I made a mistake here.”
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach says an order to end mandatory isolation for people infected with the coronavirus to move to a voluntary quarantine model was “wrong” and will not happen. Lauterbach says the move was “wrong and harmful.” He says COVID is not a cold and people must isolate after being infected. He says “the mistake was mine” and that he was trying to provide some help to health authorities with the idea.
🇪🇺🦠
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has released its latest COVID risk assessment map of the EU.
🇬🇧
The number of COVID-related deaths in United Kingdom jumped by almost 3,000 on Wednesday. The UK Health Security Agency said a data error led to 2,714 coronavirus deaths that hadn’t been counted yet, in addition to the 233 that were reported in the previous 24 hours. That pushes the total to-date number of COVID deaths, measured as a fatality within 28 days of a positive test, to 169,095.
“Due to a data processing error, a number of people who died within 28 days of a positive COVID test were not reported in a timely manner.”
All of the 2,714 COVID deaths caught in the data error occurred this year. The health agency, like Denmark, also tracks deaths by the virus being the cause of death as opposed to dying for another reason but being infected at the time. The number of people who have coronavirus as the cause of death on their death certificate now stands at just over 190,000, according to the Office for National Statistics.
🇨🇦
Canada registered 7,779 infections (underreported) while suffering 48 more coronavirus deaths on Wednesday.
The national positivity percentage over the last seven days is 19%.
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The Canadian vaccination effort has so far administered 32,347,098 1st vaccine doses (84.6% of the total population) while 31,200,018 people (81.6%) have two doses, and of those 18,210,374 are fully vaccinated with three doses.
In Ontario, infections numbers and wastewater surveillance are pointing to the likelihood the province is in the throes of another severe infection wave. Hospitalizations (1,126) have rocketed upward for the 2nd week (+319) while the number of severe infections in intensive care (159) fell (-7). There were 16 more pandemic deaths. The province has a positivity percentage of 17.2%.
Quebec saw hospitalizations (1,582) rocket upward again (+344) while the number of severe infections in an ICU (64) decreased slightly (-2). There were 28 more corona deaths. The province has a positivity percentage of 16.41%.
Newfoundland and Labrador are seeing COVID cases surge as hospitalizations set a new record high with 47 coronavirus patients in hospital, an increase of 7, with 9 people in a ICU, an decrease of two. The province has four more deaths.
In Nova Scotia, the province is seeing record high infection numbers while hospitalizations (57) are up (+6) with 9 people in an ICU (-2). The province has suffered 8 more corona deaths.
New Brunswick saw hospitalizations (178) jump (+35) while ICU numbers (9) crept up (+1). The province saw 12 more pandemic deaths. The province is seeing a recombinant variant called Omicron XE, a combination of BA.1 and BA.2, which healthcare officials say is even more infectious.
Manitoba is only reporting hospital admissions in its weekly update. Over the last week, it had 141 new COVID admissions. However, the CBC has obtained a memo stating the province has 386 coronavirus patients in hospital (+27 from March 25) with 21 people in an ICU (+2). There were six new pandemic deaths. The province has a five-day positivity percentage of 18.6%, an increase from last weeks 13.9%.
Saskatchewan suffered 24 more corona deaths. The province has 324 people hospitalized with 21 in an ICU (both unchanged). The province has a weekly positivity percentage of 13.2%.
COVID hospitalizations in Alberta (990) are up (+26) while the number of people in an ICU (44) declined (-3). There have been 30 more corona deaths. The seven-day positivity percentage is 26.36%.
B.C. saw COVID hospitalizations (329) rise (+48) while the number of people with severe infections in an ICU (37) dropped (-5). There has been 11 more pandemic deaths. The province has a positivity percentage of 7.3%.