The Evening Report - Aug 26
COVID numbers drop in Denmark. A battle of the big vaccine makers.
🦠Pandemic🦠
🇩🇰
COVID numbers have fallen sharply in Denmark, according to the latest weekly pandemic snapshot from the Statens Serum Institute. It says coronavirus infection numbers were down by 27% last week. Keep in mind these numbers are likely underreported. The positivity percentage also plummeted from 27% two weeks ago to 19% last week. But, the SSI also cautions PCR testing numbers also decreased by 4% last week.
Professional Director Tyra Grove Krause:
“We have seen a fairly significant drop in the number of infections in the last week, despite the fact that activity in society has increased after the summer holidays. It may be that the very warm weather we have had in recent weeks plays a role.”
The COVID incidence rate per 100,000 population is still highest in Region Midtjylland (179) followed by Region Sjælland (168). The institute says the incidence rate and positivity percentages dropped across all five Danish regions.
Looking at the statistics by age group, the COVID incidence erase dropped across all age groups last week. That said, it was highest among seniors 60 to 69 years old (199 per 100,000 people). The second highest incidence rate was among those 50 to 59 years old (184).
Testing rates were stable across all age groups expect for those 20 to 24 years old, where testing numbers declined week to week. Positivity percentages also eased across all age groups. Children six to 15 years old and seniors 60 to 69 years of age had the highest positivity percentage, both with 21%. Teens 16 to 19 years old had the second highest number with 20%.
Continuing the downward trend, COVID hospitalizations dropped from 548 new pandemic-related admissions two weeks ago to 487 last week, a decline of 11%. Elderly seniors 70 to 89 years old continue to make up the largest number of new COVID hospitalizations. ICU numbers also dipped from week to week, going from 18 to 13. 58% of all admissions were directly due to a severe coronavirus infection, on par with the rate from the week before.
Day over day COVID hospitalizations (346) edged downward (-7) while the number if severe infections in an ICU (13) and of those, the number on a ventilator (4) both crept down (-1 each). Infection admissions to a psychiatric facility (63) also dipped (-6).
Denmark saw another 44 COVID deaths last week, which is 22 fewer lives lost than the week prior.
Among Denmark’s most tested and most vulnerable population, seniors in care, testing numbers increased slightly week to week, while the positivity percentage dropped from 4.1% to 3.2%. The number of confirmed infections also eased slightly, with 121 last week, 11 fewer than the week before. There were 10 COVID-related deaths among seniors in care last week, down from 18 the week before. However, hospitalizations of senior care home residents crept upward, going from 21 to 28 from one week to the next.
Among healthcare workers in senior care homes testing numbers were up significantly last week, but infection numbers dropped. The increase is due to a new recommendation to get tested at least once every two weeks. For staff in hospitals and order healthcare facilities infection rates were more or less the same week to week.
BA.5 is still king in Denmark, accounting for 93% of all sequenced positive test results last week. However, BA.5 sub-variants, BA.5.1 (27.28%) and BA.5.2 (20.37%), continue to see steady growth rates. A third sub-variant, BA.5.2.1 (20.43%) saw its share of cases edge down slightly. The two other variants that caused concern before arriving in Denmark, BA.4.6 (3.15%) and BA.2.75 (0%), are both dying on the vine in Denmark.
Last week, COVID wastewater surveillance showed declining virus activity nationally and across all five regions.
The SSI is now reporting on variant activity within its wastewater surveillance program. It says BA.5 was dominant across all collection sites
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Denmark reported 941 COVID infections (underreported), including 261 reinfections, and five more coronavirus deaths in the last day.
With 7,517 PCR tests taken on Thursday, that equals a positivity percentage of 12.51%
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Other than COVID, the Staten Serum Institute’s sentinel surveillance report shows that the RS virus, influenza, and other coronaviruses were the three most commonly detected respiratory infections as of week 32 (two weeks ago).
🇸🇪
Sweden has added 5,480 infections (wildly underreported) and another 128 corona deaths since its last update a week ago.
To date, 87.3% of those 12 years old and older have one vaccine dose, 85.3% have two doses, and of those 18 years old and older 66.7% have a booster dose.
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After hitting a plateau last week, the Swedish Public Health Agency says in its latest weekly pandemic update that COVID infection numbers decreased slightly week to week. Keep in mind its infection numbers are wildly underreported due to PCR testing being restricted to only seniors in care and people being admitted to hospital.
Last week, the agency says there were 5,400 confirmed coronavirus infections (again very underreported), which is a 6% decrease week over week. Among seniors in care, who are the most tested population, there were 452 infections, a 15% drop week to week. COVID cases also dropped 21% over the last two weeks among seniors receiving home care.
There were 20 new pandemic-related intensive care admissions last week, the same number as the week before. Of the 72 severely infected people treated in an ICU over the last four weeks, the average age was 63 years old and 57 patients belonged to high-risk groups due to medical conditions.
COVID deaths continue to climb in Sweden with another 106 “preliminary” deaths in week 31 (two weeks ago). Sweden has been struggling with a backlog of reporting pandemic deaths all year. The average fatalities for the three weeks previous were 90. Of the reported pandemic deaths in week 31, so far, 62 were seniors either in care or receiving home care.
Department Head Sara Byfors:
“In order to avoid a severe infection, it is important that everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated or who is recommended to get a booster dose does so. Before returning to work and school, it is important that those who are sick and have symptoms that could be COVId stay at home and avoid close contact with others.”
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The pandemic situation is far from good in at least one part of Sweden. COVID wastewater surveillance in Region Gothenburg shows a very high level of virus activity. The region says coronavirus levels have increased week to week.
Sahlgrenska University Hospital Microbiologist Heléne Norder:
"It seems that we have a significantly elevated baseline of the amount of circulating coronavirus, so there are relatively many people who are infected all the time.”
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Sweden is beginning its fall COVID vaccination booster dose campaign. Those 18 years old and older who are considered high-risk or are in a vulnerable population. But, the main focus will be on seniors 65 years old and older who are bearing the brunt of severe infections, hospitalizations, and pandemic deaths with the Omicron variants.
Swedish Public Health Agency Director General Karin Tegmark Wisell:
“We know which groups risk the most serious consequences of a COVID infection. Therefore, it is very important to maintain protection against severe infections, hospitalizations, and deaths among them. The virus also often spreads more during autumn and winter. Our hope is that as many people as possible in these groups will follow the recommendation and get vaccinated with a booster dose this fall. The recommendation also applies if you have previously had a coronavirus infection.”
The agency is advising to get a booster dose as soon as possible this fall and not wait for the new bivalent vaccines to arrive. It says as of right now the newly formulated mRNA vaccines have yet to be approved for use in the European Union. The health agency adds at the moment it is not clear when the bivalent vaccines will be approved for use and when doses will arrive in Sweden.
“We know that the vaccines available today provide very good protection against severe infection and death for all known variants of the coronavirus.”
As of September 1, Sweden is recommending that people in the following groups get another booster dose.
Seniors aged 65 years old and older, especially those in care or receiving home care.
People 18 years old and older who are considered high-risk or are in a vulnerable group.
Pregnant women
People who are immunocompromised
People with heart and lung diseases
People with Down syndrome.
🇫🇮
Finland registered 8,241 infections and 110 more virus deaths since its last update, last Thursday.
COVID hospitalizations (588) dropped (-128).
So far, 79.9% of the total population has one dose, 76.9% have two, 53.8% have one booster shot, and 12.6% have a 2nd booster dose.
🇳🇴
Norway has added 916 infections and another 63 pandemic deaths in the last week.
In the last seven days, there have been 113 COVID hospital admissions, 93 fewer than the seven days prior.
80.5% of Norwegians aged 12 years old and older have one vaccine dose, 75% have two, and 55.8% have a booster dose. These numbers haven’t changed in a long time.
🇩🇪
Germany recorded 37,343 new infections and another 90 pandemic fatalities in its Friday report.
It added another 1,315 COVID hospitalizations and ICU numbers (894) decreased slightly (-8). As a percentage of all intensive care beds in the country severe coronavirus cases are using 4.2%.
So far, 77.9% of the total population has one vaccine dose, 76.3% have two, and 62% have a booster dose.
🦠💉
Get ready for a heavyweight big pharma battle. Moderna announced on Friday that they are suing Pfizer/BioNTech in the United States (where Pfizer is headquartered) and in Germany (where BioNTech is headquartered). The vaccine maker is alleging that Pfizer/BioNTech infringed in their mRNA vaccine technology. If you boil down the legalese, they are essentially saying PfizerBioNTech stole Moderna’s mRNA technology and then profited massively from it.
In launching its lawsuit, Moderna takes pains to claim its legal action won’t impact vaccine supply or production.
🇨🇦
COVID hospitalizations maintained an upward trend across the country. In its latest weekly update, the Public Health Agency of Canada says the total number of hospital beds used by pandemic patients crept up by eight to 4,942. As far as general admissions also nudged upward to 4,699, an increase of three. ICU numbers also nudged upward to 243, five more than last week. The only number bucking the trend was severely infected people on a ventilator with 13 fewer week over week with 102 total.
Canada reported 22,922 new infections over the last week while suffering 258 coronavirus deaths.
The seven day positivity percentage is 11.8%.
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So far, the Canadian vaccination effort has administered 33,812,008 1st vaccine doses (88.43% of the total population) while 31,445,242 people (82.24%) have a 2nd dose, and of those, 20,806,329 people have a booster shot.
🦠Monkeypox🦠
🇸🇪
The Swedish Public Health Agency says limited supplies of the monkeypox vaccine can now cover even more people thanks to a new vaccination method. The European Medicines Agency says the vaccine is just as effective if injected into the skin as opposed to under it. The Swedish healthcare agency says this new method requires a significantly smaller vaccine dose while not sacrificing effectiveness. This will allow existing vaccine stocks to be used to inoculate far more than the 1,500 people originally estimated.
That said, the agency adds “other infection control measures are still required to slow down the spread of monkeypox.”
Director General Karin Tegmark Wisell:
“It is gratifying that we can now also recommend a wider use and that more people can receive preventive treatment. Although we still have a shortfall of vaccine doses against monkeypox, more people can now be offered vaccination.”
Currently, Sweden recommends close contacts to someone infected with monkeypox and those in high-risk communities, gay and bisexual men, to get vaccinated.
“It is the attending physician who can best assess the individual's need for vaccination, in accordance with the current priority basis from the Public Health Agency.”
The public health agency says monkeypox infections are steadily increasing in Sweden, but it doesn’t say how many cases are currently confirmed.
🇳🇴
Following the advice of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway’s Health Ministry has officially declared that the monkeypox outbreak is now classified as a infectious disease posing a danger to the public. The change in designation unlocks increased options to fight the outbreak.
Department Director Siri Feruglio:
“This classification does not change the strategy against the outbreak of monkeypox in Norway, but ensures rights for the patients and makes it easier to implement the strategy.”
The designation becomes official at midnight Friday. With it, monkeypox is now classified the same as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV.
To date, Norway has confirmed 77 monkeypox infections; all of them were men.
🇺🇦/ 🇷🇺 War
🇸🇪 🇫🇮 🇳🇴
“We have seen irresponsible and unprofessional Russian behaviour.”
The Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian Defense Minister met this week to find ways to get their respective armies on the same page so as to present a united front against an aggressive Russia and act to protect and, if need be, defend areas considered geographically and strategically important.
From a joint release:
“The security situation has deteriorated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia has proved that it does not respect international law and has upended European security order. Security in northern Europe has been adversely impacted by this development. A crisis in our region affects us all. Therefore, we must be ready and able to act together in peace, crisis and conflict.”
The three countries agreed that enhanced cooperation is “of utmost importance” for “more efficient” mutual defense.
🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺
Finnish news outlet Yle is reporting that Russian tourists are suing Chinese credit cards to get around sanctions and withdraw Euros from bank machines in Finland. It says ATMs near the eastern border with Russia are being emptied of euros at record speed as Russians make large withdrawals.
Sanctions levied on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine include western credit card companies refusing services, to Russian citizens in Russia. So Chinese credit cards are allowing them to do an end run around those sanctions.
🇫🇮 🇸🇪/ 🇹🇷
Work continues to smooth Sweden and Finland’s path into full NATO membership. Turkey, which continues to try and take advantage of the situation, still hasn’t ratified the two membership applications. All 30 NATO member nations must ratify the two applications for Sweden and Finland to become full members of the military alliance.
Officials from Turkey, Sweden, and Finland met this week to follow up on a memorandum of understanding reached about a month or so ago. According to the Finnish Defense Ministry, the latest trilateral talks focused on establishing a Permanent Joint Mechanism “to enhance cooperation on common security.” The talks took place in Vantaa, Finland, on Friday. The ministry says further discussions will take place this fall. You can bank on Turkey holding off on its ratification vote for as long as possible.
Speaking at a separate event, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikonen reiterated that he is confident that Finland will join NATO, albeit there will be growing pains.
“Finland is as compatible with NATO as a partner country can be. However, it is important to note that even though we are a long-term partner of NATO, as a member, we are facing new things in many matters."
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EU countries continue to build up their militaries with a renewed sense of urgency due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish defense ministry has spent about €14.1 million to acquire large amounts of ammunition for the main guns for its Leopard II battle tanks.
Infantry Inspector Colonel Juhana Skyttä:
“The procurement complements the firepower of battle tanks we have in use and especially the ability to engage in head-to-head combat tank battles.”
🇳🇴/ 🇬🇧 🇺🇦
Norway and Great Britain are teaming up to acquire micro-drones to donate to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The purchase of the Black Hornet drones will cost about 90 million Norwegian kroner (about $12 million Cdn) with the monies coming out of a fund set up by the United Kingdom to purchase weapons and other items for the Ukrainian war effort.
Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram:
“The Norwegian-developed drone is a global market leader. It is used in a number of allied countries, including the United States and Great Britain. The drone is used for reconnaissance and target identification. It is easy to operate, robust depending on the conditions; difficult to detect, and particularly well suited for combat in urban areas.”
Gram says this also marks a turning point in supplying weapons to Ukraine. Up until this point weapons have been donated from each country’s existing stocks. Now, by raising money and combining in this special fund, modern weapons and technology can be purchased for Ukraine straight from defense contractors.
Another 100 million Norwegian kroner will also be used to buy the Night-fighter anti-drone system from British Steelrock Technologies. The system jams enemy drones and acts to protect roving patrols and artillery systems from the enemy’s eyes in the sky.
🇱🇹/ 🇺🇦
A Lithuanian crowdfunding campaign called the ‘Legion of Boom’ has raised one million euros, which it will use to purchase 37 kamikaze drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
🇱🇻/ 🇷🇺
Latvia is literally blowing up and tearing down old Russian monuments, calling it a new chapter in the country’s history. As you can imagine Russian officials are apoplectic and are making all sorts of threats and bluster.
