The Evening Report - July 20
Denmark continues to wind down its use of COVID rapid tests.
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The Danish National Health Board has told DR it will issue new guidelines for vaccinations of pregnant and breastfeeding women. Details will be announced tomorrow. While pregnant and breastfeeding women in other countries like the UK can be vaccinated, in Denmark they have not yet been offered a vaccination opportunity.
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Foreign Affairs Denmark has moved Lithuania from near-normal green to medium-risk orange as of yesterday, Monday, July 19. This is because Lithuania has designated Denmark as a COVID red-zone and levied entry restrictions on travelers from Denmark, with a few exceptions.
Everyone traveling from Denmark to Lithuania by land, sea, or air must file an entry form online no more than 48 hours before arriving at the Lithuania border control. A negative COVID test (PCR only) no more than 72 hours old is also required.
Lithuania has reintroduced a 10 mandatory quarantine for all travelers coming from Denmark. The only exception is for those who are fully vaccinated or for those who have had a recent infection. In both cases, a coronapas is required.
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The use of rapid tests continues to wind down in Denmark. The Danish Agency for Security of Supply says with fewer than 200,000 rapid tests being done per day, private providers have been told to reduce daily capacity to 300,000 tests per day, down from 400,000.
Director Lisbet Zilmer-Johns says as the number of vaccinations increase, demand for testing is decreasing.
“Getting weekly swabs up the nose or in the throat are a thing of the past for many Danes, but we must continue to ensure good test opportunities for those who still need a test for their coronapas. But if it is possible for you, then I would encourage you to use PCR testing. They are safer and are better able to identify the more contagious variants.”
While rapid test use is gradually winding down, the overall testing infrastructure will remain in place, with many easily accessible testing sites still up and running.
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Denmark has added 1,664 new infections and no new coronavirus deaths in the last 48 hours. It reported 844 infections yesterday and another 820 today.
Yesterday, there were 239,867 total corona tests done, 84,349 PCR and 155,518 rapid, for a (PCR only) positivity percentage of 0.97%.
The Staten Serum Institut is tracking PCR test results for people without a Danish CPR number, essentially a rough measurement of infections among tourists. The SSI says there were 9,279 PCR tests administered to people without a CPR number, with 154 positive test results. That equals a positivity percentage of 1.66%.
Here is the latest snapshot of the positivity percentage for each PCR testing site across Denmark. Metro Copenhagen continues to see the highest rates.
There are now 30 Danish municipalities with COVID incidence rates per 100,000 residents above 200. Of those, five have incidence rates above 200 and two are above 300.
COVID hospitalizations (50) are unchanged day to day while the number of infected people in an ICU (10) has inched upward (+1) and of those the number on a ventilator (7) has edged down (-1).
On the vaccination effort to date, 3,955,448 1st-dose vaccinations (67.6% of the total population) have been administered while 2,709,390 people (46.3%) are now fully vaccinated.
Yesterday, there were 86,576 total vaccinations done.
The vaccination effort impact continues to be reflected in the number of new infections over the last seven days. Infections among those 30 years old and older are either falling like a rock or have all but disappeared altogether. The problem group continues to be those 20 to 29 years old. The age group is responsible for almost half of all new infections in Denmark in the last week.
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The Danish vaccination campaign continues to steam along. Danske Bank Chief Analyst Mikael Olai Milhøj notes that last week there were 533,192 total vaccinations done. This is the second consecutive week there have been over 500,000 vaccinations administered across Denmark.
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There were long line-ups to get vaccinated in Horsens Kommune. The municipality has opened up vaccinations without the requirement to book an appointment and uptake has been very high, according to Ulla Hjorth, a specialist consultant with the kommune, who spoke to DR on Monday.
“There have been really, really many people. And there is still a queue. The municipality's goal is to vaccinate more of the groups that are lagging behind.”
The municipality, working with health authorities, has found ethnic groups in the kommune have lower vaccination rates. Offering appointment-free inoculation clinics is one way to remove barriers and get more people in those communities vaccinated.
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Region Syddanmark, has received 100,680 vaccine doses this week. While in week’s past the vast majority have been from Pfizer, this week, there is an almost even split with doses, from Moderna. The health authority says the doses will go to all target groups currently on deck, which at this point is everyone 12 years old and older.
With the National Health Board reducing the gap to three weeks between the first and second Pfizer/BioNTech doses the Southern Denmark health authority says the phones are ringing off the hook. It says a lot of people are looking to move up their second Pfizer dose to get fully vaccinated a little bit quicker.
So far, 812,016 people (66.3%) in Southern Denmark have received a first vaccination dose while 548,386 (44.8%) are now fully vaccinated.
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A new study from Odense University Hospital has found that there are far fewer severe allergic reactions to COVID vaccines than initially thought. The study found just three out of every 200,000 vaccinations resulted in an allergic reaction. The study tracked vaccinations in Southern Denmark and then followed up with every logged allergic reaction. It found 63 initial cases, but follow-up investigations determined just three had actual vaccine-related allergic reactions.
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As Greenland grapples with 29 confirmed coronavirus infections, the highest in the country so far in the pandemic, it is making unvaccinated people persona non grata on public transport. Only people with at least one vaccination dose can use the country’s public transportation system. However, people traveling to their home town are exempt. Greenland also will use the honour system and won’t require anyone to show proof of vaccination to use the public transportation system.
It is not just buses, Greenland is also barring unvaccinated people from cafes, restaurants, and sports facilities.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede cited a need for caution in a press conference on Monday as he expressed concerns about the Delta variant.
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Sweden has added 992 infections and another four corona deaths since its last update on Friday. The Swedish Public Health Agency is STILL warning of a reporting lag.
There are 25 people being treated in intensive care units in Sweden at the moment that is an increase of three from Friday.
To date, 6,044,491 1st dose (73.8% of the adult population) and 3,820,976 2nd vaccine doses (46.7%) have been administered.
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Infections in Sweden’s capital region keep increasing. Region Stockholm’s latest situation update says coronavirus cases last week have increased by 44% compared to the week previous. This marks the third straight week of increasing infection activity. The Region says the lions share of the new infections are due to the Delta variant.
Infection Control Doctor Maria Rotzén Östlund says most of the new infections are from young people traveling to places like Spain.
“The increase is very worrying, even if it is still from low levels. The group of 18-29-year-olds are the ones with the highest prevalence, and among them many have been infected abroad.”
The Region is urging everyone to get vaccinated and for young people to not travel unless they have had both doses. They should also get a COViD test immediately after returning home.
The total number of confirmed Delta variant cases in the region have increased from 523 last week to 703 this week. There is a backlog of sequenced test results, so the number will likely be higher.
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Sweden is expecting about ten-million doses of a reformulated vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna in the fall. The updated vaccine is supposed to have a great protection against the Delta variant.
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Norway has added 891 infections since Friday with no new coronavirus deaths
COVID hospitalizations (25) have fallen (-4) while the number of infected people in an ICU (6) has also inched down (-2) and of those the number on a ventilator (4) is unchanged.
To date 59.84% of Norwegians have had one vaccine dose while 31.14% have had both doses.
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Finland has added 617 infections in the last two days. There were 156 infections reported yesterday and another 461 today. Hospitalizations and fatalities are only updated on Wednesdays.
To date, 3,570,073 1st-dose vaccinations (63.9% of the population) and 1,550,881 second doses (27.8%) have been administered.
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Finland is now dealing with a fourth infection wave and restrictions may have to be reintroduced. That is what the Finnish Institute for Health’s Head of Health Security Mika Salminen told MTV Uutiset.
“We have no other alternatives if we want the corona infections to decrease. The question then is whether restrictions for restaurants are enough or whether other restrictions should be introduced.”
The health institute cannot impose restrictions on its own it can only make recommendations, with a final decision resting with the Finnish government.
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Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn says another important vaccination milestone has been reached, with 49.9 million people (60% of the population) having a first vaccine dose while 38.8 million people (46.7%) now fully vaccinated. But Spahn adds “however, we need more people who participate and thus protect themselves and others.”
As Germany deals with deadly flash floods, there are concerns that COVID infections could be among the many impacts. A lot of people have lost their homes and they are now living close together in temporary housing. Health officials in several German states have voiced concerns that this could lead to a super-spreader event.
Almost 200 people have been killed in the floods that have devastated parts of Germany, with a lot of people still considered missing another 700 have been injured.
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France is entering a fourth infection wave, according to government spokesman Gabriel Attal, who spoke with Reuters. COVID infections have more than doubled in a week in France, going from about 4,000 new daily infections last week to over 12,000 a day this week. France is extending the requirement for a vaccine passport to eat in a restaurant, go to a movie, and for other activities until at least August 30.
Today France reported 18,181 new infections and another 33 virus deaths.
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The European Medicines Agency has begun a rolling review of a COVID vaccine developed by Sanofi Pasteur called Vidprevtyn. A rolling review is the first step in a process towards a decision whether or not to recommend approval for use in the EU.
Vidprevtyn is a protein-based vaccine, which contains a laboratory-grown version of the COVID spike protein. This is combined with a substance that helps boost the body’s immune response. So it trains the immune system to recognize the coronavirus and manufacture antibodies against it.
The EMA also has four other vaccine candidates in the rolling review process.
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The United Kingdom recorded its highest number of daily corona deaths since March 24 today, with 96 lives lost. It also added another 45,558 new coronavirus cases today. Hospitalizations over the last seven days also continue to trend upwards.
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The number of Delta variant infections in the United States has rocketed upward. The US Center for Disease Control says the variant now accounts for 80% of all sequenced positive test results in the country. That is a massive increase from when it was in about 50% of all sequenced positive tests just two weeks ago.
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Canada is about to open its borders to all fully vaccinated travelers. It is also doing away with its much-criticized rule requiring children under 12 who cannot be vaccinated to have to quarantine for a full two weeks on arrival.
The federal government announced on Monday that the Canada/US border will reopen as of midnight, August 9 for fully vaccinated American tourists. They will be able to enter the country without having to quarantine. Then, on September 7 Canada will open for all fully vaccinated travelers.
Also as of August 9, children under 12 who cannot be vaccinated but who are traveling with parents who are will be exempt from quarantine. They are free to travel with their parents or guardians wherever and whenever, as long as they follow public health measures.
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Canada reported 330 new infections yesterday while losing another five lives to the coronavirus.
On the vaccination campaign to date, 26,565,815 1st dose vaccinations (69.78% of the total population) have been administered while the number of fully dosed people, 19,330,526, have reached 50.77% of the total population.
In Ontario today there were 127 new infections and two more fatalities.
Quebec reported 76 new COVID cases today and no new deaths.
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick each reported no new corona infections yesterday. Newfoundland and Labrador had four cases but all four were from ships anchored offshore.
Manitoba saw 37 infections yesterday as the last COVID patient sent to an ICU in other provinces returned home yesterday.
There were 16 infection and no new deaths in Saskatchewan yesterday.
Alberta recorded 130 infections and two more fatalities in numbers covering Saturday, a Sunday, and Monday. Premier Jason Kenney is under fire for a tweet celebrating the Calgary Stampede as the first major event “after the pandemic.” Experts note the pandemic is not over yet.
B.C. logged 156 new infections and two deaths as it reported numbers from the previous three days yesterday.