The Evening Report - June 2nd
Vaccination uptake in Denmark is sky high
🇩🇰
The Danish Agency for Patient Safety says there has been a COVID outbreak on Bornholm involving what it calls a “special variant.” As of yet, it has not identified which variant specifically. The agency says the outbreak involves about 20 confirmed infections. They believe it is now contained, but as a precaution, they are urging everyone on the island and anyone who was there for the Pinse holiday to get a PCR test.
Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed also said today that the football celebration outbreak after the big win and following party in and around Brøndby Stadium has now grown to 96 confirmed infections. Anyone who was there should get tested and then tested again 48 hours later.
-
Vaccination uptake across Denmark for the first nine priority groups has been sky high. The first nine target groups cover nursing home residents, seniors receiving care at home, those considered high risk or vulnerable to COVID, and all seniors 65 years of age and older. Vaccination rates for each of the nine groups exceeds 90%.
-
Jomfru Ane Gade, the popular nightlife street in Aalborg, has to shut down for at least the next two weeks. The Danish parliament’s Epidemic Committee made the call today. The decision was based in a confidential recommendation from Epidemic Commission, a memo that has been leaked to DR. It reports, the memo notes, the Danish Agency for Patient Safety says the bulk of Aalborg’s infections can be traced back to Jomfru Ane Gade.
Per the memo leaked to DR, this is a "special situation in Aalborg where there is a large concentration of infection that is presumed to be related to Jomfru Ane Gade, and partly that pubs and bars in the municipality are close and concentrated in this particular street.”
Aalborg has the third highest COVID incidence rate per 100,000 in the country, with 295. Two parishes in the city, including the one Jomfru Ane Gade is in, have been closed due to high infection rates, but the closure didn’t apply to bars, and restaurants.
Mayor Thomas Kastrup-Larsen:
“It does not make much sense that you cannot go to the Historical Museum and look at arrowheads and other exhibitions, but you can go to Jomfru Ane Gade in the evening and party.”
-
Denmark’s Staten Serum Institut has joined the largest global vaccine monitoring study that has ever taken place. The study is being led by the University of Auckland in New Zealand and has partnered with 21 agencies across 17 countries to date. The study will follow 300-million vaccinated people around the world for three years.
The University of Auckland’s Professor Helen Petousis-Harris is leading the study:
“Never before have so many vaccines been developed and released so quickly. And although there have been clinical trials to gain the necessary knowledge to get the vaccines authorized, it is important to continue monitoring them after they have been given. There are many new covid-19 vaccines. Therefore, it is crucial that a global, centralized monitoring process takes place so that any rare side effects can be detected.”
The SSI’s Professor Anders Hviid says Denmark offers a unique perspective and a wealth of data on population level vaccinations.
“With the large amounts of data that will be examined, we will be able to identify even very rare side effects. On an unprecedented scale, it will also be possible to compare the safety profiles of the various vaccines.”
-
The Director of the Danish Medicines Agency, Tanja Lund Erichsen, says they are keeping a close eye on reports of heart inflammation in Israel, possibly linked to the Pfizer vaccine .
Reuters is reporting that there have been 275 cases of myocarditis reported between December 2020 and May of this year. Most of those cases were among young men aged 16 to 19 years old. The bulk of the cases were mild, with a few requiring a short hospital stay before being released.
A study from the Israeli health ministry found "there is a probable link between receiving the second dose (of Pfizer) vaccine and the appearance of myocarditis among men aged 16 to 30.” Pfizer in a statement, said it is aware of the situation, but no causal link to the vaccine has been established.
-
Denmark is reporting 954 COVID infections and for a 2nd straight day no new coronavirus deaths.
Yesterday there were 547,499 total corona tests done, 135,073 PCR and 412,426 rapid, for a (PCR only) positivity percentage of 0.71%.
The number of kommunes in Denmark with a COVID infection incidence rate per 100,000 residents above 200 has risen to six. This includes Copenhagen Kommune, which rose to 211.
-
COVID hospitalizations (157) have inched upward (+2) while the number of infected people in an ICU (37) also increased slightly (+1) and of those the number on a ventilator (26) also rose (+4).
Region Hovedstaden (Metro Copenhagen) continues to see the highest ICU pressure.
On the vaccination campaign, to date 2,206,276 1st dose vaccinations (37.7% of the population) have been administered while 1,291,222 people (22.1%) are now fully vaccinated.
Yesterday there were 57,342 total vaccinations done.
Staff from Region Sjælland, the health authority covering the rest of the island outside Metro Copenhagen, says it was busy vaccinating at-risk populations today. Staff were at Skomagerens Hus in Rødby for a vaccination clinic for about 35 people who are “socially disadvantaged” essentially people who are either homeless or at risk of becoming so.
-
The Danish Health Authority is recommending people with weakened immune systems, including cancer patients, get vaccinated against COVID. The health authority and an expert group have examined vaccine impacts on those with weakened immune systems and found most of them would be better protected with vaccination.
Unit Manager Bolette Søborg:
“It is our clear assessment that most people with a weakened immune system will be well protected against a serious COVID infections when they have been vaccinated. Therefore, we also recommend that people with a weakened immune system after vaccination follow the agency's general recommendations for vaccinated people.”
That said, the health board notes the vaccines will offer reduced protections for some people, like those who have had transplants, those with some types of blood diseases, and immune disorders. But, it adds “any degree of protection against the disease is desirable” so they too, should get vaccinated.
🇸🇪
No COVID numbers update again today from Sweden. It will provide its first update in a week on Thursday.
-
An investigation by Swedish Radio has found people might have been infected with coronavirus while receiving treatment at least 11 hospitals across Sweden. They found over 100 COVID-related patient safety reports have been filed with the Swedish Health and Care Inspectorate. About one-third dealt with people who possibly caught COVID at either the hospital or through a caregiver.
-
Region Stockholm is reporting that hospitalizations continue to decrease, in part due to the mass vaccination effort. From May 25 to June 1 the region has seen. 1,824 infections although the number could change when the Swedish Public Health Agency collates COVID numbers tomorrow.
The Region currently has 135 people in hospital, with 43 in an ICU and 92 in “geriatrics and emergency hospitals.”
With sequencing of positive tests running several weeks behind, the region says it has confirmed at least 25 cases of the India variant, it does not specify if it is the concerning B.1.617.2 mutation or not.
43.1% of the adult population in Region Stockholm have one vaccination dose while 14.2% have both.
🇫🇮
Finland has registered 282 infections and three more corona deaths in the last day.
COVID hospitalizations (79) are down (-16) ICU numbers (14) also down (-3).
To date 2,510,921 (45.1% of the population) 1st dose and 524,417 2nd vaccine doses (9.4%) have been administered.
-
A national survey conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has found the pandemic has resulted in increased mental health challenges. More people reported being stressed out and depressed and thoughts of suicide have also risen. While the highest proportion was among people in Helsinki, survey results found a correlation between regions seeing high infections rates and rising rates of stress and depression.
Correspondingly, the demand on mental health services also rose, especially among those aged 20 to 54 years old. The institute says that women were more likely to seek help than men, but more men in the age group sought help after experiencing suicidal thoughts.
The hardest-hit group by far were people with disabilities about 27,000 people who rely on caregivers. Not only were they prevented from seeing friends and family during the pandemic, but it wasn’t uncommon for their caregivers to get sick or have to quarantine, forcing further isolation. A few had to go without caregivers at all out of fear of getting the virus.
The institute, using wastewater monitoring, has also reported that amphetamines use skyrocketed during the pandemic. In March of this year, rising amphetamine use levels in Helsinki and the surrounding metro area hit “the highest measured nationally of any city.” The institute noted there were no changes in the use of other drugs.
🇳🇴
Norway has added 221 infections and two more virus deaths since yesterday’s update.
COVID hospitalizations (62) are down (-3) ICU numbers (27) also down (-1) ventilator numbers (16) are up (+1).
To date 30.77% of Norwegians have one dose and 19.23% have both.
-
The Associated Press is reporting that 500 people in Oslo have been quarantined due to a COVID outbreak linked to high school graduation celebrations. Medical authorities have now halted all other graduation celebrations. In Norway, as in Denmark, students graduating high school jam into buses or trailers towed by a tractor and spend the day drinking while they go to each students house. In this case, the outbreak is linked to five buses used by partying students. All high schools in the western part of Oslo are impacted.
-
Norway is opening COVID vaccinations up to children as young as 12 years old.
Norwegian Health Institute Chief Physician Margrethe Greve-Isdahl:
“The risk of serious COVID infections in children and adolescents is very low. Nevertheless, some children and adolescents with particularly serious underlying health conditions may benefit from vaccination.”
Norway has already vaccinated about 900 young people aged 16 to 17 years old. The health institute estimates its first vaccination call for those between 12 and 15 years of age will cover between 2,000, to 3,000, children.
“The offer goes to a small group of children and adolescents over 12 years who have very serious diseases such as cancer, organ transplants, those who have severe or congenital immunodeficiency, serious and complex neurological diseases or congenital syndromes. These children and young people can benefit from the protection the vaccine provides.”
The health institute is working with the various municipalities and the Norwegian Pediatric Association to set up the vaccination program for kids.
-
The Norwegian Institute of Health is preparing for the debut of the country’s coronapas, the digital vaccine passport, on June 11. Initially, the coronapas will be used for domestic use within Norway and then it will expand to allow for travel across the EU at the end of the month. Much like Denmark’s coronapas, Norway’s will have two modes with different information one for travel within Norway and the other for travel abroad.
The health authority says it is working on paper option for people who aren’t so tech-savvy and do have a smartphone or computer.
🇪🇺💉
The European Medicines Agency has approved an expansion of a Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine manufacturing facility in Belgium. The agency says expansion of the facility in Puurs “is expected to have a significant and immediate impact on the supply of Comirnaty, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer in the European Union.”
🇩🇪
German Health Minister Jens Spahn says they administered enough vaccinations to cover one-percent of the population yesterday and hope to repeat the feat again today. So far, 36.5 million people (44%) in Germany have had one vaccine dose while 15.6 million people (19%) are now fully vaccinated. Spahn says they expect to administer 25 million vaccinations this month.
🇨🇦
Canada reported 1,641 infections while suffering another 19 coronavirus deaths. Nationally the infection curve continues to drop like a rock.
On the vaccination front, to date 22,007,765 1st dose vaccinations (57.91% of the population) have been administered while 2,161,428 people are now fully vaccinated.
In Ontario today Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted “Ontario is reporting 733 cases of COVID19 and nearly 31,800 tests completed. Locally, there are 173 new cases in Toronto, 134 in Peel, 69 in York Region and 66 in Hamilton. As of 8:00 p.m. yesterday, 9,342,121 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.” There were also another 25 deaths. The province announced today students will not be returning to school until September due to the pandemic.
Quebec reported 288 infections and five more deaths.
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia reported 17 infections and two deaths as the province began the first phase of a reopening plan. Newfoundland and Labrador had 17 infections. New Brunswick 12.
Manitoba had 232 infections and three more virus deaths yesterday. A total of 36 COVID patients have been evacuated to other provinces to ease pressure on provincial hospitals. There are currently 72 people in an ICU.
There were 86 infections and one more corona death in Saskatchewan yesterday as the province continues to ease COVID restrictions.
In Alberta where restrictions are also being lifted it recorded 209 infections and one death yesterday. More than 60% of the adult population now has at least one vaccine dose.
B.C. reported 184 new infections, the lowest number since October albeit with just over 5,000 tests done yesterday, as well as no new corona deaths. Over 70% of the province’s adult population has now received at least one vaccination dose.
🇹🇼
Once a model for how to react to and tame the COVID pandemic Taiwan now finds itself enmeshed in its worst coronavirus outbreak. Infections have, by Taiwanese definitions, exploded as once vaunted testing and contact tracing regimes now struggle with a massive backlog.
🇻🇳
Vietnam another country that had until now kept corona at bay is also being hit with its worst infection wave by far. This time it is fueled by a concerning variant health officials in the country say is a hybrid strain between the feared UK and India variants.
