The Evening Report - May the 4th be with you
The COVID reinfection rate edges up in Denmark
🇩🇰
Denmark’s Health Minister Magnus Heunicke says the COVID contact rate (reinfection rate or R0) has crept up to 1.1, up from the last two weeks where it was 1.0. He says this “indicates a slightly increasing epidemic.” Heunicke stresses that people mind their social distancing, wash their hands, and get tested frequently as restrictions continue to be gradually eased.
-
The Director of the Statens Serum Institut is cautiously optimistic about the agreement for a broader next phase of reopening on Thursday.
Henrik Ullum:
“We are pleased that the coronapas and the strategy for local closures powers are part of the agreement. With this extended reopening, we step on the accelerator, but do it knowing that the brakes are working, and knowing it is crucial that we do not lose control of the virus.”
However, the expanded reopening is not popular with everyone. The Danish Sports Federation is baffled that contact sports are off the table and that cultural events and business conferences can have hundreds if not thousands of attendees while indoor sports must comply with the assembly ban.
Sports Federation Director Morten Mølholm Hansen:
“So we unfortunately have to accept that, for example, basketball players between the ages of 18 and 70 are not allowed to play or even train for at least the next two weeks. However, I had expected that the requirement for a coronapas would allow the adult athletes who have been absent from their sport for almost half a year to return to normal play in sports such as handball, basketball, ice hockey.”
Hansen is also is concerned about the administration of the coronapas noting it will require plenty of volunteers, something he called “an unmanageable burden.”
-
Without providing an exact date or any specific information, the Danish Health Authority says the country is ready for large scale vaccinations. The agency says the regions have increased capacity in order to be able to vaccinate 100,000 people per day when vaccine supply permits.
SST Unit Manager Steen Dalsgård Jespersen says more and more regional vaccination centers are being opened.
“In addition, the regions can continue to supplement with other mobile and more targeted local vaccination initiatives. This will ensure increased capacity with vaccination centers closer to the people who need them. The proximity to the vaccination site must make it easy and safe to get people vaccinated."
The 100,000 vaccinations a day benchmark has been met just once to date. Yesterday the vaccination calendar was delayed another four weeks until the end of August after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was shelved.
-
Denmark is reporting 809 COVID infections and one more coronavirus death in the last 21 hours (due to a data issue).
Yesterday there were 576,258 total corona tests done, 164,580 PCR and 411,678 rapid, for a (PCR only) positivity percentage of 0.49%.
COVID hospitalizations (163) have fallen (-21),while the number of infected people in an ICU (43) has crept up (+1). Of those, the number on a ventilator (22) also inched up (+1).
On the vaccination campaign to date, 1,387,556 1st dose vaccinations (23.7% of the population) have been administered while 715,493 people (12.2%) are now fully vaccinated.
Yesterday there were 65,583 total vaccinations done.
-
Region Syddanmark (Southern Denmark Health Authority) has issued its latest vaccination update today. The region received 72,360 vaccine doses this week, 55,160 from Pfizer and 16,200 Moderna vaccine doses. They will go to complete the vaccinations in the nine priority target groups currently eligible. Included in the mix are healthcare workers who had a first dose of AstraZeneca and are now being invited to finish their vaccinations with a second dose of an mRNA vaccine instead.
To date, 290,479 people (23.7%) living in Southern Denmark have had one vaccine dose and 135,052 are now fully vaccinated.
-
The last infection wave hit Denmark much harder than any previous wave did according to the latest prevalence study from the Staten Serum Institut. The prevalence study determines infection spread based on how many people in the population have antibodies. The study showed that as of the beginning of March, 7% of the population had been infected. That is a big increase from the 3.9% found in the last prevalence study.
7% would equal about 325,000 to 375,000 people over the age of 12 having been infected since the beginning of the epidemic.
SSI Senior Researcher Steen Ethelberg says they also determined that there were very few positive infections that were not identified thanks to Denmark’s massive testing regime.
“The Danish test activity is very high, and it actually looks as if we have found most of the infected people in Denmark with the testing. Every time three people have been infected, the two of them have actually tested positive. This means that there are fewer undetected infections than before. This is very positive, as chains of infection can thus be broken.”
-
The Sjælland Health Region has extended opening hours until 10:00 pm at PCR testing centers in Næstved, Roskilde, Maribo, Slagelse, Holbæk, and Nykøbing Falster.
-
Denmark’s testing centers have a new tool to help screen for COVID variants. The new Delta-3 PCR test can detect and differentiate between several concerning variants, including the U.K, Brazilian P1, and other variants of concern. It can also detect the worrying E484K mutation, the so called escape mutation because it helps the virus slip by the body’s defenses.
TestCenter Denmark’s Director Anne-Marie Vangsted:
“With the Delta PCR tests, we can use a quick method to screen for the most worrying SARS-CoV-2 variants that are in circulation in Denmark right now. There are constantly new variants in the epidemic, and we are continuously developing new Delta-PCR tests to include them. The system is deliberately designed so that it can be expanded to track new worrying variants and mutations that may appear.”-
-
For a second year in a row the famed Roskilde music festival, the largest in Northern Europe, has been canceled due to the ongoing pandemic. Organizers say they are “devastated” in having to abandon the festival again.
“The cancellation is very serious for the festival, for the charity society behind it and for our community. And it is serious for the artistic environments and the growth segments of culture.”
In a message on the festival’s website, ticket holders are asked to hold on to their tickets as they will be transferred to 2022. While refunds are possible if desired, organizers say if people hold on to their tickets it will help keep the organization afloat until they can reopen next summer.
You can read the message in full on the Roskilde music festival website HERE.
🇸🇪
Sweden has added 20,876 infections and 89 corona deaths since Thursday’s update.
To date, 2,681,307 1st dose vaccinations (32.7% of the population) have been administered while 769,932 people (9.4%) are fully vaccinated.
-
The Swedish Public Health Agency is proposing tightening COVID restrictions. The proposal is now out for consultation. If approved, the restrictions would further tighten the cap on the number of people at public gatherings, public events, markets, and amusement parks. The agency say further limiting the number of people will allow for better social distancing and reduce infection spread. If the new restrictions become official they will be in force by May 17th.
-
The Swedish Public Health Agency says they are tracking some cases of fully vaccinated people getting COVID and, in rare instances, a severe course of the virus. The agency says no vaccine is 100% effective but the number of cases of fully vaccinated getting sick is very small.
According to numbers from Folkhälsomyndighetens published today, of the more than two-million people with one vaccination dose 5,942, or 0.3%, tested positive for COVID at least three weeks after vaccination. Of those, 20 had to be admitted to ICU and 187 died.
Of the more than 700,000 people in Sweden who are fully vaccinated, 1,624, or 0.2%, were infected with the coronavirus. Of those, six needed intensive care and 67 died.
State Epidemiologist Anders Tegnell:
“No vaccine can eliminate the risk of becoming completely infected. But the serious cases are very few compared to the high spread of infection we have had and how many are vaccinated.”
The Swedish Public Agency says the risk of getting COVID and ending up in an ICU or dying is much less for those who are vaccinated than if they aren’t. It also emphasizes the people who have been vaccinated first in Sweden were the oldest and most frail. For those, it says even a mild course of the coronavirus can be very difficult to cope with even if they are vaccinated.
🇫🇮
Finland has registered 184 infections and one more virus death since yesterday’s update.
COVID hospitalizations (128) have increased (+8) and ICU numbers (29) dipped (-1).
To date, 1,723,088 1st dose (30.9% of pop) and 171,330 2nd vaccines doses (3.1%) have been administered.
-
The Finnish News Agency is reporting that corona restrictions could begin to be eased across the country by next week. Restaurants could be one of the biggest beneficiaries with longer opening hours and some more operational flexibility.
🇳🇴
Norway has added 532 infections with no new corona deaths since yesterday’s update.
COVID hospitalizations (128) are down (-23). ICU numbers (45) declined (-5). Ventilator numbers (32) also down (-3).
To date, 25.59% of Norwegians have one vaccine dose and 6.85% have had both.
-
Norway is no longer requiring people who are fully vaccinated to go into isolation if they have had contact with an infected person. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health does advise a vaccinated person to get tested if they have any COVID symptoms. Norway defines someone as fully vaccinated one week after receiving a second vaccine dose.
The institute says for those who have had a first dose between three to 12 weeks previous can come out of quarantine with a negative PCR test between the third and seventh day of isolation.
-
Pregnant women in Norway are now being advised to consider being vaccinated against COVID in consultation with their doctor. Norway already advises pregnant women with underlying health conditions to get vaccinated. The Norwegian Public Health Institute says it is satisfied with new studies showing vaccinations are safe for pregnant and lactating women and for the babies they are carrying.
Dr. Helena Niemi Eide says pregnant women are at higher risk of hospitalization if they contract the coronavirus.
“Even if the pregnant woman does not have underlying diseases that increase the risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID, they should consider vaccination if they live in an area with a lot of infection and can not reduce their contact with others.”
However, she says vaccinations should not be done in the first trimester.
Pregnant women in areas with little infection activity and who are not at risk with no underlying health conditions are recommended to wait to be vaccinated until after childbirth.
🇪🇺💉
The European Medicines Agency has begun a rolling review of Sinovac’s Vero Cell COVID vaccine. A rolling review is a first step in the process toward a decision over recommending, or not, a potential authorization of use within Europe.
The Chinese manufactured vaccine introduces a little bit of coronavirus that is inactivated, so it cannot cause the disease, plus an immune booster so your body recognizes an invading foreign substance and activates antibodies against it.
🇬🇧
Infection rates in schools and among staff have fallen in tandem with the decline of coronavirus cases in the population as the U.K. wrestles down its latest infection wave.
Public Health England has conducted a fourth round of its study monitoring COVID in schools. It found 0.34% of secondary school students and 0.19% of teachers and staff tested positive during the latest study period from March 15th to 31st. In both cases the numbers were much lower than the first two studies.
🇨🇦
Canada recorded 7,546 infections and another 42 coronavirus deaths yesterday. The number increases to 9,076 if you add in the backlogged cases over the weekend reported by B.C.
On the vaccination front to date, 12,914,613 1st doses (33.98% of the population) have been administered while 1,136,877 people are now fully vaccinated.
Today Ontario’s Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted, “Ontario is reporting 2,791 cases of COVID19 and over 33,700 tests completed. Locally, there are 931 new cases in Toronto, 653 in Peel, 275 in York Region, 147 in Durham and 128 in Hamilton. As of 8:00 p.m. yesterday, 5,467,120 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.” There were also another 25 deaths.
Quebec reported 797 new infections and 16 coronavirus deaths today.
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia registered 146 infections today. New Brunswick had 15. Newfoundland and Labrador had four.
Manitoba saw 251 infections and one more corona death yesterday.
There were 207 infections and three deaths in Saskatchewan yesterday.
The situation in Alberta continues to get worse with 2,012 new infections and four more deaths yesterday. There are 658 people in hospital with 154 in an ICU. The province has a positivity percentage of 13.2%. Premier Jason Kenney says more restrictions will be announced today.
B.C, reporting for the first time since Friday, registered 2,174 infections over three days. There were 835 infections from Friday to Saturday, 671 from Saturday to Sunday, and 668 from Sunday to Monday. There were another 15 deaths. 474 people are in hospital (-37) with 176 people in an ICU (+2).
🇮🇳
The nightmare in India continues even as overall numbers have eased very slightly in the last few days. Yesterday it reported 355,828 infections and 3,438 more virus deaths. Today its numbers are already very close to that. Daily COVID deaths in India now vastly exceed anything seen in its first infection wave.
Hospitals in India have taken to social media to plead for help for patients needing beds or oxygen. A chilling example today with Delhi's Triton hospital issuing an online SOS saying it had just a few hours of oxygen left with an ICU packed with COVID patients and 18 premature babies in its maternity ward whose lives hung in the balance.