Biden Unveils National Plan; Florida Seeks Limits: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) — U.S. President Joe Biden presented a national strategy to combat the coronavirus, saying the pandemic is likely to claim another 100,000 lives over roughly the next month. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s infectious-disease chief, said it’s “somewhat of a liberating feeling” to work for Biden after Donald Trump tried to sideline him.

Malaysia extended restrictions amid a surge in cases, while Singapore weighs further limits for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Indonesia and Mexico recorded their highest daily death tolls from the virus.

New York City hasn’t stopped giving vaccinations despite shortage warnings and pleas for resupply, but some appointments were canceled. Germany’s coronavirus deaths passed 50,000.

• Global Tracker: Cases exceed 97.3 million; deaths surpass 2 million
• Vaccine Tracker: More than 56.7 million shots given worldwide
• Covid cases are falling in 46 U.S. states, easing load on hospitals
• Canada’s vaccine rollout hits snags despite huge orders
• Senior living’s new sales pitch: Sign lease, get vaccine
• Palm Beach draws flood of wealthy homebuyers in Covid exodus
• Where are our coronavirus vaccines? South Africans ask

Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on cases and deaths.

Mexico saw 1,803 deaths from Covid, the country’s Health Ministry said Thursday evening, the second time this week that deaths have set a single-day record. It brings the country’s death toll since the pandemic began to 146,174, out of a total caseload of 1,711,283.

Canada is expected to receive 4 million vaccine doses from Pfizer by the end of March, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet after speaking with company CEO Albert Bourla.

The Philippines is relaxing movement restrictions on minors in areas under the lowest quarantine level, a move supported by economic managers despite warnings from the Health Department. The lowest age allowed to leave homes was changed to 10 from 15 in places under modified general community quarantine, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Local governments in areas under the second-lowest quarantine level, like those in the capital region which accounts for nearly half of coronavirus cases, are also “enjoined to adopt the same relaxation of age restrictions.”

French President Emmanuel Macron told European Union counterparts France would make PCR tests compulsory for all travelers into France from Sunday, including from fellow EU countries, his office said Thursday, according to a Reuters report.

Cross-border workers and land transportation will be exempt, Macron’s office said. The test will have to be carried out no later than 72 hours before departure, according to the report.

Japan will start its inoculation program using the vaccine from Pfizer Inc., with the launch expected from late February, Taro Kono, the government’s point man for the campaign, told reporters. The inoculations will start with about 10,000 medical personnel, Kono said.

South Korea reported 346 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, the lowest level in almost nine weeks, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Deaths rose by 12 to 1,328.

All air crews arriving in Hong Kong will be required to quarantine for 14 days at designated hotels, Radio Television Hong Kong reported, citing the territory’s food and health secretary.

Indonesia recorded its highest Covid death toll since the outbreak began as movement restrictions were extended for two more weeks in Java and Bali. The authorities confirmed 346 deaths in the 24 hours through midday Thursday, taking the total to more than 27,000.

Singapore is considering implementing further restrictions ahead of the mid-February Lunar New Year festival after new Covid cases inched up after year-end holidays, the Straits Times reported Thursday. The government is still studying details of the measures, the report said.

Malaysia extended movement restrictions in six states and federal territories by more than a week amid surging coronavirus cases. The Movement Control Order — the nation’s strictest form of lockdown — was due to end Jan. 26 but will continue until Feb. 4.

After the restrictions were extended, Resorts World Genting, the hilltop casino, said it will close for two weeks.

Myanmar will begin vaccinations against Covid-19 next week, with 1.5 million doses from India expected to arrive Friday, according to de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The first vaccine rollout of 750,000 people will prioritize front-line health workers, key government officials and members of parliament, followed by vulnerable and high risk groups.

Myanmar has ordered 30 million doses from Serum Institute of India — which manufactures a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University — and is in talks with Chinese manufacturers. It expects to receive jabs for 20% of its 55 million population from the global Covax facility.

Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund’s resident representative cautioned Myanmar not to ease virus restrictions too quickly even with local cases falling.

Thailand approved AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid vaccine for emergency use, paving the way for the country to begin inoculating its 67 million people amid a resurgence in cases. AstraZeneca is the first vaccine developer to win approval in Thailand, which also has ordered shots developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Bangkok will allow spas, gyms, senior daycare centers and 10 other types of businesses to reopen from Friday, after new cases have begun declining following two weeks of a partial lockdown.

Portugal will halt flights to and from the U.K. as the government tries to reduce contagion risks associated with a Covid-19 variant that emerged there. The decision will take effect at midnight Friday, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said. Flights will be allowed for British and Portuguese citizens wanting to return home.

Virus hospitalizations in Texas fell to the lowest level in 10 days and the pace of new infections tumbled by more than one-fourth, state heath department figures showed. There were 13,564 Covid-19 patients in hospitals in the second-most populous U.S. state, the lowest tally since Jan. 11, and almost 600 intensive-care beds available.

Utah reported 30 deaths, tying a pandemic record for the state’s most in a single day, bucking a general trend toward declining deaths, cases and hospitalizations. Utah’s seven-day rolling average of deaths fell to six from a peak of more than 20 in mid-December, according to the latest data from the Covid Tracking Project.

Anthony Fauci said he feels “somewhat” liberated working for President Joe Biden after Donald Trump tried to sideline him.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, addressed reporters Thursday at the White House as Biden’s chief medical adviser. Under Trump, he had been displaced by Scott Atlas, a politically conservative neuroradiologist who disparaged face masks, social distancing and other public health precautions.

“The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the evidence, what the science is and know that it’s, let the science speak, is somewhat of a liberating feeling,” Fauci said.

California added 19,673 new cases to reach 3.04 million, with a slower pace pushing the 14-day average to a two-week low. Deaths rose by 571 to 35,004.

Test positivity dropped to 11%, the lowest in more than a month, and hospitalizations also fell. Still, the state’s ICU bed capacity of 1,030 is at one of its lowest levels since the pandemic started.

Florida sought to limit vaccines to residents Thursday, saying availability is “extremely limited” in the state. Vaccine providers are urged to confirm that anyone seeking the first dose is a Florida resident, according to an order by state surgeon general Scott Rivkees. Non-residents who are health care workers treating patients in Florida can receive shots.

Officials have downplayed the number of non-residents coming to Florida to get the vaccine, saying snowbirds who spent several months in the Sunshine State should be considered residents.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon is easing Covid-19 restrictions as a surge in cases that overwhelmed hospitals recedes. Indoor gatherings will be permitted up to 25% capacity or 250 people, and outdoor gatherings of as many as 500 people will be allowed, Gordon’s office said in a statement.

Johnson & Johnson has enough data from its late-stage Covid-19 vaccine trial to begin analysis, possibly in a week or two, said Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease doctor. J&J previously had said it would have a first chance to…