Study Suggests Covid May Have Spread In China Sooner Than Thought
A new British study suggests covid may have been spreading in China as early as October 2019, two months before detection in Wuhan. Meanwhile, a Chinese researcher reports two Chinese covid vaccines are less effective against the delta variant, but still offer protection.
Reuters:
First COVID-19 Case Could Have Emerged In China In Oct 2019 - Study
The virus that causes COVID-19 could have started spreading in China as early as October 2019, two months before the first case was identified in the central city of Wuhan, a new study showed on Friday. Researchers from Britain's University of Kent used methods from conservation science to estimate that SARS-CoV-2 first appeared from early October to mid-November 2019, according to a paper published in the PLOS Pathogens journal. (Stanway, 6/24)
Reuters:
Antibodies Triggered By Chinese COVID-19 Shots Less Effective On Delta Variant - Researcher
Antibodies triggered by two Chinese COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against the Delta variant compared with other strains but the shots still offer protection, a Chinese disease control researcher told state media. (6/25)
In other global developments —
The Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Offers Afghanistan 3 Million J&J Covid-19 Vaccine Doses
The Biden administration plans to deliver three million doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine next week to Afghanistan, which is battling its deadliest wave of the pandemic amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation. The White House is offering the single-dose vaccines ahead of President Biden’s Friday meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Afghanistan’s chief peace negotiator, Abdullah Abdullah. They plan to discuss how Washington can continue supporting the embattled Afghan government, which lost large territories to the Taliban this month, once the U.S. military completes its withdrawal. (Lubold and Trofimov, 6/24)
Bloomberg:
Record Vaccinations May Not Stop Deadly Third Wave In India
Officials in New Delhi rejoiced earlier this week when India hit a single-day record by administering more than 8 million Covid-19 vaccinations. But even this unprecedented pace may not be fast enough for a country just emerging from a devastating second wave to head off a third one, experts say. They also question whether this week’s push averaging about 4.6 million doses a day, up from about 3 million for most of the past month, can be sustained. (Kay, 6/24)
The Wall Street Journal:
Race Between Covid-19 Vaccines And Delta Variant Plays Out In U.K.
The highly transmissible Covid-19 Delta variant is generating rapidly rising caseloads in the U.K., but smaller increases in hospitalizations and fatalities, in a hopeful sign that mass vaccination can prevent a repeat of the heavy toll of sickness and death seen earlier in the pandemic. The other message is one of caution. Epidemiologists say the U.K.’s experience shows how easily the variant can spread even within populations where vaccine uptake is high. That underscores the risk of further outbreaks of Covid-19 in the U.S. and other advanced economies, as well as the urgency of widening and accelerating vaccination programs. (Douglas and Shah, 6/23)
Fox News:
Man Believed To Have Longest Coronavirus Infection Had Virus For 300 Days
A 72-year-old man in England is believed to be have had "the longest known PCR confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection" after testing positive for coronavirus some 300 days. Dave Smith, of Bristol, is described in medical papers documenting his case as being immunocompromised and with a history of cancer, which may have put him at an increased risk for prolonged infection. In a preprint paper, released ahead of the July European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) conference where his case will be presented, doctors noted that the virus did not clear after a 15-day course of Remdesivir. On day 265 of his illness, he was treated with two monoclonal antibodies, casirivimab and imdevimab, and his health improved "dramatically." Forty-five days after the treatment, the virus was not detected in RT-PCR tests. (Hein, 6/24)
AP:
Russia Mandates Vaccinations For Some As Virus Cases Surge
In light of the surge, at least 14 Russian regions — from Moscow and St. Petersburg to the remote far-eastern region of Sakhalin — made vaccinations mandatory this month for employees in certain sectors, such as government offices, retail, health care, education, restaurants, fitness centers, beauty parlors and other service industries. Moscow authorities said companies should suspend without pay employees unwilling to get vaccinated, and they threatened to temporarily halt operations of businesses that don’t meet the goal of having 60% of staff get at least one shot by July 15 and both shots by Aug. 15. (Litvinova, 6/25)
Fox News:
WHO Flags Concerns At Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine Production Plant
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern about how one of the plants involved in Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine production fills the vials, and whether mitigation measures to reduce risk of cross-contamination are adequately implemented. WHO, which is currently reviewing the vaccine, conducted the inspection between May 31 and June 4, and also noted issues concerning tracing and identifying batches at the site, which is located in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, Reuters reported. In response, Pharmstandard-UfaTIVA said all issues had been resolved, and that none pertained to the safety or efficacy of the vaccine itself. (Hein, 6/24)
The New York Times:
Israel, A World Leader In Vaccinations, Faces A New Outbreak
Israel has been a trailblazer in the post-pandemic world, largely returning to normal in May following one of the world’s fastest vaccination drives. But dozens of new cases recently emerged at schools in two cities, Modiin and Binyamina, leading to hundreds of people being quarantined. Israel has made 12- to 15-year-olds eligible for vaccination, but many have yet to get shots. (6/25)
Bloomberg:
Beta Variant Of Coronavirus Behind Surge In Seychelles, Most Vaccinated Nation
Seychelles, which has vaccinated a greater proportion of its people than any other nation, said genetic sequencing of samples shows that the so-called Beta variant, first discovered in South Africa last year, is behind a surge in cases. The Indian Ocean island nation has mainly offered Sinopharm and AstraZeneca Plc vaccines, the latter made under license in India and known as Covishield, to its 98,000 people. The health ministry has reported that at least two people fully vaccinated with Covishield have recently died of the coronavirus. (Gappy and Sguazzin, 6/24)
