Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
20-Second Covid Test Approved In UK; Nation Extends Emergency Powers
Reuters: Britain Approves 20-Second COVID-19 Test, Distributor Says
Britain’s medicine regulator has approved a 20-second COVID-19 test, the product’s distributor said on Friday as it launched a testing system it said could be used in airports, sports venues and businesses. Rapid tests are seen as a key plank of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown, but concerns have been expressed about the accuracy of existing lateral flow devices. (3/26)
AP: UK Extends Emergency Coronavirus Powers By 6 Months
British lawmakers agreed Thursday to prolong coronavirus emergency measures for six months, allowing the Conservative government to keep its unprecedented powers to restrict U.K. citizens’ everyday lives. The House of Commons voted to extend the powers until September, and approved the government’s road map for gradually easing Britain’s strict coronavirus lockdown over the next three months. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s large Conservative majority in Parliament guaranteed the measures passed by a decisive 484-76 margin. But Johnson faced rebellion from some of his own party’s lawmakers, who argued that the economic, democratic and human costs of the restrictions outweigh the benefits. (Lawless, 3/25)
In news from India —
The Washington Post: U.N. Says Global Vaccine Deliveries Delayed Due To Virus Surge In India
Soaring demand for coronavirus vaccines in one of the world’s worst hotspots is causing a global supply shortage of up to 90 million vaccine doses, according to the United Nations, a setback to immunization efforts primarily in poorer countries. A surge in new cases in India is putting pressure on the Serum Institute — a major global vaccine manufacturer — to divert resources toward domestic production, the U.N.-backed COVAX facility said. The facility seeks the equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines worldwide. (Cunningham, 3/26)
Axios: India Pauses Vaccine Exports Amid Surge In Cases
Exports of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India, have been paused as India grapples with a new spike in cases, Reuters reports. India hasn't exported any doses at all over the past week, according to foreign ministry data — a worrying sign for the COVAX initiative, which aims to send vaccines all over the world and is relying heavily on Indian-made vaccines. (Lawler, 3/25)
In other global developments —
AP: China Outlines COVID-Origin Findings, Ahead Of WHO Report
Chinese officials briefed diplomats Friday on the ongoing research into the origin of COVID-19, ahead of the expected release of a long-awaited report from the World Health Organization. The briefing appeared to be an attempt by China to get out its view on the report, which has become enmeshed in a diplomatic spat. The U.S. and others have raised questions about Chinese influence and the independence of the findings, and China has accused critics of politicizing a scientific study. (Moritsugu, 3/26)
Reuters: Brazil Hits Record 100,000 Coronavirus Cases In A Day, Piling Pressure On Bolsonaro
Brazil on Thursday registered a record 100,158 new coronavirus cases within 24 hours, the Health Ministry said, underlining the scale of a snowballing outbreak that is becoming a major political crisis for President Jair Bolsonaro. The record caseload, along with 2,777 more COVID-19 deaths, comes a day after Brazil surpassed 300,000 fatalities from the pandemic, the world’s worst death toll after the United States. (Fonseca, 3/25)
Axios: 70% Of The World Could Be Vaccinated This Year
12 billion doses of 13 different vaccines could become available by the end of the year — enough to vaccinate 70% of the globe, a new analysis from the Duke Global Health Innovation Center shows. Key barriers, like unpredictable manufacturing and the variants, make it difficult to ensure supply can be distributed equitably, the report says. (Fernandez, 3/26)
AP: Aid Groups Call On Biden To Develop Plans To Share Vaccines
A coalition of nongovernmental organizations is calling on President Joe Biden to immediately begin developing plans to share an expected surplus of hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses with the world, once U.S. demand for shots is met. (Miller, 3/26)
