Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
India Reports Another New, More Transmissible Covid Variant
Reuters: India Says New COVID Variant Is A Concern
India on Tuesday declared a new coronavirus variant to be of concern, and said nearly two dozen cases had been detected in three states. The variant, identified locally as "Delta plus", was found in 16 cases in the state of Maharashtra, Federal Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told a news conference. The ministry said Delta plus showed increased transmissibility and advised states to increase testing. (Acharya and Kumar, 6/22)
In other global developments —
AP: New Zealand On Edge After Virus-Infected Australian Visits
After enjoying nearly four months without any community transmission of the coronavirus, New Zealanders were on edge Wednesday after health authorities said an infectious traveler from Australia had visited over the weekend. New Zealand has taken a zero-tolerance approach to the pandemic and continues to pursue an elimination strategy. (Perry, 6/23)
The New York Times: They Relied On Chinese Vaccines. Now They’re Battling Outbreaks
Mongolia promised its people a “Covid-free summer.” Bahrain said there would be a “return to normal life.” The tiny island nation of the Seychelles aimed to jump-start its economy. All three put their faith, at least in part, in easily accessible Chinese-made vaccines, which would allow them to roll out ambitious inoculation programs when much of the world was going without. But instead of freedom from the coronavirus, all three countries are now battling a surge in infections. (Wee, 6/22)
AP: UAE's Capital Apparently Offering COVID Vaccines To Tourists
The capital of the United Arab Emirates has apparently started offering free coronavirus vaccines to tourists flying into the emirate, a move that could entice travelers and help revive the country’s struggling tourism industry. While Abu Dhabi has made no official announcement on the matter, the health authority’s phone application showed updated criteria for vaccine access on Tuesday, saying visitors to the capital could now get the COVID-19 shot by presenting their passports. (Debre, 6/22)
AP: Guam Launching COVID-19 Vaccine Tourism Program
Guam is launching a vaccine tourism program to encourage citizens of neighboring countries and Americans living in East Asia to come get inoculated against COVID-19. The Pacific Daily News reports the first group of three travelers was arriving on a charter flight from Taiwan. The Guam Visitors Bureau says this is a prelude to bigger groups to come. (6/23)
In news from Canada —
Politico: Trudeau Says He's Hopeful But ‘No Guarantee,’ As Delta Variant Hangs Over Canada-U.S. Border Decision
Justin Trudeau says he hopes "in the coming weeks" to announce loosened travel restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border, though that will depend on the trajectory of Covid-19.The prime minister offered the broad timetable Tuesday as he faces heat for renewing an arrangement that will keep pandemic measures in place at the frontier until at least July 21. (Blatchford, 6/22)
The Washington Post: Pressure Builds To Open U.S.-Canada Border
A Florida man takes out ads to call out the U.S. and Canadian governments for failing to lift border restrictions. Lawmakers use salty-ish language. Business owners worry about losing a second lucrative summer season. As restrictions on nonessential travel across the U.S.-Canada land border enter their 16th month this week, pressure is rising on both sides for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Biden to crack it open — even a little — or to provide something, anything, about what a reopening plan might look like. (Coletta, 6/22)
CIDRAP: Manitoba Reports H3N2v Flu Case
Public health officials in Manitoba, Canada, yesterday reported a swine-related variant H3N2 (H3N2v) flu case involving a patient in the southern part of the province, according to a government statement. The illnesses was detected in early June when the patient sought testing after experiencing a flulike illness. They had mild symptoms and recovered. Tests were negative for COVID-19, but the virus was later identified as H3N2v as part of routine flu surveillance. (6/22)
