Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Omicron Covid Spreading Quickly Across Tonga
AP: Tonga's Virus Outbreak Growing Rapidly; Omicron Confirmed
Coronavirus cases continue to rise rapidly in Tonga, and tests have confirmed that the particularly contagious omicron variant is behind the isolated Pacific island nation’s first community outbreak since the start of the pandemic, officials said Thursday. Health Minister Saia Piukala told reporters that 31 more people had tested positive for the virus, nearly doubling Tonga’s active cases for the second day in a row to a total of 64, the online Matangi Tonga news portal and other media reported. (Rising, 2/10)
In other global news about the coronavirus —
Axios: Boris Johnson Signals Early End To U.K. COVID Restrictions
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined a plan Wednesday to end England's remaining domestic coronavirus restrictions — including the requirement to self-isolate after testing positive — later this month. Though COVID-19 cases have fallen since January, they remain "relatively high," CNN reported. The country lifted many of its COVID-19 restrictions last July, and last month lifted its testing requirement for fully vaccinated people arriving in England. Last month, the government indicated that remaining domestic restrictions would lift on March 24, when the current rules lapsed, the Guardian reported. (Saric, 2/9)
Reuters: COVAX Cuts N.Korea's COVID Vaccine Allotment After No Deliveries Accepted
The COVAX global COVID-19 vaccine-sharing programme has scaled back the number of doses allocated for North Korea, international aid organisations said, as the country has so far failed to arrange for any shipments. A website dashboard maintained by the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, shows the number of doses earmarked for North Korea now stands at 1.54 million, down from as many as 8.11 million last year. (Smith, 2/10)
AP: South Korea To Roll Out Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Next Week
South Korea will begin offering Novavax Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine at hospitals, nursing homes and public health centers next week, officials said, adding another tool to fight a fast-developing omicron surge. The country reported a record 54,122 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a 12-fold increase from daily levels seen in mid-January, when omicron first became the country’s dominant strain. (Tong-Hyung, 2/10)
The Washington Post: Mexico City Gave Ivermectin To Thousands Of Covid Patients. Officials Face An Ethics Backlash
As the coronavirus coursed through Mexico City early last year, ravaging neighborhoods and overwhelming hospitals, local officials made an unusual decision. They gave out tens of thousands of medical kits to covid-19 patients containing ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medication. ... Now city authorities are facing a backlash. A U.S.-based academic site that had posted their paper, SocArXiv, withdrew it last Friday, charging it was “promoting an unproved medical treatment in the midst of a global pandemic.” The site accused city officials of bad science and unethical behavior — in effect, of using citizens like rats in a giant laboratory experiment, without their consent. (Sheridan, 2/9)
In Olympics updates —
AP: What Is Trimetazidine? A Look At The Drug Behind Russia's Olympic Skating Case
The medication trimetazidine is a metabolic agent that helps prevent angina attacks and treats the symptoms of vertigo, according to the European Union’s medicines agency. It can increase blood flow efficiency and improve endurance — both crucial to any high-end athletic performance. It is on the prohibited list managed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in the category of “hormone and metabolic modulators.” (Dunbar, 2/10)
