Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
US Warns Against Travel To Germany, Denmark; French PM Covid-Positive
Reuters: U.S. Issues 'Do Not Travel' COVID-19 Warning For Germany, Denmark
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State Department on Monday advised against travel to Germany and Denmark because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases in those countries. The CDC elevated its travel recommendation to "Level Four: Very High" for the two European countries, telling Americans they should avoid travel there, while the State Department issued parallel "Do Not Travel" advisories for both countries. (Shepardson, 11/22)
In France —
CNN: French Prime Minister Tests Positive For Covid-19, Forcing Belgian Ministers To Isolate After Meeting
France's prime minster has tested positive for Covid-19, forcing five Belgian ministers to also go into self-isolation after meeting with the French politician Monday. Prime Minister Jean Castex, who is fully vaccinated, tested positive for the virus after returning to France from a visit with ministers in Brussels, his office confirmed to CNN. On his return from Belgium, Castex learned his 11-year-old daughter had tested positive for the coronavirus, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV. The Prime Minister then also tested positive and is self-isolating. (Xu and McKenzie, 11/23)
Reuters: France's Average Daily New COVID Infections Near Three-Month High
French health authorities reported 5,266 daily new COVID-19 infections on Monday, pushing the seven-day moving average of new cases to an almost three-month high. That average - which smoothes out daily reporting irregularities - rose to 18,479, a level unseen since Aug. 27, from a three-month low of 4,172 on Oct. 10. It had set a 2021 record of 42,225 in mid-April before falling to a 2021 low of 1,816 at the end of June. French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said on Sunday the current wave of the pandemic was "rampant." (Van Overstraeten, 11/22)
In other news around the world —
AP: EU Considers Booster Doses Of J&J's COVID-19 Vaccine
The European Medicines Agency says it is evaluating whether to authorize booster doses of Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine. In a statement Monday, the EU drug regulator said it was considering an application from J&J to recommend booster doses of the J&J vaccine for adults 18 and over, at least two months after they were first immunized. Amid an explosive surge of new coronavirus infections across Europe, the EMA said it expected to make a decision on this within weeks. (11/22)
AP: 'Annoyed': Austria's National Lockdown Dampens Holiday Mood
“I am particularly annoyed by the lockdown,” said Georg Huber, a lawyer on his way to the office. “One should have implemented a mandatory vaccination in the summer, when it turned out it would not be enough to hope that people get there without any coercion. I think the government just overslept.” Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in western Europe, about 66% of its population of 8.9 million people, with a vocal minority who refuse to be inoculated. (Barry, 11/22)
Bloomberg: Germany’s Possible Lockdown Not Ruled Out, Top Health Official Reiterates
Germany’s top health official reiterated a warning that the government can’t exclude any measures, including another lockdown, as it tries to check the latest wave of Covid-19 infections. “We are in a situation where I would not recommend ruling anything out, however tough that would be,” Health Minister Jens Spahn said Tuesday in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, when asked if Germany would follow Austria into another shutdown. (Rogers, 11/23)
AP: New Restrictions In Greece As Pandemic Deaths Mount
Greece on Monday introduced a wide range of new restrictions aimed at curbing a COVID-19 infection spike that has pushed the rate of death to nearly double the European Union average. A government order went into effect through Dec. 6, mandating masks at all workplaces, staggering opening hours in the public and private sector, and allowing access for adults to indoor recreation and entertainment areas only to those carrying a certificate of vaccination or recent recovery. (11/22)
AP: Czechs Protest Restrictions On Unvaccinated As Cases Soar
They carried posters with pictures of politicians — including Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Health Minister Adam Vojtech and leading epidemiologists — calling them traitors. Unlike recent rallies in the Netherlands and Brussels, this protest was peaceful. The crowd was significantly smaller than a similar demonstration last week. New restrictions to tackle the Czech Republic’s infection surge became effective Monday and target the unvaccinated. Unvaccinated people are no longer allowed to show negative coronavirus tests to attend public events, go to bars and restaurants, visit hairdressers and museums or use hotels. People who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 can visit all those sites. (11/22)
AP: Israel Begins Giving COVID Shots To Children Age 5 To 11
Israel on Tuesday began administering the coronavirus vaccine to children age 5 to 11. The country recently emerged from a fourth COVID wave, and daily infections have been relatively low for the last few weeks. But Health Ministry statistics show that a large share of the new infections have been in children and teenagers. Children age 5 to 11 make up nearly half of active cases. Officials hope the new inoculation campaign will help bring down the numbers and perhaps stave off a new wave. (11/23)
