By David Hall and Peter Loftus
New coronavirus cases in the U.S. rose above 44,000 for the
first time in nearly a week, with elevated numbers continuing in
parts of the Midwest, while the total number of cases world-wide
passed 30 million.
With a number of vaccines in various stages of development, some
companies are sketching out possible time frames for data to emerge
from drug trials.
Moderna Inc. Chief Executive Stéphane Bancel said a large study
could yield a preliminary answer about whether the company's
Covid-19 vaccine works safely as early as October, though more
likely in November. Pfizer Inc. Chief Executive Albert Bourla, in
recent television interviews, also gave an end-October time frame
for key data from final-stage trials of its vaccine, being
developed with partner BioNTech SE.
Even if the trials provide positive results this fall, most
people wouldn't be able to get vaccinated until next year because
supplies will be limited early on.
The federal government's slow start to its distribution plans,
along with other issues, could hamper efforts to get the shots
quickly to health-care workers and others at high risk of
infection, according to state and industry officials. Some states
might not initially get all the supplies they were expecting, or
have all the freezers needed to safely store their allocation, the
officials said.
"All those unknowns will have an impact on who will be
vaccinated and how," said Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, medical adviser to New
Jersey's health commissioner on the Covid-19 response.
Cases: The U.S. reported more than 44,000 new cases for
Thursday, as the death toll approached 198,000, according to data
compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Wisconsin, one of several
Midwest states where numbers are running high compared with spring,
reported more than 1,600 cases for Thursday, its highest daily
count to date, according to Johns Hopkins.
But there were signs of easing in some states hit hard over the
summer. In the past week, the seven- and 14-day case averages have
remained near 2,700 in Florida and 3,500 in California. For most of
July, California was averaging more than 8,000 new cases a day and
Florida more than 10,000.
Texas: Covid-19 restrictions in Texas will now be regional and
driven by hospitalizations, Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday.
Starting Monday, businesses will be allowed to expand capacity from
50% to 75% except in parts of the border and southern Gulf Coast
region, which has been hardest hit by the virus. Bars, however,
will stay closed for now.
New York: Safety concerns have again delayed the restart of
in-person learning in New York City. Mayor Bill de Blasio said it
would begin in phases according to grade level. Preschool children
will start on Monday. Many students in kindergarten through eighth
grade will start Sept. 29. High-school students and some
middle-school students will start Oct. 1.
World
India: More than 96,000 new cases were reported, pushing the
country's total above 5.2 million, according to the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare. India's death toll rose by 1,174 to
84,372. Its total caseload is the second largest after the U.S.
Along with Brazil, the three countries make up more than half of
the global cases recorded so far. Total global deaths have now
reached 946,673, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Guam: The U.S. territory reported 32 new cases late Thursday,
bringing the total on the island to 2,045. The number of
intensive-care patients has risen to 19, stretching the local
hospital system. Guam remains largely closed, but from today will
allow curbside operations for nonessential retailers, and customers
to enter restaurants to collect takeout orders.
South Korea: The country added 126 new cases -- marking 16 days
below 200 -- bringing its total to 22,783. South Korea this week
relaxed social-distancing measures that limited service at
restaurants and cafes.
Japan: Tokyo logged 220 new cases, the most in six days. The
city is set to be included in the government's tourism promotion
program starting Oct. 1. The $10 billion campaign, which subsidizes
travel costs, was launched in late July, but excluded trips to and
from Tokyo because of high levels of infections at the time.
Nationwide, Japan reported 490 new cases, in line with recent
levels, and nine additional deaths.
Australia: Victoria state reported 45 new cases and five deaths.
New South Wales, home to Sydney, had six cases. Several states
agreed to lift caps on international arrivals to help some 24,000
Australians stranded overseas return to the country. Currently,
flights are limited by the number of available spots at hotels used
for mandatory quarantines.
U.K.: Britain's health minister said the spread of the virus was
accelerating. Matt Hancock said hospital admissions are doubling
every eight days, but speaking on Sky News he declined to say if
the country would introduce a second national lockdown after seeing
a sustained rise in daily cases. So far, governments in England,
Scotland and Wales have applied targeted restrictions to contain
the virus.
Israel: The country began a second nationwide lockdown Friday
afternoon. Thousands of policemen and soldiers are being deployed
to enforce the sweeping closures, taking place during Jewish new
year celebrations and which are widely unpopular. Bars and
restaurants in Tel Aviv were full Thursday evening before shutting
down for three weeks. Some restaurants and businesses have vowed to
defy the closures. New daily cases are hovering at around 5,000 a
day, making Israel one of the countries with the worst infection
per capita rates in the world. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on
Thursday evening said citizens would be allowed to go one kilometer
from home, rather than the initial 500 meters, but warned he could
further tighten the lockdown next week if necessary.
Write to David Hall at david.hall@wsj.com and Peter Loftus at
peter.loftus@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 18, 2020 08:07 ET (12:07 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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