The U.K., which reported a record number of new cases, said it will buy millions more antiviral pills from Pfizer and Merck & Co. The country’s vaccine panel also cleared Pfizer’s shot for use in vulnerable young children to widen coverage against the variant.
South Africans contracting the disease in the current fourth wave of infections are 80% less likely to be hospitalized if they catch the omicron variant, compared with other strains, according to a study released by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. An early study from Scotland showed similar results.
With the new strain spreading across much of the world, Chile led Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking in December, reflecting the broader recovery of the South America region.A surge in cases -- believed to be the omicron variant - is triggering a mandatory mask order in Colorado ski country at the peak of the holiday travel season.
The Eagle County Board of Health, meeting in an emergency session Wednesday, reinstated an indoor mask mandate “regardless of vaccination status.” The popular resort towns of Vail and Avon are located in Eagle County.
“The decision was made in response to alarming news about the rise of Covid-19 cases,” according to a statement issued by Eagle County government. “During the course of a week, medical providers reported a dramatic spike in the number of sick individuals.”
California to Keep Schools Open, Provide Tests (2:05 p.m. NY)
Rather than close classrooms as omicron infections surge, California will provide one or two rapid coronavirus tests for every public school student returning from winter break, Governor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.California also will extend hours at state-run testing facilities and require booster shots for health-care workers to stem rising infections.
Although California recorded the nation’s first omicron case, Newsom has resisted a new round of business or school closures. Instead, he has pushed for vaccinations, boosters and ramped-up testing to limit the variant’s spread. More than 87% of the state’s population over the age of 5 has received at least one vaccine dose, and 8.7 million of its 40 million people have received a booster shot.
Cirque Du Soleil Cancels Some NYC Shows (1:40 p.m. NY)
Cirque Du Soleil is canceling some of its New York City shows due to breakthrough cases among people in its production.
Cirque du Soleil and MSG Entertainment said it would cancel the shows for “‘Twas the Night Before…” at Madison Square Garden due to staff Covid cases and plan to resume the show on Dec. 28. Tickets for affected shows will be fully refunded, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
In general, MSG has said its concerts, shows and events will go on as planned despite a spike in Covid cases in New York that has jumped six-fold in the last month.
Duke Joins U.S. Colleges Going Online (1 p.m. NY)
Add Duke University to the list of colleges -- including Harvard and Stanford -- that will begin the January semester online due to the rapid spread of the omicron varient. Classes will be held remotely beginning Jan. 5, and in-person instruction for undergraduates and most graduate and professional school programs is expected to resume on Jan. 10, Duke said Wednesday.
Upon return to campus, Duke students should expect to submit proof of Covid boosters shots before the end of January. A growing number of schools, including the University of Michigan and Michigan State, are requiring boosters. The American College Health Association is recommending booster shots for all students, faculty and staff on college campuses.
Pfizer Pill Gets U.S. Clearance (12:35 p.m. NY)
U.S. regulators gave emergency authorization to Pfizer Inc.’s Covid-19 pill for people at high risk of severe complications, bringing a more convenient treatment option to patients at a critical point in the pandemic.
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