COVID-19 Alert - 04 January 2021

04 January 2021

This alert was created automatically by our award-winning intelligence product Silobreaker Online. Story selection is determined by an algorithm and based on queries initially set by a Silobreaker user. Contact us here for more information.

Actions by Governments

Australia pushes back against China in Pacific as coronavirus hinders influence efforts (South China Morning Post – News)
Britons flying home to Spain caught in post-Brexit red tape (star-telegram.com)
Challenges and opportunities as Singapore lawyers transit from pandemic year to vaccine year (The Straits Times All News)
Germany Leads Europe Into New Wave Of Lockdowns As COVID Numbers Surge (Zero Hedge)
Germany: Face-to-face school learning not expected anytime soon (Deutsche Welle)
How coronavirus turned China’s economic expectations on their head (South China Morning Post)
India prepares for massive COVID-19 vaccination drive (Deutsche Welle)
Malaysia in talks with Singapore on compassionate travel (The Straits Times All News)
Malaysia says insufficient evidence to reopen probe into Irish teen’s death (NationalPost.com)
Norway enacts new restrictions as coronavirus surges (The Hill)
Saudi Arabia reopens borders closed due to COVID-19 (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait resumed flights, ban from India remain in force (Siasat Daily)
Still hope for survivors after Norway landslide: rescuers (France24)
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (NationalPost.com)
U.K. Rolls Out New Vaccine as France Lags Europe (Bloomberg)
UK – Boris Johnson says COVID-19 lockdowns ‘probably going to get tougher’ (New York Post)
UK – Boris Johnson says the pandemic will be much better by Easter (CNN)
UK – Boris Johnson signals ‘tougher’ measures are ahead for the UK as coronavirus variant spreads (Business Insider)
UK – Boris Johnson warns tougher coronavirus measures may be needed (Politico.eu)
UK – Matt Hancock says tougher coronavirus restrictions ‘down to people’s behaviour’ – video (The Guardian)
UK travellers blocked from entering the Netherlands following Brexit (The Independent)
US – Bars, restaurants in Wyoming can resume late-night service (San Francisco Chronicle)
US – Coronavirus outbreak in California emergency room infects 43 hospital staffers (FOXNews.com)
US – Fall in flu figures shows wider efficacy of COVID-19 measures: CDC (Focus Taiwan)
US – Fauci to Trump after he tweeted the CDC exaggerates the number of COVID-19 cases: ‘The deaths are real’ (Business Insider)
US – Fund’s bet on Florida stretch finally pays off during pandemic (Australian Financial Review)
US – Hawaii reports 149 new coronavirus infections, bringing statewide total to 21,956 (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
US – Midlanders of the Year: Nebraska’s health care workers lead the fight against COVID (Omaha World-Herald)
US – New Year’s resolution to start volunteering? Arizona nonprofits need help despite pandemic (AZCentral.com)
US – Pandemic, election dispute color swearing-in for Georgia’s incoming U.S. House members (Atlanta Journal And Constitution)
US – Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at record highs (star-telegram.com)
US – Texas reports new record high for COVID-19 hospitalizations (star-telegram.com)
US – The Trump administration approved faster line speeds at chicken plants. Those facilities are more likely to have covid-19 cases. (Washington Post)
US – U.S. CDC reports 349,246 total deaths from coronavirus (NationalPost.com)
US – What has changed – and what won’t – in how Arizona handles COVID-19 (AZCentral.com)
WHO’s latest situation report (WHO)
We can’t discover the pandemic’s origins if China’s thought police keep watching scientists (Washington Post)

Actions by Companies

A strong ARM: Apple changed 2020, will the laptop industry change in 2021 (Financial Express)
AstraZeneca vaccine rollout ‘pivotal moment’ for Britain (Abu Dhabi National)
Bajaj Auto crosses market cap of over Rs 1 lakh crore (Business Standard India)
Bajaj Auto reports 11% rise in sales to 372,532 units in December 2020 (Business Standard India)
Brazil to import 2 million AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses, not yet approved for use in country (The Straits Times All News)
Brazil to import two mln AstraZeneca vaccine doses (Al Arabiya)
China’s ‘growth impulse’ is starting to weaken: Deutsche Bank (CNBC)
Health Min.: Egypt obtains license for Chinese Sinopharm vaccine to treat Coronavirus (Egypt Today)
Hint that overseas holidays could start again in just six months as Qantas launches international flight bookings from July (Mail Online UK)
Honda has a ‘mask’ for cars, may kill Covid-19 virus. All the details (Hindustan Times)
Hyundais Dec. sales fall 6.4 pct on overseas slump (Yonhap News Agency)
India approves AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine (The Korea Times News)
Indonesia starts nationwide Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine distribution (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Mexican Doctor Admitted To ICU After Receiving Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine (Outlook India)
Morgan Stanley On Reversion, Evolution, And 2021’s New Normal (Zero Hedge)
PH races to corner AstraZeneca supply deals (CNN Philippines)
PPP forgiveness, adapting to COVID, Wells and BofA scrutiny: Top stories of 2020 (American Banker)
Pfizer vaccine: Who can’t get the jab in Dubai? (Gulf News)
Quebec’s decision to delay second Pfizer COVID-19 doses frustrating for some health-care professionals (CTV News)
Samsung, LG to focus on fostering future growth engines in 2021 (Yonhap News Agency)
Sinopharm, Sinovac to apply for emergency use in PH, says envoy (Manila Bulletin)
Sir Geoffrey Boycott voices fears over delays to second dose of Pfizer jab (Telegraph)
South Korea reviews AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, expands ban on gatherings (The Straits Times All News)
Stamford sells former Chevron digs for half the price offered in 2010 (Australian Financial Review)
TGA still waiting for ‘further data’ on AstraZeneca vaccine (WA Today)
Tesla almost hits 500,000-car delivery target for 2020 despite pandemic (The Guardian)
Tesla delivers 499,550 vehicles in 2020, falls just 50 short of target (Business Standard India)
Thailand to get 2 million shots of China’s Sinovac (Bangkok Post)
UK rolls out AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine; 82-year-old gets first shot (Hindustan Times)
UK rolls out AstraZeneca vaccine, touts first starter… (Mail Online UK)

Drugs, Treatments & Vaccines

As Rollout Falters, Scientists Debate New Vaccination Tactics (TheWashingtonTime.com)
AstraZeneca and University of Oxford’s Coronavirus Vaccine Approved in India (Nasdaq)
Bharat Biotech recruits 23,000 volunteers for Phase III trials of its coronavirus vaccine (FirstWord Pharma)
It’s time to consider delaying the second dose of coronavirus vaccine (Washington Post)
New York Gov. Cuomo ‘Will Not’ Take Coronavirus Vaccine Until This Happens (International Business Times)
Oxford vaccine becomes second coronavirus jab to be administered across Wales (itv.com)
See nurse surprised with proposal after coronavirus vaccine appointment (CNN)
The Countries Leading The Covid-19 Vaccination Race [Infographic] (Forbes.com)
Thousands of people are to get Covid-19 vaccine this week as Oxford jab is launched (Mail Online – Latest Stories)
Vietnam to buy AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, in talks with other makers (Reuters)

Societal & Economic Impact

Crowds gather in Nottingham to protest against coronavirus lockdownMail Online UKA crowd has gathered at Victoria Embankment in Nottingham to protest against the coronavirus lockdown. Around 100 people are currently at the War Memorial hearing from speakers protesting the lockdown and the…

Euro zone firms see productivity boost: ECB surveyReutersBy Reuters Staff 3 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Euro zone companies expect to emerge more efficient from the coronavirus pandemic thanks to greater use of digital technologies and remote working, a European Central Bank survey showed on Monday. FILE…

Japan may declare COVID-19 state of emergency for Tokyo area this week: ReportChannel NewsAsiaTOKYO: Japan is considering declaring a state of emergency for Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures as early as this week, Fuji TV reported on Monday (Jan 4), as coronavirus cases climb and strain the country's medical system. Japan saw a record…

Japan’s economy could see record turnaround — if pandemic is kept under controlJapanTimes.co.jpAn average of forecasts by 35 economists predicted the sharpest rebound in decades and the highest growth since 1995 within the next fiscal year.

Japan’s government to ask experts whether to declare another coronavirus state of emergencySouth China Morning Post – NewsThe government will hear opinions from health experts soon on whether to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures hit by surging coronavirus cases, taking heed of a request by their governors, officials said Sunday.A panel…

Osaka governor won’t ask Japan gov’t to declare state of emergency over coronavirusMainichi JPOsaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura (Mainichi/Kazuki Yamazaki) OSAKA — Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters on Jan. 4 that he doesn't intend to urge the central government to declare a state of emergency in the prefecture over a rise in coronavirus…

Recovery plan pivotal for revival of NYC from expertIANS LivePhoto Credit: IANS IANSLive New York, Jan 4 (IANS) An expert has called on New York City to set up a comprehensive plan, positively respond to economic crisis together with health emergency and help communities play a bigger role in the fight against…

Singapore economy shrank 5.8% in 2020 due to COVID-19Mainichi JPTourists are pictured by Singapore's landmark Merlion statue. (Kyodo) SINGAPORE (Kyodo) — Singapore's economy contracted by 5.8 percent last year, the worst performance since independence in 1965, as it was badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,…

Surging homelessness reported during the pandemicABC OnlineThe pandemic's economic downturn has caused a surge in the number of people finding themselves without a home to call their own. It's prompted renewed calls for a massive investment in fixing the problem of insecure housing. Response from the Federal…

The global economy in the new decadeEconomic TimesEconomic upheavals in modern global history have often been succeeded by promising periods of reinvention and revival. The devastations of the Great Depression of 1929 and the World War II were followed by several decades of prosperity in the Western…

Geopolitical Impact

2021: The Geopolitics Of VaccinationZero Hedge2021: The Geopolitics Of Vaccination Authored by Tim Kirby via The Strategic Culture Foundation, The biggest overall issue of 2020 by far was the global reaction to Covid-19 and there is a prevailing belief that somehow 2021 will be…

A year on, China is shaking up the worldLivemint.comThe Middle Kingdom has come out stronger than ever after the pandemic. What are the implications for India? The risk for China as well as the world is that over-confidence in Beijing and persisting worries within that country about the West seeking…

COMMENT-With Brexit ‘done’ the COVID-19 fight leads sterlingNasdaqJan 4 (Reuters) – With Brexit finally in the rear-view mirror, the focus for sterling now centres on the social and economic repercussions of the coronavirus, which is spreading dramatically , and how fast and successful the vaccine roll-out will be…

Covid update: WHO on India vaccine nod; Pope slams holiday; virus on China goodsHindustan TimesFrom the World Health Organisation reacting to India’s move to approve two vaccines for emergency use, to the virus being detected on Chinese packages – here are the top news updates on the Covid-19 pandemic. The WHO ‘welcomed’ the decision of the…

Globalization has arrived at historical tipping pointCHINAdaily.com.cnA bird view of Beijing's central business district, which is home to the headquarters of a great number of companies on the Fortune Global 500. [Photo/VCG] Spreading in more than 218 countries and territories, COVID-19 has forced the world's economic…

Taiwan’s economy outshone South Korea’s last year due to reduced dependence on China: reportFormosa Television (FTV)(2021/01/03) Taiwan's economy is often compared with South Korea's as the two countries are rivals in the tech sector. Before the pandemic, people in Taiwan often looked at Korea with envy. But now the tables have been turned. A major newspaper in…

Cybersecurity Impact

InfoSecHotSpot – Where Next For Government Cybersecurity in Colorado? Blyth is widely recognized as an innovator among government cy… https://t.co/5fYchlnohxInfoSecHotSpot – TwitterWhere Next For Government Cybersecurity in Colorado? Blyth is widely recognized as an innovator among government cybersecurity leaders. This exclusive interview covers her past accomplishments, Covid-19 challenges and Colorado’s future security…

InfoSecHotSpot – Where Next For Government Cybersecurity in Colorado? Blyth is widely recognized as an innovator among government cy… https://t.co/CAAG9spkERInfoSecHotSpot – TwitterWhere Next For Government Cybersecurity in Colorado? Blyth is widely recognized as an innovator among government cybersecurity leaders. This exclusive interview covers her past accomplishments, Covid-19 challenges and Colorado’s future security…

Kaspersky cites SEA cybersecurity trendsManila BulletinA total of 400 million netizens, nearly 70 percent of Southeast Asia’s (SEA) population, are now fodder for cyber criminals. Some 40 million of the region’s internet users, mostly from non-city areas in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, came…

nicoleperlroth – RT @jimsciutto: Note this sad reality: Trump is ignoring two national crises at once – the widening pandemic and Russian cyber attack – and…nicoleperlroth – TwitterRT @jimsciutto: Note this sad reality: Trump is ignoring two national crises at once – the widening pandemic and Russian cyber attack – and creating another one by baselessly attempting to overturn the election.

Although Silobreaker has relied on what it regards as reliable sources while compiling the content herein, Silobreaker cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, integrity or quality of such content and no responsibility is accepted by Silobreaker in respect of such content. Readers must determine for themselves what reliance they should place on the compiled content herein.

04 January 2021

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