Covid-19 Pandemic
 Here’s the latest news: South Korea mulls tighter restrictions, warns of “massive” outbreakTrump pressures FDA, claiming “Deep State” slowing vaccineGoldman says nearly quarter of layoffs to be permanent Herd immunity in India? The numbers are startlingly high across India: Nearly 30% of capital city New Delhi’s 16 million people have had the coronavirus; in the western city of Pune, more than 50% have had it in some of the most densely packed neighborhoods. In financial center Mumbai’s slums, nearly 60% show evidence of infection and recovery. These results from a spate of recent serological surveys show levels of exposure higher than what’s been seen anywhere else in the world, and confirm what most experts have long suspected: India’s outbreak — the world’s third largest with over 3 million confirmed cases — is much bigger than the official numbers show.But the data also suggests something more surprising: Enough people may have already developed resistance to the coronavirus in some places to cause a slowdown in spread. Herd immunity may have been achieved in some communities. The idea of herd immunity — when enough of a population has resistance to a pathogen to stymie further spread — through natural infection rather than vaccination is controversial, and not just because of the casualties such a strategy would create. Questions still remain over how long antibodies last, and whether re-infection or re-activation of the virus can occur after they fade.  A health-care worker collects a swab sample from a migrant worker for Covid-19 rapid antigen testing at a temporary facility in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday. Photographer: T. Narayan/Bloomberg Unlike in Sweden, which took a laissez-faire approach that some say amounted to an attempt to create herd immunity, the phenomenon seems to have happened in India unwittingly. The country pursued a strict lockdown in May, but the living conditions of its urban poor who often reside in densely packed slums may have proved too ideal an environment for virus spread. Evidence for this hypothesis comes from a recent slowdown in new cases in the surveyed areas. New infections in Mumbai’s slums have slowed to a trickle even as residents emerge from their shacks and tenements to try to resume normal life. Delhi’s new cases have also fallen from their peak, though there are signs that the city is relying too much on rapid antigen tests that throw up a high level of false negatives. Still, hospitals in the city who were turning patients away for lack of beds in June now report plenty of vacancies. Despite this, the slowdown of infection growth in cities has only been surpassed by an acceleration of spread in its vast rural hinterland, where a lack of health-care will only intensify suffering. Herd immunity or not, India is nowhere near the end of its bruising battle with the coronavirus.–Ari Altstedter Track Europe’s outbreakEurope Battles New Spike in Virus Cases Europe is facing a resurgence of coronavirus infections with little willingness to resort to the stringent restrictions on movement that helped the region control the pandemic after an initial surge in March and April.  The uptick in cases in recent weeks has been blamed on social gatherings and travelers. Containment measures focus on targeted initiatives, such as clamping down on nightclubs, requiring masks in public areas and mandating people returning from hard-hit regions quarantine or prove they’re not carrying the disease. So far the measures have yet to show much of an effect. Sponsored Content by Siemens America’s factories, power plants, transportation and hospitals all need technology and our technology is only as powerful as the people deploying and maintaining it. Keeping America moving takes more than technology alone. It takes a human touch. Siemens Ingenuity for life. What you should read Hydroxychloroquine Shouldn’t Be Used at All In revised guidelines, IDSA toughens its stance on hydroxychloroquine. Party Organizers Face 10,000-Pound Fines Organizers of raves with more than 30 people could face pandemic fines. Revisiting Quarantined Roommates Months Later A reflection on the struggles — and joys! — of quarantined cohabitation. India’s 3 Million Infections Marks Grim Milestone Outbreak is accelerating through the world’s second-most populous country. Italy Lockdown Success Challenged by EU Surge After one of Europe’s worst outbreaks, Italy became an unlikely role model. Know someone else who would like this newsletter? Have them sign up here. Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news? Get in touch or help us cover the story. Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close. Follow Us Get the newsletter You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg’s Coronavirus Daily newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022 |
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