Covid-19 Pandemia: live updates and news from March 16, 2021

France is considering tougher restrictions in Paris to contain the virus. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron are ready to allow the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine again if the European Union’s drug regulator warns it is safe.

The European Commission has reacted against attempts by Member States to evade any blame for implementing the EU’s lackluster vaccination. Scotland will reopen hairdressers, car showrooms, garden centers and retail click-and-collect services on April 5.

In the United States, Moderna Inc. said the first children were administered in a pediatric clinical trial of their vaccine. Ohio will allow all residents aged 16 and over to register for the Covid-19 vaccine from March 29. Apollo Global Management Inc. will test, giving employees the option of working remotely two days a week until the end of the year.

Main developments:

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France weighs in on Paris weekend blockade (4:42 pm NY)

France is considering imposing tougher restrictions in the Paris region to contain the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Jean Castex declined to be specific, but said on television on Tuesday that the worsening indicators were putting pressure on the government to work on a possible blockade over the weekend. The government will discuss possible restrictions at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, said Castex.

More than 400 people in every 100,000 people in the Paris region tested positive last week, a limit that Castex described as alarming. Intensive care units in the capital and surrounding areas are almost full, forcing the state to transfer patients to other hospitals in the country.

France and Italy signal that they will allow the Astra Shot (14:30 NY)

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron are ready to allow the use of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine again if the European Union’s drug regulator reports that it is safe, the Italian government said after the two leaders spoke by phone.

The European Medicines Agency, which is reviewing the injection after several countries suspended it for health reasons, is due to make a final assessment on Thursday. Draghi’s office said EMA’s initial guidance was encouraging.

In unscheduled comments on Tuesday, the EMA reiterated that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the risks and there is no indication that it caused blood clots in several people. But it also warned of a negative impact on public perception and a risk of greater hesitation in taking vaccines.

EU nations said to speed up vaccination (1:15 pm, NY)

European Union countries were warned on Tuesday that the slow pace of vaccinations, as well as measures to block the use of some doses, could jeopardize the recovery effort and increase the likelihood of prolonged blockages.

The European Commission reacted on Tuesday against attempts by member states to avoid any blame for the launch of the EU’s lackluster vaccination, which has been plagued by slow regulatory approvals and delivery interruptions by AstraZeneca Plc. bloc, Stella Kyriakides, told EU ministers in a summons that of the 70 million doses delivered to member states so far, only 51 million have been administered.

Apollo to test partial remote work (12h50 NY)

Apollo Global Management Inc. will test, giving employees the option of work remotely two days a week until the end of the year, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The exact start of the experiment will depend on when the Covid-19 vaccines become more widely available, the person said. Employees will be notified at least 30 days in advance.

The companies on Wall Street have struggled to find out how – and when – to put employees back at their desks. Many are acting lightly or delaying the effort, given the impending virus variants and the difficulties in obtaining vaccines.

Scotland eases restrictions as cases fall (10:45, NY)

Scotland will reopen hairdressers, car showrooms, garden centers and click-and-collect retail services on April 5, after the number of daily cases has dropped by 30% in the past three weeks, as the country’s vaccination program has grown. intensified. Further restrictions will be lifted on April 26, with cafes, restaurants and bars able to serve people outside and some food served indoors.

Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that the evidence shows that vaccines are reducing transmission. As part of the UK launch, Scotland has already inoculated about 40% of its adult population. She plans to continue vaccinating about 400,000 people a week until April, she said, with the hope of getting close to a return to normal by June 30.

Ohio will expand vaccines to anyone over 16 (10:30 am NY)

Ohio will allow all residents aged 16 and over to register for the Covid-19 vaccine from March 29. The state will expand its eligibility to people aged 40 and over on Friday.

Governor Mike DeWine said that the consensus of county health department officials is that the state needs to expand its eligibility more quickly due to a greater amount of supply and varying levels of vaccine acceptance across the state.

“It is imperative that we move forward as quickly as possible,” said DeWine on Tuesday during a news conference at a mass vaccination site at Cleveland State University.

HSBC closes main office in Hong Kong (10am NY)

The main office of HSBC Holdings Plc in Hong Kong has been closed until further notice after three people working in the building tested positive for Covid-19.

Visitors who stayed in the building for more than two hours between March 2 and 15 are expected to undergo mandatory coronavirus testing, according to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg.

The bank’s iconic main building in Hong Kong is located at 1 Queen’s Road Central.

Austria calls for EU correction mechanism (09:50 NY)

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz asked for a “correction mechanism ”of vaccine distribution in the EU to avoid political tensions in the bloc. Speaking in Vienna alongside the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Slovenia, Kurz said they were already in negotiations with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen.

Russia condemns US for pressuring Brazil (8:44 am NY)

Russia condemned the United States for applying diplomatic pressure on Brazil to reject its Sputnik V vaccine, adding that attempts at political interference in the inoculation campaigns were costing lives.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services said in its annual report published in January that its Office of Global Affairs sought to persuade Brazil not to allow the Russian vaccine, accusing Moscow of seeking to expand its influence in the Americas “to the detriment of US security and protection. “

Separately, Russia will triple the production of Sputnik V in India after a new agreement that strengthens Moscow’s promise to inoculate a tenth of the global population. Gland Pharma Ltd., a Chinese-owned company, will supply 252 million doses of Sputnik V as of the fourth quarter.

AstraZeneca Investors Look Past Vaccine Woes (8h NY)

AstraZeneca Plc shares posted their greater gain this year, even as European countries suspend the use of their vaccine, with investors focusing on their promising line of experimental drugs and prospects for profit growth.

JPMorgan to bring summer interns to offices (7:45 am, NY)

Hundreds of JPMorgan Chase & Co. summer interns are expected to attend the New York and London offices, according to a person familiar with the plans. Last year, the biggest names on Wall Street delayed, shortened or virtualized their paid summer programs due to the pandemic.

USA should export photos at ‘reasonable’ time (7:15 am, NY)