China's largest outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic is now gripping Shanghai.
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 | | Daily reported coronavirus cases in the United States, seven-day average.The New York Times |
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 | | A transit officer controlled access to a district in lockdown in Shanghai today.Hector Retamal/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images |
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China's largest outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic is now gripping Shanghai, its largest city and a global financial center. |
The city of 26 million reported more than 2,600 Covid infections yesterday, from just a handful in early March, with hospitals and medical staff already stretched thin. A member of Shanghai's expert Covid-19 team told Reuters that testing had found "large scale" infections throughout the city. |
 | | Daily new coronavirus cases in China, seven-day average.The New York Times |
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The government is introducing a two-stage lockdown and plans to test all 26 million residents in the coming weeks. Restrictions and mass testing were set to start this morning in areas east of the Huangpu River, lasting until April 1. Restrictions and testing in districts west of the river will begin on April 1 and continue until April 5. |
- Citizens in locked-down areas, except for those providing essential services, will not be allowed to leave their neighborhoods.
- Offices and all businesses not considered essential will be closed and public transport suspended.
- Deliveries will be left at special checkpoints, The Associated Press reported.
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Some of the city's neighborhoods have already been under lockdown for over a week, and an increasing number of people are reporting problems securing daily necessities, including medical supplies. The A.P. and CNN reported incidents of panic buying at supermarkets and other businesses. |
The decision to lock down Shanghai "marks a U-turn for authorities," the South China Morning Post reported, after officials "repeatedly said there would be no citywide stay-at-home orders, and that economic activity and daily operations must remain open." |
 | | A patient in Israel received a fourth vaccine dose during a trial last year.Nir Elias/Reuters |
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New data on second boosters |
As the U.S. and other countries mull whether to provide some of their citizens with a second booster shot, new data out of Israel suggests that the extra dose significantly lowers the Covid death rate. |
The country's largest health care provider conducted a 40-day study with more than 500,000 people from 60 to 100 years old, and found that older adults who received a second booster of Pfizer's vaccine had a 78 percent lower mortality rate than those who had only one booster, Reuters reports. |
Studies in the U.S. have shown that the mRNA vaccines are holding steady against hospitalization and deaths, but their protection from infection is waning. That is leading a lot of people to wonder: Do I need a fourth shot? |
Scientists and physicians are divided. Currently, fourth doses are authorized only for those with weakened immune systems. |
My colleague Sharon LaFraniere reported last week that the Biden administration was planning to give Americans ages 50 and older the option of a second booster of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine without recommending outright that they receive one, according to several people familiar with the plan. |
Older adults may benefit from an additional booster shot because the immune system tends to weaken with age, and experts point out that older adults often have other medical conditions, putting them at higher risk of severe disease. |
But the timing is also important. If another surge is just around the corner, for instance, seniors may benefit from receiving an extra shot as soon as it's authorized. But if the next wave doesn't occur until the summer or fall, receiving a booster now could backfire because the recipients' immunity may start to wane by the time protection is needed most. |
For people younger than 65, who are otherwise healthy, most experts agree that three doses are most likely enough for now. Those in their 20s and 30s who have already received three shots of the vaccine, for instance, will see only marginal benefits in protection from an additional shot, experts said. |
The F.D.A. is expected to convene an advisory committee next month to discuss the second booster issue. |
How do you feel about another wave? |
It seems like the Omicron wave just let up and already epidemiologists are telling Americans to brace for another surge — this time from the fast-moving BA.2 subvariant. The possibility of a new surge comes with fresh uncertainty — and the virus continues to surprise us at every turn. |
As we prepare for BA.2, we'd like to know: How are you feeling about another possible wave? Are you approaching it differently than you did others? Tell us about it. We may use your response in an upcoming newsletter. |
What else we're following |
My brother died of Covid last summer. I have had many moments of grief — like thinking about how he might like a certain truck — then remember that he's gone. I came to a conclusion that it is disrespectful to his memory to accept others' irrational political and religious denials about the dangers of the pandemic. Then, at the grocery store, a man was spouting off while I waited in line behind him. His transaction was complete but he wouldn't stop and move on. I told him that he was being disrespectful to those of us who lost loved ones when he talked like that. Of course, he verbally attacked me over and over again. The young clerk moved between us because she thought he was going to get physical. He left without us getting into a physical fight. The clerk told me that he would never understand my feelings but that she did. In retrospect, I probably will hold my peace if it happens again. — Michael Bailey, Bellingham, Wash. |
Let us know how you're dealing with the pandemic. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. |
| Marcus Payadue compiled photos for this briefing. |
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