Coronavirus latest: New York positivity rate continues to rise

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Coronavirus infection rates have jumped in Spain, driven by rising infections among young people, as the country hopes to attract tourists to help revive its economy. The health ministry said on Monday the rate had risen to 204 infections per 100,000 in 14 days, slightly above levels in Russia.

The Japanese government is under pressure to reverse course and hold the Tokyo Olympics behind closed doors as Covid-19 cases rise. After registering fewer than 400 cases per day in mid-June, new diagnoses have jumped to nearly 600 per day, raising fears of a sudden increase when the Games are held from July 23 to August 8.

Britain’s chief medical adviser said hospital admissions in the UK remain low because vaccines weaken the link between infection and hospitalization. “But it’s a weak link and not a completely broken link,” Patrick Vallance said Monday, adding that deaths are expected to rise as restrictions are eased.

A study revealed that the effectiveness of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine against infection with the delta variant of the coronavirus is lower than initially thought. Data shows the vaccine is 64 percent effective at stopping infection among those who have been fully vaccinated, down from 94 percent previously, according to Israel’s Ministry of Health.

An Airbus A380-800, operated by Emirates, taxis at Dubai International Airport © Christopher Pike/Bloomberg

Emirates is driving airline fees to evade huge payment processing fees charged by the credit card industry, after the airline adopted a competing system developed by Deutsche Bank. Iata estimates that before the pandemic, airlines were paying $8 billion annually to process payments to credit card companies.

The Confederation of Trade Unions added to calls for the UK government to maintain the requirement to wear masks on public transport, warning that repealing the rule would be an “act of gross negligence”. Boris Johnson, the prime minister, on Monday revealed plans to end mandatory face coverings in England.

Asset manager LGIM said private equity firms should not be allowed to take over Wm Morrison for “the wrong reasons,” such as to take advantage of the supermarket chain’s real estate portfolio. Buyout groups have announced at least 12 deals for UK-listed companies this year, as Brexit and the pandemic weigh on stock prices.

A global shortage of chips has proven to be an obstacle to the recovery of UK car sales last month, with new registrations still well below pre-pandemic levels. About 186,128 new cars were sold in June, according to the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Dealers, up 28 percent from the same month last year.

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