Don't throw away that mask just yet

Here's the latest news from the global pandemic. China state-backed virus vaccine has 86% efficacy, says UAE U.K. says those with severe allergy shouldn't get Pfizer jab White House return to stimulus talks boosts chance of agreement Don't throw away that mask just yet As leading Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and AstraZeneca move forward, the hope is that these new shots will both prevent illness and cut off the coronavirus's spread in the wider population. But while studies have found that the shots are effective at keeping people from getting sick, whether these and other vaccines in development work well to prevent transmission isn't so clear. Results from AstraZeneca released on Tuesday showed that its vaccine prevented only about 27% of asymptomatic infections, compared with 70% of symptomatic cases. Christmas-themed protective face masks in the window of a shop in Chatham, U.K. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg For Pfizer's vaccine with partner BioNTech, meanwhile, there isn't enough information yet about whether the two-shot regimen stems spread, a review by FDA staff released on Tuesday concluded. There's a distinct possibility that if the shots don't work as well in asymptomatic cases but public-health precautions are relaxed, that "could result in significant continued transmission," the report concluded. More on that is forthcoming, as Pfizer plans to release data specific to its vaccine and transmission in early 2021. But for now, even those expecting to be early vaccine recipients shouldn't throw away their masks and hand sanitizer just yet. "We're not going to be able to immediately abandon public health measures," said Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious-disease expert.—Emma Court Track the virus Thanksgiving Travel Rises in 80% of America An analysis of anonymized location data from tens of millions of smartphones provides a detailed picture of just how widespread travel was, despite warnings to stay at home and not gather in groups. See the data here.    What you should read U.K. Schools Had Low Covid Risk in Reopening Virus spread among staff while student-to-student transmission was rare. Iran Says U.S. Sanctions Prevent Buying of Shots It's unable to use payment system intended to ensure vaccine access. Passengers Stuck on Cruise After Covid-19 Case Those on board are confined to their cabins in planned cruise to nowhere. Key Questions Unanswered in Astra Shot Study The vaccine prevents severe disease, but more data is needed on over-55s. U.S. Employers Rushing to Fill the Vaccine Void Several industries lobbying to get their workers near the front of the line.  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