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Key Takeaways

US FDA authorized Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Myanmar police fired on protesters on Sunday in the bloodiest day of weeks of demonstrations against a military coup. Global economic recovery seen in strong demand for manufactured goods in Europe and Asia, but headwinds persist. Analysis: Vaccine Update: Corruption and Line-Jumping in Vaccine Distribution; Country in Charts: United States.

Condition Updates

A rundown of important global developments in markets, in business, and region-by-region, as well as statistical risk assessments by country and by US state.

Vaccine Update: Corruption and Line-Jumping in Vaccine Distribution

Amid the many distribution issues that have arisen from global COVID-19 vaccine rollout, one in particular has driven public outrage and brought low CEOs and government leaders alike: corruption and vaccine line-jumping by the rich and powerful. In the past few weeks, scandals have arisen around government and corporate elites who leveraged connections and opportunity to receive vaccines ahead of their fellow citizens.

Country in Charts: United States

More than 75.2 million vaccine doses have been administered across the nation. About 15 percent of the total US population have received 1 or more doses. Last week was the sixth week during which new cases continued to decline, but at a slower rate, prompting public health officials to warn that the new, more transmissible variants could be taking hold.

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