The US is unlikely to have one other “maddening epidemic,” says Gottlieb

Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Wednesday that he believes there is ample protection against Covid immunity across the U.S. population that even with the highly transmissible Delta variant floating around, the country is unlikely to be anywhere near as dire will experience like previous points in the pandemic.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a raging epidemic across the country like we saw last winter. I think there will be niches of spread and the overall prevalence will increase, “the former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration said on” Squawk Box. ”

“But I think that in parts of the country where vaccination rates are high, and that certainly applies to the northeast, in my opinion we are largely protected – at least from the current variants that are in circulation,” added board member Gottlieb of Covid Vaccine manufacturer Pfizer.

On the other hand, Gottlieb said parts of the country are more prone to outbreaks with the Covid Delta variant. These are places where the number of people who have previously been infected or vaccinated is low. He highlighted the situation in Missouri, where health officials have expressed concerns about spikes in cases and hospital admissions, particularly in areas with lagging vaccination rates.

“If you are someone who has even been vaccinated in these parts of the country and there is a heavy epidemic of this new variant of the Delta, you are also at risk because we know the vaccines are not 100% and we know it. ” In vulnerable populations – people with compromised immune systems, people who are much older – the vaccines may not work as well over time. “

The delta variant, first identified in India, has been identified in more than 90 countries, including the United States, where its prevalence doubles roughly every two weeks. In some countries, such as Israel, concerns about the Delta variant have led governments to tighten public health restrictions.

The UK postponed the final phase of its economic reopening earlier this month, spearheading the pace of new Delta variant infections and an increase in hospital admissions. Most of the cases involved unvaccinated people.

Los Angeles County officials released guidelines for inner masks this week, including those for fully vaccinated individuals, amid concerns about the Delta variant. It comes roughly two weeks after the county joins the state of California to lift mask requirements for fully vaccinated individuals in most settings.

The World Health Organization on Friday also urged fully vaccinated people to continue wearing face masks.

“The goal should be to reduce transmission as much as possible here in the United States. I think we shouldn’t be rash, “said Gottlieb, who headed the FDA from 2017 to 2019 in the Trump administration. “But we will see that the overall impact of the virus will be greatly reduced because so many people have been vaccinated.”

In the United States, around 154.2 million people, or 46.4% of the population, are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost 180 million people, or 54.2% of the country’s population, have received at least one dose.

According to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins University data, there are an average of around 12,400 new coronavirus cases per day in the United States, based on a seven-day average. That is 10% more than a week ago. The daily average of Covid deaths fell 7% to 278 per day over the same period.

Despite the increase in cases, Gottlieb said he believed US public health officials should be cautious about reintroducing pandemic restrictions right now. Daily new infections remain dramatically lower than their daily high in the US of 300,462 on Jan. 2, according to Johns Hopkins.

“I think the right response is first and foremost to have more people vaccinated,” said Gottlieb. “We have just got to a point where our mitigation should be really reactive, not proactive,” he added. “We shouldn’t shut things up or put off masking requirements in anticipation of spread. I think we should do this when we see signs of spread, signs of outbreaks. “

Putin reveals that he shot the Sputnik V when Russia with Covid. fights

Watching a live broadcast of the annual phone call of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the newsroom of the TASS news agency.

Gavriil Grigorov | TASS | Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said he received the Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine as the Kremlin struggles to convince a skeptical public of the benefits of vaccination.

“I thought I needed protection for as long as possible. So I decided to vaccinate with Sputnik V. The military are vaccinated with Sputnik V, and after all, I am the commander in chief,” Putin said during his annual conference call at the public asks questions to the President.

“After the first shot, I didn’t feel anything. About four hours later there was some tenderness where I had the shot. I took the second.” [shot] at noon. I took my temperature at midnight. It was 37.2 [Celsius]. I went to sleep, woke up and my temperature was 36.6. That was it, “Putin said in a Reuters-translated commentary.

Putin had previously refused to say what Covid vaccine he received in March and the Kremlin said it would keep the information “a secret”. Putin was not filmed or photographed when he received the shot, leading to speculation among the Russian public and the international press that he had not received any Russian vaccine at all.

Doubts about Putin’s vaccination status did nothing to allay Russians’ apparent reluctance to get a Covid vaccination, despite the incentives for older people to get the vaccination.

Russia has now approved four home-grown vaccines for use and was the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccination, Sputnik V (its most famous vaccine), last August.

The fact that the vaccine was approved prior to the completion of clinical trials caused a stir in the global scientific community and is believed to have contributed to public skepticism about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.

Still, an interim analysis of the shot’s Phase 3 clinical trials, which included 20,000 participants and which were published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in early February, found 91.6% of it against symptomatic Covid-19 infection was effective. Russia has tried to sell its vaccine to several countries around the world, especially its allies.

Still, vaccination rates at home remain very sluggish, much to the chagrin of Putin, who has extolled the benefits of Russian Covid vaccines and encouraged the public to take up vaccination. The vaccination rate is lagging behind many countries, including India, Mexico and Brazil.

Our World in Data figures suggest that 12% of the Russian population received two doses of a vaccine, while 3% received a first dose.

Putin’s comments come as Russia struggles to contain Covid and the Delta variant in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Last Friday, the Russian coronavirus task force reported 20,393 new Covid cases, most of the cases confirmed in a single day since January 24, according to Reuters. 7,916 new infections were in Moscow. Russia has recorded nearly 5.5 million cases since the pandemic began.

During the question-and-answer session in front of various members of the public from across Russia, Putin raised a variety of issues including rising food prices, energy infrastructure, relations with Ukraine and housing issues. Over 1 million questions were put to Putin, the TASS news agency reported.

Regarding the mandatory vaccination of the population in light of the low vaccination rate, Putin reiterated on Wednesday that he still disagreed with it, despite steps being taken to get Russians to accept the vaccination with the prospect of restrictions and possible job losses those who do not accept it.

In Moscow, for example, officials said that 60% of workers in the service sector must be given an initial dose of a Covid vaccine before July 15.

Cardi B Shares Pictures From Her Maternity Shoot That includes Offset And Their Daughter Kulture

Roommates, as may already know, Cardi B confirmed floating rumors of her second pregnancy with husband Offset at the 2021 BET Awards! During her lively performance, she rocked a sequin one-piece that featured a sheer mid-section. Through that mid-section, viewers got an anticipated look at her growing baby bump! Then, on Monday, Cardi generously gave the world two additional sneak peeks at her new blessing featuring Offset and their daughter Kulture!

The award-winning rapper posted what appeared to be two photos from a recent maternity photoshoot. The first post features her and hubby Offset. In the photo, Offset is standing behind a nude Cardi with his hands placed under her pregnant belly. His head is buried into her neck and he appears shirtless with jewelry adorning his wrists and neck.

Cardi’s face is turned slightly into Offset’s with her eyes closed. She clutches her bare breasts with both hands displaying her usual lengthy claws—this time painted in white. She kept her accessories minimum with gold, hanging earrings and gold bangles on both wrists. Along with the post, she wrote a heartfelt caption both acknowledging her marriage and thanking the world for its love!

“We listened to each other, communicated, prayed and then God blessed us and our family with another little blessing,” Cardi B wrote. “Our home feels so blissful and very busy, but we are ready and so happy!! Thank you soo much everyone for the congrats and well wishes.”

The second post featured Cardi and Kulture, her first-born daughter with Offset. The mommy-daughter duo posed in white attire that’s traditional among Caribbean customs, including Cardi’s Dominican culture. Cardi is seen slightly laying on her side, while Kulture sits near her. Mama Cardi showed off her bump once again in a two-piece outfit featuring a criss-cross top and high-slit skirt. She accessorized the look with large gold earrings and stacked gold bracelets.

Kulture also wore a white head wrap paired with a dress and complemented with a gold choker necklace and gold bangle. Both mama and daughter appeared to be looking at each other with Kulture’s hand gently placed on her unborn sibling’s home. Under the post, Cardi also penned sweet aspirations for her children’s future relationship.

“I just know these two will love each other soo much and argue soo much since they’re 3 years apart…just like me and Henny,” Cardi wrote. “But one thing for sure is they’ll have each other’s back like no one else ever will.” 

Check out the photos below:

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Biden’s Infrastructure Plan Would Lower US Debt And Improve GDP: Wharton Research

U.S. President Joe Biden stops at La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the United States, on Jan.

Kevin Lemarque | Reuters

A bipartisan infrastructure deal by President Joe Biden and a group of senators would not only help economic growth but also reduce national debt, according to a new study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Wharton School researchers said the additional $ 579 billion in new infrastructure spending would increase domestic production by 0.1% and reduce US debt by 0.9% by 2050.

“Over time, as new spending declines, IRS enforcement continues, and revenue increases from increased production, national debt will decrease 0.4 percent from baseline, and 0.9 percent in 2040 and 2050, respectively “Wrote the Wharton team.

Speaking to CNBC Tuesday, Wharton’s chief economist Jon Huntley said that improvements in public capital (roads, bridges, and other physical infrastructure) make private capital (trucks and trains moving goods for businesses) more productive over time .

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Fewer potholes and disruptions in rail traffic add up to US economic activity over the years and encourage further private sector investment.

The projected increase in GDP and the simultaneous reduction in national debt, albeit relatively modest, is likely welcome news for the Democrats and Republicans who brokered the deal with the White House.

The entire package, approved by the bipartisan senatorial group and the Biden administration, approves spending of $ 1.2 trillion over the next five years. The additional $ 579 billion includes more than $ 300 billion for transportation projects, while $ 266 billion would be allocated to investments in digital, disaster, environmental and energy infrastructure.

Biden is in the middle of a road show promoting the plan and told the Wisconsin crowds Tuesday that it will “change the world for families” in Badger State.

The deal will “ensure” [high speed broadband] is available in every American household, including the 35% of rural families who currently forego it, “he added. The president is expected to travel to Michigan this weekend to further praise the deal.

Still, Biden’s transnational mission to generate support for the measure underscores the fragility of even bipartisan efforts to repair the country’s transport infrastructure. The president himself nearly doomed the deal last week when he said he would veto the infrastructure bill if it were not passed along with a larger bill backed entirely by Democrats.

He later withdrew from that promise when it became clear that the comments had angered Republicans.

The latest Wharton study comes months after the school analyzed the Biden government’s first infrastructure proposal, called the American Jobs Plan. This original plan included spending approximately $ 2 trillion over eight years and was estimated by Wharton to reduce economic output by 0.8% in 2050.

When asked why the bipartisan plan would increase GDP over the next 29 years while the original Biden plan would not, Huntley stated that the latest legislation does not include changes to the corporate tax rate and no minimum tax on book income.

By removing corporate tax hikes in the bipartisan plan, legislators have reduced negative tax distortions that would ultimately have reduced corporate investment incentives and household savings incentives.

The Delta variant is spreading in Europe and can’t be stopped

French police walk on the streets during the French Midsummer Festival of Music on June 21, 2021 in Paris, France.

Rafael Yaghobzadeh | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

LONDON – The coronavirus delta variant, first discovered in India, has now spread around the world, causing further waves of infection in countries like the UK

Now there are increasing signs that there is also a sharp increase in cases on the European mainland.

The EU is certainly concerned about the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, which has been shown to be 60% more transmissible than the alpha variant first found in England, causing more hospital stays and slightly reducing the effectiveness of vaccines.

A number of European countries have further restrictions on visitors from the UK, but experts believe it is only a matter of time before it launches in mainland Europe – and the signals are already strong.

On Tuesday, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said the Delta variant now accounts for around 20% of Covid-19 cases in France, up from last week’s estimate which accounts for 9-10% of cases.

The German health department, the Robert Koch Institute, said this week that the Delta variant accounted for around 36% of the cases in the week from June 15 to 20, 15% more than in the previous week. Lothar Wieler, President of the RKI, also told officials that the variant now represents more than 50% of the registered cases in Germany, Deutsche Welle reported on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Italy’s national health institute said Friday that cases attributed to the Delta and Kappa variants of Covid (an “interesting variant” linked to the Delta variant, according to the World Health Organization) in Italy rose almost 17 last month % of all Covid cases.

Spain and Portugal have also reported increases in delta variant cases, as have Poland, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey. In addition, the Delta Plus variant – a mutation of the Delta mutation – has also been detected in parts of Europe.

Read more: Delta Covid variant has a new mutation called “Delta plus”: You need to know that

Too little too late?

Germany and France are among the countries that have placed quarantine restrictions on British travelers and Berlin has gone a step further, calling on the EU to take a unified approach when it comes to sheltering British travelers coming to the block Quarantine.

The move could probably be a case of too little and too late action, experts note.

“I doubt that European countries, with their open economies and more restricted border controls, quarantine measures, and tracking and tracing, can push back deltas for long … especially given that there is already extensive local distribution,” said Tom Wenseleers, an evolutionary biologist and biostatistician the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, told CNBC on Tuesday.

He pointed out that the actual number of infections in Europe from the delta variant could be significantly higher than current estimates suggest.

“I estimate that in Portugal 90% of diagnosed cases are now Delta, but with a strong geographic focus on Lisbon. However, many other countries in Europe such as Spain, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden and the Netherlands are not far behind.” , with over 50% of all diagnosed cases now classified as delta there too, “he noted.

The Delta variant now accounts for 95% of all new cases sequenced in the UK, and where the UK goes, the US and Europe are likely to follow suit, experts believe. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control announced last week that the Delta variant will account for 90% of all Covid viruses circulating in the EU by the end of August.

Vaccination to the rescue?

Covid vaccination programs could help if countries in Europe can use vaccinations quickly enough. A study by Public Health England in May showed that both doses of the Covid vaccines (the most widely available vaccines in Europe) developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford University and Pfizer-BioNTech provide effective protection against the Delta variant. However, both vaccines were significantly less effective after just one shot.

Therefore, the race is now on in Europe to fully vaccinate millions of people, and especially the young people who were the last to receive a Covid vaccination. Data from England shows again that the young, unvaccinated, over 50 years old and people who received only one dose of a Covid vaccine are most at risk of infection from the Delta variant.

Wenseleers from KU Leuven agreed that “vaccinating at full speed and encouraging people in certain risk groups to continue to exercise caution are now likely to be the most important options for the EU”, “although more intensive border controls and tracking and tracing will help could buy some time until “the vaccination campaign is more advanced, which will help prevent a resurgence,” he added.

The wider economy

Anger is already brewing in the EU over the prospects for the summer tourism season and whether Brits and others should travel to the region, especially when tourism is an important economic factor for a number of EU countries such as Greece and Portugal.

How a potential new wave of Delta variant infections will affect the entire region’s economy and reopening remains to be seen as well, but economists are keeping a close eye on them.

“The delta wave is rolling in,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, in a statement on Wednesday. “After Great Britain with a delay of about seven weeks, the registered SARS-CoV-2 infections in the euro zone are apparently beginning to increase amid large regional differences.”

In assessing whether the “new wave” will jeopardize Berenberg’s overconsensual growth forecasts for the euro zone and the UK (this year GDP growth of 4.7% in the euro zone and 7% in the UK), Schmieding believes that forecasts would not significantly affected.

“Thanks to the rapid progress in vaccination, we believe it is unlikely that the medical systems in the UK or on the continent will again be stressed to such an extent that economic activity will have to be severely curtailed again in order to keep medical risks under control … must monitor the risks closely . “

Britney Spears calls out paparazzi for “embarrassing” her on trip

Britney Spears sets some ground rules while trying to enjoy her island vacation.

On Tuesday June 29, the 39-year-old contested pop star shared an Instagram message to fans and paparazzi alike in response to interactions she appears to have had during her recent trip to Maui. This followed her appearance in court last week to discuss her ongoing conservatory.

Her anger was also exposed to photographers who she says distorted images of her in ways that she finds embarrassing, although Britney gave no specific examples of the event.

“Being here in Maui is pretty crazy now,” wrote the “Circus” singer, “the dads know where I am and it’s really no fun !!! picture [camera and rolling-eyes emoji] … but they don’t just make my picture … they distort my body and confuse the picture and it’s embarrassing [grimacing, flushed and upside-down face emojis] !!!! “

She continued, “I know my body is not perfect, but I definitely do NOT look like what they portray me. It’s rude and it’s mean, so dad kindly F – K YOU AND F – K OFF [kiss emojis] !!!! “

Serena Williams out after ankle harm in first-round match

Serena Williams of The United States reacts as she winces in pain in her Ladies’ Singles First Round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus during Day Two of The Championships – Wimbledon 2021

Jed Leicester | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images

Serena Williams’ bid for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam singles crown ended in tears at Wimbledon as an ankle injury forced her out of her first-round match with Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

The 39-year-old, who has seven Wimbledon singles titles on her glittering CV, had broken to lead 3-1 against her Belarusian opponent when she turned her left ankle badly.

When world No 100 Sasnovich broke straight back, Williams – her right thigh already heavily strapped – was forced to leave the court for a medical time-out and, while the American made her way back onto Centre Court in an attempt to compete, the tears were in evidence as she could barely move.

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Sasnovich levelled the match at 3-3, but another slip from Williams left her laying on the ground and, amid gasps from the crowd, she was helped to her feet by the chair umpire and the retirement was confirmed.

Williams’ injury-hit exit followed that of Adrian Mannarino, who was forced off court after a knee injury during his match against Roger Federer.

Williams has been on 23 Grand Slam titles since the 2017 Australian Open – but her last two visits to Wimbledon have yielded finals.

Having lost to Simona Halep in 2019 and Angelique Kerber in 2018, sixth seed Williams arrived with ambition of finally levelling Margaret Court’s supreme tally, but she was left distraught and released a statement via her Instagram feed.

“I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg,” said Williams.

“My love and gratitude are with the fans and the team who make being on Centre Court so meaningful. Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd when I walked on – and off – the court meant the world to me.”

Eli Lilly CEO says drugmaker will hold seeking to minimize insulin prices

An Eli Lilly & Co. logo is seen on a box of insulin medication in this arranged photograph at a pharmacy in Princeton, Illinois.

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks said he welcomes new competition from Walmart, even as the retailer undercuts the drugmaker’s prices on fast-acting insulin.

Walmart announced Tuesday that it will sell a lower-price version of the notoriously expensive diabetes drug, starting this week.

“Any efforts to smash through that and deliver better value to patients, I’m for,” Ricks said in an interview Tuesday on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.”

Walmart developed the less expensive version of analog insulin with Novo Nordisk. The fast-acting insulin will cost about $73 for a vial or about $86 for a package of prefilled insulin pens. It will be available exclusively at Walmart and Sam’s Club for adults and children with a prescription.

Insulin has become a focal point in lawmakers’ debate over soaring drug prices — especially since it is a 100-year-old medication and one that can be lifesaving for millions of Americans diagnosed with diabetes. Eli Lilly is among the companies that have faced pushback for its prices by politicians on both sides of the aisle, including former President Donald Trump.

Ricks said the company’s leaders “welcome anyone who wants to lower the price of insulin” — including the big-box retailer.

“We always look at new solutions ourselves, and this is an interesting development and we’ll look at further options,” he said. “If we can reach one more patient with more affordable insulin, we’re going to try to do that.”

Ricks said Eli Lilly continues to seek ways to reduce costs for people with diabetes. He pointed to two related efforts: The launch of a half-price, generic version of insulin, called insulin lispro, in early 2019 and the cap on out-of-pocket cost for insulin at $35 per month, which began as many Americans struggled with finances during the coronavirus pandemic.

Those moves, in part, were a response to fierce criticism by lawmakers and a subpoena by the state of New York.

Eli Lilly’s generic version costs nearly twice the price of Walmart’s at $137.35 per vial.

Over the past 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 34.2 million U.S. adults have the disease, which ranks as the seventh-leading cause of death in the country, the CDC said.

Black Lives Matter leaders met with Biden White Home officers on police reform

Protesters gather near the White House before a group attempted to tear down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square on June 22, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Drew Angerer | Getty Images

Black Lives Matter leaders met with members of President Joe Biden’s team as the White House and lawmakers negotiated the details of a possible police reform deal.

In a statement first broadcast to CNBC, Black Lives Matter said the leaders recently met with White House officials to discuss their agenda. The activist group is not satisfied with what has happened since the discussion, namely with proposals to give police departments more money.

“Black Lives Matter executives met with White House officials earlier this year to discuss our policy agenda, and while we appreciate the opportunity to speak with them, we are surprised by their lack of progress on issues that are black-minded People, the same communities, matter. ” who supported Biden-Harris so much in last year’s election, “the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation told CNBC in an email on Tuesday.

It is unclear when the meeting took place or which officials from both sides attended the meeting. Politico reported in May that the BLM had yet to meet with the Biden White House. The Washington Post reported late last year that Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, wrote a letter to Biden and Kamala Harris about a possible meeting.

Black Lives Matter press representatives responded to requests for additional comments. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.

Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., One of the lawmakers working on police reform, told NBC News that the negotiations had encountered some obstacles due to power struggles between law enforcement groups.

“I worry that it might prevent us from coming to an agreement. And you know what a really sad statement I think about the profession that they would actually prevent reforms and refuse to modernize,” she said.

The meeting and its aftermath suggest that Black Lives Matter and the Biden team are heading for a stalemate. It’s also a sign that Black Lives Matter may not have as much impact at the Biden White House as the group hoped.

Black Lives Matter, created after George Zimmerman was acquitted in 2013 in the murder of the unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin, is calling for a reduction in police spending. For years the group has inspired and organized large protests against brutality against blacks.

Last year, Black Lives Matter’s group and motto gained popularity and relevance after police murdered George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other black Americans as protests erupted across the country.

Biden won the 2020 election with the overwhelming support of black voters.

The president recently said that states could raise $ 350 billion in stimulus funds to bolster police forces. Biden has also announced a series of measures his government is taking to curb the rise in crime and gun violence.

This didn’t go well with Black Lives Matter or activists calling for the defunding of police departments.

“And now we see the president arguing for increased spending on the police force instead of investing in housing, education, climate protection and health care,” Black Lives Matter said in a statement to CNBC. “This is no time to go back to the dangerous scare days of the 1990s when more police officers were deployed in our neighborhoods rather than services that improve lives and keep black communities safe.”

E-commerce gamers from Singapore are dealing with challenges in logistics and supply

Consumers are flocking to shop online as people want to avoid crowds due to the pandemic, but getting the goods into the buyer’s hands can be a challenge.

To capitalize on future opportunities, companies selling online must build on an infrastructure to support their business, said James Root, senior partner and chairman of Bain Futures, a global think tank at consulting firm Bain & Company.

“Ecommerce platforms need two infrastructures: They need a great digital payment. Second, they need a great supply chain, ”he told CNBC. “And both to manage cross-border products that come into a market like Singapore, to have fast customs clearance and easy paper processing for them.”

Ultimately, convenience is king … It’s the convenience of shopping when I want, where I want. And it’s 24/7.

“Adequate market skills” are also required, said Root.

“For example, parcel delivery locations near the large apartment blocks and very good transport on the last mile to get products into the hands of consumers at the speed we are teaching our consumers to expect now,” he says elaborated.

When Singapore imposed a “breaker” or partial lockdown at the height of the Covid-19 crisis last year, it exposed the delivery and logistics challenges e-commerce companies are facing.

On November 1, 2016, an employee picks up orders from the shelves of a warehouse in the newly opened SingPost Regional eCommerce Logistics Hub in Singapore.

ROSLAN RAHMAN | AFP | Getty Images

“Ultimately, convenience is king,” said Vaughan Ryan, managing director of E-Commerce Asia Pacific at NielsenIQ. “It’s the convenience of shopping when I want, where I want. And it’s available 24/7. This allows consumers to shop more often, especially in Singapore because we’re so digital.”

Still, he said, “Nobody moved fast enough.”

“The consumer has been ahead of the pace manufacturers and retailers can do – and is fast catching up.”

“There is still a lot of room for improvement in the logistical control of the whole thing. Even with the immediate movement control orders in the circuit breaker, the time windows for the actual online order were not available. That has improved a lot … There is a lot to be done in this area, “emphasized Ryan.

Closing the gap

Ninja Van, based in Singapore, is one of the fastest growing last mile logistics companies in Southeast Asia.

“We connect the virtual world and the physical world – you buy something online and we make sure it is delivered to your doorstep, in a locker or in a nearby supermarket, “said Lai Chang Wen, CEO and Co-Founder of Ninja Van, a courier company in Southeast Asia.

He said Ninja Van turned to social media to help customers track their goods and improve the delivery process to cope with the changing times.

Ninja Van’s fleet of delivery trucks.

Ninja Van

“What we think is more important today is… the ability for us to interact with you through your favorite chat messenger. Whether Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, you choose it, you subscribe – and we give you real-time updates on where your driver is. “

“We think this is a new form of tracking that fits in with the way we use our phones, how we interact these days, where it’s not too intrusive and no one is necessarily calling you,” he said.

Ninja Van is currently working with ecommerce sellers in the city-state to bring out some of the supply-related disorders.

“What we see as an opportunity over the next few years is, we’re dealing with a lot of these e-commerce sellers, and they import a lot of their goods from overseas – we help them deliver (properly) to their customers,” said Lai .

“Could we help them with their supply chains too? We’re pretty much working on how to bridge the supply chains of all these ecommerce sellers, ”he added.

– Correction: This story has been updated to accurately reflect that Vaughan is Ryan from NielsenIQ.