China downgrades COVID management
2 years ago

China downgrades COVID management

China Daily  

An elderly woman receives a shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, Dec 12, 2022. "By evaluating factors, including viral mutations, epidemic situation and disease control capability, China is deemed to meet basic requirements for the downgraded management," it said. However, lowering disease category does not mean leaving the virus to run rampant, said Liang Wannian, head of the commission's COVID-19 response expert panel, during an interview with Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday. Jiao Yahui, head of the commission's medical administration bureau, said on Tuesday that China currently has about 5.6 million hospital beds at secondary and tertiary hospitals, and their occupancy rate stands around 60 percent in recent days. Li Qun, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's emergency operations center, said that whether to further downgrade management of novel coronavirus to category C — the lowest level that comprises of influenza flu and other common infectious diseases — will primarily depend on if the virus's pathogenicity will continue to decline.

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History of this topic

China downplays reports of huge HMPV flu outbreak, assures travel across country is safe
5 days, 21 hours ago

China downplays reports of huge HMPV flu outbreak, assures travel across country is safe

India TV News  

China on Friday played down reports of a massive outbreak of flu in the country overwhelming hospitals, saying that cases of the respiratory diseases which occur during the winter were less severe this year compared to last year. "Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the northern hemisphere," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the media …

COVID-19 infections not problematic, experts say
4 months, 3 weeks ago

COVID-19 infections not problematic, experts say

China Daily  

The number of people in China being infected with COVID-19 is fluctuating reasonably and won't be a burden on medical resources or the public, experts said. However, the National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases said the percentage of people catching flu and testing positive for COVID-19 rose from 8.9 percent in early July to 18.7 percent late last month. "COVID-19 …

Scientists see risk of lost opportunity for long COVID research in China
1 year ago

Scientists see risk of lost opportunity for long COVID research in China

The Hindu  

With more than a full year past since China eased restrictions and let COVID-19 sweep its households, scientists are worried a unique opportunity may be slipping away to study long COVID from possibly hundreds of millions of infections in that country. China's rare circumstances - relying on home-grown vaccines and mostly avoiding COVID until late in the pandemic - could, …

‘Not by novel virus’: What China said on ‘mysterious pneumonia’
1 year, 1 month ago

‘Not by novel virus’: What China said on ‘mysterious pneumonia’

Hindustan Times  

A pneumonia outbreak in China has alerted the world including the World Health Organization which sought more information about the situation from the country. Medical staff in protective suits treat a patient with pneumonia On Sunday, China's health ministry asked local authorities to increase the number of fever clinics amid the latest crisis. "Efforts should be made to increase the …

No ‘unusual’ virus behind rising Pneumonia cases China has clarified, reveals WHO
1 year, 1 month ago

No ‘unusual’ virus behind rising Pneumonia cases China has clarified, reveals WHO

Firstpost  

Since mid-October 2023, the World Health Organization has been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems showing an increase in respiratory illness in children in northern China China has reiterated that no unusual or new pathogens have been detected in the upsurge in child respiratory illnesses in the north, the WHO said on Thursday after putting pressure on Beijing for detailed …

China's pneumonia scare: Transparency please
1 year, 1 month ago

China's pneumonia scare: Transparency please

Live Mint  

China, where covid broke out in November 2019, is in the spotlight again. The World Health Organization has asked the country for details on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children. In a recent statement, the WHO noted an increase in influenza-like ailments compared to the same autumn of the past three years in China’s …

Spike in illnesses isn’t a new pathogen, China reassures WHO
1 year, 1 month ago

Spike in illnesses isn’t a new pathogen, China reassures WHO

Salon  

An outbreak of respiratory illnesses in China has sparked alarm, but the sudden rise in sickness is not related to a new virus, according to Chinese health authorities. So far, the data suggests that there’s nothing out of the ordinary, but both the WHO and China have been criticized in the past for not being entirely transparent about the COVID-19 …

On China pneumonia outbreak, scientists caution to not press ‘pandemic panic button’
1 year, 1 month ago

On China pneumonia outbreak, scientists caution to not press ‘pandemic panic button’

Hindustan Times  

Leading scientists urged caution over fears of another pandemic on Thursday after the World Health Organization requested more information from China on a rise of respiratory illnesses and pneumonia clusters among children. The standard wording of the alert echoed the first-ever notice about what would become COVID-19, sent on Dec. 30 2019: "Undiagnosed pneumonia - China." "I am not going …

What is the mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China?
1 year, 1 month ago

What is the mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China?

Al Jazeera  

The WHO has asked China for more information on the undiagnosed respiratory illness that has spiked since October 2023. As China experiences its first winter without strict COVID-19 restrictions since the outbreak of the pandemic three years ago, a wave of respiratory illnesses is sweeping across the country. On Wednesday, the WHO asked China to release information on the recent …

China says seasonal germs, rather than ‘unusual or novel pathogens,’ behind spike in pediatric respiratory illness, WHO says
1 year, 1 month ago

China says seasonal germs, rather than ‘unusual or novel pathogens,’ behind spike in pediatric respiratory illness, WHO says

CNN  

CNN — Chinese health authorities told the World Health Organization on Thursday that a spike in cases of children with pneumonia or respiratory illness in the northern part of the country stems from typical seasonal germs rather than any novel or unknown pathogen, the organization said. At Thursday’s teleconference, WHO said, the Chinese officials reported enhanced surveillance of respiratory illnesses …

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?
1 year, 1 month ago

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?

Firstpost  

China’s leading respiratory illness expert Zhong Nanshan has warned of a minor COVID-19 surge in the winter and urged the elderly and vulnerable populations to get vaccinated as soon as possible Concerned about an increase of COVID-19 infections in the current winter season, Chinese experts have issued an alert and advised vaccination for vulnerable and old groups. The Chinese Centre …

China on ALERT over likely COVID-19 relapse ahead of winter
1 year, 1 month ago

China on ALERT over likely COVID-19 relapse ahead of winter

India TV News  

COVID-19 alert: Ahead of the winter season, an alert has been sounded across China about the relapse of COVID-19 infections and experts have asked elderly and vulnerable populations to get vaccinated. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed that a total of 209 new severe COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths caused by COVID-19 were reported across the country …

China's 'batwoman' warns there could be more Covid-like 'future outbreaks'
1 year, 3 months ago

China's 'batwoman' warns there could be more Covid-like 'future outbreaks'

India Today  

Known as one of China's best virologists, Shi Zhengli has warned that there is a high possibility of another coronavirus to appear in the future. "If a coronavirus caused diseases to emerge before, there is a high chance it will cause future outbreaks," she said in a study paper written with her colleagues. Shi's team from the Wuhan Institute of …

Large-scale COVID reemergence 'unlikely' despite uptick in cases
1 year, 7 months ago

Large-scale COVID reemergence 'unlikely' despite uptick in cases

China Daily  

China Daily| Updated :2023-05-19 The risk of a new large-scale COVID-19 outbreak in China in the short term is minimal, despite a recent uptick in new infections, according to health experts. Wang Liping, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a group interview that the recent increase in new cases is unlikely to overwhelm …

Learn from missteps in Covid’s early days
1 year, 8 months ago

Learn from missteps in Covid’s early days

Hindustan Times  

Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency, the World Health Organization declared last week, roughly 1,200 days after it first learnt of a new coronavirus spreading through Wuhan, China. Still, WHO’s word is a strong determinant in global health discourse and on this count, the agency fell short in its mission, especially in the early days of the pandemic. …

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over
1 year, 8 months ago

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over

Firstpost  

A top Chinese health official said that despite the World Health Organisation ending the worldwide emergency designation for COVID-19, the virus is still dangerous and China will continue to monitor it while boosting vaccination rates among high-risk groups. According to Liang Wannian, head of China’s COVID-19 response expert group under the National Health Commission, the warning status being lifted by …

WHO accuses China of withholding information on origin of COVID-19
1 year, 9 months ago

WHO accuses China of withholding information on origin of COVID-19

The Hindu  

The World Health Organisation has accused China of withholding information and data that may throw light on the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has asked why such information was not shared three years ago. GISAID is a global science initiative and primary source established in 2008 that provides open access to genomic data of influenza viruses and the coronavirus …

China dismisses FBI statement on COVID-19 lab leak theory
1 year, 10 months ago

China dismisses FBI statement on COVID-19 lab leak theory

Firstpost  

Beijing: For the second day in a row, China on Wednesday dismissed U.S. suggestions that the COVID-19 pandemic may have been triggered by a virus that leaked from a Chinese laboratory. Responding to comments by FBI Director Christopher Wray, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the involvement of the U.S. intelligence community was evidence enough of the “politicization of origin …

China says 200 million treated for COVID since November, pandemic ‘decisively’ beaten
1 year, 10 months ago

China says 200 million treated for COVID since November, pandemic ‘decisively’ beaten

LA Times  

Commuters during the morning rush hour in the central business district of Beijing on Thursday. China says more than 200 million of its citizens have been diagnosed and treated for COVID-19 since it lifted strict containment measures beginning in November. With 800,000 of the most critically ill patients having recovered, China has “decisively beaten” the pandemic, according to notes from …

No new Covid variants during recent breakout in China: Lancet study
1 year, 10 months ago

No new Covid variants during recent breakout in China: Lancet study

India Today  

New coronavirus variants did not emerge during the recent outbreak of cases in China, said a study published in the medical journal, The Lancet. Samples of 350 locally acquired infections and 63 imported cases were studied during a five-week period beginning in November 2022 - shortly after China abruptly overturned its strict zero-Covid policy. Further, China also administers inactivated whole …

COVID-19 update: China faces challenge due to flawed containment policies, ineffective vaccines, says Report
1 year, 11 months ago

COVID-19 update: China faces challenge due to flawed containment policies, ineffective vaccines, says Report

India TV News  

China COVID-19 update : China is facing a significant challenge in the form of COVID-19, due to the Chinese Communist Party's "flawed and regressive containment policies and ineffective domestically produced vaccines," GeoPolitica.info reported. China's COVID-19 containment strategy has affected Chinese people and has caused major discontent among people in the country, as per the GeoPolitica.info report. Vaccines manufactured in China …

Decoding China’s COVID-19 Policy U-Turn
1 year, 11 months ago

Decoding China’s COVID-19 Policy U-Turn

The Diplomat  

On November 30, several districts in the southern hub metropolis Guangzhou took the lead in lifting a large number of COVID-19-related lockdowns, as well as suspending testing requirements. In face of this, local and provincial administrations – in adherence to official party doctrine concerning “zero COVID” – turned to lockdowns and mass testing campaigns as desperate measures in tackling the …

China logs nearly 13,000 Covid deaths in a week
1 year, 11 months ago

China logs nearly 13,000 Covid deaths in a week

The Hindu  

China reported nearly 13,000 Covid-related deaths in hospitals between January 13 and 19, after a top health official said the vast majority of the population had already been infected. The death toll came a week after China said nearly 60,000 people had died with Covid in hospitals in just over a month -- but there has been widespread scepticism over …

China Reports 70% Rise In Weekly Covid Hospitalisation, Highest Since Pandemic Outbreak: WHO
1 year, 11 months ago

China Reports 70% Rise In Weekly Covid Hospitalisation, Highest Since Pandemic Outbreak: WHO

ABP News  

The World Health Organization’s weekly report on Thursday showed China reported a large jump in Covid-19 hospitalisations in the week up to January 15. This is the highest weekly figure China has recorded since the virus first emerged more than three years ago, the WHO noted, according to the news agency Reuters. However, the global body said it is still …

China says critical COVID cases have peaked as holiday travel surges
1 year, 11 months ago

China says critical COVID cases have peaked as holiday travel surges

The Hindu  

The number of COVID patients needing critical care in China's hospitals has peaked, health authorities said on Thursday, as millions travelled across the country for long-awaited reunions with families, raising fears of fresh outbreaks. There has been widespread scepticism over China's official COVID data since it abruptly axed anti-virus controls last month that had shielded China's 1.4 billion people from …

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information
1 year, 11 months ago

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The World Health Organization has …

China reports 60,000 COVID-related deaths, says peak passed
1 year, 11 months ago

China reports 60,000 COVID-related deaths, says peak passed

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China on Saturday reported nearly 60,000 deaths in people who had COVID-19 since early December, offering hard numbers for an unprecedented surge that was apparent in overcrowded hospitals and packed crematoriums, even as the government released little data about the status of the pandemic for weeks. China stopped reporting data on COVID-19 deaths and infections after abruptly lifting …

Almost all of Beijing residents to get Covid by January end: What a study shows
1 year, 11 months ago

Almost all of Beijing residents to get Covid by January end: What a study shows

Hindustan Times  

Nearly all of Beijing’s 22 million residents will be infected with Covid by the end of January, a new study found. Covid In China: People queueing to buy medicine amid the Covid-19 pandemic in Beijing, The study reflects the rapid spread of China's Covid outbreak as infections rise after Beijing abruptly relaxed its ‘zero-Covid’ policy in December. The rapid spread …

COVID-19 update: China reports nearly 60,000 coronavirus deaths since December 2022| DETAILS
1 year, 11 months ago

COVID-19 update: China reports nearly 60,000 coronavirus deaths since December 2022| DETAILS

India TV News  

China COVID deaths : China today reported nearly 60,000 deaths in people who had COVID-19 since early December following complaints the government was failing to release data about the status of the pandemic. The death toll included 5,503 deaths due to respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 and 54,435 fatalities from other ailments combined with COVID-19. The National Health Commission said …

China reports almost 60,000 COVID-related deaths, says peak has passed
1 year, 11 months ago

China reports almost 60,000 COVID-related deaths, says peak has passed

LA Times  

China on Saturday reported nearly 60,000 deaths among people who had COVID-19 since early December, offering hard numbers for an unprecedented surge that was apparent in overcrowded hospitals and packed crematoriums, even as the government released little data about the status of the pandemic for weeks. It said those “deaths related to COVID” occurred in hospitals, which left open the …

WHO says Covid deaths in China ‘heavily underreported’; praises US transparency
1 year, 11 months ago

WHO says Covid deaths in China ‘heavily underreported’; praises US transparency

Hindustan Times  

The WHO reiterated Wednesday the need for China to share more data on its explosive Covid outbreak, while praising Washington's "radical transparency" in its efforts to battle a new sub-variant. "WHO still believes that deaths are heavily underreported from China," its emergencies director Michael Ryan told reporters. He blamed Beijing's narrow definition of what constitutes a Covid death, and also …

China enters new phase of COVID response
1 year, 11 months ago

China enters new phase of COVID response

China Daily  

BEIJING -- From Jan 8, China starts managing COVID-19 with measures designed for combating Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases. Confronted with epidemic uncertainties, China has always been putting people's lives and health first, adapting its COVID response in light of the evolving situation. The fast-changing features of the virus and the complicated evolution of epidemic …

China enters new phase of COVID response
1 year, 11 months ago

China enters new phase of COVID response

China Daily  

BEIJING -- From Jan 8, China starts managing COVID-19 with measures designed for combating Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases. Confronted with epidemic uncertainties, China has always been putting people's lives and health first, adapting its COVID response in light of the evolving situation. The fast-changing features of the virus and the complicated evolution of epidemic …

China enters new phase of COVID response
1 year, 11 months ago

China enters new phase of COVID response

China Daily  

From Sunday, China starts managing COVID-19 with measures designed for combating Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases. Confronted with epidemic uncertainties, China has always been putting people's lives and health first, adapting its COVID response in light of the evolving situation. The fast-changing features of the virus and the complicated evolution of epidemic response posed serious …

China's 'Great Migration' Kicks-off Under Shadow of Covid, 2 Billion People to Travel in 40 Days
2 years ago

China's 'Great Migration' Kicks-off Under Shadow of Covid, 2 Billion People to Travel in 40 Days

News 18  

China on Saturday marked the first day of “chun yun”, the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel known pre-pandemic as the world’s largest annual migration of people, bracing for a huge increase in travellers and the spread of COVID-19 infections. “China’s rural areas are wide, the population is large, and the per capita medical resources are relatively insufficient,” National …

Explained: Why China's COVID surge isn't a threat to other nations
2 years ago

Explained: Why China's COVID surge isn't a threat to other nations

Firstpost  

Majority of nations currently have high immunity and protection against severe disease and death from COVID, in contrast to China at the beginning of this wave China is currently in the midst of a severe wave of COVID infections and deaths. Although vaccination is the safest way to protect against COVID, emerging research shows protection against severe disease is sustained …

‘Covid deaths are clearly piling up’, says top US scientist as WHO warns China
2 years ago

‘Covid deaths are clearly piling up’, says top US scientist as WHO warns China

Live Mint  

Epidemiologist and health economist Dr Eric Feigl-Ding has informed that World Health Organisation's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has asked China to stop under-reporting Covid deaths. The World Health Organisation had also criticized China's ‘narrow' definition of Covid deaths—of suppressing deaths. China reported one new Covid death in the mainland for Wednesday, compared with five a day earlier, bringing its official …

WHO says China is undercounting Covid deaths, asks for more reliable data
2 years ago

WHO says China is undercounting Covid deaths, asks for more reliable data

Live Mint  

BY JOYU WANG | UPDATED JAN 04, 2023 11:09 PM EST Agency’s chief says testing requirements adopted by some countries for travelers from China are understandable The World Health Organization in a briefing Wednesday urged Beijing to be more transparent about its Omicron outbreak, with some officials questioning the accuracy of the country’s Covid-19 data. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus …

WHO worried about COVID-19 surge in China amid lack of info
2 years ago

WHO worried about COVID-19 surge in China amid lack of info

LA Times  

Shoppers wearing masks visit a popular mall in Beijing on New Year’s Day. The head of the World Health Organization said this week that the agency is “concerned about the risk to life in China” amid the coronavirus’ explosive spread across the country and the lack of outbreak data from the Chinese government. Tedros said he understood why numerous countries …

China ‘under-representing’ true impact of Covid outbreak, WHO says
2 years ago

China ‘under-representing’ true impact of Covid outbreak, WHO says

CNN  

CNN — The World Health Organization has accused China of “under-representing” the severity of its Covid outbreak and criticized its “narrow” definition of what constitutes a Covid death, as top global health officials urge Beijing to share more data about the explosive spread. He acknowledged that many countries have seen lags in reporting hospital data, but pointed to China’s “narrow” …

Beijing hospitals run out of beds as Covid patients increase in China
2 years ago

Beijing hospitals run out of beds as Covid patients increase in China

India Today  

Hospitals in Beijing, China's capital, are running out of beds as an increasing number of Covid patients - most of them elderly - flock to clinics to get treated. This comes amid the World Health Organisation saying China is "under-representing" Covid data, especially the death toll since the spike in cases. Covid cases surged in China after the government abruptly …

WHO accuses China of downplaying Covid surge amid ‘risk to life’
2 years ago

WHO accuses China of downplaying Covid surge amid ‘risk to life’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “WHO is concerned about the risk to life in …

WHO worried about surge of COVID in China amid lack of info
2 years ago

WHO worried about surge of COVID in China amid lack of info

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday the agency is “concerned about the risk to life in China” amid the coronavirus’ explosive spread across the country and the lack of outbreak data from the Chinese government. “The reality for China is that many countries they don’t have enough information to base their risk assessment,” he said. …

WHO: China COVID data underrepresents surge, deaths
2 years ago

WHO: China COVID data underrepresents surge, deaths

The Hindu  

China's COVID-19 data is not giving an accurate picture of the situation there and underrepresents the number of hospitalisations and deaths from the disease, a senior official at the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. "We believe that the current numbers being published from China underrepresent the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of …

Beijing threatens response to ‘unacceptable’ virus measures
2 years ago

Beijing threatens response to ‘unacceptable’ virus measures

Associated Press  

BEIJING — The Chinese government sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on visitors from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a …

China ‘under-representing’ severity of COVID outbreak, says WHO
2 years ago

China ‘under-representing’ severity of COVID outbreak, says WHO

Al Jazeera  

A senior official at the WHO criticised China’s ‘too narrow’ definition for COVID-related deaths. China’s official data is under-representing the true impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, a senior World Health Organization official has said, criticising its “very narrow” definition of COVID deaths. Meanwhile, in a briefing earlier on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated that the …

Explained: Why the COVID-19 wave in China is stirring fear
2 years ago

Explained: Why the COVID-19 wave in China is stirring fear

The Hindu  

Published : Jan 03, 2023 14:54 IST China is experiencing a huge COVID-19 surge after years of hardline containment restrictions were dismantled in December 2022. CDC official Yin Wenwu said authorities are now compiling data from hospitals and local government surveys as well as emergency call volumes and fever medicine sales, which will “make up for deficiencies in our reporting”. …

China state media says current COVID infection ‘relatively mild for vast majority of people’
2 years ago

China state media says current COVID infection ‘relatively mild for vast majority of people’

The Hindu  

China's state media played down the severity on January 3 of the COVID-19 wave surging over the country, with its scientists expected to give a briefing to the World Health Organization on the evolution of the virus later in the day. The World Health Organization on Friday urged China's health officials to regularly share specific and real-time information on the …

Beijing threatens response to toughened COVID measures for Chinese travelers
2 years ago

Beijing threatens response to toughened COVID measures for Chinese travelers

LA Times  

The Chinese government blasted coronavirus testing requirements imposed on travelers from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily news briefing …

China's optimized COVID-19 strategy is a planned, science-based approach
2 years ago

China's optimized COVID-19 strategy is a planned, science-based approach

China Daily  

A medical worker in a protective suit adjusts a monitoring device for a patient at the fever clinics of the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Meanwhile, the Chinese term for COVID-19 was changed from "novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "novel coronavirus infection" -- as the prevalent omicron strains are seen to cause symptoms confined mainly to the upper respiratory tract. …

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