China’s COVID-19 surge raises odds of new coronavirus mutant
2 years ago

China’s COVID-19 surge raises odds of new coronavirus mutant

LA Times  

Masked commuters walk during the morning rush hour in Beijing on Dec. 20. “When we’ve seen big waves of infection, it’s often followed by new variants being generated,” Ray said. Ray compared the virus to a boxer that “learns to evade the skills that you have and adapt to get around those.” One big unknown is whether a new variant will cause more severe disease. China’s plan to track the virus centers around three city hospitals in each province, where samples will be collected from walk-in patients who are very sick and all those who die every week, Xu Wenbo of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said at a briefing Tuesday. At this point, however, there’s limited information about genetic viral sequencing coming out of China, said Dr. Jeremy Luban, a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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History of this topic

COVID-19 variants becoming immune-evasive, China CDC says
2 months, 4 weeks ago

COVID-19 variants becoming immune-evasive, China CDC says

China Daily  

The dominant COVID-19 variants in China have not shown significant changes in their pathogenicity, but novel strains are becoming increasingly immune-evasive, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday. "We have not observed obvious changes in the pathogenicity of offshoots of XDV and JN.1," the China CDC said. The China CDC added that emerging strains are evolving …

COVID-19 infections not problematic, experts say
4 months, 1 week 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 …

Revealed: US and China sought to create virus in 2018 similar to Covid
11 months ago

Revealed: US and China sought to create virus in 2018 similar to Covid

Daily Mail  

Bombshell new documents shed light on a shady 2018 project between US and Chinese scientists to create a novel virus with the same rare features seen in Covid. In initial proposals for DEFUSE, the lab work was to be done in a biosafety-level 2 lab, which researchers said would appeal to federal grant-makers as 'highly cost effective' despite the fewer …

'Accept Covid-19 as Part of Lifestyle': Don't Panic, Says Top Epidemiologist But Advises Caution
1 year ago

'Accept Covid-19 as Part of Lifestyle': Don't Panic, Says Top Epidemiologist But Advises Caution

News 18  

It’s time for the public to stop being surprised by the rise in Covid-19 cases and recognise coronavirus as a permanent part of their lifestyle, former Indian Council of Medical Research scientist Dr Raman Gangakhedkar has told News18.com. The country’s top epidemiologist, who was the face of India’s apex medical research agency during government briefings on Covid-19 last year, said …

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

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 …

WHO classifies EG.5 Covid-19 strain as 'variant of interest'
1 year, 4 months ago

WHO classifies EG.5 Covid-19 strain as 'variant of interest'

India Today  

The World Health Organization on Wednesday classified the EG.5 coronavirus strain circulating in the United States and China as a "variant of interest" but said it did not seem to pose more of a threat to public health than other variants. "Collectively, available evidence does not suggest that EG.5 has additional public health risks relative to the other currently circulating …

China braces for new wave of XBB Covid variant, could see 65 million cases weekly
1 year, 7 months ago

China braces for new wave of XBB Covid variant, could see 65 million cases weekly

India Today  

China is bracing for a massive wave of coronavirus cases, Bloomberg reported citing a senior health adviser. The new wave of the pandemic would likely witness a peak towards the end of June, with the country likely to report around 65 millions infections weekly. By the end of this month, the country is likely to report 40 million infections in …

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  

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 healthcare systems or disrupt …

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  

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 healthcare systems or disrupt …

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 …

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over
1 year, 7 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 …

57 cases of new Omicron subvariant detected in China
1 year, 7 months ago

57 cases of new Omicron subvariant detected in China

China Daily  

China has detected 57 COVID-19 cases caused by the new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 as of Saturday, a Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention researcher said on Wednesday. Chen said that monitoring data shows that domestic cases are still mainly composed of Omicron's BA.5.2 and BF.7 strains and their sub-lineages, though cases of XBB and its sub-lineages are growing rapidly. …

Many Asian Nations Seeing Covid Rise, India, Singapore on List. Are Countries Planning Curbs?
1 year, 8 months ago

Many Asian Nations Seeing Covid Rise, India, Singapore on List. Are Countries Planning Curbs?

News 18  

A recent spike in Covid-19 cases is seen among Asian nations with the fresh wave exerting pressure on the healthcare systems. India, on the other hand, has touched daily cases of 10,000, the highest in nearly eight months, while Indonesia’s caseload is near a four-month high, Bloomberg reported. Medical experts have said the virus’ new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving …

Explained | Should India worry about rising COVID-19 cases?
1 year, 8 months ago

Explained | Should India worry about rising COVID-19 cases?

The Hindu  

The story so far: Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week convened a high-level meeting of the COVID-19 task force. As of March 23, India officially reported 1,300 new coronavirus cases over a 24-hour period bringing the overall tally of active cases to 7,605. Editorial |No cause for alarm: On the Omicron recombinant XBB.1.16 in India He emphasised the need to …

Mutated version of Omicron is behind spike in case, health system on alert: Govt
1 year, 8 months ago

Mutated version of Omicron is behind spike in case, health system on alert: Govt

Live Mint  

Amid a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in India, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said that currently a mutated variant of the Omicron sub-variant is spreading in the country and the health authorities are on alert. The health minister added that vaccines used by India have been found effective against all Covid-19 variants found till …

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 …

It’s confirmed! China Lab leak triggered Covid pandemic, but was it an accident?
1 year, 9 months ago

It’s confirmed! China Lab leak triggered Covid pandemic, but was it an accident?

Live Mint  

The coronavirus pandemic most likely was caused by a leak in a Chinese laboratory, a classified intelligence report of the US Energy Department has revealed, according to the Wall Street Journal. This report nonetheless, affirms that the covid pandemic was a leak, an accident and not part of Chinese biological-weapons program, the people who have read the classified report said …

The resurgence of COVID-19 needs to be tackled scientifically
1 year, 10 months ago

The resurgence of COVID-19 needs to be tackled scientifically

China Daily  

A medical staff administers a second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine for a resident through nose at a temporary vaccination site in Haidian district, Beijing, capital of China, Dec 17, 2022. Data from Feb 16 shows that only 1.1 percent of people in China had tested positive after nucleic acid testing nationwide, down from 29.2 percent during the peak; visits …

No new Covid variants emerged during China's recent outbreak: Lancet study
1 year, 10 months ago

No new Covid variants emerged during China's recent outbreak: Lancet study

India TV News  

No new Covid-19 variants have emerged in China during the recent surge in infections since the country ended its zero-Covid policy, according to an analysis of cases in Beijing published in The Lancet. The study suggests two existing Omicron sub-variants, BA.5.2 and BF.7, among the most dominant variants in Beijing during 2022, accounted for more than 90 per cent of …

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 | Lurking presence
1 year, 10 months ago

Covid-19 | Lurking presence

India Today  

On January 23, 2023, India logged just 92 fresh Covid-19 infections and no deaths. China, on the other hand, which is grappling with a major Covid wave triggered by Omicron sub-variant BF.7 and lifting of restrictions, saw record hospitalisations—the highest since the onset of the pandemic, per World Health Organization reports. Since August 2022, a whole bouquet of Omicron sub-variants—BA.2.12.1, …

WHO: COVID still an emergency but nearing ‘inflection’ point
1 year, 10 months ago

WHO: COVID still an emergency but nearing ‘inflection’ point

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The coronavirus remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found the pandemic may be nearing an “inflexion point” where higher levels of immunity can lower virus-related deaths. Speaking at the opening of WHO’s annual executive board meeting, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “there is no doubt that …

COVID is still a global emergency but may be nearing an ‘inflection point,’ WHO says
1 year, 10 months ago

COVID is still a global emergency but may be nearing an ‘inflection point,’ WHO says

LA Times  

COVID-19 remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization’s chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found that the pandemic may be nearing an “inflection point” where higher levels of immunity can lower coronavirus-related deaths. Speaking at the opening of the WHO’s annual executive board meeting, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “there is no doubt that we’re …

COVID-19 update: China faces challenge due to flawed containment policies, ineffective vaccines, says Report
1 year, 10 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 …

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 …

China COVID-19 update: WHO appeals to release more information on coronavirus infections
1 year, 11 months ago

China COVID-19 update: WHO appeals to release more information on coronavirus infections

India TV News  

China COVID-19 update: The World Health Organization has appealed to China to keep releasing information about its wave of COVID-19 infections after the government announced nearly 60,000 deaths since early December following weeks of complaints it was failing to tell the world what was happening. The announcement on Saturday was the first official death toll since the ruling Communist Party …

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 …

China Covid surge not expected to 'significantly impact' Europe: WHO
1 year, 11 months ago

China Covid surge not expected to 'significantly impact' Europe: WHO

Hindustan Times  

The director of the World Health Organization’s Europe office said Tuesday that the agency sees “no immediate threat" for the European region from a COVID-19 outbreak in China, but more information is needed. Other countries including the U.S., India, Japan, South Korea and several European nations have announced tougher COVID-19 measures on travelers from China amid concerns over a lack …

COVID-19 wave past its peak in many parts of China
1 year, 11 months ago

COVID-19 wave past its peak in many parts of China

The Hindu  

Many parts of China are already past their peak of COVID-19 infections, state media reported on January 10, with officials further downplaying the severity of the outbreak despite international concerns about its scale and impact. Many Chinese funeral homes and hospitals say they are overwhelmed, and international health experts predict at least one million COVID-related deaths in China this year. …

Six fallacies and truths about China's epidemic control
1 year, 11 months ago

Six fallacies and truths about China's epidemic control

China Daily  

A community worker explains a COVID-19 prevention and care package to a resident in Yangfangdian Subdistrict of Haidian District in Beijing, Dec 27, 2022. China has also optimized the circulation of drugs, testing reagents and protective goods for better epidemic control. By the middle of December 2022, more than 3.47 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered on the Chinese …

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
1 year, 11 months 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 …

Should India be alarmed by China’s COVID surge?
1 year, 11 months ago

Should India be alarmed by China’s COVID surge?

The Hindu  

With the surge in COVID-19 cases in China, after the easing of its stringent zero-COVID policy in December, there is apprehension that the pandemic could be entering a new, uncertain phase. But there’s been a lot of natural infection over the last three years, and therefore people have built up a good level of protective immunity at the population level. …

WHO worried about COVID-19 surge in China amid lack of info
1 year, 11 months 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 …

Omicron variants BA.5.2, BF.7 behind China Covid surge but numbers unreliable, says WHO | 5 points
1 year, 11 months ago

Omicron variants BA.5.2, BF.7 behind China Covid surge but numbers unreliable, says WHO | 5 points

India Today  

Omicron subvariants of the Corona virus - BA.5.2 and BF.7 - are responsible for driving up Covid numbers in China, said the World Health Organisation on Wednesday. It added that the data shows no new variants were found in China but the country is "under-representing" the Covid deaths since cases started surging last month. The WHO's emergencies director, Mike Ryan, …

WHO worried about surge of COVID in China amid lack of info
1 year, 11 months 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
1 year, 11 months 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 …

70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says
1 year, 11 months ago

70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says

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 officials have met counterparts from China’s National Health …

70% of Shanghai's 25 million people may have had Covid: Top doctor
1 year, 11 months ago

70% of Shanghai's 25 million people may have had Covid: Top doctor

Hindustan Times  

At least 70 percent of Shanghai's population may have been infected with Covid amid China's massive surge in infections, a top doctor at one of Shanghai's hospital said, state media reported. Chen Erzhen, vice president at Ruijin Hospital and a member of Shanghai's Covid expert advisory panel, said that the majority of the the city's population- 25 million people- may …

Explained: Why the COVID-19 wave in China is stirring fear
1 year, 11 months 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”. …

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