BEIJING: Chinese officials are rushing to deploy a vaccine to combat the ongoing new wave of coronaviruses. The coronavirus epidemic peaked in June and is expected to infect up to 65 million people in the week since it began. Variant of XBB Parts of virus are evolving to overcome immunity developed after China’s abrupt exit from ‘Zero’ COVID‘, reported the Washington Post.
Renowned Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan said on Monday that two new vaccinations against the novel coronavirus had been given, according to official media sources cited by The Washington Post. XBB micron subvariant (include XBBMore. 1.9.1, XBBMore. 1.5, XBB. 1.16) has been pre-approved. Zhong, speaking at a biotechnology symposium in Guangzhou, said three to four other vaccines would be approved soon, without divulging further information.
New epidemic could be biggest wave of illness ever recorded since China’s tougher policies zero corona program Abandoned last winter, up to 85 percent of the population fell ill at the time.
An increase in infections in the U.S. as a result of the new variant, but despite experts not excluding the possibility that the new variant could cause a new wave of disease in the U.S., the public health emergency remains at 5. It was declared finished on the 11th of March. According to The Washington Post, that will be the case for the next few years.
Chinese officials have insisted the current wave is not too serious, but public health experts say a boosted vaccination program and a boost to prevent a further surge in mortality among the country’s vast elderly population. We believe that the immediate supply of antiviral drugs in hospitals is essential.
Another epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong School of Public Health added: “There will be fewer cases. There will certainly be fewer severe cases and fewer deaths, but they may still be high.” . Even if we consider this to be a gentle wave, it can still have considerable health impacts on local communities. “
According to the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the mutation has led to an increase in the number of infected people since last month. COVID It surpassed influenza as the most prevalent infectious disease in the last two weeks of April.
Medical experts have reassured the public that reinfections will be mild and hospitals will not be overwhelmed as they were last winter. According to The Washington Post, some medical facilities are encouraging residents to wear masks and stay away from crowded places if they are elderly or have weakened immune systems.
Still, the same restrictions as in the zero-corona era, when China tried to stop all disease outbreaks, have not returned, and the vast majority of citizens seem to be living their daily lives as usual.
Olivia ChanA 33-year-old man who works at an amusement park in Beijing said he felt the impact would not be too great. added. around them. “
Several online complaints have surfaced that a university in Nanjing is forcing students who have tested positive to quarantine themselves in dormitories. Other students posted online that they were self-isolating at school so as not to infect their families at home, The Washington Post reported.