These health data were revealed by respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan at a medical conference this week in the city of Guangzhou, in southern China, the country which was the cradle of the epidemic.
According to state media, Zhong told the public that the new wave that began in late April was “expected” and that his statistical model indicated that China could approach 40 million infections per week, and by the at the end of June, infections would peak at 65 million cases per week.
By comparison, the United States was reporting more than 5 million cases per week at the height of the epidemic wave in January 2022.
And in early May, the World Health Organization announced that the Corona virus was no longer a global health emergency, sparking controversy over the response of health systems around the world to the pandemic, 3 years after it inflicted serious damage to the global economy.
different feeling
Chinese youngster Qi Chang says locals have a different feeling about the wave, adding: “Last time everyone was terrified, but now they don’t think it’s a big deal.”
And the American news network “NBC News” estimated that the recent increase in corona cases “is incredible”, in a country which had imposed some of the most severe anti-virus protocols in the world months ago, but now with the latest mutant of “Omicron”, which is known as XBB, which is responsible for the sharp increase in injuries, the Chinese government’s response is in any case lower than that of its predecessor.
The increase comes about six months after Beijing eased its handling of COVID-19, including rolling back tough lockdowns, mass testing, quarantines and mandatory mask-wearing.
American fears
• In light of the significant increase in Corona injuries in China, the US administration said it was monitoring the situation in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before updating travel instructions.
• The United States imposed a testing requirement on travelers arriving from China in January, before lifting it in March.
• The US State Department said it was discussing the second wave of Corona in China with allies and partners, but declined to say whether travel restrictions were being considered.
• US State Department spokesman Matt Miller added: “We don’t want to see people suffering from (Covid-19) anywhere. The United States remains committed to working with China on transnational challenges. , including global health issues, and to maintain open lines of communication.”
Do you share your concerns?
In an interview with “Sky News Arabia”, clinical consultant for drug treatment of infectious diseases in Jordan, Dirar Balawi, said that the current wave of corona hitting China is “expected”, especially after the last wave that happened. produced in January, and by this time acquired immunity has diminished, either by previous infection or by vaccinations.
On the impact of the current situation and its contribution to raising concerns about the pandemic again, Balawi explained:
• The XBB1.16 mutator is new to China, which has adopted a “zero injury” policy, and so they must be infected with all kinds of mutants that have hit the world in the past few months.
• According to statistical data, 65 million people could be infected in one week during the month of June, with a peak of this wave at the end of next month, then the curve will reverse downwards.
• I do not expect this wave to cause concern, as according to the testimonies of a number of infected people in China, the symptoms are mild and less severe than previous waves, and health authorities are not focusing currently not on the issue. , and of course there are political and economic reasons behind this, but there is no news about the increase in the number of hospitalized patients.
• This is expected considering that China is currently adopting a policy of coexistence with the virus that the whole world is following, and this is the correct behavior with the end of the global emergency.
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