Oil slid more than 2% on Tuesday, extending losses of nearly 2% in the previous session, as recession fears and a flare-up in COVID-19 cases in China raised concern over global demand.&nbsp;

World Bank President David Malpass and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned on Monday of a growing risk of global recession and said that inflation remains a continuing problem.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-russian-strikes-kill-14-in-ukraine-over-84-missiles-were-launched-524252" hreflang="en">Ukraine war LIVE | Russian strikes on Ukraine could amount to war crimes: UN</a>

Brent crude fell $2.30, or 2.4%, to $93.89 a barrel by 1006 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $2.12, or 2.3%, to $89.01.&nbsp;

"There is growing pessimism in the markets now," said Craig Erlam of brokerage OANDA.&nbsp;

Oil has dropped sharply on economic fears after surging earlier in 2022, when Brent came close to its record high of $147 as Russia's invasion of Ukraine added to supply concerns.&nbsp;

"Warnings after warnings are being issued when it comes to global economic growth," said Avatrade analyst Naeem Aslam.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-and-lebanon-reach-historic-agreement-on-maritime-border-dispute-524371">Israel and Lebanon reach 'historic agreement' on maritime border: Reports</a>

Those worries aside, fears of a further hit to demand in China also weighed. Authorities have stepped up coronavirus testing in Shanghai and other large cities as COVID-19 infections rise again.&nbsp;read more&nbsp;

Oil also came under pressure from a strong dollar, which hit multi-year highs on worries about increases to interest rates and escalation of the Ukraine war.&nbsp;

A strong dollar makes oil more expensive for buyers with other currencies and tends to weigh on risk appetite.&nbsp;

Losses were limited, however, by a tight market and last week's decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, together known as OPEC+, to lower their output target by 2 million barrels per day.&nbsp;

"An undersupply is even looming next year because the production cut is supposed to apply until the end of 2023, according to the OPEC+ decision," a Commerzbank report said.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Oil slid more than 2% on Tuesday, extending losses of nearly 2% in the previous session, as recession fears and a flare-up in COVID-19 cases in China raised concern over global demand.

Oil slid more than 2% on Tuesday, extending losses of nearly 2% in the previous session, as recession fears and a flare-up in COVID-19 cases in China raised concern over global demand. World Bank President David Malpass and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned on Monday of a growing risk of global recession and said that inflation remains a continuing problem. Also read | Ukraine war LIVE | Russian strikes on Ukraine could amount to war crimes: UN Brent crude fell $2.30, or 2.4%, to $93.89 a barrel by 1006 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $2.12, or 2.3%, to $89.01. "There is growing pessimism in the markets now," said Craig Erlam of brokerage OANDA. Oil has dropped sharply on economic fears after surging earlier in 2022, when Brent came close to its record high of $147 as Russia's invasion of Ukraine added to supply concerns. "Warnings after warnings are being issued when it comes to global economic growth," said Avatrade analyst Naeem Aslam. Also read | Israel and Lebanon reach 'historic agreement' on maritime border: Reports Those worries aside, fears of a further hit to demand in China also weighed. Authorities have stepped up coronavirus testing in Shanghai and other large cities as COVID-19 infections rise again. read more Oil also came under pressure from a strong dollar, which hit multi-year highs on worries about increases to interest rates and escalation of the Ukraine war. A strong dollar makes oil more expensive for buyers with other currencies and tends to weigh on risk appetite. Losses were limited, however, by a tight market and last week's decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, together known as OPEC+, to lower their output target by 2 million barrels per day. "An undersupply is even looming next year because the production cut is supposed to apply until the end of 2023, according to the OPEC+ decision," a Commerzbank report said.

Oil prices fall more than two per cent on recession and China COVID-19 fears

Chinese people under lockdown complaining about food and medicine shortages have prompted the authorities to censure their desperate pleas on social media platforms as the country’s draconian ‘zero-Covid’ policy takes a toll.

At least 30 regions are under partial or full lockdowns where tens of millions of people have been ordered to stay at home.

According to the Guardian, which has cited a leaked directive published by the China Digital Times (CDT), censors have been ordered to flood social media with trivial posts about Xinjiang— a region under lockdown for over a month—to dilute complaints of food and medication shortages.

“There are no subject matter restrictions. Content may include domestic life, daily parenting, cooking, or personal moods. All internet commentary personnel should post once an hour (twice in total), but not in rapid succession! Repeat: not in rapid succession!” the directive said, according to CDT’s translation.

Authorities have been scurrying to contain local outbreaks ahead of the Communist Party of China's Congress in October.

China's zero-Covid policy requires strict lockdowns, even if just a handful of cases are reported. On Monday, China recorded 949 new Covid cases, the BBC reported.

During the 40-day lockdown, people in Xinjiang’s Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture near the border with Kazakhstan, desperate residents have been making a fervent appeal for help on social media,

One post showed a video of an emotional Uyghur man saying his three children had not eaten for three days.

In Ili, the capital of northwest Yining city, a shared online document of over 300 urgent requests for food, medicine and sanitary pads went viral.

"I'm out of money to buy supplies. My wife is pregnant and we have two kids. We are running out of gas. My wife needs a medical check," said a resident.

The region houses Han Chinese, Kazakh and Uyghur residents.

Similarly, in south-western Guizhou province, officials locked down an area of the provincial capital Guiyang without giving a warning, leaving 500,000 residents stranded at home without any chance to prepare to stock basic supplies.

According to the Guardian, lifts were switched off in buildings to stop people from leaving.

The reports of Chinese people struggling for food and aid come a month after a long-awaited UN report which accused Beijing of "serious human rights violations" against Uyghurs and other mainly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Chinese people under lockdown complaining about food and medicine shortages have prompted the authorities to censure their desperate pleas on social media platforms as the country’s draconian ‘zero-Covid’ policy takes a toll.

Chinese people under lockdown complaining about food and medicine shortages have prompted the authorities to censure their desperate pleas on social media platforms as the country’s draconian ‘zero-Covid’ policy takes a toll. At least 30 regions are under partial or full lockdowns where tens of millions of people have been ordered to stay at home. According to the Guardian, which has cited a leaked directive published by the China Digital Times (CDT), censors have been ordered to flood social media with trivial posts about Xinjiang— a region under lockdown for over a month—to dilute complaints of food and medication shortages. “There are no subject matter restrictions. Content may include domestic life, daily parenting, cooking, or personal moods. All internet commentary personnel should post once an hour (twice in total), but not in rapid succession! Repeat: not in rapid succession!” the directive said, according to CDT’s translation. Authorities have been scurrying to contain local outbreaks ahead of the Communist Party of China's Congress in October. China's zero-Covid policy requires strict lockdowns, even if just a handful of cases are reported. On Monday, China recorded 949 new Covid cases, the BBC reported. During the 40-day lockdown, people in Xinjiang’s Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture near the border with Kazakhstan, desperate residents have been making a fervent appeal for help on social media, One post showed a video of an emotional Uyghur man saying his three children had not eaten for three days. In Ili, the capital of northwest Yining city, a shared online document of over 300 urgent requests for food, medicine and sanitary pads went viral. "I'm out of money to buy supplies. My wife is pregnant and we have two kids. We are running out of gas. My wife needs a medical check," said a resident. The region houses Han Chinese, Kazakh and Uyghur residents. Similarly, in south-western Guizhou province, officials locked down an area of the provincial capital Guiyang without giving a warning, leaving 500,000 residents stranded at home without any chance to prepare to stock basic supplies. According to the Guardian, lifts were switched off in buildings to stop people from leaving. The reports of Chinese people struggling for food and aid come a month after a long-awaited UN report which accused Beijing of "serious human rights violations" against Uyghurs and other mainly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Covid lockdown: China censuring people’s pleas on social media amid food and medicine shortages

China's Shenzhen will now adopt tiered Covid measures starting from this week to curb the rising Coronavirus cases in the region. Shenzhen went into a weekend lockdown and the authorities stated that based on the results of the testing, the region will classify its areas in three categories - low, medium and high risk zones.

China's Shenzhen adopts tiered anti-virus restriction system as Covid battle continues

The authorities in the city of Chengdu extended the lockdown to more areas as it has been witnessing a spike in the number of Covid cases. The lockdown restrictions range from mandatory work-from-homes to mass testing.

China extends lockdown in Chengdu as city witnesses rise in Covid cases

Staying on with its zero-Covid policy, China has yet again placed millions of people under lockdown as the country is seeing a rise in Covid cases. Employees in Chengdu have been asked to work from home and residents are urged to not leave the city unless needed.

China's Chengdu under lockdown amid Covid spike

China's Shenzhen has shut down its transport services and public activities for 2 days in a bid to curb the rise of Covid cases in the region. Only factories with proper precautionary measures can operate with their workforce.

China's Shenzhen shuts down most public transport; restrictions imposed

More than 700 people were locked inside a hotel and casino resort in one of the world’s biggest gambling hubs Macau, China, following a coronavirus outbreak on the premises, according to local reports.

According to local broadcaster TDM, police officers arrived in protective gear sealed at the Fortuna complex to prevent people from entering or leaving. Government officials were also preparing COVID-19 tests for the hundreds of people inside.

The lockdown comes as the Chinese special administrative region has ordered two-day mass testing of its more than 600,000 population after dozens of locally transmitted coronavirus cases were discovered over the weekend.

The citywide mass testing, which is expected to take place until Tuesday, had covered almost 340,000 people by Monday morning.

The city, which neighbours Hong Kong, has recorded 31 positive cases as of June 20, 2022. The government, which adheres to mainland China’s strict zero-Covid policy, has ordered parks, businesses and restaurant&nbsp;dining to close temporarily.

The news has already sent stocks of major Macau casino&nbsp;operators tumbling. Sands China fell as much as eight per cent while Wynn Macau dropped more than seven per cent, though both partially recovered.

A Bloomberg Intelligence index of Macau’s six major casino operators fell as much as five per cent, taking their total losses this year to 28 per cent.

Though the number of cases is comparatively low in Macau, the government believes that a chain of transmission discovered on Saturday posed an “extremely high” risk of community transmission.

Macau’s casinos usually account for about 80 per cent of government revenue and more than half of the city’s gross domestic product, with nearly a fifth of the working population employed by the industry.

Almost all gambling is forbidden in mainland China, but it is permitted in Macau, a former Portuguese colony that boasts a casino industry bigger than Las Vegas.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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More than 700 people were locked inside a hotel and casino resort in one of the world’s biggest gambling hubs Macau, China, following a coronavirus outbreak on the premises, according to local reports.

More than 700 people were locked inside a hotel and casino resort in one of the world’s biggest gambling hubs Macau, China, following a coronavirus outbreak on the premises, according to local reports. According to local broadcaster TDM, police officers arrived in protective gear sealed at the Fortuna complex to prevent people from entering or leaving. Government officials were also preparing COVID-19 tests for the hundreds of people inside. The lockdown comes as the Chinese special administrative region has ordered two-day mass testing of its more than 600,000 population after dozens of locally transmitted coronavirus cases were discovered over the weekend. The citywide mass testing, which is expected to take place until Tuesday, had covered almost 340,000 people by Monday morning. The city, which neighbours Hong Kong, has recorded 31 positive cases as of June 20, 2022. The government, which adheres to mainland China’s strict zero-Covid policy, has ordered parks, businesses and restaurant dining to close temporarily. The news has already sent stocks of major Macau casino operators tumbling. Sands China fell as much as eight per cent while Wynn Macau dropped more than seven per cent, though both partially recovered. A Bloomberg Intelligence index of Macau’s six major casino operators fell as much as five per cent, taking their total losses this year to 28 per cent. Though the number of cases is comparatively low in Macau, the government believes that a chain of transmission discovered on Saturday posed an “extremely high” risk of community transmission. Macau’s casinos usually account for about 80 per cent of government revenue and more than half of the city’s gross domestic product, with nearly a fifth of the working population employed by the industry. Almost all gambling is forbidden in mainland China, but it is permitted in Macau, a former Portuguese colony that boasts a casino industry bigger than Las Vegas. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Macau outbreak: More than 700 people locked inside casino after Covid cases detected

China has removed some Covid-19 test requirements for people flying in countries such as the United States and shortened the pre-departure quarantine for some inbound travellers.

China ease Covid rules for international travellers

The rising COVID-19 cases in Shanghai and Beijing has been the cause of major concern for the authorities and in the past few months, a number of videos have emerged from the regions showing the acute food shortage and shocking living conditions of the people amid the ongoing lockdown.

In a video that has gone viral on Twitter, a woman can be seen pinned down by a man while conducting a Covid test. In the video, the woman can be seen lying on the floor as a man restrains her and forcibly opens her mouth while a&nbsp;healthcare worker takes a swab&nbsp;sample for a COVID-19 test.

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The woman was forced to do COVID-test in China. <a href="https://t.co/2E5Ba0nf15">https://t.co/2E5Ba0nf15</a>
— Dr. Ware Fong_美国方博士 (@WeisheJiang) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeisheJiang/status/1520012599907205120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The video has gained a lot of attention on social media with many users criticising the action.

The internet is filled with such videos as another video on Weibo showed healthcare workers entering the house of an old man by force to conduct mandatory COVID-19 tests.

Earlier, China Central Television reported that a Shanghai resident was mistakenly taken to the city’s Xinchangzheng Welfare Hospital morgue in Putuo district while the person was still alive.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-as-severe-as-previous-covid-variants-large-study-finds-476450">Omicron as severe as previous Covid variants, large study finds</a>

The lockdown in Shanghai has been going on for more than a month and the city government has faced a lot of criticism regarding their handling of the pandemic. Reports suggested that the death toll numbers were not reported properly, and people were not receiving proper healthcare.

Since the lockdown was enforced on March 1, Shanghai has also seen a number of protests with the citizens asking for better healthcare service and proper supply of essential resources.

WATCH |&nbsp;Cognitive abilities can decline due to severe covid: Reports

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The rising COVID-19 cases in Shanghai and Beijing has been the cause of major concern for the authorities and in the past few months, a number of videos have emerged from the regions showing the acute food shortage and shocking living conditions of the people amid the ongoing lockdown.

The rising COVID-19 cases in Shanghai and Beijing has been the cause of major concern for the authorities and in the past few months, a number of videos have emerged from the regions showing the acute food shortage and shocking living conditions of the people amid the ongoing lockdown. In a video that has gone viral on Twitter, a woman can be seen pinned down by a man while conducting a Covid test. In the video, the woman can be seen lying on the floor as a man restrains her and forcibly opens her mouth while a healthcare worker takes a swab sample for a COVID-19 test. The woman was forced to do COVID-test in China. https://t.co/2E5Ba0nf15 — Dr. Ware Fong_美国方博士 (@WeisheJiang) April 29, 2022 × The video has gained a lot of attention on social media with many users criticising the action. The internet is filled with such videos as another video on Weibo showed healthcare workers entering the house of an old man by force to conduct mandatory COVID-19 tests. Earlier, China Central Television reported that a Shanghai resident was mistakenly taken to the city’s Xinchangzheng Welfare Hospital morgue in Putuo district while the person was still alive. Also read | Omicron as severe as previous Covid variants, large study finds The lockdown in Shanghai has been going on for more than a month and the city government has faced a lot of criticism regarding their handling of the pandemic. Reports suggested that the death toll numbers were not reported properly, and people were not receiving proper healthcare. Since the lockdown was enforced on March 1, Shanghai has also seen a number of protests with the citizens asking for better healthcare service and proper supply of essential resources. WATCH | Cognitive abilities can decline due to severe covid: Reports

Chinese woman pinned down as healthcare workers forcibly conduct COVID-19 test - WATCH

China on Friday reported more than 3,400 positive and 20,700 asymptomatic coronavirus cases, majority of them in Shanghai city which is reeling under prolonged lockdown, and where hospitals have been ordered not to delay treatment of non-COVID patients after an elderly woman died waiting for emergency care, sparking a public outcry.

The positive cases continued to be the highest in Shanghai.

The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 3,472 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, besides 20,782 asymptomatic cases, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).

China's economic hub Shanghai reported 3,200 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 19,872 local asymptomatic carriers on Thursday, the municipal health commission said on Friday.

The city has already conducted many rounds of testing and built temporary hospitals, including in stadiums and swimming pools to treat both positive and asymptomatic cases.

Amid growing public anger over the hospitals refusing treatment for non-Covid&nbsp;patients, health officials in Shanghai on Friday ordered hospitals not to delay treatment of patients over COVID-19 restrictions after an elderly woman died.

The order came after Larry Hsien Ping Lang, a prominent economist, said on his social media Weibo account that his 98-year-old mother, who had kidney failure, was asked to wait for the test result before admission to the emergency room at a hospital in the eastern Chinese city.

"She waited for four hours, and the result had not yet come back," Lang said, adding that: "She then left us."

In principle, public hospitals are required to keep medical services operational during the fight against COVID-19, a Shanghai official said, adding that this is especially the case for emergency and fever outpatient services, official media reported.

China, where the coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan in December 2019 before turning into a global pandemic, is significantly experiencing late surge of Omicron cases just as when the rest of the world began relaxing all the controls after bringing the virus under control.

The situation in Shanghai is so disquieting that even the official Chinese media started highlighting the public discontent.

As the city of Shanghai is going through the most difficult time in its fight against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, doubt, anxiety and fatigue are noticeable among local residents and some heart-wrenching stories could easily arouse the public mood, the state-run Global Times reported on Friday.

It is indeed the most difficult time for Shanghai as intensive public anger flooded the internet, the report said.

Millions of people in Shanghai faced various difficulties in the past weeks such as food shortage, delayed transfer of their infected neighbours to collective quarantine places, and the chaotic handling of residents' daily requests in some neighbourhoods, the Post report said.

The worst affected are the elderly population. Shanghai is one of China's first cities to develop a large ageing population.

According to the 2019 Shanghai Elderly Population and ageing Business Monitoring Statistics, Shanghai's elderly population of 60 and over is approximately 5.815 million, suggesting that one in every three people is an elder. The number of elderly people living alone among them reached 317,400, the South China Morning Post reported.

This group of people became one the most vulnerable ones during Shanghai's indefinite lockdown because the majority of them suffer from chronic diseases, it said.

China's zero-case policy runs contrary to global trends. People's livelihoods, and their spirits, have been put to the test; both will affect public trust in the government, the Post report said.

But Chinese President Xi Jinping continued to insist on the country following the zero-case policy. "Given that the global COVID pandemic situation is still grave, we must never relax our response. Victory comes from perseverance," Xi said during a tour of Hainan province on Thursday.

"We must always put the people and their lives first, adhere to the principle of guarding against imported cases and domestic resurgences, and follow a science-based, targeted approach and zero-COVID policy,"&nbsp;he said.

People must not drop their guard, lose drive, take chances or slacken efforts, he said.

China on Friday reported more than 3,400 positive and 20,700 asymptomatic coronavirus cases, majority of them in Shanghai city which is reeling under prolonged lockdown, and where hospitals have been ordered not to delay treatment of non-COVID patients after an elderly woman died waiting for emergency care, sparking a public outcry.

China on Friday reported more than 3,400 positive and 20,700 asymptomatic coronavirus cases, majority of them in Shanghai city which is reeling under prolonged lockdown, and where hospitals have been ordered not to delay treatment of non-COVID patients after an elderly woman died waiting for emergency care, sparking a public outcry. The positive cases continued to be the highest in Shanghai. The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 3,472 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, besides 20,782 asymptomatic cases, according to the National Health Commission (NHC). China's economic hub Shanghai reported 3,200 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 19,872 local asymptomatic carriers on Thursday, the municipal health commission said on Friday. The city has already conducted many rounds of testing and built temporary hospitals, including in stadiums and swimming pools to treat both positive and asymptomatic cases. Amid growing public anger over the hospitals refusing treatment for non-Covid patients, health officials in Shanghai on Friday ordered hospitals not to delay treatment of patients over COVID-19 restrictions after an elderly woman died. The order came after Larry Hsien Ping Lang, a prominent economist, said on his social media Weibo account that his 98-year-old mother, who had kidney failure, was asked to wait for the test result before admission to the emergency room at a hospital in the eastern Chinese city. "She waited for four hours, and the result had not yet come back," Lang said, adding that: "She then left us." In principle, public hospitals are required to keep medical services operational during the fight against COVID-19, a Shanghai official said, adding that this is especially the case for emergency and fever outpatient services, official media reported. China, where the coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan in December 2019 before turning into a global pandemic, is significantly experiencing late surge of Omicron cases just as when the rest of the world began relaxing all the controls after bringing the virus under control. The situation in Shanghai is so disquieting that even the official Chinese media started highlighting the public discontent. As the city of Shanghai is going through the most difficult time in its fight against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, doubt, anxiety and fatigue are noticeable among local residents and some heart-wrenching stories could easily arouse the public mood, the state-run Global Times reported on Friday. It is indeed the most difficult time for Shanghai as intensive public anger flooded the internet, the report said. Millions of people in Shanghai faced various difficulties in the past weeks such as food shortage, delayed transfer of their infected neighbours to collective quarantine places, and the chaotic handling of residents' daily requests in some neighbourhoods, the Post report said. The worst affected are the elderly population. Shanghai is one of China's first cities to develop a large ageing population. According to the 2019 Shanghai Elderly Population and ageing Business Monitoring Statistics, Shanghai's elderly population of 60 and over is approximately 5.815 million, suggesting that one in every three people is an elder. The number of elderly people living alone among them reached 317,400, the South China Morning Post reported. This group of people became one the most vulnerable ones during Shanghai's indefinite lockdown because the majority of them suffer from chronic diseases, it said. China's zero-case policy runs contrary to global trends. People's livelihoods, and their spirits, have been put to the test; both will affect public trust in the government, the Post report said. But Chinese President Xi Jinping continued to insist on the country following the zero-case policy. "Given that the global COVID pandemic situation is still grave, we must never relax our response. Victory comes from perseverance," Xi said during a tour of Hainan province on Thursday. "We must always put the people and their lives first, adhere to the principle of guarding against imported cases and domestic resurgences, and follow a science-based, targeted approach and zero-COVID policy," he said. People must not drop their guard, lose drive, take chances or slacken efforts, he said.

Covid cases break records in Shanghai amid growing public anger

Apple supplier Foxconn has suspended its operations in tech hub Shenzhen city following lockdown as China experiences probably one of its worst Covid outbreak since the pandemic first broke out.

The decision to halt production is likely to hit Apple which recently announced a spate of products, including the iPhone, MacBook Air, etc.

"The operation of Foxconn in Shenzhen, China has been suspended from March 14 onwards in compliance with the local government's new COVID-19 policy," the Taiwanese company said in a statement.

The sporadic rise of Covid cases has caught the officials off-guard as many cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, are battling outbreaks liked to Omircon, which is currently raving neighbouring Hong Kong.

Mainland China reported 1,337 new domestically transmitted Covid cases with confirmed symptoms on March 13, the National Health Commission said on Monday.

Around 17 million residents in southern Shenzen city are under lockdown and have been told to stay at home.

The lockdown and a suspension of public transport are expected to last till March 20, a city government notice said, adding that it would launch three rounds of mass testing.

In Shanghai, several schools have been shut as 18 provinces battle clusters of the Omicron and Delta variants.

A disease expert in Beijing has noted that most infections in Hong Kong and the mainland are due to the Omicron BA.2 variant which is “spreading very fast this time”.

Zhang Wenhong pointed out that vaccination could not prevent breakthrough infections, but has brought the rate of severe illnesses and deaths lower than the flu.

“It is still not time for China to lie flat. We should have more clearer methods for the future rather than debating over zero-COVID or co-existence. If China reopens quickly at this time, new cases would surge in a short time. The domestic medical system would be overloaded and the society grind to a halt, causing irreparable damages,” Global Times quoted Zhang as saying.

Watch |&nbsp;China locks down tech hub Shenzen; Curbs imposed in Shanghai,other major cities

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(With inputs from agencies)

Apple supplier Foxconn has suspended its operations in tech hub Shenzhen city following lockdown as China experiences probably one of its worst Covid outbreak since the pandemic first broke out.

Apple supplier Foxconn has suspended its operations in tech hub Shenzhen city following lockdown as China experiences probably one of its worst Covid outbreak since the pandemic first broke out. The decision to halt production is likely to hit Apple which recently announced a spate of products, including the iPhone, MacBook Air, etc. "The operation of Foxconn in Shenzhen, China has been suspended from March 14 onwards in compliance with the local government's new COVID-19 policy," the Taiwanese company said in a statement. The sporadic rise of Covid cases has caught the officials off-guard as many cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, are battling outbreaks liked to Omircon, which is currently raving neighbouring Hong Kong. Mainland China reported 1,337 new domestically transmitted Covid cases with confirmed symptoms on March 13, the National Health Commission said on Monday. Around 17 million residents in southern Shenzen city are under lockdown and have been told to stay at home. The lockdown and a suspension of public transport are expected to last till March 20, a city government notice said, adding that it would launch three rounds of mass testing. In Shanghai, several schools have been shut as 18 provinces battle clusters of the Omicron and Delta variants. A disease expert in Beijing has noted that most infections in Hong Kong and the mainland are due to the Omicron BA.2 variant which is “spreading very fast this time”. Zhang Wenhong pointed out that vaccination could not prevent breakthrough infections, but has brought the rate of severe illnesses and deaths lower than the flu. “It is still not time for China to lie flat. We should have more clearer methods for the future rather than debating over zero-COVID or co-existence. If China reopens quickly at this time, new cases would surge in a short time. The domestic medical system would be overloaded and the society grind to a halt, causing irreparable damages,” Global Times quoted Zhang as saying. Watch | China locks down tech hub Shenzen; Curbs imposed in Shanghai,other major cities (With inputs from agencies)

Apple products to get delayed as Foxconn stops ops amidst China’s worst Covid outbreak

Ever been on a blind date? If yes, remember how was it? Can smile if was good, can laugh if it wasn't but what if it had continued for days? Yes, it happened to a woman in China, whose story about a blind date went viral as a citywide lockdown was imposed when she was on a dinner date.&nbsp;

After getting stuck in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou amid coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, a Chinese woman named Wang posted video diaries on WeChat documenting her life, without disclosing the identity of the man in the videos. She even didn't mention her age. &nbsp;

Restrictions were imposed in Zhengzhou by authorities after reports of Covid cases emerged. As per the latest data by AFP, over 100 virus cases have been reported there&nbsp;since last week.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-was-a-forced-apology-netizens-slam-boris-johnson-for-bring-your-own-booze-party-at-downing-street-444329">'It was a forced apology': Netizens slam Boris Johnson for 'bring your own booze' party at Downing Street</a>

China battles to contain multiple local outbreaks of the Delta and Omicron variants and parts of Zhengzhou were abruptly placed under lockdown.&nbsp;

"Just after I arrived in Zhengzhou, there was an outbreak and his community was put under lockdown and I could not leave," Wang told Shanghai-based outlet The Paper on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"I'm getting old now, my family introduced me to ten matches... The fifth date wanted to show off his cooking skills and invited me over to his house for dinner," she added.&nbsp;

"Besides the fact that he's as mute as a wooden mannequin, everything else (about him) is pretty good," Wang told The Paper, adding that despite his food being "mediocre", he's still willing to cook, which she thinks is great.&nbsp;

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Related hashtags have racked up over six million views on the Twitter-like social media site Weibo by Wednesday. However, Wang said the recent surge in online attention prompted her to remove the videos.

"Friends have been calling him and I think this has definitely affected his life, so I have taken them down for now," she said in a video posted Tuesday that was widely republished in Chinese local media.&nbsp;

"Thanks everyone for your attention... I hope the outbreak ends soon and that my single sisters also find a relationship soon," she added.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/winter-olympics-food-served-up-robotically-at-beijing-olympics-venue-444163">Winter Olympics: Food served up robotically at Beijing Olympics venue</a>

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(With inputs from agencies)

Ever been on a blind date? If yes, remember how was it? Can smile if was good, can laugh if it wasn't but what if it had continued for days? Yes, it happened to a woman in China, whose story about a blind date went viral as a citywide lockdown was imposed when she was on a dinner date.

Ever been on a blind date? If yes, remember how was it? Can smile if was good, can laugh if it wasn't but what if it had continued for days? Yes, it happened to a woman in China, whose story about a blind date went viral as a citywide lockdown was imposed when she was on a dinner date. After getting stuck in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou amid coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, a Chinese woman named Wang posted video diaries on WeChat documenting her life, without disclosing the identity of the man in the videos. She even didn't mention her age. Restrictions were imposed in Zhengzhou by authorities after reports of Covid cases emerged. As per the latest data by AFP, over 100 virus cases have been reported there since last week. ALSO READ | 'It was a forced apology': Netizens slam Boris Johnson for 'bring your own booze' party at Downing Street China battles to contain multiple local outbreaks of the Delta and Omicron variants and parts of Zhengzhou were abruptly placed under lockdown. "Just after I arrived in Zhengzhou, there was an outbreak and his community was put under lockdown and I could not leave," Wang told Shanghai-based outlet The Paper on Tuesday. "I'm getting old now, my family introduced me to ten matches... The fifth date wanted to show off his cooking skills and invited me over to his house for dinner," she added. "Besides the fact that he's as mute as a wooden mannequin, everything else (about him) is pretty good," Wang told The Paper, adding that despite his food being "mediocre", he's still willing to cook, which she thinks is great. × Related hashtags have racked up over six million views on the Twitter-like social media site Weibo by Wednesday. However, Wang said the recent surge in online attention prompted her to remove the videos. "Friends have been calling him and I think this has definitely affected his life, so I have taken them down for now," she said in a video posted Tuesday that was widely republished in Chinese local media. "Thanks everyone for your attention... I hope the outbreak ends soon and that my single sisters also find a relationship soon," she added. WATCH | Winter Olympics: Food served up robotically at Beijing Olympics venue × (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Amid lockdown, this Chinese woman is stuck in blind date's house and he is 'mute as a mannequin'

In China, the city of Zhengzhou now ordered its 12 million residents to take Covid 19 tests. China has been ramping up measures to stamp out the various clusters ahead of the controversial winter Olympics and, authorities have now ordered everyone to get themselves tested to uncover infections that can remain hidden amongst the public.

China: The city of Zhengzhou now ordered its 12 million residents to take Covid 19 tests

China, where the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was detected in late 2019, is currently registering a new spike in virus cases as concerns loom over the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.&nbsp;

On Saturday (December 25), China recorded its highest number of new Covid cases in four months&nbsp;as mentioned by a AFP report. Authorities and officials are working to curb the spread of infections in several regions, including Xi'an city where millions are still under lockdown.&nbsp;

If we talk about the new cases, 87 were locally transmitted out of the 140 new infections, as per a statement by the National Health Commission, compared to 55 a day earlier.

CGTN shared a detailed report which revealed that a&nbsp;total of 24 new asymptomatic cases were also recorded. In China, confirmed cases are now total 100,871.&nbsp;

Regarding Omicron, the new variant of COVID-19, three imported cases were detected in Shenzhen on Friday. The three Omicron cases were among five positive cases detected on a flight from Los Angeles to Shenzhen.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-year-china-went-rogue-on-itself-will-crackdowns-hamper-economic-growth-439871">The year China went rogue on itself: Will crackdowns hamper economic growth?</a>

Most of the cases are in Xi'an, in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, where 13 million residents have been under lockdown since Thursday. On December 24, the city reported its highest daily count in a year with 75 domestic cases, according to the local health bureau.&nbsp;

Amid a rise in cases, reports have stated that more than two dozen officials in China's Shaanxi provinces have been reprimanded by the authorities for their ineffective preventive measures in tackling the COVID-19 spread in the city of Xi'an, reported Xinhua.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-effort-to-combat-forced-labour-targets-corporate-china-ties-439874">US effort to combat forced labour targets corporate China ties</a>

As per the report, the Chinese Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Friday has punished 26 officials and four local party organisations have been punished for "ineffective preventive measures".&nbsp;

The disciplinary commission has dispatched eight inspection groups to Xi'an to supervise officials attempts and measures to curb the spread of the virus.

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(With inputs from agencies)

China, where the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was detected in late 2019, is currently registering a new spike in virus cases as concerns loom over the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

China, where the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was detected in late 2019, is currently registering a new spike in virus cases as concerns loom over the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. On Saturday (December 25), China recorded its highest number of new Covid cases in four months as mentioned by a AFP report. Authorities and officials are working to curb the spread of infections in several regions, including Xi'an city where millions are still under lockdown. If we talk about the new cases, 87 were locally transmitted out of the 140 new infections, as per a statement by the National Health Commission, compared to 55 a day earlier. CGTN shared a detailed report which revealed that a total of 24 new asymptomatic cases were also recorded. In China, confirmed cases are now total 100,871. Regarding Omicron, the new variant of COVID-19, three imported cases were detected in Shenzhen on Friday. The three Omicron cases were among five positive cases detected on a flight from Los Angeles to Shenzhen. ALSO READ | The year China went rogue on itself: Will crackdowns hamper economic growth? Most of the cases are in Xi'an, in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, where 13 million residents have been under lockdown since Thursday. On December 24, the city reported its highest daily count in a year with 75 domestic cases, according to the local health bureau. Amid a rise in cases, reports have stated that more than two dozen officials in China's Shaanxi provinces have been reprimanded by the authorities for their ineffective preventive measures in tackling the COVID-19 spread in the city of Xi'an, reported Xinhua. ALSO READ | US effort to combat forced labour targets corporate China ties As per the report, the Chinese Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Friday has punished 26 officials and four local party organisations have been punished for "ineffective preventive measures". The disciplinary commission has dispatched eight inspection groups to Xi'an to supervise officials attempts and measures to curb the spread of the virus. × (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19 concerns in China rise as country reports highest number of cases in four months

Meta Platform has said that Chinese-based networks were involved in elaborate online propaganda this year to promote claims of a fake Swiss biologist to spread disinformation on the origins of COVID-19.

According to a report by Meta, the Facebook accounts connected to Chinese information campaigns&nbsp;had promoted the claims of a fake Swiss biologist called “Wilson Edwards”, who claimed that the US was meddling in efforts to find the origins of COVID-19.

Facebook said it had removed a total of 524 Facebook accounts, 20 pages, four groups and 86 Instagram accounts after reviewing public reports that centred around the fake Swiss biologist.

The claims were widely carried by Chinese state media outlets like the Global Times and People's Daily, CGTN, Meta said in its yearly adversarial threat report.

Meta in its report said the social media campaign, which was “largely unsuccessful,” targeted English-speaking audiences in the United States and Britain and Chinese-speaking audiences in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet.

Both Twitter and Facebook are banned in China, but Beijing frequently uses both US social networks to promote its positions on the international stage.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-virus-lab-leak-theory-why-china-has-blocked-access-to-yunnan-mine-387360">'Wuhan virus' and the travails of being a pro-China Hong Kong lawmaker</a>

“Our investigation uncovered that almost the entire initial spread of the “Wilson Edwards” story on our platform was inauthentic — the work of a multi-pronged, largely unsuccessful influence operation that originated in China,” Meta said.

The company in its November said that there was a network of accounts amplifying the fake news, many of which were inauthentic, “but some were real and belonged to employees of Chinese state infrastructure companies including employees of Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co Ltd... and individuals associated with Chinese state infrastructure companies based around the world."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-virus-lab-leak-theory-why-china-has-blocked-access-to-yunnan-mine-387360">Wuhan virus lab leak theory: Why China has blocked access to Yunnan mine</a>

Meta said the campaign used Virtual Personal Network (VPN) infrastructure to conceal its origin, and to give Edwards a more rounded personality. It also said that his profile photo also appeared to have been generated using machine-learning capabilities.

The Swiss embassy has also recently denied the existence of Edwards, reports BCC.

It added "there was no registry of a Swiss citizen with the name "Wilson Edwards" and no academic articles under the name", and urged Chinese media outlets to take down any mention of him.

(With inputs from agencies)

Meta Platform has said that Chinese-based networks were involved in elaborate online propaganda this year to promote claims of a fake Swiss biologist to spread disinformation on the origins of COVID-19.

Meta Platform has said that Chinese-based networks were involved in elaborate online propaganda this year to promote claims of a fake Swiss biologist to spread disinformation on the origins of COVID-19. According to a report by Meta, the Facebook accounts connected to Chinese information campaigns had promoted the claims of a fake Swiss biologist called “Wilson Edwards”, who claimed that the US was meddling in efforts to find the origins of COVID-19. Facebook said it had removed a total of 524 Facebook accounts, 20 pages, four groups and 86 Instagram accounts after reviewing public reports that centred around the fake Swiss biologist. The claims were widely carried by Chinese state media outlets like the Global Times and People's Daily, CGTN, Meta said in its yearly adversarial threat report. Meta in its report said the social media campaign, which was “largely unsuccessful,” targeted English-speaking audiences in the United States and Britain and Chinese-speaking audiences in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet. Both Twitter and Facebook are banned in China, but Beijing frequently uses both US social networks to promote its positions on the international stage. Also read | 'Wuhan virus' and the travails of being a pro-China Hong Kong lawmaker “Our investigation uncovered that almost the entire initial spread of the “Wilson Edwards” story on our platform was inauthentic — the work of a multi-pronged, largely unsuccessful influence operation that originated in China,” Meta said. The company in its November said that there was a network of accounts amplifying the fake news, many of which were inauthentic, “but some were real and belonged to employees of Chinese state infrastructure companies including employees of Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co Ltd... and individuals associated with Chinese state infrastructure companies based around the world." Also read | Wuhan virus lab leak theory: Why China has blocked access to Yunnan mine Meta said the campaign used Virtual Personal Network (VPN) infrastructure to conceal its origin, and to give Edwards a more rounded personality. It also said that his profile photo also appeared to have been generated using machine-learning capabilities. The Swiss embassy has also recently denied the existence of Edwards, reports BCC. It added "there was no registry of a Swiss citizen with the name "Wilson Edwards" and no academic articles under the name", and urged Chinese media outlets to take down any mention of him. (With inputs from agencies)

China-based networks spread online disinformation campaign on Covid origins, says Facebook

China will not give up on its zero-tolerance policy towards local COVID-19 cases any time soon, some experts said, as the policy has allowed it to quickly quell local outbreaks, while the virus continues to spread outside its borders.

To stop local cases from turning into wider outbreaks, China has developed and continually refined its covid-fighting arsenal -- including mass testing, targeted lockdowns and travel restrictions - even when those anti-covid measures occasionally disrupted local economies.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-struggles-to-control-fresh-covid-outbreak-before-winter-olympics-425308">China struggles to control fresh Covid outbreak before Winter Olympics</a>

"The policy (in China) will remain for a long time," Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory disease expert who helped formulate China's C<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">ovid</a>&nbsp;strategy in early 2020, told state media.

"How long it will last depends on the virus-control situation worldwide."

In a major outbreak in July-August, China counted a total of over 1,200 local symptomatic infections. In the latest flare-up, mostly in northern China, some 538 local cases were reported between October&nbsp;17 and November&nbsp;1.

Despite the lower caseload, the geographical spread of the infections has put constraints on China's leisure and tourism sectors.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flights-weddings-cancelled-as-china-tackles-covid-outbreak-425130">Flights, weddings cancelled as China tackles Covid outbreak</a>

Since October&nbsp;23, travel agencies have not been allowed to organise tourism between certain provinces, with such restrictions affecting trips to nearly one-third of the mainland's 31 province-level regions including Beijing.

Many cities with infections have also closed indoor entertainment and cultural venues. A flurry of marathons, theatrical performances and concerts have been delayed or cancelled.

China also requires weeks of quarantine for most travellers arriving from abroad.

In contrast, some Asia-Pacific countries are starting to open selectively to fully vaccinated international travellers as they seek to secure a more normal footing for their economies and societies.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-disneyland-closed-over-single-covid-19-case-425800">Shanghai Disneyland closed over single COVID-19 case</a>

Another Year?

The successful containment of clusters and popular support for restricting international travel makes it overwhelmingly likely that China will stick to its zero tolerance towards domestic cases for at least another year, Gavekal Dragonomics analyst Ernan Cui said in a note.

"Officials seem to believe that giving up on the zero-tolerance approach would just replace one set of problems with another," wrote Cui.

Respiratory disease expert Zhong told state media CGTN that the current 2 per cent&nbsp;death rate of the disease globally, despite vaccination, is not tolerable in China.

"Zero tolerance costs a lot indeed, but letting the virus spread costs more," Zhong said.

Watch |&nbsp;China urges families to keep stocks of daily necessities ahead of winter

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-urges-families-to-keep-stocks-of-daily-necessities-ahead-of-winter-426015/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Some countries had loosened curbs while still reporting some small clusters, leading to a new series of infections that have since forced them to backpedal again, Zhong said.

Such back-and-forth in policy costs more, and has a greater impact on the public, he warned.

The cost of treating Covid patients - on average 20,000 yuan each and sometimes over 1 million yuan for those critically ill - totalled 2.8 billion yuan ($438 million) as of end-June, all paid by the government, state television said in August.

China will not give up on its zero-tolerance policy towards local COVID-19 cases any time soon, some experts said, as the policy has allowed it to quickly quell local outbreaks, while the virus continues to spread outside its borders.

China will not give up on its zero-tolerance policy towards local COVID-19 cases any time soon, some experts said, as the policy has allowed it to quickly quell local outbreaks, while the virus continues to spread outside its borders. To stop local cases from turning into wider outbreaks, China has developed and continually refined its covid-fighting arsenal -- including mass testing, targeted lockdowns and travel restrictions - even when those anti-covid measures occasionally disrupted local economies. Also Read | China struggles to control fresh Covid outbreak before Winter Olympics "The policy (in China) will remain for a long time," Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory disease expert who helped formulate China's Covid strategy in early 2020, told state media. "How long it will last depends on the virus-control situation worldwide." In a major outbreak in July-August, China counted a total of over 1,200 local symptomatic infections. In the latest flare-up, mostly in northern China, some 538 local cases were reported between October 17 and November 1. Despite the lower caseload, the geographical spread of the infections has put constraints on China's leisure and tourism sectors. Also Read | Flights, weddings cancelled as China tackles Covid outbreak Since October 23, travel agencies have not been allowed to organise tourism between certain provinces, with such restrictions affecting trips to nearly one-third of the mainland's 31 province-level regions including Beijing. Many cities with infections have also closed indoor entertainment and cultural venues. A flurry of marathons, theatrical performances and concerts have been delayed or cancelled. China also requires weeks of quarantine for most travellers arriving from abroad. In contrast, some Asia-Pacific countries are starting to open selectively to fully vaccinated international travellers as they seek to secure a more normal footing for their economies and societies. Also Read | Shanghai Disneyland closed over single COVID-19 case Another Year? The successful containment of clusters and popular support for restricting international travel makes it overwhelmingly likely that China will stick to its zero tolerance towards domestic cases for at least another year, Gavekal Dragonomics analyst Ernan Cui said in a note. "Officials seem to believe that giving up on the zero-tolerance approach would just replace one set of problems with another," wrote Cui. Respiratory disease expert Zhong told state media CGTN that the current 2 per cent death rate of the disease globally, despite vaccination, is not tolerable in China. "Zero tolerance costs a lot indeed, but letting the virus spread costs more," Zhong said. Watch | China urges families to keep stocks of daily necessities ahead of winter Some countries had loosened curbs while still reporting some small clusters, leading to a new series of infections that have since forced them to backpedal again, Zhong said. Such back-and-forth in policy costs more, and has a greater impact on the public, he warned. The cost of treating Covid patients - on average 20,000 yuan each and sometimes over 1 million yuan for those critically ill - totalled 2.8 billion yuan ($438 million) as of end-June, all paid by the government, state television said in August.

China won't give up on its zero-tolerance COVID policy soon - Experts

Following the formation of the new advisory group on dangerous pathogens, the WHO now says 'this may be our last chance to know the origins of Covid 19 pandemic'.

W.H.O: Our best and last chance to probe covid origin

The central city of Wuhan, where the COVID-19 outbreak first emerged in late 2019, reported two local confirmed cases for Sunday.

Covid cases hit-7 months high in China

The origin of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has remained a mystery even after over 1.5 years the first case of infection was reported in the Wuhan city of China.

US urges China to cooperate on COVID origin probe

China reported its biggest daily jump in new Covid-19 cases in more than two months, as Ruili, a city on the border with Myanmar in southwestern Yunnan province.

China reports biggest jump in daily cases of Covid-19 in over 2 months

In a fresh outbreak of Coronavirus, China's Ruili city has reported 16 new cases since Tuesday. The govt in an aggressive step to curb the outbreak aims to vaccinate nearly 300,000 people within 5 days.

Covid outbreak in China's Ruili near Myanmar

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