China, the only major economy witnessing a huge wave of fresh Covid infections, is in talks with Pfizer for it COVID-19 antiviral drug, said Reuters citing sources. The negotiations are on to secure a licence from Pfizer to allow China's domestic drugmakers to manufacture Paxlovid, Pfizer's Covid drug. Amid the surge of infections, many Chinese are attempting to acquire the drug overseas and trying to ship it to China&nbsp;for their loved ones.

After pouring huge resources into PCR testing during much of the pandemic, China is now shifting focus to vaccines and treatment.&nbsp;

On the vaccine front, China's CanSino Biologics Inc announced it has begun trial production for its COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccine, known as CS-2034.

China has relied on nine domestically-developed COVID vaccines approved for use, including inactivated vaccines, but none have been adapted to target the highly-transmissible Omicron variant and its offshoots currently in circulation.

The overall vaccination rate in the country is above 90%, but the rate for adults who have had booster shots is just 57.9%, and 42.3% for people aged 80 and older, according to government data released last month.

Manufacturing hit

China has some of the world's biggest manufacturing factories for major companies including tech companies. The fresh Covid wave has hit manufacturing in a big way.&nbsp;

CNBC reported that due to Covid, factories are unable to complete orders. In many factories, about half or even 75 per cent workforce is affected.

Even the major ports in China are experiencing supply chain delivery problems.

The report says that at Shanghai, world's number one container port, "cancellations are increasing" because factories are unable to fulfill orders as the workers are getting infected with Covid.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China, the only major economy witnessing a huge wave of fresh Covid infections, is in talks with Pfizer for it COVID-19 antiviral drug, said Reuters citing sources.

China, the only major economy witnessing a huge wave of fresh Covid infections, is in talks with Pfizer for it COVID-19 antiviral drug, said Reuters citing sources. The negotiations are on to secure a licence from Pfizer to allow China's domestic drugmakers to manufacture Paxlovid, Pfizer's Covid drug. Amid the surge of infections, many Chinese are attempting to acquire the drug overseas and trying to ship it to China for their loved ones. After pouring huge resources into PCR testing during much of the pandemic, China is now shifting focus to vaccines and treatment. On the vaccine front, China's CanSino Biologics Inc announced it has begun trial production for its COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccine, known as CS-2034. China has relied on nine domestically-developed COVID vaccines approved for use, including inactivated vaccines, but none have been adapted to target the highly-transmissible Omicron variant and its offshoots currently in circulation. The overall vaccination rate in the country is above 90%, but the rate for adults who have had booster shots is just 57.9%, and 42.3% for people aged 80 and older, according to government data released last month. Manufacturing hit China has some of the world's biggest manufacturing factories for major companies including tech companies. The fresh Covid wave has hit manufacturing in a big way. CNBC reported that due to Covid, factories are unable to complete orders. In many factories, about half or even 75 per cent workforce is affected. Even the major ports in China are experiencing supply chain delivery problems. The report says that at Shanghai, world's number one container port, "cancellations are increasing" because factories are unable to fulfill orders as the workers are getting infected with Covid. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

China in talks with Pfizer for COVID-19 anti-viral medicine paxlovid: Report

Britain is in talks with AstraZeneca for additional doses of its COVID-19 vaccine that will have been modified to better target the Beta coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, health minister Matt Hancock said on Wednesday. 
 
Britain has previously secured 100 million doses of the vaccine, developed at the University of Oxford and licensed to AstraZeneca. 
 
"We`ve started commercial negotiations with AstraZeneca to secure a variant vaccine: future supplies of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine that have been adapted to tackle the B.1.351 variant first identified in South Africa," Hancock said in a speech at the university. 
 
South Africa put use of AstraZeneca`s shot on hold in February after data showed it gave minimal protection against mild-to-moderate infection caused by the country`s dominant variant, now known as Beta. 
 
Oxford considers the variant top priority for vaccine developers, and AstraZeneca has targeted the development of new vaccines against variants by the autumn. 
 
Britain has committed to funding trials for the new adapted vaccine, which could be fast-tracked through the regulatory process following new guidance in March. 
 
Hancock`s speech came before he hosts a summit of Group of Seven (G7) health ministers in Oxford, which starts on Thursday. 
 
He said that Britain had hit the milestone of giving three-quarters of adults a first COVID-19 vaccine dose and nearly half the population has received two doses of vaccine. 
 
Britain has so far reported 904 cases of the Beta variant in total. 
 
By contrast, in South Africa there is an average of 3,745 new cases each day, and only around 1 million out of a target of 40 million people have received a COVID-19 vaccine. 
 
Hancock did not say if the vaccines under negotiation would be donated or kept for use domestically. 
 
Earlier AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said he was working with governments on increasing their pledged vaccine donations through the COVAX vaccine-sharing mechanism. 
 
Hancock said AstraZeneca, which has pledged not to make a profit from vaccines during the pandemic, had released half a billion doses of the shot for global supply so far.

Britain is in talks with AstraZeneca for additional doses of its COVID-19 vaccine that will have been modified to better target the Beta coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, health minister Matt Hancock said on Wednesday.

Britain is in talks with AstraZeneca for additional doses of its COVID-19 vaccine that will have been modified to better target the Beta coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, health minister Matt Hancock said on Wednesday. Britain has previously secured 100 million doses of the vaccine, developed at the University of Oxford and licensed to AstraZeneca. "We`ve started commercial negotiations with AstraZeneca to secure a variant vaccine: future supplies of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine that have been adapted to tackle the B.1.351 variant first identified in South Africa," Hancock said in a speech at the university. South Africa put use of AstraZeneca`s shot on hold in February after data showed it gave minimal protection against mild-to-moderate infection caused by the country`s dominant variant, now known as Beta. Oxford considers the variant top priority for vaccine developers, and AstraZeneca has targeted the development of new vaccines against variants by the autumn. Britain has committed to funding trials for the new adapted vaccine, which could be fast-tracked through the regulatory process following new guidance in March. Hancock`s speech came before he hosts a summit of Group of Seven (G7) health ministers in Oxford, which starts on Thursday. He said that Britain had hit the milestone of giving three-quarters of adults a first COVID-19 vaccine dose and nearly half the population has received two doses of vaccine. Britain has so far reported 904 cases of the Beta variant in total. By contrast, in South Africa there is an average of 3,745 new cases each day, and only around 1 million out of a target of 40 million people have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Hancock did not say if the vaccines under negotiation would be donated or kept for use domestically. Earlier AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said he was working with governments on increasing their pledged vaccine donations through the COVAX vaccine-sharing mechanism. Hancock said AstraZeneca, which has pledged not to make a profit from vaccines during the pandemic, had released half a billion doses of the shot for global supply so far.

Britain seeks extra AstraZeneca shots to combat Beta COVID-19 variant

The former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has claimed&nbsp;that COVID-19 escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China - the first epicentre of the virus.

Robert Redfield, who &nbsp;headed&nbsp;the CDC during the onset of the pandemic in the Trump administration, said that COVID-19 did not evolve naturally. “I’m of the point of view that I&nbsp;still think the most likely&nbsp;etiology of this pathology in&nbsp;Wuhan was from a laboratory — escaped,” he said in an interview to CNN.

In fact, Redfield acknowledged naysayers.&nbsp;“Other people don’t believe that.&nbsp;That’s fine.&nbsp;Science will eventually figure&nbsp;it out”, he added.

Theories run amok

Ever since the pandemic began, conspiracy theories surrounding its origins have developed a strong following on social media. From the lab leak theory to alien involvement - everything has takers.&nbsp;

In light of such theories circulating on social media with minimal curbs, tech companies have come under the radar of governments around the world for their role in not stopping misinformation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-invasion-spectacular-display-of-lights-across-us-sparks-conspiracy-theories-373462" hreflang="en">'Alien invasion': Spectacular display of lights across US sparks conspiracy theories</a>

Scientists unanimously agree that the virus was spread to humans from an animal, which came in contact with patient zero who then spread it to everyone. They believe the zoonotic virus may have jumped to humans from bats, or a pangolin which consumed a bat with the virus. Coronaviruses are common among bats, and they don’t even show symptoms.

Redfield remains unshaken

Even then, many continue to believe that the virus was released from the Wuhan institute of Virology - China’s only lab allowed to study pathogens.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/invisible-ghost-stars-may-be-holding-galaxies-together-in-space-what-does-this-revelation-change-373361" hreflang="en">Invisible 'ghost stars' may be holding galaxies together in space. What does this revelation change?</a>

Redfield also said that it is common for pathogens that are being studied in a lab to infect workers, while adding “that’s not implying any intentionality”.&nbsp; He also completely rejected the zoonotic jump theory, saying that he does not believe the virus “came from a bat to a human”.

To back this, Redfield says that how quickly it became a pandemic could shed light on how it was not naturally occurring. He said that a virus requires time to acclimatise to human bodies and to cause major transmission.

The former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has claimed that COVID-19 escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China - the first epicentre of the virus.

The former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has claimed that COVID-19 escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China - the first epicentre of the virus. Robert Redfield, who headed the CDC during the onset of the pandemic in the Trump administration, said that COVID-19 did not evolve naturally. “I’m of the point of view that I still think the most likely etiology of this pathology in Wuhan was from a laboratory — escaped,” he said in an interview to CNN. In fact, Redfield acknowledged naysayers. “Other people don’t believe that. That’s fine. Science will eventually figure it out”, he added. Theories run amok Ever since the pandemic began, conspiracy theories surrounding its origins have developed a strong following on social media. From the lab leak theory to alien involvement - everything has takers. In light of such theories circulating on social media with minimal curbs, tech companies have come under the radar of governments around the world for their role in not stopping misinformation. Also read: 'Alien invasion': Spectacular display of lights across US sparks conspiracy theories Scientists unanimously agree that the virus was spread to humans from an animal, which came in contact with patient zero who then spread it to everyone. They believe the zoonotic virus may have jumped to humans from bats, or a pangolin which consumed a bat with the virus. Coronaviruses are common among bats, and they don’t even show symptoms. Redfield remains unshaken Even then, many continue to believe that the virus was released from the Wuhan institute of Virology - China’s only lab allowed to study pathogens. Also read: Invisible 'ghost stars' may be holding galaxies together in space. What does this revelation change? Redfield also said that it is common for pathogens that are being studied in a lab to infect workers, while adding “that’s not implying any intentionality”. He also completely rejected the zoonotic jump theory, saying that he does not believe the virus “came from a bat to a human”. To back this, Redfield says that how quickly it became a pandemic could shed light on how it was not naturally occurring. He said that a virus requires time to acclimatise to human bodies and to cause major transmission.

COVID-19 came from a lab in Wuhan, claims former CDC chief Robert Redfield

Facebook on Monday said that it has begun labelling all posts that discuss the safety of COVID-19 shots, while adding that the company plans on labelling all posts about the vaccines soon.

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The company has faced criticism for how it handles misinformation that was rampantly spreading, and continues to spread on the platform. Most of this information now pertains to vaccines, while government across the world attempt to inoculate populations.

In a blog post, the company announced plans to launch a tool in the United States offering more information to people about the vaccines, and plans to add an information area about COVID-19 on Instagram.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/social-media-coup-russia-slows-down-twitter-files-cases-against-facebook-and-google-369526" hreflang="en">Social media coup: Russia slows down Twitter, files cases against Facebook and Google</a>

Social media platforms became the hotbeds of misleading claims about COVID-19 and vaccines during the pandemic. Facebook and Instagram recently tightened policies regarding misinformation about the virus.

Even then, the platforms continue to host a large number of accounts, pages, and groups that promote false claims about the vaccines. 
 
In an interview, the company’s Chief Product Officer Chris Cox said that Facebook takes false claims “very seriously”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/facebook-halts-project-for-undersea-data-cable-to-hong-kong-369577" hreflang="en">Facebook halts project for undersea data cable to Hong Kong</a> 
 
The company claims that it will label all Facebook and Instagram posts that talk about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The label will add how vaccines undergo testing and safety trials before being rolled out.

Facebook on Monday said that it has begun labelling all posts that discuss the safety of COVID-19 shots, while adding that the company plans on labelling all posts about the vaccines soon.

Facebook on Monday said that it has begun labelling all posts that discuss the safety of COVID-19 shots, while adding that the company plans on labelling all posts about the vaccines soon. The company has faced criticism for how it handles misinformation that was rampantly spreading, and continues to spread on the platform. Most of this information now pertains to vaccines, while government across the world attempt to inoculate populations. In a blog post, the company announced plans to launch a tool in the United States offering more information to people about the vaccines, and plans to add an information area about COVID-19 on Instagram. Also read: Social media coup: Russia slows down Twitter, files cases against Facebook and Google Social media platforms became the hotbeds of misleading claims about COVID-19 and vaccines during the pandemic. Facebook and Instagram recently tightened policies regarding misinformation about the virus. Even then, the platforms continue to host a large number of accounts, pages, and groups that promote false claims about the vaccines. In an interview, the company’s Chief Product Officer Chris Cox said that Facebook takes false claims “very seriously”. Also read: Facebook halts project for undersea data cable to Hong Kong The company claims that it will label all Facebook and Instagram posts that talk about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The label will add how vaccines undergo testing and safety trials before being rolled out.

Facebook set to label all COVID-related posts to battle misinformation

China is battling the worst outbreak of COVID-19 since March 2020, with one province posting a record daily rise in cases, as an independent panel reviewing the global pandemic said China could have done more to curb the initial outbreak.

Fineprint: Worst COVID-19 outbreak in China since March 2020

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China in talks with Pfizer for COVID-19 anti-viral medicine paxlovid: Report

Britain seeks extra AstraZeneca shots to combat Beta COVID-19 variant

COVID-19 came from a lab in Wuhan, claims former CDC chief Robert Redfield

Facebook set to label all COVID-related posts to battle misinformation

Fineprint: Worst COVID-19 outbreak in China since March 2020

Fineprint: Worst COVID-19 outbreak in China since March 2020