Thailand has succumbed to Beijing's bullying and opened up its border to unvaccinated Chinese tourists. What does this mean for you? Is Thailand no longer a safe destination for you? Will travelling to this country mean risking infection? Priyanka Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Thailand succumbs to China's bullying, opens border for unvaccinated Chinese

Packed parking lot, crowded funeral homes: Satellite images reveal true scale of Covid outbreak in China

Dr. Hans Kluge, World Health Organization's Europe director, calls for precautionary travel restrictions linked to passengers coming from China "to be rooted in science, proportionate and non-discriminatory"

WHO: Measures for travel from China should be 'non discriminatory'

<p>Reporters on the ground have frequently encountered difficulties in completing their everyday jobs and reporting. On one such occasion, a Canadian reporter named Jessica Robb passed out while being broadcast live. Soon after, a flood of comments on social media claimed that the reporter's medical issue was caused by the COVID inoculations she had received. Learn everything there is to know about the vaccination controversy and what CTV has stated since the story started to take an absurd turn with conspiracy ideas.</p>

<h2><strong>What happened to Jessica Robb?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>While doing her routine reporting duties, Canadian reporter Jessica Robb abruptly started to slur and repeat words on the live show while speaking with anchor Nahreman Issa. In the video that quickly became viral online, Jessica Robb can be seen having trouble speaking and running out of words. She may also be seen at one point appearing bewildered and wobbling. The young reporter was almost seen fainting as she lost control. Later, the cameraman switched the broadcast from Robb to Issa reporting from the news studio. While apologizing to the anchor Issa, Jessica said that she was not feeling very well. "I am about to just...," she continued. Issa interrupted and said that they will come back to her and make sure that she is doing okay.</p>

<h2><strong>Social media conspiracy theories&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Following this, a number of Twitter users expressed worry about Jessica Robb's physical condition and made connections to her medical emergency situation with vaccines. Robb's tweets were immediately shielded when she passed out on live air, according to several people online. Recently, the young reporter posted on Twitter that she had received three doses of the Covid vaccination. Some people on social media criticised the channel for attempting to keep the public from learning about her health.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Young Canadian reporter Jessica Robb slurs her words and appears to have a stroke on live television tonight.<br />
<br />
She has since tweeted that she is fine and previously shared in April 2022 that she was "feeling very lucky to be vaxxed x3." <a href="https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KanekoaTheGreat</a> <a href="https://t.co/A2nYmtPjS1">pic.twitter.com/A2nYmtPjS1</a></p>
— Patriot4Life (@Patriot4Life72) <a href="https://twitter.com/Patriot4Life72/status/1612497561834721280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Robb posts update on social media&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Before her account was made private, Robb informed her fans on social media about her health after she nearly passed out while appearing live on television. She also thanked her cameraperson and other people who helped her during the medical emergency. However, she fell short of providing any other details of her medical situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Jessica Robb" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="79516680-ea7b-4f15-b71f-a8ef4aaaeebd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Jessica%20Robbb.png" /></p>

<h2><strong>CTV posts updates on Jessica Robb, debunked COVID vaccine conspiracy theories&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>CTV posted a message providing updates on Jessica Robb's health.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A message from Jessica Robb: On Sunday night, a very personal and vulnerable moment unfolded as I reported live on air. <a href="https://t.co/WbMNWhsoN7">pic.twitter.com/WbMNWhsoN7</a></p>
— CTV Edmonton (@ctvedmonton) <a href="https://twitter.com/ctvedmonton/status/1612565551770992640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Who is Jessica Robb?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Robb is an Edmonton local who is enthusiastic about her job and reports news from her city, according to her bio on CTV News. In June 2019, she received her Communications and Journalism degree from MacEwan University. The next year, in the summer, she started working as a reporter. In addition to being a reporter, Jessica plays soccer, runs, and plays the guitar occasionally.</p>


Reporters on the ground have frequently encountered difficulties in completing their everyday jobs and reporting. On one such occasion, a Canadian reporter named Jessica Robb passed out while being broadcast live.

Reporters on the ground have frequently encountered difficulties in completing their everyday jobs and reporting. On one such occasion, a Canadian reporter named Jessica Robb passed out while being broadcast live. Soon after, a flood of comments on social media claimed that the reporter's medical issue was caused by the COVID inoculations she had received. Learn everything there is to know about the vaccination controversy and what CTV has stated since the story started to take an absurd turn with conspiracy ideas. What happened to Jessica Robb? While doing her routine reporting duties, Canadian reporter Jessica Robb abruptly started to slur and repeat words on the live show while speaking with anchor Nahreman Issa. In the video that quickly became viral online, Jessica Robb can be seen having trouble speaking and running out of words. She may also be seen at one point appearing bewildered and wobbling. The young reporter was almost seen fainting as she lost control. Later, the cameraman switched the broadcast from Robb to Issa reporting from the news studio. While apologizing to the anchor Issa, Jessica said that she was not feeling very well. "I am about to just...," she continued. Issa interrupted and said that they will come back to her and make sure that she is doing okay. Social media conspiracy theories Following this, a number of Twitter users expressed worry about Jessica Robb's physical condition and made connections to her medical emergency situation with vaccines. Robb's tweets were immediately shielded when she passed out on live air, according to several people online. Recently, the young reporter posted on Twitter that she had received three doses of the Covid vaccination. Some people on social media criticised the channel for attempting to keep the public from learning about her health. Young Canadian reporter Jessica Robb slurs her words and appears to have a stroke on live television tonight. She has since tweeted that she is fine and previously shared in April 2022 that she was "feeling very lucky to be vaxxed x3." @KanekoaTheGreat pic.twitter.com/A2nYmtPjS1 — Patriot4Life (@Patriot4Life72) January 9, 2023 × Robb posts update on social media Before her account was made private, Robb informed her fans on social media about her health after she nearly passed out while appearing live on television. She also thanked her cameraperson and other people who helped her during the medical emergency. However, she fell short of providing any other details of her medical situation. CTV posts updates on Jessica Robb, debunked COVID vaccine conspiracy theories CTV posted a message providing updates on Jessica Robb's health. A message from Jessica Robb: On Sunday night, a very personal and vulnerable moment unfolded as I reported live on air. pic.twitter.com/WbMNWhsoN7 — CTV Edmonton (@ctvedmonton) January 9, 2023 × Who is Jessica Robb? Robb is an Edmonton local who is enthusiastic about her job and reports news from her city, according to her bio on CTV News. In June 2019, she received her Communications and Journalism degree from MacEwan University. The next year, in the summer, she started working as a reporter. In addition to being a reporter, Jessica plays soccer, runs, and plays the guitar occasionally.

What is the COVID vaccine controversy surrounding Jessica Robb, the Canadian reporter who collapsed on air?

The Chinese embassy in South Korea has suspended issuing short-term visas for South Korean visitors, it said on Tuesday, the first retaliatory move against nations imposing COVID-19 curbs on travellers from China.

Why has China halted short-term visas in South Korea?

China stops issuing short-term visas for South Koreans

<p>The European Union Health Security Committee stated on Tuesday that there has been&nbsp;an agreement among EU members&nbsp;over the evolving Covid scenario and they have decided to take a "coordinated approach," noting that this will have implications for Chinese travellers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stella Kyriakides, the head of the EU's health department, said the committee took steps, including pre-departure testing for Chinese travellers, expanded wastewater monitoring, and ramped-up domestic surveillance to contain the fresh outbreak.</p>

<p>According to the European Commission, 27 member countries of the EU will make mandatory for passengers flying out from China be properly tested for Covid before departure.&nbsp;"The overwhelming majority of countries are in favour of pre-departure testing," a commission spokesman said after Tuesday's meeting, Reuters reported.</p>

<p>The unanimous recommendation came after deliberations at a meeting between EU health ministry officials held in Brussels on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A crisis meeting is slated for Wednesday, where it will be decided as to what synchronised actions will be taken across the bloc.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>EU offers China free vaccines as cases surge, WHO advisers demand ‘realistic’ data</strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the EU has offered free vaccines to China to help it curb the Covid outbreak. The initiative was taken by EU’s Kyriakides, but China has not yet responded to the offer.</p>

<p>This comes after China decided to lift its "zero Covid" policy, following which the Chinese citizens and residents demanded flights to travel across the world.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://wionnews.com/world/china-warns-of-countermeasures-over-countries-seeking-negative-covid-test-from-flyers-549091">China warns of 'counter-measures' against countries seeking negative Covid test from flyers</a></strong></p>

<p>The EU is concerned that a rapid surge of Chinese passengers could carry unknown coronavirus strains to different parts of the world that the current vaccines might not be able to resist</p>

<p>China's Covid data is widely believed to be insufficient and imprecise, leading WHO advisers to demand 'realistic' data from China.</p>

<p>Reacting to curbs by various nations, a defiant Beijing has threatened countermeasures against “unacceptable” Covid measures.</p>

<p>A renowned Shanghai physician admitted that the coronavirus may have infected more than 70% of the city's residents. Still, the Covid pandemic testing requirements imposed on visitors from China across countries have drawn harsh criticism from the Chinese government.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Rise in Covid cases despite zero-Covid policy</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://13.235.153.162/videos/china-covid-country-reports-39791-new-infections-rise-despite-zero-covid-policy-537827/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>China has threatened to take action against the countries seeking negative Covid tests from flyers,&nbsp;including the US and other European countries.</p>

<p>“We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Notably, China itself has some of the most stringent entry rules for visitors from other countries. It will no longer require a five-day quarantine for all arrivals, but will still demand a Covid&nbsp;test result that is negative within 48 hours of the trip.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><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></p>


The European Union Health Security Committee stated on Tuesday that there has been an agreement among EU members over the evolving Covid scenario and they have decided to take a "coordinated approach," noting that this will have implications for Chinese travellers.

The European Union Health Security Committee stated on Tuesday that there has been an agreement among EU members over the evolving Covid scenario and they have decided to take a "coordinated approach," noting that this will have implications for Chinese travellers. Stella Kyriakides, the head of the EU's health department, said the committee took steps, including pre-departure testing for Chinese travellers, expanded wastewater monitoring, and ramped-up domestic surveillance to contain the fresh outbreak. According to the European Commission, 27 member countries of the EU will make mandatory for passengers flying out from China be properly tested for Covid before departure. "The overwhelming majority of countries are in favour of pre-departure testing," a commission spokesman said after Tuesday's meeting, Reuters reported. The unanimous recommendation came after deliberations at a meeting between EU health ministry officials held in Brussels on Tuesday. A crisis meeting is slated for Wednesday, where it will be decided as to what synchronised actions will be taken across the bloc. EU offers China free vaccines as cases surge, WHO advisers demand ‘realistic’ data Meanwhile, the EU has offered free vaccines to China to help it curb the Covid outbreak. The initiative was taken by EU’s Kyriakides, but China has not yet responded to the offer. This comes after China decided to lift its "zero Covid" policy, following which the Chinese citizens and residents demanded flights to travel across the world. Also Read | China warns of 'counter-measures' against countries seeking negative Covid test from flyers The EU is concerned that a rapid surge of Chinese passengers could carry unknown coronavirus strains to different parts of the world that the current vaccines might not be able to resist China's Covid data is widely believed to be insufficient and imprecise, leading WHO advisers to demand 'realistic' data from China. Reacting to curbs by various nations, a defiant Beijing has threatened countermeasures against “unacceptable” Covid measures. A renowned Shanghai physician admitted that the coronavirus may have infected more than 70% of the city's residents. Still, the Covid pandemic testing requirements imposed on visitors from China across countries have drawn harsh criticism from the Chinese government. Watch | Rise in Covid cases despite zero-Covid policy China has threatened to take action against the countries seeking negative Covid tests from flyers, including the US and other European countries. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday. Notably, China itself has some of the most stringent entry rules for visitors from other countries. It will no longer require a five-day quarantine for all arrivals, but will still demand a Covid test result that is negative within 48 hours of the trip. (With inputs from agencies)

EU nations agree on pre-departure Covid test for flyers from China, formal decision on Wednesday

China has lifted quarantine requirements for inbound travellers, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation even as the country battles a surge in Covid cases.

China reopens borders from Hong Kong to mainland China ending its major Covid restrictions

China on Saturday marked the first day of the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel, and braced itself for an increase in the spread of Covid infections.

China marks Lunar Year amid wave of Covid infections

<p>Scores of people holding a demonstration at a factory producing COVID-19 antigen kits clashed with the police, several videos that went viral on social media on Sunday showed.</p>

<p>According to Reuters news agency, the incident took place on Saturday when the workers were protesting for wages and against layoff by the manufacturer, Zybio, in the central municipality of Chongqing.</p>

<p>Police and Zybio are yet to respond to this situation, but several media outlets reported that the protest pertained to wage-related issues and the layoffs of workers who were recruited recently.</p>

<p>"All the workers' demands are economic in nature," said a man in one video who called himself a "Marxist-Leninist-Maoist", reports AFP news agency. He asserted that their protest had no political undertones and was purely against the management.</p>

<p>One of the clips showed people hurling throwing traffic cones, boxes and stools at police carrying riot shields. While another video, posted on Twitter and Douyin, showed dozens of protesters chanting "return our money".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="zh">我靠 重庆那边人这么猛？ <a href="https://t.co/kWbOZzutaP">pic.twitter.com/kWbOZzutaP</a></p>
— QINGEN XU 徐勤根 (@QingenXu) <a href="https://twitter.com/QingenXu/status/1611690804984123395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jan 7, at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chongqing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chongqing</a> city, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CCPChina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CCPChina</a>, workers clashed with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CCP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CCP</a> police whn they protested against their employer, ZY Bio(中元汇吉药厂) ‘s sudden announcement that some 10K employees would be laid off.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChinaProtests?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChinaProtests</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChinaUprising?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChinaUprising</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ptt1t0qBbg">pic.twitter.com/Ptt1t0qBbg</a></p>
— Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng 曾錚真言 (@jenniferzeng97) <a href="https://twitter.com/jenniferzeng97/status/1611861096402403330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Immediately after the protest, the officials censored anything related to the incident on social media, with AFP claiming that the hashtag "Chongqing Dadukou Pharmaceutical Factory" was not visible a day after on the popular Weibo social media platform Sunday.</p>

<p>&nbsp;Only one post from the previous day is still appearing on Weibo, with a user describing the protest as an "interesting topic".</p>

<p>Whereas a video posted on video sharing app TikTok belonging to a state-owned news outlet showed what it claimed was a street littered with antigen tests in a Chongqing industrial park.</p>

<p>"Sources say a labour dispute triggered conflict," the caption read. The video was taken down within hours.</p>

<p>The enforcement officials have heightened their security after witnessing series of protests last year including worker unrest at Apple supplier Foxconn's massive iPhone factory in central China, as well as widespread protests in Chinese cities and top universities against Covid restrictions.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

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Scores of people holding a demonstration at a factory producing COVID-19 antigen kits clashed with the police, several videos that went viral on social media on Sunday showed.

Scores of people holding a demonstration at a factory producing COVID-19 antigen kits clashed with the police, several videos that went viral on social media on Sunday showed. According to Reuters news agency, the incident took place on Saturday when the workers were protesting for wages and against layoff by the manufacturer, Zybio, in the central municipality of Chongqing. Police and Zybio are yet to respond to this situation, but several media outlets reported that the protest pertained to wage-related issues and the layoffs of workers who were recruited recently. "All the workers' demands are economic in nature," said a man in one video who called himself a "Marxist-Leninist-Maoist", reports AFP news agency. He asserted that their protest had no political undertones and was purely against the management. One of the clips showed people hurling throwing traffic cones, boxes and stools at police carrying riot shields. While another video, posted on Twitter and Douyin, showed dozens of protesters chanting "return our money". 我靠 重庆那边人这么猛？ pic.twitter.com/kWbOZzutaP — QINGEN XU 徐勤根 (@QingenXu) January 7, 2023 × Jan 7, at #Chongqing city, #CCPChina, workers clashed with #CCP police whn they protested against their employer, ZY Bio(中元汇吉药厂) ‘s sudden announcement that some 10K employees would be laid off.#ChinaProtests #China #ChinaUprising pic.twitter.com/Ptt1t0qBbg — Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng 曾錚真言 (@jenniferzeng97) January 7, 2023 × Immediately after the protest, the officials censored anything related to the incident on social media, with AFP claiming that the hashtag "Chongqing Dadukou Pharmaceutical Factory" was not visible a day after on the popular Weibo social media platform Sunday. Only one post from the previous day is still appearing on Weibo, with a user describing the protest as an "interesting topic". Whereas a video posted on video sharing app TikTok belonging to a state-owned news outlet showed what it claimed was a street littered with antigen tests in a Chongqing industrial park. "Sources say a labour dispute triggered conflict," the caption read. The video was taken down within hours. The enforcement officials have heightened their security after witnessing series of protests last year including worker unrest at Apple supplier Foxconn's massive iPhone factory in central China, as well as widespread protests in Chinese cities and top universities against Covid restrictions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch: Workers clash with police amidst massive protest at Covid antigen factory in China

<p>Japan on Sunday (January 8) tightened border controls further for travellers coming from mainland China. All such incoming travellers will now have to present proof of being Covid negative. The restrictions require that the Covid test should be conducted within 72 hours before departure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The restrictions have been put in place with an aim of preventing the spread of highly transmittable strains of Covid as there is a massive surge in cases across China after the strict Zero-Covid policy restrictions were lifted.</p>

<p>The restrictions, however, currently do not apply to travellers coming from Hong Kong or Macau.</p>

<p>Other than that, all travellers from mainland China or those who were in the country within seven days before arrival in Japan will also have to take a PCR or high-quality antigen test when they arrive in Japan.</p>

<p>If a traveller tests positive on arrival in Japan and is showing symptoms, he/ she will have to quarantine for seven days. The quarantine period will be of five days if the traveller is asymptomatic.</p>

<p>Previously, those arriving from Hong Kong and Macau were restricted to four Japanese airports.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, China on Sunday, opened its borders for inbound travellers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-weibo-bans-1000-accounts-critical-of-govts-covid-policy-550296">China’s Weibo bans more than 1,000 accounts critical of govt’s Covid policy</a></strong></p>

<p>On Sunday, the first section of passengers to arrive under the new rules landed at airports in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, CGTN news agency reported.</p>

<p>There were 387 flyers on the flights from Singapore and Toronto. However, no one was subjected to COVID-19 tests or earlier mandatory five-day quarantine after arrival.</p>

<p><em>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>

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Japan on Sunday (January 8) tightened border controls further for travellers coming from mainland China. All such incoming travellers will now have to present proof of being Covid negative.

Japan on Sunday (January 8) tightened border controls further for travellers coming from mainland China. All such incoming travellers will now have to present proof of being Covid negative. The restrictions require that the Covid test should be conducted within 72 hours before departure. The restrictions have been put in place with an aim of preventing the spread of highly transmittable strains of Covid as there is a massive surge in cases across China after the strict Zero-Covid policy restrictions were lifted. The restrictions, however, currently do not apply to travellers coming from Hong Kong or Macau. Other than that, all travellers from mainland China or those who were in the country within seven days before arrival in Japan will also have to take a PCR or high-quality antigen test when they arrive in Japan. If a traveller tests positive on arrival in Japan and is showing symptoms, he/ she will have to quarantine for seven days. The quarantine period will be of five days if the traveller is asymptomatic. Previously, those arriving from Hong Kong and Macau were restricted to four Japanese airports. Meanwhile, China on Sunday, opened its borders for inbound travellers. Also Read | China’s Weibo bans more than 1,000 accounts critical of govt’s Covid policy On Sunday, the first section of passengers to arrive under the new rules landed at airports in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, CGTN news agency reported. There were 387 flyers on the flights from Singapore and Toronto. However, no one was subjected to COVID-19 tests or earlier mandatory five-day quarantine after arrival. 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 ×

Japan makes Covid test must for travellers from China, orders quarantine for those found infected

China is in talks with Pfizer to secure a licence that will permit domestic drugmakers to manufacture and distribute generic version of the U.S. firm's Covid drug as cases surge. Watch this video to know more.

China in talks with Pfizer for generic Covid drug, says reports

The 40-day Luna New Year travel period known as "chun yun" began on Saturday in China, igniting concerns about a massive influx of travellers and the further spread of Covid-19 infections.

China: 40-day Lunar New Year migration begins amid surging Covid

Dead bodies are piling up in crematoriums yet China insists on underreporting Covid deaths. We show you the reality. Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: China’s Wuhan virus cover-up

<p>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.</p>

<p>After pouring huge resources into PCR testing during much of the pandemic, China is now shifting focus to vaccines and treatment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><strong>Manufacturing hit</strong></p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Even the major ports in China are experiencing supply chain delivery problems.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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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

It's almost ironical, given how the W.H.O. has seemingly been party to China's cover-up. Priyanka Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: W.H.O. pulls up China for undercounting Wuhan virus deaths

<p>Scientists have found that the baseline immune statuses in men previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 were altered in ways that changed the response to an exposure different from SARS-CoV-2.</p>

<p>The team of researchers systematically analysed the immune responses of healthy people who had been given the flu vaccine. From that data, they then compared the responses between those who had never been infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and those who experienced mild cases but recovered.</p>

<p>The team led by John Tsang, an immunobiologist from Yale University, US, found that immune systems of men who had recovered from mild cases of COVID-19 responded more robustly to flu vaccines than women who had had mild cases or men and women who had never been infected.</p>

<p>“This was a total surprise,” said Tsang.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-asks-china-arrivals-for-negative-covid-test-549730">Germany makes negative pre-departure Covid test report must for travellers from China</a></strong></p>

<p>“Women usually mount a stronger overall immune response to pathogens and vaccines, but are also more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases,” said Tsang.</p>

<p>The long-term effects of infection on the immune system had long intrigued Tsang. After the body has faced down a pathogen, does the immune system return to the previous baseline? Or does a single infection change it in ways that alter how it will respond not only to a familiar virus but also to the next new viral or bacterial threat it faces? Tsang, a professor at Yale University, had long believed that the immune system reverts to the previous stable baseline after viral infection.</p>

<p>The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 allowed him and colleagues to test that theory. The answer, they found, depends on the individual’s sex. The findings have been published in the journal Nature.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-covid-19-cases-on-the-rise-who-urges-to-share-real-time-data-548381/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The findings may also be linked to an observation made early in the pandemic: Men were much more likely to die from a runaway immune response than women after contracting the COVID-19 virus. Even mild cases of COVID-19, the new findings suggest, might trigger stronger inflammatory responses in males than females, resulting in more pronounced functional changes to the male immune system, even long after recovery.</p>

<p>According to the study, their unbiased analysis of immune system status down to the individual cell level revealed several differences between COVID-recovered males and healthy controls and COVID-recovered females, both before and after receiving flu vaccinations.</p>

<p>For instance, previously infected males produced more antibodies to influenza and produced increased levels of interferons, which are produced by cells in response to infections or vaccines. Generally, healthy females have stronger interferon responses than their male counterparts, the study said.</p>

<p>Understanding the lingering effects of COVID-19 on the immune system is crucial, the authors said, since more than 600 million people worldwide have been infected so far, and the emergence of “long-COVID” symptoms in some people continues to be a major health concern.</p>

<p>“Our findings point to the possibility that any infection or immune challenge may change the immune status to establish new set points,” said lead author Rachel Sparks, from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).</p>

<p>“The immune status of an individual is likely shaped by a multitude of prior exposures and perturbations,” said Sparks.</p>

<p>Tsang thinks these findings may also help scientists create better vaccines against diverse threats by, for instance, mimicking how mild COVID-19 changes the male immune baseline.&nbsp;</p>

<p><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></p>


Scientists have found that the baseline immune statuses in men previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 were altered in ways that changed the response to an exposure different from SARS-CoV-2.

Scientists have found that the baseline immune statuses in men previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 were altered in ways that changed the response to an exposure different from SARS-CoV-2. The team of researchers systematically analysed the immune responses of healthy people who had been given the flu vaccine. From that data, they then compared the responses between those who had never been infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and those who experienced mild cases but recovered. The team led by John Tsang, an immunobiologist from Yale University, US, found that immune systems of men who had recovered from mild cases of COVID-19 responded more robustly to flu vaccines than women who had had mild cases or men and women who had never been infected. “This was a total surprise,” said Tsang. Also Read: Germany makes negative pre-departure Covid test report must for travellers from China “Women usually mount a stronger overall immune response to pathogens and vaccines, but are also more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases,” said Tsang. The long-term effects of infection on the immune system had long intrigued Tsang. After the body has faced down a pathogen, does the immune system return to the previous baseline? Or does a single infection change it in ways that alter how it will respond not only to a familiar virus but also to the next new viral or bacterial threat it faces? Tsang, a professor at Yale University, had long believed that the immune system reverts to the previous stable baseline after viral infection. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 allowed him and colleagues to test that theory. The answer, they found, depends on the individual’s sex. The findings have been published in the journal Nature. The findings may also be linked to an observation made early in the pandemic: Men were much more likely to die from a runaway immune response than women after contracting the COVID-19 virus. Even mild cases of COVID-19, the new findings suggest, might trigger stronger inflammatory responses in males than females, resulting in more pronounced functional changes to the male immune system, even long after recovery. According to the study, their unbiased analysis of immune system status down to the individual cell level revealed several differences between COVID-recovered males and healthy controls and COVID-recovered females, both before and after receiving flu vaccinations. For instance, previously infected males produced more antibodies to influenza and produced increased levels of interferons, which are produced by cells in response to infections or vaccines. Generally, healthy females have stronger interferon responses than their male counterparts, the study said. Understanding the lingering effects of COVID-19 on the immune system is crucial, the authors said, since more than 600 million people worldwide have been infected so far, and the emergence of “long-COVID” symptoms in some people continues to be a major health concern. “Our findings point to the possibility that any infection or immune challenge may change the immune status to establish new set points,” said lead author Rachel Sparks, from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). “The immune status of an individual is likely shaped by a multitude of prior exposures and perturbations,” said Sparks. Tsang thinks these findings may also help scientists create better vaccines against diverse threats by, for instance, mimicking how mild COVID-19 changes the male immune baseline.

COVID-19 changes body’s immune response depending on sex, finds study

Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiologist with the Hong Kong University said, the prediction by international disease experts of at least 1 million COVID-related deaths in China this year is 'quite possible', adding that the deaths could have been avoided should there be better preparation.

Expert says around one million deaths 'quite possible' in China due to Covid

<p>China's ongoing struggle to combat the latest surge in Covid cases was seen in visuals that went viral on social media. In a video posted on Twitter, cited to be of December 28, people can be seen being treated outside a hospital said to be located in Shanghai, China's most populous urban area.&nbsp;A user on social media claimed that some patients were being treated outside the "overflowing emergency department" of the Shanghai hospital. The patients were also treated in the hallway due to lack of space, the user added in another tweet.</p>

<p>The viral videos, however, cannot be independently verified by WION.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dec 28 video, this hospital in Shanghai treated some patients outside the overflowing emergency department. <a href="https://t.co/UHSVjE3m3Y">pic.twitter.com/UHSVjE3m3Y</a></p>
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<p>Meanwhile, China on Thursday insisted it had been transparent with the international community about its Covid data, as it hit back against World Health Organisation criticism that its tally of virus deaths was understating the true scale of its outbreak.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-asks-china-to-provide-a-more-realistic-picture-of-covid-19-situation-549382">WHO says data provided by China ‘under-represents’ true impact of Covid outbreak</a></strong></p>

<p>China has only recorded 23 Covid deaths since December, after narrowing the criteria for classifying Covid fatalities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Beijing's statistics about the unprecedented wave are now widely seen by other countries as not reflecting reality.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/who-confirms-no-new-variant-from-chinas-covid-surge-549503">W.H.O. confirms no new variant from China's Covid surge</a></strong></p>

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<p>In Geneva on Wednesday, WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said the global organisation was without "complete data" from China.</p>

<p>"We believe that the current numbers being published from China under-represent the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The definition Beijing is using is "very narrow", he added.</p>

<p>Beijing hit back on Thursday, insisting China had "always shared relevant information and data with the international community, with an open and transparent attitude".</p>

<p>"We hope the WHO secretariat will uphold a scientific, objective and just position, and make efforts to play a positive role for the world's response to the pandemic challenge," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a press briefing.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from agencies</em>)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


China's ongoing struggle to combat the latest surge in Covid cases was seen in visuals that went viral on social media. In a video posted on Twitter, cited to be of December 28, people can be seen being treated outside a hospital said to be located in Shanghai, China's most populous urban area.

China's ongoing struggle to combat the latest surge in Covid cases was seen in visuals that went viral on social media. In a video posted on Twitter, cited to be of December 28, people can be seen being treated outside a hospital said to be located in Shanghai, China's most populous urban area. A user on social media claimed that some patients were being treated outside the "overflowing emergency department" of the Shanghai hospital. The patients were also treated in the hallway due to lack of space, the user added in another tweet. The viral videos, however, cannot be independently verified by WION. Dec 28 video, this hospital in Shanghai treated some patients outside the overflowing emergency department. pic.twitter.com/UHSVjE3m3Y — Manya Koetse (@manyapan) January 2, 2023 × Meanwhile, China on Thursday insisted it had been transparent with the international community about its Covid data, as it hit back against World Health Organisation criticism that its tally of virus deaths was understating the true scale of its outbreak. ALSO READ | WHO says data provided by China ‘under-represents’ true impact of Covid outbreak China has only recorded 23 Covid deaths since December, after narrowing the criteria for classifying Covid fatalities. Beijing's statistics about the unprecedented wave are now widely seen by other countries as not reflecting reality. WATCH | W.H.O. confirms no new variant from China's Covid surge × In Geneva on Wednesday, WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said the global organisation was without "complete data" from China. "We believe that the current numbers being published from China under-represent the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths," he said. The definition Beijing is using is "very narrow", he added. Beijing hit back on Thursday, insisting China had "always shared relevant information and data with the international community, with an open and transparent attitude". "We hope the WHO secretariat will uphold a scientific, objective and just position, and make efforts to play a positive role for the world's response to the pandemic challenge," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a press briefing. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | China's Covid surge forces Shanghai hospital to treat patients outside

The World Health Organisation says that China has been hiding the real extent of Covid, something that the world has been saying while Beijing all along has been maintaining that all is well. The statemate was made by WHO after meeting Chinese officials.

WHO concerned about risk to life in China, asks for reliable data on hospitalisations, deaths

<p>The United Kingdom has now made it mandatory for Chinese travellers to produce a negative Covid test before entering the country, starting from 5 January 2023. In response to worries that Beijing is suppressing information on the new variants of the Covid virus, PM Rishi Sunak took the dramatic action of&nbsp;reintroducing these travel restrictions</p>

<p>He intervened just one day after health chiefs voted against checks, following high-level consultations with ministries and No. 10 officials.</p>

<p>Pre-departure testing, in Sunak's opinion, is now required due to a lack of credibility in Chinese infection data and vaccination protection. According to experts from Airfinity,&nbsp;a leading life science information and analytics company, 100,000 people have died and at least 18 million Chinese people have been sick this month alone. But, just a small number of cases have been documented, despite the closure of testing facilities by health officials. There are rising concerns that increase in Covid cases in China&nbsp;may result in an aggressive new Covid-19 wave.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Britain's action puts it in line with other nations that now require travellers from China to submit to Covid testing.</p>

<p>France made a late-night announcement on 4 Jan that it would demand travellers to present negative tests that are no older than 48 hours along with their flight credentials and will conduct arbitrary testing upon arrival.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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The United Kingdom has now made it mandatory for Chinese travellers to produce a negative Covid test before entering the country, starting from 5 January 2023. In response to worries that Beijing is suppressing information on the new variants of the Covid virus, PM Rishi Sunak took the dramatic action of reintroducing these travel restrictions He intervened just one day after health chiefs voted against checks, following high-level consultations with ministries and No.

The United Kingdom has now made it mandatory for Chinese travellers to produce a negative Covid test before entering the country, starting from 5 January 2023. In response to worries that Beijing is suppressing information on the new variants of the Covid virus, PM Rishi Sunak took the dramatic action of reintroducing these travel restrictions He intervened just one day after health chiefs voted against checks, following high-level consultations with ministries and No. 10 officials. Pre-departure testing, in Sunak's opinion, is now required due to a lack of credibility in Chinese infection data and vaccination protection. According to experts from Airfinity, a leading life science information and analytics company, 100,000 people have died and at least 18 million Chinese people have been sick this month alone. But, just a small number of cases have been documented, despite the closure of testing facilities by health officials. There are rising concerns that increase in Covid cases in China may result in an aggressive new Covid-19 wave. Britain's action puts it in line with other nations that now require travellers from China to submit to Covid testing. France made a late-night announcement on 4 Jan that it would demand travellers to present negative tests that are no older than 48 hours along with their flight credentials and will conduct arbitrary testing upon arrival. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UK makes Covid negative test mandatory for arrivals from China

<p>The China COVID cases are surging and WHO has already pointed out that China has underrepresented the COVID data. The global health body has held a meeting concerning COVID in mainland China. If one goes by the books, Beijing eased down the COVID restrictions but the COVID story for China continues to remain gloomy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The story of China's crematoriums in Shanghai is sure to break hearts. Shanghai deaths are so much so that one funeral home is handling five times more corpses than usual per day, according to a report by Bloomberg. The mourning loved ones are merely allocated five to 10 minutes to mourn the dead, the Tuesday report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the funeral homes is Longhua Funeral Home. Dozens of bodies are laid out on stretchers. To avoid piling up the dead bodies in a crematorium, the funeral house is only allowing mourners to briefly pay their respects to their dear departed souls. Later they are simply ushered away, the outlet added. According to one Longhua employee, in a conversation with Bloomberg revealed that the system is broken and in shambles. "The whole system is paralyzed right now," the Longhua employee said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The situation is no different at Baoxing Funeral Parlor in Shanghai. One can substantiate the reports to some extent as the Chinese health authorities as quoted by Beijing Daily that on 11 December emergency services were overwhelmed as they received over 30,000 calls in a single day. Speaking with Beijing Daily, Chen Zhi, chief physician at the Beijing Emergency Medical Center, said that currently, the resources for answering emergency calls and dispatching ambulances are very tight.</p>

<p>The official death tally for the entire pandemic — starting in 2019 — stood at 5,241 fatalities on December 24, 2022 when the count was last updated. On Christmas Day, the commission announced it would no longer provide daily updates to its coronavirus figures amid a deluge of new cases. Earlier, Chinese human right activist Jennifer Zeng shared inside stories from Chinese hospitals which indicated a huge surge of COVID cases in the country and a shortage of medical staff.&nbsp;</p>


The China COVID cases are surging and WHO has already pointed out that China has underrepresented the COVID data. The global health body has held a meeting concerning COVID in mainland China.

The China COVID cases are surging and WHO has already pointed out that China has underrepresented the COVID data. The global health body has held a meeting concerning COVID in mainland China. If one goes by the books, Beijing eased down the COVID restrictions but the COVID story for China continues to remain gloomy. The story of China's crematoriums in Shanghai is sure to break hearts. Shanghai deaths are so much so that one funeral home is handling five times more corpses than usual per day, according to a report by Bloomberg. The mourning loved ones are merely allocated five to 10 minutes to mourn the dead, the Tuesday report added. One of the funeral homes is Longhua Funeral Home. Dozens of bodies are laid out on stretchers. To avoid piling up the dead bodies in a crematorium, the funeral house is only allowing mourners to briefly pay their respects to their dear departed souls. Later they are simply ushered away, the outlet added. According to one Longhua employee, in a conversation with Bloomberg revealed that the system is broken and in shambles. "The whole system is paralyzed right now," the Longhua employee said. The situation is no different at Baoxing Funeral Parlor in Shanghai. One can substantiate the reports to some extent as the Chinese health authorities as quoted by Beijing Daily that on 11 December emergency services were overwhelmed as they received over 30,000 calls in a single day. Speaking with Beijing Daily, Chen Zhi, chief physician at the Beijing Emergency Medical Center, said that currently, the resources for answering emergency calls and dispatching ambulances are very tight. The official death tally for the entire pandemic — starting in 2019 — stood at 5,241 fatalities on December 24, 2022 when the count was last updated. On Christmas Day, the commission announced it would no longer provide daily updates to its coronavirus figures amid a deluge of new cases. Earlier, Chinese human right activist Jennifer Zeng shared inside stories from Chinese hospitals which indicated a huge surge of COVID cases in the country and a shortage of medical staff.

Shanghai COVID horror: Families get only 5 to 10 minutes slots to mourn loved ones

Tech giant Apple lost $1 trillion in market value in a year. Investors worry that a slowing global economy and high inflation are hurting demand for apple devices. Tech stocks are falling, spelling bad news for the economy. Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Why are tech stocks falling?

<p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) criticised China for the “very narrow” definition of COVID-19 deaths and said that the government has not revealed the true impact of the new infections.&nbsp;"We believe that the current numbers being published from China under-represent the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths," the WHO's emergencies director Michael Ryan told reporters.</p>

<p>Earlier, WHO&nbsp;officials met with a team of Chinese scientists on Tuesday in order to verify the accuracy of China’s COVID-19 data and the latest growth in infections, said an AFP report. The Communist Party of China’s mouthpiece newspaper claimed on Wednesday that the country is pushing for a “final victory” over the pandemic but the numbers are telling a completely different story.</p>

<p>The number of Covid cases skyrocketed after relaxation of restrictions in China and in the past few weeks, the hospitals in various parts of the country have been full with patients of all ages.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-offshoot-to-xbb15-may-cause-new-covid-spike-in-the-us-confirms-cdc-549368">Omicron offshoot XBB.1.5 may cause new Covid spike in the US, confirms CDC</a></p>

<p>The United Nations has already asked the scientists in China to submit independent data in order to get a clear picture of the situation in China. According to Reuters, the WHO has not received any data from China regarding the COVID-19 cases since the shift in policy by the Chinese government.</p>

<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping implemented the strict Zero Covid policy in an attempt to control the infection but in the face of nationwide protests, the government decided to relax some restrictions.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;China: Covid-19 cases on the rise, WHO urges to share real-time data</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-covid-19-cases-on-the-rise-who-urges-to-share-real-time-data-548381/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>According to local media reports, China had just five deaths related to Covid and around 5258 infections. That is a number which is lesser than the average toll seen in the last six months.</p>

<p>The strict restrictions also had a massive impact on the Chinese economy which is currently valued at $17 trillion. However, with the economy opening up, the Chinese yuan is currently going at a four-month high against the United States Dollar as the manufacturing units also resumed operations.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><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></p>


The World Health Organisation (WHO) criticised China for the “very narrow” definition of COVID-19 deaths and said that the government has not revealed the true impact of the new infections.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) criticised China for the “very narrow” definition of COVID-19 deaths and said that the government has not revealed the true impact of the new infections. "We believe that the current numbers being published from China under-represent the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths," the WHO's emergencies director Michael Ryan told reporters. Earlier, WHO officials met with a team of Chinese scientists on Tuesday in order to verify the accuracy of China’s COVID-19 data and the latest growth in infections, said an AFP report. The Communist Party of China’s mouthpiece newspaper claimed on Wednesday that the country is pushing for a “final victory” over the pandemic but the numbers are telling a completely different story. The number of Covid cases skyrocketed after relaxation of restrictions in China and in the past few weeks, the hospitals in various parts of the country have been full with patients of all ages. Also read | Omicron offshoot XBB.1.5 may cause new Covid spike in the US, confirms CDC The United Nations has already asked the scientists in China to submit independent data in order to get a clear picture of the situation in China. According to Reuters, the WHO has not received any data from China regarding the COVID-19 cases since the shift in policy by the Chinese government. Chinese President Xi Jinping implemented the strict Zero Covid policy in an attempt to control the infection but in the face of nationwide protests, the government decided to relax some restrictions. WATCH | China: Covid-19 cases on the rise, WHO urges to share real-time data According to local media reports, China had just five deaths related to Covid and around 5258 infections. That is a number which is lesser than the average toll seen in the last six months. The strict restrictions also had a massive impact on the Chinese economy which is currently valued at $17 trillion. However, with the economy opening up, the Chinese yuan is currently going at a four-month high against the United States Dollar as the manufacturing units also resumed operations. (With inputs from agencies)

WHO says data provided by China ‘under-represents’ true impact of Covid outbreak

According to World Health Organization officials, data from China shows no new coronavirus variant has been found there, but it also under-represents how many people have died in the country's rapidly spreading outbreak.

W.H.O. confirms no new variant from China's Covid surge

Chinese hospitals and funeral homes were under intense pressure on Wednesday as a surging Covid-19 wave drained resources. Watch this video to know more.

Chinese hospitals, funeral homes 'extremely busy' as Covid spreads

South Korea authorities said on Wednesday they were trying to track down a Chinese national who tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival but went missing while waiting at a quarantine facility.

South Korea seeks Chinese national missing from Covid quarantine

The COVID-19 crisis has bought along with multiple challenges in many parts of the world. Food insecurity has been a major problem. In Australia's Tasmania, the crisis has led to a resurgence in community gardeners.

WION Climate Tracker: Tasmania Community grows local produce to tackle food insecurity

China called the mounting international restrictions on travellers from its territory "unacceptable" on Tuesday after more than a dozen countries placed fresh Covid curbs on Chinese visitors.

WION Fineprint: Beijing slams curbs on Chinese travellers

Countries are coming up with proactive responses against the covid surge in China. Belgium has now announced that it will test wastewater from planes arriving from covid-hit China. Watch to know more.

Belgium to test waste water on airlines from Covid-hit China

As data related to the recent Covid surge in China remains shrouded in mystery, more countries are imposing mandatory testing requirements on arrivals from China. The latest Australia, Canada and Morocco have imposed these precautionary measures.

Covid Surge: Australia, Canada to impose mandatory tests on visitors from China

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