China's Wuhan Virus tragedy is worsening. The country reported a 70% jump in hospitalisations this week.

Gravitas: China's Wuhan Virus tragedy worsens

In the month since the country abandoned its tight "zero Covid" policy, China said on Saturday that it had reported about 60,000 fatalities connected to the coronavirus, accelerating an outbreak that is thought to have infected millions of people. The admission marked a significant increase in the official death toll and was the first time China had offered a measure of the Covid wave that is currently sweeping the nation.

China reports nearly 60,000 Covid deaths

China's elderly are paying the price of Xi Jinping's disastrous Wuhan virus policies. As China runs out of medicines, oxygen, China's helpless senior citizens are committing suicide to escape the Wuhan Virus crisis. Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: Why are China's elderly committing suicide?

This comes at a time when China has eased travel restrictions, encouraging people from Henan and elsewhere to travel abroad. Priyanka Sharma tells you what the situation in China means for you.

Gravitas: 90% of people in China's Henan province infected with the Wuhan Virus, official says

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 after three years

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.

This World: How Covid wreaked havoc across the world

China will relax its strict travel COVID restrictions starting from January 8. China to reopen borders after almost three long years. Watch further to know more.

This World: China relaxes travel rules after three long years

How can China deny countries the rights to protect its own? Listen in to Priyanka Sharma

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus: China threatens 'countermeasures' over travel restrictions

Reports say 70% of Shanghai's residents have been infected with the Wuhan virus. Desperate China has resorted to testing toilet water for infection. Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: China's financial capital collapses, 70% of Shanghai residents infected with Wuhan virus

A dozen countries have slapped fresh travel regulations on travellers from China. This move comes after a surge in Covid cases. Watch further to know more.

European Union countries enforce traveller Covid curbs amid deteriorating situation

This is a question we all want an answer to. Listen in to Molly Gambhir.

Gravitas: Will the pandemic end in 2023?

Almost half of the passengers on two flights from China that landed in Milan were found to be infected with the Wuhan virus. Is China deliberately sending infected people to other countries? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: China sends infected flights to Milan, half of the passengers test positive

The #WuhanVirus nightmare has engulfed China. Reports say 4 variants are now spreading in the country. What's worse, China has opened its airports for International travel. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus nightmare engulfs China

China has scrapped quarantine for incoming travelers. Chinese citizens are already planning their vacations abroad at a time when the Wuhan virus cases are surging in China. Why did Xi Jinping relax travel rules now?

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus: What is Xi Jinping's real plan?

Has China's vultureism backfired? A year back it mocked the sight of funeral pyres in India, now China's own crematoriums are filled with dead bodies.

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus: Shocking videos emerge from China

China has run out of basic medicines like Ibuprofen & Panadol. State authorities have taken over pharma firms to ramp up supplies. Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Medicine Shortage 'humiliates' China

The Wuhan Virus has returned to China. Millions are reportedly getting infected everyday. Thousands could die in the days ahead. Can this wave be contained to the mainland? Or will it spill over to the rest of the world? Priyanka Sharma explains on Gravitas Plus.

Gravitas Plus | Explained: China's deadliest Wuhan Virus wave

A commercial division of the BBC has been producing content for Chinese state-owned media, including ad campaigns for the state-run propaganda channel. Has the BBC, which positions itself as the beacon of impartiality, compromised its ethics? Priyanka Sharma gets you more.

Gravitas: BBC arm producing ad campaigns for China?

Is your child safe from the Wuhan virus? Should the surge in infections worry you? Is the new wave going to affect Children? Priyanka Sharma takes you through some developments that give you the answer.

Gravitas: Why are children falling sick globally?

The Wuhan Virus is back. Infections are spiking in 5 countries. Experts are warning of dreadful consequences. Has China put the world in peril again? Here's what Priyanka Sharma has to say.

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus: Has China put the world in peril again?

Three years after the virus first emerged, it's almost like we're going back to stage one. Let's take a look at what's happening in China and what is the situation like for the residents of Shanghai.

China witnesses a sharp surge in Covid Cases again

<p>As China battles a COVID-19 wave in the wake of regulations being loosened, videos showing hundreds of Chinese&nbsp;gathered in lines outside clinics and hospitals have now gone viral. In various Chinese cities, there is an emergency due to understaffed hospitals and a lack of medicines and ventilators.</p>

<p id="3">A video shared by the UK-based media outlet, the Telegraph, showed a doctor collapsing on the floor while treating&nbsp;patients.</p>

<p>In the 93-second clip, a woman is seen expressing concerns to a doctor while he attends to patients and a young child. The doctor appeared obviously exhausted.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-spike-in-china-govt-says-no-new-deaths-seen-after-changing-criteria-545159">Covid spike in China: Govt says no new deaths seen after changing criteria</a></p>

<p>While other patients are conversing, he seems exhausted as he attempts to take the child's temperature before collapsing on his desk and getting up from his chair.</p>

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<p>He was in such bad shape that other medical professionals had to rush to his desk and treat him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Social media networks are flooded with videos of medical professionals performing CPR on patients who were having respiratory failure while sitting on the hospital floor.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="zh">官方说没有重症，看看重庆医科大学附属第一医院 急诊留观区域。 <a href="https://t.co/UsGiKoS4gG">pic.twitter.com/UsGiKoS4gG</a></p>
— iPaul🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@iPaulCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/iPaulCanada/status/1605155786245677056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Chinese epidemiologists are concerned that three waves of COVID could hit China in the next months, resulting in millions of illnesses and a few thousand fatalities.</p>

<p>Xiaofeng Liang, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention chief, said that the current Covid wave will impact at least 60 per cent&nbsp;of the people.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Trending on WION: Over 60% of China and 10% of the global population may get infected by Covid19</strong></p>

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<p>In a tweet, epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding expressed concern that the reproduction number (R) could be difficult to measure in China if the doubling time is less than one day because valid findings from PCR testing must be obtained within at least 24 to 48 hours.</p>

<p>He said that this means China and the world could be ‘in deep trouble.’</p>

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As China battles a COVID-19 wave in the wake of regulations being loosened, videos showing hundreds of Chinese gathered in lines outside clinics and hospitals have now gone viral.

As China battles a COVID-19 wave in the wake of regulations being loosened, videos showing hundreds of Chinese gathered in lines outside clinics and hospitals have now gone viral. In various Chinese cities, there is an emergency due to understaffed hospitals and a lack of medicines and ventilators. A video shared by the UK-based media outlet, the Telegraph, showed a doctor collapsing on the floor while treating patients. In the 93-second clip, a woman is seen expressing concerns to a doctor while he attends to patients and a young child. The doctor appeared obviously exhausted. Also read | Covid spike in China: Govt says no new deaths seen after changing criteria While other patients are conversing, he seems exhausted as he attempts to take the child's temperature before collapsing on his desk and getting up from his chair. × He was in such bad shape that other medical professionals had to rush to his desk and treat him. Social media networks are flooded with videos of medical professionals performing CPR on patients who were having respiratory failure while sitting on the hospital floor. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. 官方说没有重症，看看重庆医科大学附属第一医院 急诊留观区域。 pic.twitter.com/UsGiKoS4gG — iPaul🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@iPaulCanada) December 20, 2022 × Chinese epidemiologists are concerned that three waves of COVID could hit China in the next months, resulting in millions of illnesses and a few thousand fatalities. Xiaofeng Liang, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention chief, said that the current Covid wave will impact at least 60 per cent of the people. Also watch | Trending on WION: Over 60% of China and 10% of the global population may get infected by Covid19 In a tweet, epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding expressed concern that the reproduction number (R) could be difficult to measure in China if the doubling time is less than one day because valid findings from PCR testing must be obtained within at least 24 to 48 hours. He said that this means China and the world could be ‘in deep trouble.’ WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: Exhausted doctor collapses while attending patients amid China's Covid surge

Is a new wave of the #WuhanVirus coming? Experts say China's covid surge could infect 10% of the earth's population. American scientists are worried about new variants. Should we prepare? Here's what Priyanka Sharma has to say.

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus: Is a new wave coming?

<p>A US-based scientist has claimed that the deadly coronavirus that led to the Covid pandemic was a "man-made virus" that escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China. But a fact-check report claims otherwise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the British newspaper The Sun, researcher Andrew Huff claimed in his book&nbsp;'The Truth About Wuhan'&nbsp;that Covid was released from WIV, a state-funded and operated research centre, two years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But a fact-check by RMIT University in Australia stated that the scientist who made the controversial and unproven claims about the origin of Covid did not actually work at Wuhan lab, as was claimed in earlier reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-services-activity-shrank-to-six-month-lows-in-november-caixin-pmi-540062">China services activity shrank to six-month lows in November: Caixin PMI</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The report mentioned&nbsp;a televised interview aired by Fox News on December 7, when he was introduced as "a scientist who actually worked inside the Wuhan lab".</p>

<p>In his response, Huff replied that "there's one thing I'd like to clear up here real quickly, I never stepped foot in China, I never actually worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Huff worked for the US-based scientific research group, EcoHealth Alliance between 2014 and 2016. EcoHealth Alliance even told RMIT FactLab in an email that Huff was hired as a senior research scientist, before a change of title to associate vice president in 2015.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also WATCH |&nbsp;China: Protesters in China angered against Xi’s Zero Covid policy</strong></p>

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<p>After his claims, EcoHealth Alliance issued a statement on December 5. The group rejected the reports that he had worked at the Wuhan lab. In the statement, it noted: "Mr Huff was employed by the EcoHealth Alliance from 2014 to 2016."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"However, reports that he worked at or with the Wuhan Institute of Virology during that time are untrue. He was assigned to a completely different project working on computer-based algorithms to assess emerging disease threats," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>"Mr. Huff was employed by the EcoHealth Alliance from 2014 to 2016.&nbsp; However, reports that he worked at or with the Wuhan Institute of Virology during that time are untrue. He was assigned to a completely different project working on computer-based algorithms to assess emerging disease threats."</p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
<p>Mr. Huff claims that SARS-CoV-2 emerged as a lab leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology based on research conducted there on bat coronaviruses and, further, that this research was related to U.S. intelligence gathering efforts. This is not true.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Huff alleged that the pandemic was brought on by the US government's funding of coronaviruses in China in his most recent book, "The Truth About Wuhan." Huff's book excerpts have appeared in the UK tabloid The Sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the New York Post, Huff argues in his book that China's gain-of-function tests were carried out with insufficient security, which led to a leak at the Wuhan facility.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: An earlier version of this article incorrectly mentioned that Andrew Huff worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. This article has been updated&nbsp;on December 12)</em></p>

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A US-based scientist has claimed that the deadly coronavirus that led to the Covid pandemic was a "man-made virus" that escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China. But a fact-check report claims otherwise.

A US-based scientist has claimed that the deadly coronavirus that led to the Covid pandemic was a "man-made virus" that escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China. But a fact-check report claims otherwise. According to the British newspaper The Sun, researcher Andrew Huff claimed in his book 'The Truth About Wuhan' that Covid was released from WIV, a state-funded and operated research centre, two years ago. But a fact-check by RMIT University in Australia stated that the scientist who made the controversial and unproven claims about the origin of Covid did not actually work at Wuhan lab, as was claimed in earlier reports. Also read | China services activity shrank to six-month lows in November: Caixin PMI The report mentioned a televised interview aired by Fox News on December 7, when he was introduced as "a scientist who actually worked inside the Wuhan lab". In his response, Huff replied that "there's one thing I'd like to clear up here real quickly, I never stepped foot in China, I never actually worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology." Huff worked for the US-based scientific research group, EcoHealth Alliance between 2014 and 2016. EcoHealth Alliance even told RMIT FactLab in an email that Huff was hired as a senior research scientist, before a change of title to associate vice president in 2015. Also WATCH | China: Protesters in China angered against Xi’s Zero Covid policy After his claims, EcoHealth Alliance issued a statement on December 5. The group rejected the reports that he had worked at the Wuhan lab. In the statement, it noted: "Mr Huff was employed by the EcoHealth Alliance from 2014 to 2016." "However, reports that he worked at or with the Wuhan Institute of Virology during that time are untrue. He was assigned to a completely different project working on computer-based algorithms to assess emerging disease threats," it added. "Mr. Huff was employed by the EcoHealth Alliance from 2014 to 2016. However, reports that he worked at or with the Wuhan Institute of Virology during that time are untrue. He was assigned to a completely different project working on computer-based algorithms to assess emerging disease threats." Mr. Huff claims that SARS-CoV-2 emerged as a lab leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology based on research conducted there on bat coronaviruses and, further, that this research was related to U.S. intelligence gathering efforts. This is not true. Huff alleged that the pandemic was brought on by the US government's funding of coronaviruses in China in his most recent book, "The Truth About Wuhan." Huff's book excerpts have appeared in the UK tabloid The Sun. According to the New York Post, Huff argues in his book that China's gain-of-function tests were carried out with insufficient security, which led to a leak at the Wuhan facility. (Disclaimer: An earlier version of this article incorrectly mentioned that Andrew Huff worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. This article has been updated on December 12)

Is Covid a man-made virus that was leaked from lab? Claims and counterclaims persist over origin of virus

Honda Motor announced that it has suspended operations at plants in Wuhan, China. The move comes after the workers were unable to go to work due to China's strict "zero-COVID" policy.

World Business Watch| Honda suspends production in Wuhan plant amid China's zero-Covid Policy

<p>The city of Wuhan in China, which was the first COVID hotspot three years ago at the start of the pandemic, has imposed lockdown in some of the districts. Hanyang is one of the districts in Wuhan which where lockdown was imposed after spike in coronavirus cases.</p>

<p>From Oct. 26 to Oct. 30, the district's more than 800,000 people have been told to stay at home as services were limited across sectors, authorities said in a notice.</p>

<p>Wuhan's Union hospital said in a release that it suspended ourpatient services after a staff member at canteen tested positive. Universities in Wuhan have reverted to online teaching.</p>

<p>"It's already the third year and things are still like this," Wuhan resident Joy Dai, who works in the tourism sector, told Reuters.</p>

<p>"It affects me both mentally and physically ... but I'm helpless in all of this so I've learned to accept it."</p>

<p>Lockdowns have been imposed in districts of Guangzhou city as well. The city has reported 27 new local symtomatic cases and asymptomatic cases on Tuesday. The city has classified five more of its districts as high-risk: Huangpu, Nansha, Panyu, Yuexiu and Conghua.</p>

<p>The southern metropolis and manufacturing hub had already shut down daily social activities and called for mass testing in the Haizhu and Baiyun districts.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The city of Wuhan in China, which was the first COVID hotspot three years ago at the start of the pandemic, has imposed lockdown in some of the districts. Hanyang is one of the districts in Wuhan which where lockdown was imposed after spike in coronavirus cases.

The city of Wuhan in China, which was the first COVID hotspot three years ago at the start of the pandemic, has imposed lockdown in some of the districts. Hanyang is one of the districts in Wuhan which where lockdown was imposed after spike in coronavirus cases. From Oct. 26 to Oct. 30, the district's more than 800,000 people have been told to stay at home as services were limited across sectors, authorities said in a notice. Wuhan's Union hospital said in a release that it suspended ourpatient services after a staff member at canteen tested positive. Universities in Wuhan have reverted to online teaching. "It's already the third year and things are still like this," Wuhan resident Joy Dai, who works in the tourism sector, told Reuters. "It affects me both mentally and physically ... but I'm helpless in all of this so I've learned to accept it." Lockdowns have been imposed in districts of Guangzhou city as well. The city has reported 27 new local symtomatic cases and asymptomatic cases on Tuesday. The city has classified five more of its districts as high-risk: Huangpu, Nansha, Panyu, Yuexiu and Conghua. The southern metropolis and manufacturing hub had already shut down daily social activities and called for mass testing in the Haizhu and Baiyun districts. (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 ×

Lockdown returns in Wuhan, the first-ever Covid hotspot in the world

<p>After unveiling its new autonomous vehicle (AV) with a detachable steering wheel, China's search engine giant Baidu Inc has obtained permits to operate fully driverless robotaxi services on open roads in two Chinese cities.</p>

<p>Allowing commercial robotaxis to offer rides to the public without human safety drivers in the car, the permits have been awarded by the central city of Wuhan and the southwestern municipality of Chongqing.</p>

<p>Calling them a "turning point" in China's policy-making toward autonomous driving, Baidu said it will deploy a batch of five fee-charging robotaxis in each city.</p>

<p>The robotaxis will be permitted to operate in designated areas from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Wuhan and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Chongqing.</p>

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<p>While service areas span is 13 sq km in the Wuhan Economic and&nbsp;Technological Development Zone, it is 30 square km (11.58 square miles) in Chongqing’s Yongchuan District.</p>

<p>Baidu has already deployed robotaxis with a safety driver in the passenger seat in Beijing on open roads within a 60 sq km area.</p>

<p>According to Wei Dong, chief safety operation officer of Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group, the company is also in talks to secure licenses within a year to test fully-driverless and unpaid robotaxis in Shanghai and Shenzhen.</p>

<p>As regulators are pushing ahead with milestone-setting autonomous driving policies, China has accelerated its efforts to fast-track autonomous vehicle trials and permits.</p>

<p>California Public Utilities Commission permitted self-driving company Cruise to offer paid and fully driverless rides from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in select streets in San Francisco in January.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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After unveiling its new autonomous vehicle (AV) with a detachable steering wheel, China's search engine giant Baidu Inc has obtained permits to operate fully driverless robotaxi services on open roads in two Chinese cities.

After unveiling its new autonomous vehicle (AV) with a detachable steering wheel, China's search engine giant Baidu Inc has obtained permits to operate fully driverless robotaxi services on open roads in two Chinese cities. Allowing commercial robotaxis to offer rides to the public without human safety drivers in the car, the permits have been awarded by the central city of Wuhan and the southwestern municipality of Chongqing. Calling them a "turning point" in China's policy-making toward autonomous driving, Baidu said it will deploy a batch of five fee-charging robotaxis in each city. The robotaxis will be permitted to operate in designated areas from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Wuhan and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Chongqing. × While service areas span is 13 sq km in the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, it is 30 square km (11.58 square miles) in Chongqing’s Yongchuan District. Baidu has already deployed robotaxis with a safety driver in the passenger seat in Beijing on open roads within a 60 sq km area. According to Wei Dong, chief safety operation officer of Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group, the company is also in talks to secure licenses within a year to test fully-driverless and unpaid robotaxis in Shanghai and Shenzhen. As regulators are pushing ahead with milestone-setting autonomous driving policies, China has accelerated its efforts to fast-track autonomous vehicle trials and permits. California Public Utilities Commission permitted self-driving company Cruise to offer paid and fully driverless rides from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in select streets in San Francisco in January. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Search engine giant Baidu obtains permit to operate fully driverless robotaxi services in China

Wuhan has locked down 1 million residents. The original epicenter of the pandemic is dealing with a fresh outbreak. This comes after fresh studies linked the virus to a wet market in Wuhan. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Wuhan locks down 1 million people

<p>The Chinese city of Wuhan has gained notoriety worldwide for being ‘ground zero’ of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the situation was extremely critical at the start, the region was able to bring down the cases over time. However, in the recent past, Wuhan has seen a steady rise in cases once again and the authorities have decided to close down businesses and public transport in order to stop the infection from spreading. As part of the “Covid zero” policy adopted by China, the city will be undergoing mass testing before a decision is taken over whether a total lockdown is required.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rishi-sunak-liz-truss-debate-abandoned-after-tv-presenter-faints-on-air-500992" hreflang="en">Rishi Sunak-Liz Truss debate abandoned after TV presenter faints on air</a></p>

<p>In the recent past, China has been quite strict when it comes to dealing with places showing rise in Covid numbers. Earlier, Shanghai and parts of Beijing went through hard measures as lockdown resulted in food shortages and unhygienic living conditions for the citizens of the city.</p>

<p>While a lockdown has not been declared in Wuhan as of now and the measures are mainly restricted to certain districts of the region, but it will still affect around a million people.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-prince-signs-deal-on-data-cable-with-greece-on-his-first-europe-trip-since-killing-of-khashoggi-500985" hreflang="en">Saudi prince meets Greek PM, signs deal for 'cheaper energy'</a></p>

<p>In Jiangxia, the authorities found four cases after a long time as two were found in regular testing and two were believed to have been infected due to close proximity. This was a strong deviation from the trend that saw China maintain zero cases in most places around Wuhan.</p>

<p>The district will face a three-day restriction period as of now which will mean that no major gatherings will be allowed along with closure of restaurants, public entertainment venues, agricultural product marketplaces and small clinics along with public transport, according to Reuters.</p>

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<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>


The Chinese city of Wuhan has gained notoriety worldwide for being ‘ground zero’ of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the situation was extremely critical at the start, the region was able to bring down the cases over time.

The Chinese city of Wuhan has gained notoriety worldwide for being ‘ground zero’ of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the situation was extremely critical at the start, the region was able to bring down the cases over time. However, in the recent past, Wuhan has seen a steady rise in cases once again and the authorities have decided to close down businesses and public transport in order to stop the infection from spreading. As part of the “Covid zero” policy adopted by China, the city will be undergoing mass testing before a decision is taken over whether a total lockdown is required. Also read | Rishi Sunak-Liz Truss debate abandoned after TV presenter faints on air In the recent past, China has been quite strict when it comes to dealing with places showing rise in Covid numbers. Earlier, Shanghai and parts of Beijing went through hard measures as lockdown resulted in food shortages and unhygienic living conditions for the citizens of the city. While a lockdown has not been declared in Wuhan as of now and the measures are mainly restricted to certain districts of the region, but it will still affect around a million people. Also read | Saudi prince meets Greek PM, signs deal for 'cheaper energy' In Jiangxia, the authorities found four cases after a long time as two were found in regular testing and two were believed to have been infected due to close proximity. This was a strong deviation from the trend that saw China maintain zero cases in most places around Wuhan. The district will face a three-day restriction period as of now which will mean that no major gatherings will be allowed along with closure of restaurants, public entertainment venues, agricultural product marketplaces and small clinics along with public transport, according to Reuters. WATCH WION LIVE HERE - (With inputs from agencies)

Strict restrictions in place at Chinese city of Wuhan amid rise in Covid cases

<p>While publicly the World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains that ‘all hypotheses remain on the table’ about the origins of Covid, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO had recently confided to a senior European politician that the most likely explanation was a catastrophic accident at a laboratory in Wuhan, where infections first spread during late 2019, as reported by Daily Mail.</p>

<p>In his opening remark at the Member State Information Session on COVID-19 and other issues, Tedros said, “ It has now been two-and-a-half years since we first identified cases of this novel coronavirus. We do not yet have the answers as to where it came from or how it entered the human population.”</p>

<p>A team of 27 experts was set up by the WHO last year to produce a new global framework for studies into emerging pathogens with the potential of sparking epidemics or pandemics.</p>

<p>In its first preliminary report, the so-called Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) stressed that it had no conclusive findings on the origins of the virus behind the worst global pandemic in a century.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/crypto-crash-bitcoin-last-down-74-at-18915-489531">Crypto crash: Bitcoin last down 7.4 per cent at $18,915</a></p>

<p>It has been tasked with providing an independent assessment on a way forward in the thorny investigation into the origins of the SARS CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 disease.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There are key pieces of data that are not yet available for a complete understanding of how the Covid-19 pandemic began," they acknowledged in their report, stressing that a range of further studies were needed "to follow up on several gaps in our knowledge".</p>

<p>“All hypotheses must remain on the table until we have evidence that enables us to rule certain hypotheses in or out. The only way this scientific work can progress successfully is with full collaboration from all countries, including China, where the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 were reported,” Tedros added.</p>

<p><em>(with inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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While publicly the World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains that ‘all hypotheses remain on the table’ about the origins of Covid, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO had recently confided to a senior European politician that the most likely explanation was a catastrophic accident at a laboratory in Wuhan, where infections first spread during late 2019, as reported by Daily Mail.

While publicly the World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains that ‘all hypotheses remain on the table’ about the origins of Covid, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO had recently confided to a senior European politician that the most likely explanation was a catastrophic accident at a laboratory in Wuhan, where infections first spread during late 2019, as reported by Daily Mail. In his opening remark at the Member State Information Session on COVID-19 and other issues, Tedros said, “ It has now been two-and-a-half years since we first identified cases of this novel coronavirus. We do not yet have the answers as to where it came from or how it entered the human population.” A team of 27 experts was set up by the WHO last year to produce a new global framework for studies into emerging pathogens with the potential of sparking epidemics or pandemics. In its first preliminary report, the so-called Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) stressed that it had no conclusive findings on the origins of the virus behind the worst global pandemic in a century. Also Read: Crypto crash: Bitcoin last down 7.4 per cent at $18,915 It has been tasked with providing an independent assessment on a way forward in the thorny investigation into the origins of the SARS CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 disease. "There are key pieces of data that are not yet available for a complete understanding of how the Covid-19 pandemic began," they acknowledged in their report, stressing that a range of further studies were needed "to follow up on several gaps in our knowledge". “All hypotheses must remain on the table until we have evidence that enables us to rule certain hypotheses in or out. The only way this scientific work can progress successfully is with full collaboration from all countries, including China, where the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 were reported,” Tedros added. (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.

WHO chief Tedros confides Wuhan lab leak theory most likely explanation for Covid: Report

Wuhan virus cases are rising again around the world. In China - 10 cities are under lockdown. In Europe, multiple countries are reporting a rise in infections. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Global covid cases are rising again

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