Wuhan is again back in news. China is battling against the same deadly virus that is produced once in its infamous Wuhan Lab. An official from China’s National Health Commission said on Sunday (January 8) that severe Covid cases may peak in the country’s small and medium-sized cities. Jiao Yahui, the NHC official stated that the demand for emergency and critical care in China’s large cities had likely peaked, but the Lunar New Year travel could trigger faster-rising cases in smaller cities and rural areas. The worst is yet to come.
China’s National Health Commission has declared that the latest Covid escalations may peak in the country’s small and medium-sized cities very soon. NHC official Yahui stated that around 90 per cent of ICU beds in the country’s top and second-tier hospitals were in use, up from 54 per cent on December 25 last year. The NHC official also pointed out that China’s medical services to treat Covid are facing an “unprecedented challenge.”
The authorities from the ‘Health Commission” while briefing at a press conference on Sunday declared that they would not rule out the possibility of taking emergency measures to deal with large outbreaks.
Suspending normal business activities is on the anvil in China
In the Covid-19 outbreak, certain emergency prevention measures such as suspending non-essential large-scale activities and suspending the business activities of large entertainment venues can be lawfully carried out in a timely, selective manner,” NHC official Lei Zhenglong said.
China has reopened its boundaries and ended quarantine requirements
Meanwhile, the Chinese government reopened its borders and ended quarantine requirements for overseas travellers despite the worsening pandemic situation in the country. On Sunday, travellers streamed into China by air, land and sea.
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The opening of borders comes a day after the start of “Chun Yun”, the 40-day period of the Lunar New Year travel. Before Covid emerged, “Chun Yun” was the world’s largest annual migration. The government earlier declared that some two billion trips were expected this season.
On the other hand, Chinese nationals are also expected to travel abroad but several countries owing to the fear of a spike in Covid infections have started imposing curbs on them. Beijing has hit back at these travel curbs. ‘Such measures’ should not be used as an opportunity to engage in political manipulation, discriminatory practices or affect normal exchanges and cooperation between people,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Indian generic drugs are in high demand in China
In the meantime, the Indian generic drug Paxlovid is in high demand in China amid Covid19 surge. The demand for Indian generic drugs has shot up in China in the middle of the escalation of the pandemic in China. Due to the widespread and quick supply of Paxlovid, the demand the Indian generic variations via Chinese e-commerce platforms has skyrocketed.
On the Chinese e-commerce platforms – at least four generic Covid drugs manufactured in India – Primovir, Paxista, Molnunat and Molnatris are in high demand in China.
Following countrywide protests against the ‘Zero Covid’ policy, the Chinese administration had to relent under intense pressure – the government abandoned the strict disciplinarian process of lockdowns, quarantine and mass testing which continued unabated for the last three years.
The rapid policy changes have incensed the common citizens besides it has also triggered panic – resulting in buying fever and cold medications.
The chaos that is being noticed in smaller towns may escalate to bigger cities in the days to come, rendering the authorities clueless.
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