The Covid-19 pandemic has been “basically ended” in China however it is not over yet as per an official who verified his statement on Thursday. This comes post the Chinese administration have proclaimed a “decisive victory” against the disease, identifying it a “miracle” in the history.
“If we look at the characteristics of the pandemic itself, it can be said that the pandemic has basically ended, but it cannot be said it is completely over. The current infection (incidence) is still in a sporadic and localised state of distribution,” Liang Wannian, head of the expert group enabling epidemic response at the national health commission (NHC) mentioned on Thursday.
“At least eight imported cases of the XBB.7.1 variant have been diagnosed in China with one locally associated XBB.2.3 case caused by an imported case also found,” Chang Zhaorui, researcher at the Department of Communication and Prevention at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said at the press meet.
“The Hangzhou pandemic control authority told local media that 15 Covid-19 cases were reported altogether in the two classes. Underscoring that it was a regional flare-up, an official said that it was the first time that all those who tested positive had been infected, and that it did not indicate a new wave,” Sixth Tone reported.
“It is necessary to strengthen pandemic surveillance and normalised early warning, closely track and study the mutation and spread of the virus, and improve the early detection, early handling and emergency response capabilities of the epidemic,” NHC spokesperson, Mi Feng averred on Thursday, as reported by the digital newspaper, The Paper.
Declaring “victory” over the disease, the Chinese government had said last week: “…China’s Covid-19 response has made a smooth transition in a relatively short time, with more than 200 million people accessing medical services, nearly 800,000 severe cases receiving proper treatment, and the country’s Covid-19 fatality rate remaining the world’s lowest”.
