China records its biggest number of Covid cases for TWO YEARS
China records its biggest number of Covid cases for TWO YEARS – with clusters emerging in more than a dozen cities
China reported 526 infections that were spotted over the last 24 hoursThis was the highest daily tally in two years, since the outbreak in WuhanIt challenges the country’s zero Covid policy that aims to eliminate the virus
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China‘s daily Covid cases today rose to their highest level since the Wuhan outbreak two years ago.
The nation said it had recorded 526 infections over the last 24 hours, including 312 that were asymptomatic — did not display any symptoms.
Outbreaks are emerging in dozens of cities including the financial centre Shanghai, the northern port city of Qingdao and the southern city of Dongguan among others.
No data on Covid deaths and hospitalisations was published.
China is the last country sticking to the zero Covid playbook, which sees lockdowns and mass testing imposed when the virus is detected, amid concern over its vaccine.
It is struggling to keep a lid on the more transmissible Omicron variant, after a study suggested its jab offers virtually no protection against the strain.
The country has repeatedly faced accusations of fudging its numbers during the pandemic to make outbreaks appear less severe. In Hong Kong, which borders the mainland, daily infections reached more than 56,000 last week.
China’s daily Covid tally over the last year is shown above. Daily cases have now spiked to their highest level since the initial Wuhan outbreak
Outbreaks are centred across several cities including Shanghai and Qingdao. There are also major outbreaks in Hong Kong, pictured above a healthcare worker in the are today
Lower vaccination rates and questions over how well Chinese vaccines work are thought to be behind the higher levels. Pictured above are refrigeration containers in Hong Kong amid the outbreak from March 5
China recorded more than 15,000 cases in a single day when the virus was first detected in Wuhan back in February 2020.
But it has since insisted its cases remain in the low 10s even as other countries were facing spiralling waves of infections.
The flare-ups in several major cities suggest current measures are failing to put the lid on the more transmissible Omicron variant.
A top Chinese scientist said last week that the country should aim to co-exist with the virus and could move away from the zero-tolerance strategy ‘in the near future’.
However, National People’s Congress spokesman Zhang Yesui poured cold water on that idea Friday ahead of China’s annual parliamentary meetings where policies are set for the coming year.
‘The path is correct and results are good,’ Zhang said.
‘Any prevention and control measures will have some costs, but compared to protecting people’s lives and health, these costs are worth it.’
Yale University scientists in the US have warned that its vaccine — CoronaVac — may not protect against Omicron.
A corpse is pictured being moved to a mortuary in Hong Kong, China, on March 5
Lab tests found it triggered ‘undetectable’ levels of antibodies against the virus following two doses.
China says more than 85 per cent of its population — or 1.23billion people — have got two doses of the vaccine.
In Hong Kong, escalating Covid cases are now seeing hospitals and quarantine centres being overwhelmed.
Health centres reached 90 per cent capacity last week while quarantine facilities are also at bursting point as the city records record numbers of infections.
But this is due to the city’s stringent Covid rules, saying anyone who tests positive must be admitted to hospital or an isolation facility regardless of how ill they are.
This has seen even asymptomatic people and those with mild conditions sent to hospitals or quarantine centres.
With anger growing at the Government, officials are now looking at adjusting the strategy as the system is overwhelmed.
