WHO welcomes data on COVID-19 in China, meeting with Minister

Earlier today, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke with Minister Ma Xiaowei, director of China`s National Health Commission, approximately the COVID-19 scenario withinside the country. WHO appreciates this meeting, in addition to the general public launch of records on the general scenario.

Chinese officers supplied records to WHO and in a press convention on a number topics, such as outpatient clinics, hospitalizations, sufferers requiring emergency remedy and vital care, and health center deaths associated with COVID-19 contamination.

WHO is analysing this records, which covers early December 2022 to twelve January 2023, and permits for a higher knowledge of the epidemiological scenario and the effect of this wave in China. WHO asked that this sort of particular records stay shared with us and the general public. WHO notes the efforts via way of means of Chinese government to scale up scientific take care of its populace in any respect levels, such as in vital care.

The typical epidemiology—reflecting a fast and severe wave of disorder because of regarded sub-versions of Omicron with better scientific effect on older humans and people with underlying conditions—is much like waves of contamination skilled via way of means of different countries, as is the elevated stress on fitness services. The said information imply a decline in case numbers, hospitalizations, and people requiring vital care. WHO has asked a greater particular breakdown of information via way of means of province over time.

While the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has in advance said that Omicron sublineages BA.5.2 and BF.7 are presently circulating, WHO keeps to invite that in addition sequences be shared with open get right of entry to databases consisting of GISAID for deeper phylogenetic analyses, and for persisted collaboration with technical organizations running on virus evolution, scientific care, and beyond.

WHO will maintain to paintings with China, offering technical recommendation and support, and tasty on analysing the scenario. On the decision today, Dr Tedros additionally reiterated the significance of China`s deeper cooperation and transparency on knowledge the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in wearing out the pointers particular withinside the file of the Strategic Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens.