Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• U.S.'s most powerful cyberattack system is targeting China: Sources PLA Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- The QUANTUM attack system, the most powerful cyberattack tool of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), which is capable of monitoring, intercepting and utilizing data that the NSA collected from the global network communication and internet system, has been revealed, Chinese newspaper the Global Times reported.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

United States

• Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials The White House 23 Mar 2022
• U.S. could miss signs of new COVID-19 surge due to drop in data reporting frequency: NYT People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- The United States could miss the signs of a new COVID-19 surge in the country due to drop in data reporting frequency in many states, The New York Times said in a recent report.
• U.S. hospitalization of children aged 0-4 surge in Omicron wave: CDC People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- Children aged 0-4 in the latest Omicron wave in the United States were hospitalized at approximately five times the rate of the Delta wave, according to a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Omicron subvariant makes up 35 pct new COVID-19 infections in U.S. People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- The BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant now makes up about 35 percent of new COVID-19 infections in the United States, according to the data updated Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

China

• Jilin reports another 2,848 daily COVID-19 cases Global Times 23 Mar 2022 -- The health authority of Northeast China's Jilin Province said on Wednesday that the pandemic remains severe and the peak is yet to come. The region has reported daily infections of more than a thousand for 11 days since March 12.
• Three shots of Sinovac vaccine offer 98% protection against death, severe illness for people aged 60 and above: real world data in HK Global Times 23 Mar 2022 -- A study of the University of Hong Kong revealed that three shots of CoronaVac offered approximately 98 percent protection against death or severe illness in people aged 60 and above in the city, underscoring the importance of boosters for the group, producer Sinovac told the Global Times on Wednesday.
• Shanghai insists on dynamic zero-COVID, denies 'citywide lockdown' rumors Global Times 23 Mar 2022 -- Shanghai began a new round of nucleic acid testing for key regions from Wednesday to Thursday within a much narrower scope under the targeted preventive measures for COVID-19, as the city struggles with its "toughest" fight against COVID-19 since the epidemic battle entered into a normalization stage.
• Sinopharm kicks off joint-production of COVID-19 vaccine in Myanmar Global Times 23 Mar 2022 -- Chinese companies are making more efforts to help promote access to COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries. On Wednesday, major Chinese vaccine producer Sinopharm confirmed with the Global Times that production of its COVID-19 vaccine in Myanmar officially started under a cooperation project with a local partner and the authorities of the country.
• Chinese mainland reports 2,591 new local COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 2,591 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.
• Over 4 mln more COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on Chinese mainland People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- The amount of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on the Chinese mainland grew by around 4.03 million on Monday, with the total number exceeding 3.23 billion, data from the National Health Commission (NHC) showed Tuesday.
• Over 41,000 local COVID-19 cases reported in China since March 1 People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- More than 41,000 local COVID-19 infections had been reported in 28 provincial-level regions across China between March 1 and 21, a senior health official said Tuesday.
• Leading Chinese expert reiterates adherence to dynamic zero-COVID approach People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- A leading Chinese epidemiologist has reiterated that it is a must for China to stick to its dynamic zero-COVID approach in the face of mounting anti-epidemic pressure from both at home and abroad.
• NE China city imposes closed management of residents amid COVID-19 outbreak People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- Authorities in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, began to implement closed management of communities and villages on Tuesday in a bid to contain the local COVID-19 outbreak.

Europe

• Several European countries lifted COVID-19 curbs too 'brutally': WHO Press TV 23 Mar 2022 -- Several European countries lifted their coronavirus curbs too "brutally" and are now seeing a rise in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns.

India

• India to Revoke All COVID Restrictions From 31 March, But Masks to Stay Sputnik 23 Mar 2022 -- This week, India reported around 1,760 COVID cases a day on average — the lowest in two years. However, with a surge in cases of an Omicron subvariant in China, South Korea, Vietnam, France and Germany, many people have raised concerns, asking the Indian government to put curbs on international flights from these countries.
• India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 181.89 Cr India PIB 23 Mar 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 181.89 Cr (1,81,89,15,234) as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,14,87,809 sessions.
• COVID - 19 Vaccination Update - Day 432 India PIB 23 Mar 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 182 Crore (1,82,19,08,164) today. More than 28 lakh (28,17,612) Vaccine Doses have been administered till 7 pm today. More than 69 lakh (69,99,528) vaccine doses have been administered to 12-14 years age group so far. More than 2.21 Crore (2,21,14,924) Precaution Doses for the identified categories of beneficiaries (HCWs, FLWs and Over 60 years) for COVID vaccination have been administered so far. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight.
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs India PIB 23 Mar 2022 -- The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
• COVID-19 UPDATE India PIB 23 Mar 2022

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 67 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 23 Mar 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 139,802 with 67 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 97 new COVID-19 cases, including 2 domestic CNA 23 Mar 2022 -- Taiwan on Wednesday reported 97 new COVID-19 cases -- two domestically transmitted and 95 that originated abroad -- and no new deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan reports 97 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Mar 2022 -- Taiwan reported 97 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, including two locally transmitted infections and 95 imported infections, said the island's disease monitoring agency.

Other Countries

• Canada to Ease Visitor COVID-19 Testing Ahead of Tourist Season VOA 23 Mar 2022 -- Canada will remove mandatory COVID-19 testing for those entering the country as of April 1, a move being met with optimism and varied expectations in both Canada and United States.
• New Zealand to Scrap Some Controversial COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates VOA 23 Mar 2022 -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said plans to scrap some of its controversial COVID-19 vaccination mandates marked "a new beginning" for the country despite a recent surge in omicron infections.