Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

United States

• Key COVID-19 indicators surge again in U.S., straining hospitals People's Daily 13 Dec 2022 -- Another COVID-19 winter surge is brewing in the Untied States as the key indicators are all rising, swamping U.S. hospitals with record number of patients sicken by respiratory diseases.
• Rising COVID-19 hospitalizations pose threats for U.S. seniors People's Daily 13 Dec 2022 -- COVID-19 related hospitalizations are surging again in the United States, posing severe threats to older adults.

China

• As COVID cases rise in China, fever medicines and doctors in short supply Radio Free Asia 13 Dec 2022 -- China on Tuesday paused the use of a hugely unpopular "Health Code" smartphone app tracking citizens' COVID-19 status as well as their movements in and out of high-risk areas even as a wave of new cases spread across the country.
• COVID Restrictions Lifted, China's Businesspeople Hit the Road to Revive Export Economy VOA 13 Dec 2022 -- Yiwu, a city in China's Zhejiang province, produces more than half the world's Christmas ornaments purchased by the billions of people who celebrate the holiday.
• Exclusive: China likely to roll out 'fourth shot' for seniors, high risk groups this week: source Global Times 13 Dec 2022 -- China is likely to roll out a second booster shot, or the fourth shot, for high-risk groups, including those aged 60 and above and those with serious underlying disease or hypoimmunity, the Global Times learned from a source close to China's disease control and prevention system.
• HK scraps requirement for COVID test at airport; quarantine-free travel to mainland 'still needs time' Global Times 13 Dec 2022 -- Hong Kong on Tuesday said the city was scrapping the requirement for nucleic acid testing at airport and border control points before visiting the Chinese mainland and Macao. The same day, the city also announced to scrap its amber health code from Wednesday, effectively lifting all travel restrictions for arrivals into the city who test negative.
• 'Be positive, be patient,' Chinese people show cooperation, solidarity in weathering COVID exit wave Global Times 13 Dec 2022 -- "Be positive, be patient" has recently became a trending phrase on the Chinese internet as the number of people testing "positive" for COVID-19 is surging and more "patients" feel malaise with flu-like symptoms.
• China's disease control and prevention center dispels rumors over BQ.1.1, nicknamed Felhunter Global Times 13 Dec 2022 -- China's disease control and prevention center clarified on Tuesday that BQ.1.1 shows no higher pathogenicity than BA.5. and is not the dominating cases in China as rumors circulating on Chinese social media platforms claim that the variant, nicknamed Felhunter, was "highly contagious and deadly" and was sweeping across Japan.
• Chinese medical suppliers expand production of medicines, masks to meet surging demand Global Times 13 Dec 2022 -- Chinese medical equipment manufacturers are ramping up production to meet the surging demand for protective masks, fever reduction tablets and electrolytic water after the government moved to optimize its anti-COVID responses last week.
• Chinese mainland reports 2,270 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Dec 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 2,270 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Tuesday.

Iran

• Iran registers zero COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours IRNA 13 Dec 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran stayed unchanged at 144,658 with another zero death day over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 17,168 new COVID-19 cases, 12 deaths CNA 13 Dec 2022 -- Taiwan on Tuesday reported 17,168 new COVID-19 infections and 12 deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).