Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

China

• WHO meets with Chinese officials on current COVID-19 situation WHO 30 Dec 2022
• EU health agency says mandatory COVID screening for China travelers 'unjustified' Press TV 30 Dec 2022 -- The European Union's health agency has slammed the introduction of mandatory COVID screenings of travelers from China as "unjustified" despite an unprecedented surge in coronavirus infections in the country.
• China claims 'transparency' as funeral homes overwhelmed with demand for cremations Radio Free Asia 30 Dec 2022 -- China said on Friday that it has been fully "transparent" about its COVID-19 reporting, amid criticism on social media over the government's reporting of the outbreak and widespread pressure on funeral homes.
• More Countries Tighten COVID Rules for Chinese Travelers VOA 30 Dec 2022 -- France and Britain on Friday became the latest in a growing list of countries requiring COVID-19 tests from travelers arriving from China following a surge of infections in the Asian nation.
• China greenlights conditional import of US' antiviral molnupiravir for COVID-19 treatment Global Times 30 Dec 2022 -- China has greenlighted the conditional import of antiviral molnupiravir, known by the brand name Lagevrio, developed by US pharmaceutical giant Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) for urgent use of COVID-19 treatment, the National Medical Products Administration said on Friday.
• Shanghai top-tier hospitals call for non-urgent COVID patients to go to well prepared sub-tier units as critical cases peak Global Times 30 Dec 2022 -- Shanghai top-tier hospitals call for hospital visits by non-urgent patients shunted to sub-tier hospitals which have been prepared with diagnosis and treatment as well as both imported and domestic antiviral medicine for COVID-19, to leave life-saving emergency resources to critical cases, which have gradually peaked in the city.
• Severe cases account for 3-4% of total hospitalized patients in Beijing, lower than early 2020 outbreak level: experts Global Times 30 Dec 2022 -- While in recent days hospitals in Beijing have been fully gearing up to battle against COVID infections and adopting various measures in treating severe illness, some prominent doctors and experts said that the overall rate of severe and critical cases is lower than that of the early outbreak in 2020 and that severe cases account for only about 3 percent to 4 percent of total hospitalized cases.
• Mass COVID testing no longer required in universities, schools with no cases to resume in-person classes: Ministry of Education Global Times 30 Dec 2022 -- Universities and colleges across the country will no longer carry out mass COVID-19 nucleic acid testing and schools with no cases will resume in-person classes and activities, China's Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Friday. This is the latest step in China's adjustment and optimization of epidemic prevention measures.
• Pandemic caused by more virulent variant unlikely but coronavirus mutation always a possibility: experts Global Times 30 Dec 2022 -- It's always possible to see new coronavirus variants emerge, but it will be less likely to see a pandemic caused by a more virulent variant, Chinese experts said, stressing the need to strengthen monitoring of mutated virus strains amid public concerns over possible variation during the present surge.
• China calls on application of TCM decoctions in COVID-19 treatment, releases prescriptions Global Times 30 Dec 2022 -- China calls on the full use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions in COVID-19 treatment in urban and rural grass-roots regions as TCM has played an important role in medical treatment since the beginning of the epidemic, according to the national health authorities on Thursday. TCM prescription examples are also issued based on the different climate characteristics of the southern and northern regions across the country and other factors.
• Anti-COVID drug Paxlovid available at some community clinics in Beijing Global Times 30 Dec 2022 -- Pfizer's COVID-19 treatment drug Paxlovid has become available at some community health centers in Beijing, but is currently only offered to the elderly with critical underlying conditions, media learned from some of the local community clinics.
• Steps taken to ensure COVID preparedness People's Daily 30 Dec 2022 -- China's recent shifts in COVID-19 control strategy are well-paced, with sufficient preparatory work in place to handle the resulting surge in medical demand, authorities said on Thursday.

India

• COVID-19 UPDATE India PIB 30 Dec 2022

Iran

• Iran registers another death-free day in COVID-19 record IRNA 30 Dec 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran remained unchanged at 144,628 with no death by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Friday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 27,413 new COVID-19 cases, 34 deaths CNA 30 Dec 2022 -- Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command (CECC) reported 27,413 new COVID-19 infections and 36 deaths from the disease Friday.

Other Countries

• Two senior Vietnamese leaders dismissed amid COVID-19 scandals Radio Free Asia 30 Dec 2022 -- Vietnam's Communist Party dismissed two senior leaders from its Central Committee today amid a wave of scandals linked to the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.