China is once again seeing a massive surge in Covid-19 cases driven by subvariant of Omicron BF.7 with the maximum cases being reported in cities like Beijing. Few days ago, China had eased its Covid restrictions, and since then the cases have been on the rise and hospitals are crowded with patients.
Several videos on social media show mortuaries being piled up with dead bodies. Though China officially has claimed only two deaths on Monday (December 19), the real numbers could be much higher.
China's only reported a few covid deaths since reopening. But situation on the ground says otherwise. Visited crowded crematorium in Beijing, people told me their loved ones died of covid
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) December 21, 2022
Worker at covid-designated hospital told me people are dying of covid every day @AC360 pic.twitter.com/tlvyyA3FUZ
According to the projections, the new Covid wave in China could claim more than a million deaths by the end of April 2023.
What is this new variant? The variant which is causing the infection this time is a sub-variant of Omicorn BF.7, a nomenclature assigned to BA.5.2.1.7.
It has already been detected by Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
What is the WHO saying? The World Health Organization Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in September 2022 had said that the end of Covid was in sight. Only last week he had told reporters in Geneva that he was "hopeful" of an end to emergency some time in 2023. But the recent surge of a subvariant of Omicron variant is out of the box.
India's response: Though Indian government has not put travel restrictions as of now, seeing the situation in China, an emergency meeting of health officials was called by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday afternoon.
Use a mask if you are in a crowded space, indoors or outdoors. This is all the more important for people with comorbidities or are of higher age: Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog after Union Health Minister's meeting on COVID pic.twitter.com/14Mx9ixIod
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2022
Covid cases in India: India reported 131 fresh Covid infections in the past 24 hours. The total active cases in the country stand at 3,408, according to the data given by Union Health Ministry
However, four suspected cases of BF.7 variant have been detected in India, India Today reported. While two cases are from Gujarat, one case has been traced to Odisha.
Adar Poonawala speaks: CEO of Serum Institute of India which manufactured Covishield vaccine, Adar Poonawala, said that though the rise of Covid cases in China is concerning but India need not panic as the country has excellent vaccine coverage.
The news of rising COVID cases coming out of China is concerning, we need not panic given our excellent vaccination coverage and track record. We must continue to trust and follow the guidelines set by the Government of India and @MoHFW_INDIA.
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) December 21, 2022