China is battling its biggest spike in coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with millions under lockdown and the healthcare system feeling the pressure.
One of the last countries sticking to a zero-COVID strategy, China aims to stamp out every infection with strict lockdowns and by sending all cases to secure facilities.
A major challenge is protecting the elderly, with only around half of Chinese people aged above 80 double-vaccinated and fewer than a fifth having received a booster.Officials have launched a fresh push to encourage older people to get a third dose, after hospitals in Hong Kong were overwhelmed by a wave of severe cases -- mostly unvaccinated elderly patients.
Peking University researchers have warned that China could suffer a "colossal outbreak" that would quickly overwhelm its medical system if the authorities relaxed restrictions to a similar degree as in Europe and the United States.Urban-rural divide According to a National Health Commission report last year, China had only 1.6 medical workers per 1,000 people in rural areas and just 1.5 hospital beds.
"Draconian, heavy-handed zero-COVID control measures" have overwhelmed the medical system, according to Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.Two thousand soldiers and 38,000 medical workers from around the country have been sent to Shanghai as reinforcements.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Xi tells Duterte: China ready to bring ties with PH to 'new levels'Chinese President Xi Jinping said that his country maintains the continuity and stability in its policy toward the Philippines, saying China is willing to work to bring the relationship between the two nations to “new levels.” READ:
Read more »
Duterte, Xi hold 'warm,' 'positive' talks, vow to further enhance PH-China tiesBREAKING: President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed further to enhance the relationship between the Philippines and China, noting that the ties between the two neighboring countries have improved over the past six years. READ:
Read more »
Shunned oil piling up off China as Covid-19 outbreak worsens | Bloomberg NewsTankers carrying 22 million barrels of Russian, Iranian and Venezuelan oil are piling up off China, according to Kpler, as the country battles a virus outbreak that’s sapping demand and causing logistics problems. China has been one of the only buyers of sanctioned Iranian and Venezuelan oil over the last…
Read more »
Japan, Philippines to step up security ties amid China worryTHE defense ministers of Japan and the Philippines agreed Thursday, April 7, to bolster security cooperation and expand joint drills between their forces as they shared concerns...
Read more »
China warns of strong measures if US Speaker Pelosi visits TaiwanChina warned it would take strong measures if U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and said such a visit would severely impact Chinese-U.S. relations, following media reports she would go next week. | Reuters
Read more »
Doc Willie Ong warns public against ‘Omicron XE’ threatVice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong on Wednesday, April 6, warned the public against the new variant of Covid-19 called “XE.”
Read more »