<\/p>\n
Chinese officials must share more real-time information on Covid in the country as infections surge, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.<\/p>\n
Many of the country’s strict restrictions have been lifted over the last few weeks, but cases have soared and several countries are now screening travellers from China.<\/p>\n
WHO officials say they want to see more data on hospitalisations, intensive care unit admissions and deaths.<\/p>\n
It also wants figures on vaccinations.<\/p>\n
The United States, Spain, France, South Korea, India, Italy, Japan and Taiwan have all imposed Covid tests for travellers from China, as they fear a renewed spread of the virus.<\/p>\n
And passengers arriving in England from China will have to provide a negative test before they board a flight.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued after talks with Chinese officials the UN health agency said: “WHO again asked for regular sharing of specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation… and data on vaccinations delivered and vaccination status, especially in vulnerable people and those over 60.”<\/p>\n
The agency said it was willing to provide support on these areas, as well as help with addressing the issue of vaccine hesitancy.<\/p>\n
It also stressed “the importance of monitoring, and the timely publication of data, to help China and the global community to formulate accurate risk assessments and to inform effective responses”.<\/p>\n
WHO’s technical advisory group on the evolution of Covid-19 is set to hold a meeting on Tuesday. The agency says it has invited Chinese scientists to present detailed data on viral sequencing.<\/p>\n
It says it is “understandable” that some countries are imposing fresh restrictions on people travelling from China.<\/p>\n
The sudden lifting of many of China’s restrictions follows November’s protests against the government’s management of the disease.<\/p>\n
Until then, China had one of the toughest anti-Covid regimes in the world – known as a zero-Covid policy.<\/p>\n
It included strict lockdowns even if only a handful of cases had been found, mass testing in places where cases were reported, and people with Covid having to isolate at home or under quarantine at government facilities.<\/p>\n
Lockdowns have now been scrapped, and quarantine rules have been abolished. People are now free to travel abroad again.<\/p>\n
Cases have since been on the rise, with the Chinese government reporting about 5,000 a day. But analysts say such numbers are vastly undercounted – and the daily caseload may be closer to one million.<\/p>\n
Officially there have only been 13 Covid deaths throughout December, but UK-based health data firm Airfinity said on Thursday that around 9,000 people in China are probably dying each day from the disease.<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Featured Video\n<\/p>\n\n
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