China confirmed the first case of the BA.2 omicron sublineage, BA.2.12.1, which is gaining ground in countries like the United States, at a time when the Asian giant is going through a wave of outbreaks with record numbers of infections not seen since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
According to a weekly report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the person infected with this subvariant, up to 27% more contagious than the BA.2 omicron, is a 27-year-old man who took a flight from Nairobi (Kenya) to the southern Chinese city of Canton last April 23.
After testing positive for COVID-19 four days later, the infected man was transferred to a local hospital for treatment, according to the center.
Unlike most of the world, which has already decided to live with the virus, China For two years, it has maintained a strict zero-tolerance policy once morest COVID-19 with the argument of protecting the elderly population, which in a high percentage is not vaccinated, or avoiding a hypothetical health collapse.
However, the harshness of the measures to stop the outbreaks -especially in the eastern metropolis of Shanghaiconfined for almost two months – has provoked an unprecedented critical reaction in the population, which has spread innumerable complaints and videos of denunciation through the networks.
Criticism of ‘Zero COVID’
The CEO of the World Health Organization (OMS), Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesusstated last week that the restrictions put in place are not sustainable and recommended a change in strategy.
Chinese government spokesmen described his statements as “irresponsible” alleging that the measures taken have managed to save millions of lives.
According to the latest official count from health authorities published today, China reported one new death due to the COVID-19 and 175 new positives, 162 of them due to local contagion. (EFE)
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