New Covid variants in China? Top scientist's ‘keep calm and carry on’ message | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

New Covid variants in China? Top scientist's ‘keep calm and carry on’ message

Feb 09, 2023 08:51 AM IST

Covid In China: The paper showed that no new variants had emerged in the initial weeks of China's recent outbreak.

The world should "calm down" about the possibility of new Covid variants circulating in China, top Chinese scientist George Gao said, as per news agency Reuters which cited a paper by George Gao and his colleagues published in the Lancet medical journal.

Covid In China: Security guards wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) amid the Covid-19 pandemic sit at an entrance of a building in Beijing.(AFP)
Covid In China: Security guards wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) amid the Covid-19 pandemic sit at an entrance of a building in Beijing.(AFP)

Read more: No recession in US in 2023 or 2024: Joe Biden's expert-defying/ denying claim

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The paper showed that no new variants had emerged in the initial weeks of China's recent outbreak as Beijing ended its strict ‘Zero-Covid’ policy which led to a massive surge in infections.

"The world should completely calm down from the fear that there are new variants or special variants circulating (in China)," George Gao, professor at the Institute of Microbiology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and former head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said as per Reuters.

Read more: Caged no more? Update from Elon Musk on Twitter access in Turkey

The scientist also said that the variants causing infections in China were the same Omicron sub-variants - BA.5.2 and BF.7- that have been seen elsewhere in the world. Analysing 413 new Covid cases in Beijing from November 14 to December 20, 2022, the study concluded that all the infections were likely caused by existing strains as 90% of the majority-locally acquired infections were due to two sub-variants.

The findings are representative of the entire country, the study noted, while the leading scientist said that China was continuing widespread viral genomic sequencing which would help to identify any new variants if they emerged.

George Gao said cases were currently declining, but "a new wave is possible in the future."

Read more: Too old to run for US president again? Joe Biden's ‘watch me’ reply

The Chinese-funded Lancet study was conducted by researchers from the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CDC and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Reuters reported.

China ended more than three years of a stringent zero-Covid policy which included city-wide lockdowns, mass testing and extensive quarantine.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On