Editor
In response to a new wave of COVID-19 infections, the Chinese authorities are swiftly working to administer vaccines, anticipating a peak in cases by June. The surge is attributed to the emergence of the XBB variants, which are evolving to evade the immunity developed following China's departure from its "zero COVID" policy last year, as reported by The Washington Post.
Quoting official media sources, The Washington Post states that prominent Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan revealed on Monday that two new vaccines targeting the XBB omicron subvariants (including XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.5, and XBB.1.16) have received preliminary approval. Zhong shared this information while speaking at a biotech symposium in Guangzhou, mentioning that three to four more vaccines are expected to receive approval soon, although he did not provide further details.
This recent outbreak may potentially be the most significant wave of illnesses recorded since China abandoned its strict "zero COVID" program last winter. During that time, up to 85% of the population fell ill, according to The Washington Post.
While the United States has also experienced an increase in infections due to the new variants, The Washington Post reports that the public health emergency was declared over on May 11. However, experts have not ruled out the possibility of new variants causing future waves of infections in the years to come.
The Beijing Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has noted a rise in cases since last month, with COVID-19 surpassing the flu as the most prevalent infectious disease in the final two weeks of April.
Health experts have reassured the public that reinfections tend to result in milder symptoms and that hospitals will not be overwhelmed as they were during the previous winter. Some medical facilities have advised older individuals or those with compromised immune systems to wear masks and avoid crowded areas, according to The Washington Post.
However, China has not reinstated restrictions similar to those implemented during the "zero COVID" era when the country aimed to eradicate all cases. Consequently, most citizens appear to be going about their daily lives as usual.
While some individuals, like Olivia Zhang, a 33-year-old amusement park employee in Beijing, claim that the impact has been minimal and express little concern, there have been online complaints about a university in Nanjing requiring COVID-positive students to quarantine in dormitories. Other students have shared their experiences of self-quarantining at school to avoid infecting family members at home, as reported by The Washington Post.