WHO officials welcome China’s move to loosen its COVID measures
The World Health Organization WHO said on Friday it was pleased that China is easing its restrictions on Covid-19, following nationwide protests over Beijing’s lackluster response to the disease.
Discontent spilled into the streets last weekend and turned into calls for more political freedom, with widespread protests not seen in decades. Countries across China further lifted Covid-19 restrictions on Friday, easing testing and restrictions.
“We are happy to hear that the Chinese authorities are improving their plans now,” fixing the administrative system and the life of the country “suffering,” WHO Emergency Director Michael Ryan said during an interview.
“We hope that this will continue, and we see appropriate plans and arrangements that improve the control of the virus and the lives, livelihoods, well-being, and human rights of the Chinese people.”
Ryan said there was “tremendous despair” around the world as people saw their lives turned upside down by the pandemic.
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“It is quite important for the government to listen to the people when people are wrong. We really want to see that change happen and do it quickly,” he said.
Regarding the Covid-19 vaccination in Beijing, Ryan said the UN health agency is happy to see that participation rates are improving.
The WHO has given the green light to its emergency use list of nine different types of Covid-19 vaccines, including three produced by China: Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSinoBIO.
However, these three did not use mRNA technology, as used in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs. Ryan said that mRNA vaccines produce “very good” immunity against the virus and that some countries that did not use such vaccines in their original vaccination system are now using them as enhanced protection.
“I know the Chinese authorities are considering developing their own mRNA vaccines, I don’t think there is any obstacle to China getting them.
