Staff Report
GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) once again asked China’s health officials on Friday to share real-time and specific information on the situation of COVID-19 in the country, as it is assessing the latest surge in infections.
WHO has asked China to share more genetic sequencing data
WHO has asked the officials of China to share more genetic sequencing data, as well as data on vaccinations, deaths, and hospitalizations. Chinese official figures have become an unreliable guide as less testing is being done across China following the recent easing of the strict policy of ‘’zero-COVID’’. The World Health Organization (WHO) said previously that China may be struggling to keep the tally of infections of COVID-19. WHO has invited Chinese scientists to present detailed data on viral sequencing at its meeting of a technical advisory group scheduled for Jan. 3.
After Beijing dismantled its zero-COVID policies including regular PCR testing on its population, COVID infections have risen across China this month. The United States, India, Japan, South Korea, Italy, and Taiwan have all imposed COVID tests for travelers from China in response.
The US has also stated that the lack of knowledge on COVID variants and concerns that the rise in cases in China may lead to the emergence of new COVID variants are to blame for the recent change in policy. Senior Chinese health officials had a video call with the WHO to discuss the new coronavirus, according to a statement released earlier on Friday by China’s National Health Commission. The Chinese health authorities reported that views on the current epidemic condition, medical care, vaccination, and other technical issues were exchanged. It added that there would be additional technical exchanges.
