Regional Alert

Higher elderly vaccination rate aided change in COVID management

9 January 2023. In China, downgrading the COVID-19 management from Class A to Class B is a proactive measure taken in view of the higher vaccination rate among the elderly. The vaccination rate in Hong Kong was around 86 percent while the rate was only 15 percent for the elderly. That’s the crux, because the vaccination rate in the mainland was also around 80 percent while less than 40 percent for the seniors.

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Regional Alert

Vietnam reports additional 71 COVID-19 cases on January 9

9 January 2023. According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam recorded 71 new COVID-19 cases on January 9. The new infections brought the country’s total number of COVID-19 cases to 11,525,834. Meanwhile, the death toll from the disease was still kept at 43,186, accounting for 0.4% of the total infections. More than 265.54 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Vietnam so far.

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Regional Alert

Chinese travelers are ready to go overseas again. Some countries are hesitant

30 December 2022. A surging Covid outbreak in China. Countries imposing travel restrictions on Chinese travelers, wary of the virus being imported. Scientists warning against fearmongering and xenophobia. The country announced this week it will drop quarantine requirements for international arrivals and resume outbound travel for Chinese citizens, which had previously been banned.

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Regional Alert

Covid: Why are some places testing Chinese arrivals?

30 December 2022. When a country of 1.4 billion people suddenly ended its zero-Covid policy after nearly 3 years, there was little doubt what would happen. Poor immunisation levels and little natural immunity meant an explosion of cases – just as China is about to lift restrictions on its citizens travelling abroad. So now, some countries – wary of an influx of cases – are imposing Covid testing, and possible quarantine. Covid wave hitting China is not due to some radical new variant, but Omicron in its different forms.

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