Health

China is in negotiations with Pfizer Inc. to get a license that will allow domestic drugmakers to produce and market a generic version of the COVID-19 antiviral medicine Paxlovid in China, according to three sources cited by Reuters. Since late last month, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has been in charge of negotiations with Pfizer, according to one source …

Now that the border between Hong Kong and China has been reopened, Shanghai engineer Roy Wang has a pressing task: rekindling his long-distance love after a terrible separation. “So many arguments occurred between my girlfriend and I. It was quite difficult to manage,” Wang, 23, reported to AFP on Wednesday (Jan 4). His request to visit her the following day …

China may be reopening, with its millions of would-be tourists and other global travelers freed of nearly all Covid-19 restrictions, but many of the countries that had been waiting desperately for the return of all those lovely tourist dollars are now keeping a wary foot behind the door, if not slamming it shut. China has announced that it would eliminate …

Malaysian social media have reacted negatively to the impending return of Chinese visitors, with the public considering the possibilities of a revival of Covid-19 – fueled by potential new varieties – undermining the fragile economic recovery. Since China abandoned its zero-Covid policy in December, the virus has spread throughout the country’s vast population, whose vaccination rates are inconsistent. On Sunday, …

Malaysia announced on Friday that it will check all incoming tourists for fever and test the wastewater from planes arriving from China for COVID-19 as part of new steps to avoid an epidemic in response to China’s decision to relax its zero-tolerance COVID policy. Minister Zaliha Mustafa stated in a statement that the Ministry of Health is implementing precautionary measures …

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on Thursday, December 29 that no changes will be made to Australia’s policies regarding the entry of Chinese passengers, despite actions taken by certain countries to mandate mandatory COVID-19 tests. Albanese said the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, “We will seek the right guidance from health specialists.” “At this moment, there has been no change to …

China’s two largest cities, Beijing and Shanghai, were inching closer to living with the COVID-19 virus on Monday, December 16. Millions have been infected with the virus around the country. After years of draconian anti-coronavirus restrictions, President Xi Jinping abandoned the country’s zero-COVID policy in response to protests and an escalating outbreak. After the first shock of the policy reversal …

Authorities in Shanghai advised locals to stay at home this weekend, aiming for a subdued Christmas in the nation’s most populated metropolis as COVID-19 rages nationally following the removal of strict restrictions. Saturday, December 24, a branch of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission encouraged young people to avoid crowded gatherings owing to the ease of coronavirus transmission and cold temperatures. …

On Friday, December 23, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed the Philippines’ first four cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, which is responsible for the recent increase in illnesses in China. “As of now, only four instances of BF.7 have been found in the country, and these cases are being recorded under Omicron BA.5” the Department of Health informed reporters through …

A hospital in Shanghai has informed its employees to prepare for a “tragic struggle” with COVID-19, as it anticipates that half of the city’s 25 million residents would be infected by the end of the year as the virus sweeps through China mostly uncontrolled. China has begun dismantling its “zero-COVID” policy, which has taken a significant financial and psychological toll …