This ‘flood’ of patients in Chinese hospitals has actually come after the removal of restrictions implemented under its ‘zero covid policy’ which has been going on for almost three years. Under these restrictions, there was a lockdown, travel restrictions and schools were closed. They had a lot of pressure on the economy and in protest against this, people had come out on the streets to protest. The European Union on Wednesday also “encouraged” its member states to implement pre-departure COVID-19 testing for passengers arriving from China. Over the past week, EU countries have responded with a range of restrictions on travelers from China, violating the group’s prior commitment to act in unison.
China warned on Corona investigation
Italy was the first country in the European Union to mandate coronavirus testing requirements for airline passengers arriving from China. France and Spain, however, followed their own measures. The US then implemented a rule that all travelers from China must show a negative test report received in the previous 48 hours prior to departure. China warned that it would “retaliate” if such policies were implemented in all countries of the union. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that the agency is “concerned about the current threat to lives in China” amid the explosive spread of the novel coronavirus across China and the lack of government data.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said Beijing had consistently “shared information and statistics with the international community in an open and transparent manner.” “Currently China’s COVID-19 situation is under control,” Mao said. “At the same time, we hope that the WHO Secretariat will adopt a science-based, objective and fair position to play a positive role in the global pandemic situation,” he added. Meanwhile, local authorities in some areas of the country are urging the public to avoid traveling during this month’s Lunar New Year holiday. The last formal restrictions on movement in China have been lifted.
Hong Kong is reopening its border with China
“We recommend that everyone not return to their hometowns unless absolutely necessary during the peak of the epidemic,” the government of Shaoyang county in central China’s Hunan province said in a notice on Thursday. People have been asked to avoid gathering at one place and visiting friends and relatives. Amidst these concerns, Hong Kong has announced that it will start reopening its border with China on Sunday. This will allow movement of thousands of people in both directions every day. It is not clear what kind of restrictions those going to ‘mainland’ (China) from the city will face.