WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke with Minister Ma Xiaowei, director of China’s National Health Commission, on Saturday about the COVID-19 situation in the country and sought deeper cooperation. on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I spoke with Minister Ma Xiaowei about the #COVID19 situation in #China. I appreciated the publication of detailed information, which we request that you continue to share. I asked for sharing more footage and cooperation to understand the origins of the virus,” the WHO chief tweeted. . .
Read| China records nearly 60,000 Covid-related deaths in a month: Health agency
The phone call came on the same day China announced that nearly 60,000 deaths from Covid-19 had been reported since the country lifted its strict “Zero Covid Policy” on December 7 last year, state-run Global Times reported.
China’s National Health Commission revealed a total of 59,938 COVID-19-related deaths between December 8, 2022 and January 12 this year, explaining that the increase in cases is due to the relaxation of policy. of COVID-19 on December 7.
On Saturday’s call, Tedros reiterated the importance of China’s greater cooperation and transparency in understanding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and carrying out the recommendations detailed in the report of the Novel Pathogen Origins Strategic Advisory Group.
In a statement posted on its website, the WHO said Chinese officials provided information to the WHO and at a press conference on a variety of topics, including outpatient clinics, hospitalizations, patients requiring emergency treatment and intensive care, and hospital deaths related to COVID-19 infection. .
“WHO is analyzing this information, which covers from the beginning of December 2022 to January 12, 2023, and allows a better understanding of the epidemiological situation and the impact of this wave in China,” the UN agency said.
The WHO requested that this type of detailed information continue to be shared with them. In addition, they highlighted the efforts of the Chinese authorities to expand the clinical care of its population at all levels, including critical care.
“The overall epidemiology, reflecting a rapid and intense wave of disease caused by known Omicron subvariants with greatest clinical impact in older people and those with underlying conditions, is similar to waves of infection experienced by other countries, as are increased pressure on health services,” the agency said.
Read| Covid fever and emergency hospitalizations in China have peaked: official
While the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention previously reported that Omicron’s BA.5.2 and BF.7 sublineages are circulating, the WHO said it continues to request that more sequences be shared with open access databases for the ongoing collaboration with technical groups working on viruses. evolution, clinical care and beyond.
The UN health agency said it would continue to work with China, providing technical advice and support and analyzing the situation. (AND ME)
