Could China's Covid Chaos Spawn A More Lethal Variant That Will Put The World Back Into Lockdowns?

China is experiencing an unprecedented wave of Covid which has sparked tough lockdowns, testing regimes and mask mandates  

Daily Mail: Could China's Covid chaos send world straight back to square one? Experts fear unrelenting crisis risks spawning lethal mutant variant that dodges wall of immunity 

* China's daily Covid infections have doubled in a fortnight, with a record 40,000 testing positive on Saturday 

* Millions are living in lockdown as Beijing sticks to its economically-crippling 'zero Covid' strategy 

* Major anti-Government lockdown protests have erupted in at least seven cities over a fresh batch of rules  

* BBC journalist beaten up and arrested 'to stop him catching Covid' while covering protests, local cops claim 

* Revealed: Britain has world's SECOND biggest Covid outbreak currently - behind only Japan 

China's unrelenting Covid outbreak could spawn a doomsday variant which has the potential to send the world back to square one in its fight against the virus, experts warned today.

Cases have doubled within a fortnight across the country, where the pandemic began almost three years ago. A record 40,000 people are now testing positive every day, with millions subject to restrictions as Beijing sticks to its economically-crippling 'zero Covid' strategy. 

Major anti-Government protests have erupted in cities over a fresh batch of virus-containing rules that has seen some confined to their homes for more than three months. It saw police arrest a BBC journalist, who said forces beat and kicked him while reporting on the unprecedented demonstrations.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: When I reflect on the past 3 years it is hard to phantom going back into lock-downs and quarantines. But here is an easy prediction if lock-downs return. The health care system will break. Political and social unrest will be off the scales. And the economic consequences will set everything back by years if not more.

Covid Infections Explode In China

 

CNBC: China may have ‘passed the point of no return’ as Covid infections soar 

* In the last few days, the mainland China daily Covid case count has climbed to around or more than 28,000 — near levels seen in April during a stringent lockdown in Shanghai, according to CNBC calculations of Wind Information data. 

* “China might have already passed the point of no return, as it’s unlikely to achieve zero Covid again without another Shanghai-style hard lockdown,” Macquarie’s Chief China Economist Larry Hu said in a report Tuesday. 

* In GDP terms, nearly 20% of China’s economy was negatively affected by Covid controls as of Monday, close to the high of 21.2% recorded in mid-April during Shanghai’s lockdown, Nomura’s Chief China Economist Ting Lu said, citing the firm’s model.

BEIJING — Surging Covid infections across mainland China make it harder for the government to achieve zero-Covid without reverting to a harsh lockdown, Macquarie’s Chief China Economist Larry Hu said. 

In the last few days, the daily case count has climbed to around or more than 28,000 — near levels seen in April during a stringent lockdown in Shanghai, according to CNBC calculations of Wind Information data. 

The figures showed the last time mainland China saw only a handful of daily infections was in June, shortly after Shanghai eased its restrictions.  

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WNU Editor: It looks like Beijing is doubling down on its measures .... China vows to enhance medical resources, crack down on excessive approaches amid severest COVID outbreak in 3 years (Global Times). 

 Covid Infections Explode In China  

China anti-virus curbs spur fears of global economic impact -- AP 

‘Critical moment’ for Beijing with Covid-19 cases at record high -- SCMP  

China battles spiraling COVID crisis as city lockdowns widen -- Nikkei Asia  

China’s COVID cases to smash records as video shows workers rebel -- Al Jazeera

Covid Cases And Lockdowns Expanding In China

Chinese cities and provinces ae racing to stamp out sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks as winter nears [File: Reuters]  

Al Jazeera: China locks down millions as COVID cases rise before winter 

Controversial ‘zero COVID’ policy under strain as cases top 2,000 for a second straight day. 

Officials in Chinese cities and provinces across the country are pulling no punches in stamping out sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks as winter nears, quickly closing venues and enforcing longer temporary lockdowns on millions of people. 

Cases in mainland China hit 2,898 on Sunday, topping 2,000 for a second straight day and pressuring the country’s controversial zero-COVID policy, which has hamstrung the economy and exasperated its citizens.  

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WNU Editor: The economic impact from these lock-downs are growing (see below): 

China COVID curbs hit iPhone output, shut Shanghai Disney -- Reuters  

China’s factory activity drops, bogged down by more Covid controls -- CNBC 

Macau reimposes COVID curbs as China loosens visa rules for gambling hub -- Reuters

Boston University Scientists Have Created A New Deadly Covid Strain With An 80% Kill Rate

Daily Mail: EXCLUSIVE: 'This is playing with fire - it could spark a lab-generated pandemic': Experts slam Boston lab where scientists have created a new deadly Covid strain with an 80% kill rate 

* Researchers added Omicron's spike protein to the original Wuhan Covid strain 

* Omicron's spike is highly mutated which made it the most infectious variant ever 

* Eight in 10 mice infected with the lab-created strain died at Boston University lab

Boston University scientists were today condemned for 'playing with fire' after it emerged they had created a lethal new Covid strain in a laboratory. 

DailyMail.com revealed the team had made a hybrid virus — combining Omicron and the original Wuhan strain — that killed 80 per cent of mice in a study. 

The revelation exposes how dangerous virus manipulation research continues to go on even in the US, despite fears similar practices may have started the pandemic.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Boston University researchers claim to have developed new, more lethal COVID strain in lab (FOX News)  

Update #2: Boston University Creates COVID Strain With 80% Mortality In Mice (Zero Hedge)  

WNU Editor: Remember during the height of the Covid pandemic virologists telling us they were not making chimeric SARS viruses more deadly!!!

In the meantime Biden Covid specialists are raising concerns on new Omicron variants .... Biden Covid officials scramble to plan for Omicron subvariant threat (Politico). More here .... Dr. Fauci: These 2 new fast-spreading omicron Covid subvariants are ‘pretty troublesome’ (CNBC).

Alarm In Beijing After Officials Announced That The Strict Zero-Covid Policy Could Be In Place For The Next Five Years

A COVID testing site in Beijing  

The Guardian: Alarm in Beijing after announcement zero-Covid policy may last five years 

Communist party official posts notice saying mass mandatory testing and travel curbs will continue Authorities in Beijing have sparked confusion and alarm after announcing the strict zero-Covid policy could be in place for the next five years, including mass mandatory testing and travel restrictions. 

The notice, published on Monday afternoon, was attributed to Cai Qi, the Beijing secretary of the Chinese Communist party. 

The original text said: “In the next five years, Beijing will unremittingly grasp the normalisation of epidemic prevention and control.”  

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Update #1: Quote from Beijing official on '5 years' of COVID-19 restrictions causes stir (UPI) 

Update #2: Beijing chief says city to 'maintain zero-COVID policy for next five years' - before time reference removed (SKY News)  

WNU Editor: The Chinese internet censors have been busy .... Chinese censors scrub internet after senior party official gives speech on timeline of zero-Covid in Beijing (CNN).

China Tells Its Citizens To Avoid Mail From Abroad Due To Covid Fears

 

Insider: China tells citizens to avoid mail from abroad and open packages with gloves, claiming that Omicron is spreading through foreign post 

* China is advising people to avoid foreign mail and open packages outside, citing COVID-19 risks. 

* Beijing's disease center said an Omicron infection could have come through international mail. 

* Experts say the virus is unlikely to spread via mail, as it doesn't last long on surfaces. 

Officials in Beijing are telling people to avoid international mail and to open their packages outdoors and with gloves, saying cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant could have spread through foreign mail. 

Experts have repeatedly said that there is little risk of getting the coronavirus from mail. 

There is no indication that this has changed with the Omicron variant, though it is more infectious.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: China Halts All Foreign Mail Due To COVID Threat As Tianjin Reports 80 New Cases (Zero Hedge)  

Update #2: Omicron cases in Beijing, Shenzhen suspected of links to packages from North America (Global times)  

WNU Editor: The experts are saying that these claims are ridiculous .... China's claim that Omicron came from Canadian mail dismissed as 'ludicrous' (Canadian Press). 

As to what is my take. 

The Chinese are positioning themselves to blame foreigners/outsiders in the event that Covid infections do spread during the Olympics.

WHO Urges U.S. To Pay Attention As Surging COVID Cases Flood Europe's Hospitals Again

CBS: "Don't wait": WHO urges U.S. to pay attention as surging COVID cases flood Europe's hospitals again 

London — The coronavirus has been resurging across Europe, including in some places where it was thought to be well under control. 

A top world health official tells CBS News the trend shows that success today does not necessarily mean success tomorrow, and the United States should pay close attention. 

Europe has seen a jump of more than 50% in new coronavirus cases over the last month, and the World Health Organization has warned the continent could see another half of a million deaths by February. 

CBS News senior foreign correspondent Charlie D'Agata spoke with the top official ringing those alarm bells, who told him there's "grave concern" as Europe is once again under siege by COVID-19. 

 "If you look at the last four weeks, the hospitalizations have doubled," Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for Europe, told CBS News.  

Read more .... 

Update: WHO official: US should take notice of COVID-19 surge in Europe (The Hill)  

WNU Editor: The situation in Europe is becoming dire .... COVID-19 Cases Surge Across Europe (NYMag). More on Europe here .... Covid's resurgence in Europe, in 3 charts (NBC).

Indian Covid Variant Could Be The Dominant Strain In The US Within A Week

The Indian variant of Covid-19 could be the dominant strain of the virus in the United States in just one week, according to disturbing new data  

Daily Mail: Indian Covid variant could be the dominant strain in the US within a WEEK, say experts as it causes havoc in UK where 30% of fatalities linked to mutant have been fully vaccinated 

* Data shows highly-contagious 'Delta' strain of Covid is spreading quickly across the United States 

* The variant, first detected in India, now accounts for 10 percent of all US cases, up from just one percent a month ago 

* US health officials are desperate to avoid a replica of what is occurring in the United Kingdom, where the Delta strain accounts for 90 percent of cases 

* In the UK, Covid cases are up 109 percent in a single week, hospitalizations have surged and lockdown laws may be extended by another month 

The Indian variant of Covid-19 could be the dominant strain of the virus in the United States in just one week, according to disturbing new data. 

The highly-transmissible strain - known as B.1.617.2 or 'Delta' - now makes up about 10 percent of US cases, up from just one percent less than a month ago, Outbreak.info claims. 

'When will B.1.617.2 (Delta) be the dominant variant in the US? Could be next week (or next 2 weeks) based on trends in our testing data & sequences available,' researcher Alexandre Bolze wrote on Twitter Thursday.  

Read more .... 

Update: Highly contagious India COVID variant spreading rapidly in the US (NYPost)  

WNU Editor: The U.S. is not the only country facing the spread of the Indian Covid variant .... Covid-19 Delta Variant First Found in India Is Quickly Spreading Across Globe (WSJ).

One Rule For Me, One Rule For Thee

U.S. President Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and other world leaders have been accused of breaking strict social distancing rules at the G7 summit in Cornwall over the weekend. Pictured: World leaders and their spouses enjoy a Red Arrows fly over on Saturday  

Daily Mail: One rule for them... World leaders are accused of 'double standards' after ignoring social-distancing to hug and back slap during G7 summit 

 * President Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and others were photographed in close contact over the weekend at the G7 summit in Cornwall 

* Pictures of world leaders at a beach barbecue prompted a social media backlash 

* Some users asked why politicians were allowed to socialise without the strict regulations placed on guests at weddings or funerals 

 * Dominic Raab has insisted there was social distancing at the event on Saturday 

U.S. President Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and other world leaders have been accused of breaking strict social distancing rules at the G7 summit in Cornwall over the weekend. 

On Friday, delegates posed for a socially-distanced official group shot but other images revealed much more relaxed scenes. 

At a beach barbecue on Saturday guests were served sirloin steak and lobster while being entertained by a sea shanty group and a Red Arrows flypast.  

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WNU Editor: It is the first thing that I noticed when the leaders met. No face-masks. Back-slapping. No social distancing.

How Much Worse Can Covid Varients Get?

BBC: Covid: Is there a limit to how much worse variants can get? 

It is clear we are now dealing with a virus that spreads far more easily - probably more than twice as easily - as the version that emerged in Wuhan at the end of 2019. 

The Alpha variant, first identified in Kent, UK, performed a large jump in its ability to transmit. 

Now Delta, seen first in India, leapt further still. 

This is evolution in action. 

So are we doomed to a never-ending parade of new and improved variants that get harder and harder to contain?

Or is there a limit to how much worse coronavirus can become?  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Bottom line. The Covid coronavirus has shown itself to be very good at mutating into more virulent strains. 

What this means is that the pandemic probably still has a long way to go before health agencies around the world will declare it over.

India records 300,000 Covid deaths as pandemic rages

DW: India's death toll crosses 300,000 

Following the US and Brazil, India has become the latest country to log over 300,000 COVID fatalities. Experts believe the actual death toll to be much higher. 

Health authorities on Monday said India's total death toll has reached 303,720 — after adding 50,000 deaths in just under two weeks. 

The South Asian nation is the third, after US and Brazil, to hit the grim landmark of 300,000 deaths. 

Experts believe the actual death toll to be almost two to three times higher, as the virus continues to spread in rural areas where record keeping is difficult and health facilities are not well equipped.  

Read more ....  

More News On India's Covid Deaths Topping 300,000  

India virus death toll passes 300,000, 3rd highest in world -- AP  

India marks 300,000 Covid-19 deaths as pandemic rages -- France 24

India records 300,000 Covid deaths as pandemic rages -- BBC  

India becomes 3rd nation to surpass 300,000 COVID-19 deaths -- UPI  

India reaches grim COVID milestone passing 300,000 deaths -- ABC News (Australia)  

India's Covid deaths top 300,000 -- CNN  

India crosses 300,000 COVID deaths; vaccine drive hit by shortage -- Al Jazeera