International COVID-19 Megathread

[Frodo]

This is most certainly an underestimate -I think much more than a million will perish from COVID in China before it finally settles down there, given the huge virgin population, and how closely packed and urbanized they have become:

One Million Could Die From COVID in China, New Study Shows. Here’s What to Know

Roughly a million people could die from COVID-19 in China by next year as a result of the country’s rapid abandonment of pandemic restrictions, a new study suggests.

Researchers worry that ill-prepared healthcare systems, low rates of vaccination among the elderly and ineffective vaccines will contribute to a massive and deadly COVID-19 surge that has already begun overwhelming hospitals in Beijing.

The country of 1.4 billion has had some of the strictest COVID containment measures in place since the pandemic began nearly three years ago, but the government began easing restrictions this month after a wave of fervent protests that began in November against President Xi Jinping’s zero-COVID policies.

Here’s what to know:

[Frodo]

Chinese leaders are apparently too proud to accept vaccines from the West, even when offered:

US Prepared to Help China With Vaccines to Control Covid

[Frodo]

Leaked notes from Chinese health officials estimate 250 million Covid-19 infections in December: reports

[Frodo]

US to Require Negative Covid Tests for Travelers From China

The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that travelers from China, Hong Kong and Macau must present negative Covid-19 tests before entering the United States, a move that it says is intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The requirement will take effect on Jan. 5.

The announcement, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, came amid growing concern over a surge of cases in China and the country’s lack of transparency about the outbreak there.

C.D.C. officials said the requirement for testing will apply to air passengers regardless of their nationality and vaccination status. It will also apply to travelers coming from China who enter the United States through a third country, and to those who connect through the United States to other destinations. Italy and Japan have already imposed similar restrictions.

[Frodo]

Earlier the Chinese government was reporting it was less than 40 people:

https://twitter.com/UPI/status/1614319447313113088

[Frodo]

https://twitter.com/CNNFrancePR/status/1617037914029924352

[Frodo]

In other words, we are nearing herd immunity worldwide, which is the 'inflection point' I think the World Health Organization is referring to:

https://twitter.com/HuffPost/status/1620109475846754320

[Frodo]

Pretty much confirms what we already knew:

WHO, CDC Study: Vast Majority of COVID-19 Deaths Among Older Adults
The research also found that the global rate of vaccination among older adults falls significantly short of the World Health Organization’s goal to have all at-risk populations fully vaccinated.

More than 80% of COVID-19 global deaths during the first two years of the pandemic were among people aged 60 and older, according to a new study from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The trend held true across countries of all economic backgrounds, the report published Thursday found. But older populations in lower and middle income countries experienced the highest mortality rates and accounted for the majority of global COVID-19 death estimates.

[Frodo]

COVID-19 vaccine scheme for poorest has $2.6 billion left to spend as pandemic recedes

Several billions of dollars left in a scheme to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the world’s poorest could be diverted to prepare for other pandemics or to support vaccine manufacturing in Africa, the scheme's partners said.

The COVAX initiative, run by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), has $2.6 billion left in its coffers as the emergency phase of the pandemic draws to a close, according to documents seen by Reuters and two sources close to the scheme.

The initiative is set to wind up at the end of this year, although some of its work will continue. With demand for COVID-19 vaccines dwindling, the partners are now working out how best to use the remaining cash – a significant sum in global health – alongside the donors who originally pledged it.