Zach Crawford
Changchun is grappling with a new wave of infections, which have risen to nationally high levels in the past two years. Berlin fears excessive pressure will return to the German health system
The situation in China – According to Chinese media reports, local authorities announced the start of mass testing, ordering residents to work from home and allowing one person from each family to go out every two days to buy essential goods. The National Health Commission reported 555 new infections discovered Thursday in the country, of which 397 are domestic and 158 are imported.
Decade in China, green light for rapid antigen tests
China will introduce rapid antigen testing for the first time since the outbreak of the epidemic. This was announced by the National Health Commission, to counter the alternative “Omicron” that is spreading rapidly despite the “zero tolerance” policy. Rapid tests are widely used in the rest of the world, and have been limited in China. The kits will now be available to private citizens and clinics. The tipping point came as the country grappled with unprecedented case numbers since the start of the epidemic, with 1,100 new internal infections reported and four numbers for the first time since the peak in Wuhan.
The situation in Germany – The epidemiological situation in Germany is “much worse than the mood. We cannot be happy with the situation.” This is what Germany’s Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, said, adding: “I have always read again that the Omicron variant is a mild variant, but this is either wrong or only partially true. There are 250 victims a day in Germany. And it is true. Within a few weeks, There will be more patients who will die.” The minister and experts at the Robert Koch Institute fear the possibility of a severe strain on the national health system once again.
Laurence Malcom
