A surge in Covid-19 cases in China creates a sense of fear among Indians about a fourth wave.
"The infection surge in China is on expected lines. If you have a susceptible population that is not exposed to the virus, cases will rise. Nothing has changed for the rest of the world, including India," saysChina has been struggling with a rush of Covid cases after it started moving away from its so-called zero-Covid approach which mandated strict lockdowns, quarantining and closed borders.
"Covid is still around, people are still getting infected and getting admitted to hospitals. So it's not that we're free of Covid, but it's become like another upper respiratory tract infection, like influenza," says epidemiologistThe low caseload in India can be largely attributed to the immunity Indians have already gained over the past three years.
He says people should take the booster dose if they haven't already - only around 27% of the population have got it so far."With time, the level of antibodies go down. So a third shot is always beneficial and will increase the level of antibodies," Dr Lahariya says, adding that it's good for people above 60 years of age.
"The current testing strategy of random genome sequencing of 2% of international travellers is enough to pick up any new variant," says Dr Fathahudeen.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China to Open Borders Despite Surge in Covid-19 CasesChinese leader Xi Jinping called on local officials to make any effort to save lives, his first public comments on the pandemic since China abruptly abandoned its stringent zero-Covid strategy in early December
Read more »
China to end quarantine requirements for travelers despite surge in COVID casesChina is poised to end its quarantine requirements for international visitors in early January, marking a significant step toward reopening even as the country grapples with a massive surge in COVID-19 cases.
Read more »
China's COVID-19 surge raises odds of new coronavirus mutantEvery new infection offers a chance for the coronavirus to mutate, and the virus is spreading rapidly in China.
Read more »
China to Open Borders as Covid-19 Cases RiseChinese leader Xi Jinping called on local officials to make any effort to save lives, his first public comments on the pandemic since China abruptly abandoned its stringent zero-Covid strategy in early December
Read more »
Beijing, Shanghai residents back to work as China limps towards living with COVIDMask-wearing Beijing and Shanghai commuters crowded subway trains on Monday, with China's two biggest cities edging closer to living with COVID-19, as millions have been infected with the largely unchecked virus across the country.
Read more »