“I don’t see a significant difference between the variant circulating in China and those circulating elsewhere,” said Leo Poon Lit-man of the University of Hong Kong.
According to the National Health Commission (NHC), Chinese health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) met via video link on Wednesday to further discuss the latest situation in epidemic prevention and control and medical treatment in China, the latest move to strengthen technical communication on the epidemic.
According to the commission, the two sides discussed medical treatment, virus mutation monitoring, and vaccination strategies, and agreed to maintain communication between experts on technical issues in China. The meeting was attended by health officials and experts, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) specialists.
At a previous press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China has worked closely with the WHO over the years. According to preliminary figures, the two sides have had over 60 technical exchanges on COVID containment, treatment, vaccine research and development, and origin-tracing since COVID-19 was first reported.
According to the spokesperson, China sent experts to the WHO member states briefing on January 5, where they explained China’s response measures, monitoring of mutations, vaccination, and clinical care, and had active interactions with other member states.
Responding to Western concerns about whether China’s COVID-19 policy adjustment would have an impact on the world and the transparency of death toll figures, Liang Wannian, head of China’s COVID-19 response expert panel under the NHC, said on Wednesday that China has reported all variants detected to the WHO and will continue to shoulder responsibility in tracking new variants.
“We have fully reflected on the resilience of China’s healthcare system,” Liang said at a public health event in Beijing on Wednesday, according to the Global Times.
“I don’t see a significant difference between the variant circulating in China and those circulating elsewhere,” said Leo Poon Lit-man of the University of Hong Kong, who also serves on various WHO working groups for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses.
China has increased its engagement with the WHO and has uploaded more data on sequencing, according to the WHO. According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, China is ready to step up cooperation with the WHO and the rest of the world to address the COVID challenge more effectively and protect people’s lives and health.