Patients receive treatment inside a Covid-19 ward in a hospital, in Bangalore, India, April 30, 2021. - Xinhua
BEIJING (Global Times): The double mutant variant that is wrecking havoc in India is feared to be spilling into neighbouring countries and is starting to affect Southeast Asia.
Experts warned that without strict border controls and anti-virus measures, countries in South and Southeast Asia would fall into a grave situation, given their weak medical systems and lack of vaccines, and they suggested anti-virus cooperation with China may be helpful.
India has continued to show a Covid-19 surge with the country hitting a new record of 412,262 new cases and 3,980 deaths on Thursday. The country has reported a death toll of more than 230,000 and an infection tally of 21 million, according to the Times of India.
Is India s COVID-19 crisis spilling into Asian neighbors?
Liu Xin and Wan Lin Published: May 06, 2021 09:48 PM
Patients receive treatment inside a COVID-19 ward in a hospital, in Bangalore, India, April 30, 2021. India s COVID-19 tally reached 19,164,969 on Saturday, with a single day spike of 401,993 cases, the health ministry said. This is the first time when over 400,000 new cases were recorded in India in 24 hours, and a record number of 3,523 deaths since Friday morning took the total death toll to 211,853. (Str/Xinhua)
The double mutant variant that is wrecking havoc in India is feared to be spilling into neighboring countries and is starting to affect Southeast Asia. Experts warned that without strict border controls and anti-virus measures, countries in South and Southeast Asia would fall into a grave situation, given their weak medical systems and lack of vaccines, and they suggested anti-virus cooperation with China may be helpful.
US makes U-turn on aiding India, motivation questioned
Liu Xin Published: Apr 27, 2021 12:33 AM
A patient breathes with the help of oxygen provided by a Gurdwara, a place of worship for Sikhs, inside an auto rickshaw parked under a tent along the roadside amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in Ghaziabad on Monday. Photo: VCG
Under tremendous pressure, the US, which has remained silent in face of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in India, an important partner to Washington s Indo-Pacific strategy, over the weekend, finally responded positively, pledging medical aid such as raw materials for vaccines and oxygen concentrators. Such a U-turn in attitude is largely driven by geopolitical interests, in addition to countries actual concerns about the epidemic crisis, and displays how this so-called political alliance failed to address India s major concerns, experts said.
Chinese authority in HKSAR issues easier visa policy for foreigners inoculated with Chinese vaccine
Liu Caiyu Published: Mar 14, 2021 08:25 PM
Residents wait to get vaccinated as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region starts mass COVID-19 vaccination on February 26. Photo: cnsphotoChina has simplified its visa policy for foreigners applying to enter the Chinese mainland via Hong Kong who have received China-produced COVID-19 vaccines, which experts said shows the authorities confidence in the efficacy and safety of the Chinese vaccines and will facilitate personnel exchanges.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued a notice on Friday to exempt foreign visa applicants who have received a Chinese vaccine from providing health certification. Chinese experts said it can be seen as a trial for China to explore vaccine visas and hopefully can be expanded to other places.
CHINA / SOCIETY By Leng Shumei Published: Jan 26, 2021 09:43 PM
Quality inspectors on Sinovac vaccine production lines use digital technology platforms to monitor the quality and efficiency of vaccine packaging on Sunday. Photos: Li Hao/GT
A recent report in the Hindustan Times claimed that Bangladesh had to turn to India for help as Chinese vaccine producer Sinovac asked the Bangladeshi government to share cost of clinical trials. However, the report is different from what the Global Times has learned, and experts condemned Indian media for hyping what would be normal international cooperation on vaccine development.
A Sunday report of the Hindustan Times claimed that Sinovac in October 2020 wanted to sign a contract with the Bangladeshi government to supply the latter with the CoronaVac vaccines developed by Sinovac.