China to track Covid virus mutations through vast hospital network - Hong Kong News

The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) has established a data gathering network made up of one hospital in each city, and three cities in each province, reports South China Morning Post.

Each hospital will collect samples from 15 patients in the outpatients and emergency room, 10 from patients with severe illnesses, and all fatalities, the report mentioned.

"Genomic data from the samples will be uploaded to the national database within a week for analysis and sequencing, laying out the distribution of any sub-lineages that may develop across the country," said the report, quoting Xu Wenbo, director of the China CDC's National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, as saying.

According to China CDC, 130 Omicron sub-lineages have been found in the past three months but none cause severe illness. These include several from the BQ.1 and XBB strains which have been circulating in the US, Britain and Singapore, among other countries.

Public health experts, including top respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan, warned that waves of Covid-19 infections in China over a short period of time might give rise to new variants of the virus.

Mass PCR testing was cancelled in early December and negative test results are no longer required to return to work or enter public places in the country.

While BA5.2 and BF.7 remain dominant in China, "BQ.1 and its sub-lineage have been found in 49 cases in nine provinces, while XBB sub-lineages have been found in 11 cases in three provinces", Xu was quoted as saying.

China has recorded 5,237 Covid-related deaths so far during the pandemic.

December 21, 2022 Other Hong Kong

• __ Moines, Iowa Crossword Clue LA Times
• Ring up Los Angeles NFL players? Crossword Clue LA Times
• Rodeo ropes Crossword Clue LA Times
• Safe to put away? Crossword Clue LA Times
• Simplicity Crossword Clue LA Times
• Slight advantage Crossword Clue LA Times
• Soothing succulents Crossword Clue LA Times
• Steer clear of Crossword Clue LA Times
• Steer clear of Crossword Clue LA Times
• Stick (out) Crossword Clue LA Times
• Stir-fry pan Crossword Clue LA Times
• Stopped snoozing Crossword Clue LA Times
• Submitted tax returns online Crossword Clue LA Times
• Timecard abbr Crossword Clue LA Times
• Take care of Crossword Clue LA Times
• Yellow-orange fruit Crossword Clue LA Times
• Write-ups that still need some work Crossword Clue LA Times
• Workweek starter, for some Crossword Clue LA Times
• Weavers machine Crossword Clue LA Times
• Watchdogs warning Crossword Clue LA Times
• Videotape Miami NBA players? Crossword Clue LA Times
• Venue for big concerts Crossword Clue LA Times
• Twisty curve Crossword Clue LA Times
• Tools that can be musical instruments Crossword Clue LA Times
• Tippy top Crossword Clue LA Times
• Like much fall weather Crossword Clue LA Times
• Line of a song Crossword Clue LA Times
• Long journey Crossword Clue LA Times
• Mail-order pioneer Crossword Clue LA Times
• Minnesota mining range Crossword Clue LA Times
• Misty Copelands dance troupe: Abbr Crossword Clue LA Times
• Molecule makeup Crossword Clue LA Times
• Move effortlessly (through) Crossword Clue LA Times
• Open freight train unit Crossword Clue LA Times
• Opposite of WNW Crossword Clue LA Times
• Peony part Crossword Clue LA Times
• Recipe measures Crossword Clue LA Times
• Lend San Jose NHL players? Crossword Clue LA Times
• Late tourney game Crossword Clue LA Times
• Flipped (through) Crossword Clue LA Times
• Foray Crossword Clue LA Times
• Gen-__: post-boomers Crossword Clue LA Times
• Gingerbread person? Crossword Clue LA Times
• Give body to, as hair Crossword Clue LA Times
• Gripped Crossword Clue LA Times
• Huge tubs Crossword Clue LA Times
• Improve Los Angeles MLB players? Crossword Clue LA Times
• Jacobs twin in the Book of Genesis Crossword Clue LA Times
• Lacking color Crossword Clue LA Times
• Hip or tip ender Crossword Clue LA Times
• Bridge pose discipline Crossword Clue LA Times
• Blue-eyed cat Crossword Clue LA Times
• Barnyard layer Crossword Clue LA Times
• App-based car service Crossword Clue LA Times
• Ancient France Crossword Clue LA Times
• Amorous archer Crossword Clue LA Times
• Altoids containers Crossword Clue LA Times
• Admits as much Crossword Clue LA Times
• 63-Across holder Crossword Clue LA Times
• 60s "New Left" gp Crossword Clue LA Times
• You can say that again! Crossword Clue LA Times
• Rebel Without a Cause star Crossword Clue LA Times
• The Dutch House novelist Patchett Crossword Clue LA Times
• Chance to roll the dice, say Crossword Clue LA Times
• Chimed in with Crossword Clue LA Times
• Chop down Crossword Clue LA Times
• Closing document Crossword Clue LA Times
• Color for cheeks Crossword Clue LA Times
• Corned beef solution Crossword Clue LA Times
• Cut covered by a SpongeBob bandage, e.g Crossword Clue LA Times
• Detroit ballplayer Crossword Clue LA Times
• Dinosaur voiced by Wallace Shawn in the "Toy Story" films Crossword Clue LA Times
• Discontinued Apple gadget Crossword Clue LA Times
• Elaborate cake layers Crossword Clue LA Times
• First responders group, for short Crossword Clue LA Times
• Flimsy Crossword Clue LA Times