China is battling a new wave of Covid-19 variants that could lead to as many as 65 million cases a week, according to news reports. The surge is being powered by new variants that are more transmissible than the original strain. The country has seen a dramatic increase in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases since the beginning of 2021, with the daily case count crossing the 9,000-mark on multiple occasions.
In response, China has implemented stricter COVID-19 prevention measures, including mandatory travel quarantines, increased testing and the closure of some industries and businesses. The Chinese government is also stepping up its vaccination efforts and has administered over 70 million jabs since the start of the year. The country is now aiming to vaccinate 40% of its population by the end of 2021.
Meanwhile, experts have warned that new variants have the potential to undo the progress made in battling Covid-19. “It is not a time to be complacent,” said Wang Chen, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. “The novel coronavirus remains a serious public health threat, and the variants might bring unpredictable consequences.”