China still needs to share more information about the transmission of Covid-19 and the strains that are circulating, World Health Organization officials said.
(Bloomberg) — China still needs to share more information about the transmission of Covid-19 and the strains that are circulating, World Health Organization officials said.
While the country deserves credit for increasing the availability of hospital beds, Covid treatments and vaccines, it needs to offer the world a better picture of how the wave of infections is playing out, the WHO experts said. Among other things, they’re seeking details on whether cases are rising or falling in certain cities and rural areas.
“We still do not have adequate information to make a full, comprehensive risk assessment,” said Mike Ryan, executive director of the agency’s health emergencies program, in a press conference Wednesday.
Covid deaths in China are still being “heavily underreported,” and officials should be encouraged to report all infections, Ryan said. While that’s happening more regularly now, he said, some officials previously were reporting only instances of Covid-related pneumonia.
WHO officials also want more information on the genetics of the virus strains circulating. Until now, Chinese officials have told the WHO that these strains are mainly from the BA.5 sublineage of omicron, which is common throughout the world. Nonetheless, China should publicly share these sequences so scientists can analyze them “mutation by mutation,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid-19, said.
Given the insufficient data from China, it’s understandable that countries are bringing back measures targeting travelers from China, the WHO officials said. For some destinations, negative Covid tests are required before passengers are allowed to board flights.
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