At a meeting with representatives of Chinese health authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO) requested more data on the course of the current wave of corona infections in the People's Republic. During the exchange yesterday, the UN special organization based in Geneva said it was repeatedly asked to collect detailed data in real time and share it with the WHO. Among other things, this involves information on the genetic sequencing of cases that have tested positive in order to get a better overview of virus variants that are circulating, as well as numbers on patients in hospitals and intensive care units, deaths and vaccination rates.

The WHO declared its willingness to provide intensive support to the Chinese authorities in the fight against the wave of infections - and conversely called on Chinese scientists to exchange ideas more closely with international colleagues. It also reiterated the importance of "closely monitoring the situation and releasing data in a timely manner to help China and the world community make appropriate risk assessments and take effective measures."

After almost three years of extremely strict precautions, China's leadership abruptly announced an end to its controversial zero-corona policy on December 7th. According to officially unconfirmed internal estimates, 248 million people were infected in the first three weeks of December alone, which would correspond to 18 percent of the population. Scientists warn that the corona wave could produce new variants that would then find their way to other countries. In response to the wave of infections, more and more countries are tightening their controls on people entering China.