Omicron ‘stealth’ variant BA.2 is spreading rapidly in China
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A temporary Covid-19 testing location was set up in Shenzhen.
Visual China Group | Visual China Group | Getty Images
BEIJING — As mainland China battles its worst Covid-19 outbreak since early 2020, local governments increasingly say the new omicron BA.2 variant is to blame.
That’s the new Covid subvariant, which preliminary research indicates is even more transmissible than the original omicron variant — but doesn’t necessarily cause more severe illness.
Since March 12, Mainland China reported over 1000 new Covid cases per day, with the highest number of confirmed cases at 2,000 in the past three days. The asymptomatic cases count is not included in this number, as they can easily be twice or more than daily confirmed cases.
From the northern province of Jilin — which accounts for more than half of the new daily cases — to industrial centers like Tangshan and Shenzhen, local authorities have blamed omicron BA.2 for the latest wave of Covid.
CNBC translated the Chinese text into English and stated that Omicron BA.2 is responsible for the outbreak and has spread faster than any other viruses.
Fujian government stated that the subvariant can also be “stealthier”, making it harder for people to locate, however, infections tend to be milder or less severe cases.
Scientists also have described BA.2 as a “stealth” variantBecause it has mutations that can make it more difficult to differentiate from the older Delta variant by PCR tests.
China’s strict zero-Covid policy, which uses rapid, regional lockdowns in order to stop outbreaks, has not changed despite apparent severity increases. After the initial pandemic shock in 2020, the strategy was able to quickly bring the economy back to growth.
People from different regions may be subject to travel restrictions or quarantines.
Klaus Zenkel (chair of the South China Chapter of the EU Chamber of Commerce, China) said that a truck driver had to be changed to someone local before the vehicle could enter a Guangxi city. He cannot go to the location he has to deliver goods.
Zenkel, who is located in Shenzhen’s southern region, was released from lockdown on Sunday evening.
He said that if you look at the lockdown over the last seven days, from 14-21 March, then it is almost as tough as two years ago, when the pandemic began.” This was referring to tighter restrictions placed by the government on international travel and the stay-home policy.
Smaller businesses hurt more
In an attempt to contain the first outbreak of Covid-19, more than half the mainland Chinese population shut down for a long Lunar New Year holiday. The economy experienced a contraction in the quarter but it quickly recovered.
Zenkel reported Wednesday that multinational corporations can maintain production by keeping employees in the same place as factories. However, small businesses lose a week of productivity. For potential compensation plans, he said that the district governments want businesses to report their losses.
Shenzhen seems to be returning to normal. But many were still getting tested each day in order for them, he stated. Let’s be optimistic [with]All these data and experiences in China can help the Chinese government find a way from zero-Covid into ‘live with Covid’.
Covid tests are still used to check whether someone is allowed in a particular city, or whether the lockdown can be lifted. These tests — which can’t yet be self-administered at home — now only cost about 8 yuan ($1.25) in Beijing, or free if arranged by community leaders.
Wu Fan, the deputy dean at Shanghai Medical College Fudan University stressed Wednesday that the public must maintain social distance, adhere to health code and testing requirements, and keep themselves well-informed.
Wu claimed that the Omicron BA.2 variation seems to have been running extremely fast this time,” according to CNBC translations of Chinese comments. It’s not enough to just chase it. [We]You also have to stop the way in front of you.”
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