EPMICS

Chinese pray for health in Lunar New Year as COVID death toll rises

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BEIJING, Jan 22 (Reuters) – China entered the Lunar New Year on Sunday with its people praying for health after three years of stress and financial hardship under the pandemic, as officials reported almost 13,000 new deaths caused by the virus between January 13 and 19. Queues stretched for about one kilometer (a half-mile) outside … Read more

China plays down COVID outbreak with holiday rush at full tilt

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Top official says COVID at ‘relatively low’ level Hospital, critical cases dropping, authorities say More than 2 billion trips expected over Lunar New Year Some fear travel season could see infections surge BEIJING, Jan 20 (Reuters) – People across China crowded into trains and buses for one of its busiest days of travel in years … Read more

Chinese city dwellers head to hometowns as holidays raise COVID stakes

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Lunar New Year holidays officially start Jan. 21 More than 2 billion trips due in holiday season China axed anti-virus controls last month Thousands of COVID patients have died in the latest outbreak BEIJING, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Passengers laden with luggage flocked to rail stations in China’s megacities on Monday, heading to their hometowns … Read more

China set for historic demographic turn, accelerated by COVID traumas

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HONG KONG, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Living under China’s stringent COVID-19 restrictions for the past three years had caused Zhang Qi enough stress and uncertainty to consider not having babies in the country. When China abruptly dismantled its “zero COVID” regime last month to let the virus spread freely, the balance tilted to a definite … Read more

China COVID peak to last 2-3 months, hit rural areas next – expert

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Peak of COVID wave seen lasting 2-3 months – epidemiologist Elderly in rural areas particularly at risk People mobility indicators tick up, but yet to fully recover BEIJING, Jan 13 (Reuters) – The peak of China’s COVID-19 wave is expected to last two to three months, and will soon swell over the vast countryside where … Read more

Chinese fret over elderly as WHO warns of holiday COVID surge

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Two billion trips expected over Lunar New Year Virus spreading from cities to vulnerable villages WHO says China response challenged by lack of data China’s grand reopening marred by Japan, Korea spat BEIJING, Jan 12 (Reuters) – People in China worried on Thursday about spreading COVID-19 to aged relatives as they planned returns to their … Read more