Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image courtesy : Pikist
News (1)
Scientists discover SARS-like coronavirus in horseshoe bats in Britain
A coronavirus related to the virus that causes COVID-19 (covid, in short) has been found in UK horseshoe bats. It is the first time that a sarbecovirus (SARS-related coronavirus) has been found in a horseshoe bat and the first to be discovered in the UK.
However, there is no evidence that this novel virus has been transmitted to humans, or that it could in future, unless it mutates, said researchers from the University of East Anglia, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and Public Health England (PHE).
UEA researchers collected faecal samples from more than 50 lesser horseshoe bats in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wales and sent them for viral analysis at the PHE. The findings have been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Genome Sequencing
Genome sequencing found a novel coronavirus in one of the bat samples, which the team have named 'RhGB01'. RhGB01 falls within the subgroup of coronaviruses called sarbecoviruses which contains both SARS-CoV-2 (covi; responsible for the current pandemic) and SARS-CoV (responsible for the initial 2003 SARS outbreak in humans).
They noted that these bats will almost certainly have harboured the virus for a very long time -- probably many thousands of years. It has been found now, because this is the first time that they have been tested. RhGB01's closest relative was discovered in a Blasius's bat from Bulgaria in 2008, further analysis showed.
Importantly, RhGB01 is unlikely to pose a direct risk to humans, because the receptor binding domain (RBD) -- the part of the virus that attaches to host cells to infect them -- is not compatible with being able to infect human cells. However, if it mutates -- a mutation could happen if a human infected with Covid-19 passes it to an infected bat -- and anyone comes into contact with bats or their droppings, can get infected, the researchers said.
"Horseshoe bats are found across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia and the bats we tested lie at the western extreme of their range," said Professor Diana Bell, an expert in emerging zoonotic diseases from UEA's School of Biological Sciences.
"Similar viruses have been found in other horseshoe bat species in China, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. Our research extends both the geographic and species ranges of these types of viruses and suggests their more widespread presence across more than 90 species of horseshoe bats," she added.
Natural Distribution
Further, Bell said there are different coronaviruses in many other mammal species too. But the research into the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid in humans, has focussed only on horseshoe bats. There are some 1,400 other bat species and they comprise 20 per cent of known mammals.
The researchers stated that the natural distribution of sarbecoviruses and opportunities for recombination through intermediate host co-infection have been underestimated, "Any bat harbouring a SARS-like coronavirus can act as a melting pot for virus mutation. So if a bat with the RhGB01 infection that we found were to become infected with SARS-CoV-2, there is a risk that these viruses would hybridise and a new virus emerge with the RBD of SARS-CoV-2, and so be able to infect people, Prof Andrew Cunningham, from the Zoological Society of London, said:
"Preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to bats, and hence reducing opportunities for virus mutation, is critical with the current global mass vaccination campaign against this virus," he noted. The researchers also urged the need for applying stringent regulations globally for anyone handling bats and other wild animals.
Ref: https://www.ibtimes.sg/scientists-discover-novel-coronavirus-horseshoe-bats-britain-58962
News (2)
Scientists discover autoantibody in covid patients that triggers firestorm of blood clots
US researchers have discovered a functional autoantibody in covid patients that contributes to the disease's development and the "firestorm" of blood clots and inflammation it induces.
A growing body of studies suggests covi emulates many aspects of systemic auto-immune disorders, including the release of a flurry of overactive immune cells that produce toxic webs of proteins and DNA called neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs.
Novel Autoantibody
For this study, the team analysed serum from over 300 hospitalised covid patients, searching for a novel autoantibody that shields the toxic NETs from being destroyed and produces a lasting noxious effect in a patient's body.
For this study, the team analysed serum from over 300 hospitalised covid patients, searching for a novel autoantibody that shields the toxic NETs from being destroyed and produces a lasting noxious effect in a patient's body.
The results, published in JCI Insight, reveal markedly elevated levels of the anti-NET antibodies in many of the participants. Those with higher levels of the auto-antibodies were more likely to develop severe covid symptoms.
"We see a slew of different antibodies produced in covid patients, and now we discovered another clinically significant one that is likely contributing to severe Covid," said lead author Yu (Ray) Zuo, a rheumatologist at Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan.
"They feed into the inflammatory storm that we're seeing in the most serious cases of viral infection," Zuo added.
Higher Levels of Anti-NET Antibodies
Researchers generated NETs in the lab and incubated them with Covid patient serum. They found the serum from patients with higher levels of anti-NET antibodies struggled to degrade the toxic traps.
The team also spiked healthy serum with anti-NETs purified from the infected patients. While a healthy person's serum should completely disintegrate the extracellular traps, the purified anti-NET antibodies significantly hindered the process.
"We knew that people with severe forms of Covid have higher amounts of these neutrophil extracellular traps, which amplify inflammation and promote blood clot formation," said Jason Knight, Associate Professor of rheumatology at Michigan Medicine.
"We've now found that this process is exacerbated by the anti-NET antibodies, which disrupt our body's immune homeostasis during Covid-19 infection," Knight said.
However, how covid manages to trigger the production of a variety of autoantibodies, including anti-NETs, remains unknown.
Further study of the virus' autoimmune aspects, Zuo noted, will not only lead to better understanding of the disease, but will also likely shed light onto the origins of autoimmune diseases.
Translation of external news
News (3)
Centralized quarantine at Nanjing Airport, Residents tested overnight, 4 places were upgraded to risk areas
Reporter : Luo Tingting / Editor: Wen Hui / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/07/21/a103170372.html / Direct translation
Image : In the evening of 20 July, Nanjing citizens lined up for nucleic acid testing. (Weibo picture)
On 20 July, nine staff members of Nanjing Lukou International Airport tested positive for the CCP virus, and relevant personnel at the airport have been quarantined. Local residents carried out nucleic acid testing overnight, 4 places in Nanjing were adjusted to medium-risk areas, and prevention and control measures were upgraded.
The Nanjing Epidemic Prevention and Control Headquarters of Jiangsu Province announced on the 20th that in the morning of the same day, in the regular nucleic acid test samples of the staff of Lukou International Airport in Jiangning District, it was found that the test results were positive. The personnel involved are mainly airport ground service, cleaning and other positions.
Related personnel at the airport were immediately quarantined. As of 6 pm on the 20th, 9 people have tested positive, and other samples are being tested. It is understood that flights at Nanjing Lukou International Airport are affected in a large area. 405 flights are planned to take off and land on the 20th. As of 11 pm on 20 July, 105 flights have been cancelled and 151 flights have been delayed.
According to the official report, from the 20th, passengers departing from Nanjing Lukou Airport must hold a 48-hour nucleic acid test negative certificate. All people in Nanjing conducted nucleic acid tests overnight on the 20th.
The outbreak of the epidemic in Nanjing has aroused the attention of mainland netizens. As of 8:30 am on July 21, the entry of "#南京传说#" on Weibo has been read 790 million times and discussed 69,000 times.
Many netizens left a message: "I encountered this in the first week of coming to Nanjing. It's really bad. I don't want to go to the class anymore."
"The company informed today that all personnel in Jiangning District will be tested for nucleic acid, and those who are at work must not take off masks in public places all day. I hope the epidemic will end as soon as possible."
"The first time I felt the epidemic was so close to me, I was really a little panicked. Is it too late to get the vaccine now?"
"Jiangsu is too fast. Jiangning's grandmother and her community have already done nucleic acid work. Although it is still some distance away from Lukou, the family is already working from home, and the younger brother's tutoring class has also stopped. I am in Huai'an at 5 o'clock in the morning. I started to listen to the broadcast of the property, and the door of the community was half closed again."
"All airport staff are tested. Residents and travelers near the airport have all gone for nucleic acid testing. The number of confirmed cases and follow-up arrangements must wait for official notification."
Starting from 21 July, 4 areas of Xiecun Community, Baiyun Road Community, Shinian Village, Lukou Street, Jiangning District, Nanjing City, and Maojiaxu Natural Village, Jiutang Administrative Village, Shiqiu Street, Lishui District, have been upgraded from low-risk areas to medium-risk areas.
Lukou Sub-district is a closed area, and personnel can only enter and cannot leave. People in high-risk areas and enclosed areas are required to stay home.
Nanjing officials require local citizens not to leave Jiangning District unless it is necessary. Those who need to leave must hold a certificate of negative nucleic acid test within 48 hours, which will be implemented from 22 July.
Once citizens develop symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, etc., they should go to the nearest fever clinic immediately and actively inform the 14-day activity track and contact history. Wear a mask throughout the journey and avoid public transportation. All retail pharmacies in Nanjing must register with their real names when selling antipyretic drugs.
Nanjing Gulou Hospital issued a notice on 21 July to close the clinic, stating that citizens and friends in need go to Jiangbei. Today, all the visiting experts in the Gulou headquarters are receiving treatment at Jiangbei International.
In this regard, some netizens said, “I’m so panic. Is the Gulou Hospital closed for the new crown test? There is no other reason. Why is the Gulou Hospital that I went to the day before yesterday suddenly so serious.”
All kinds of gathering activities in Nanjing, meetings, trainings, and activities should be conducted online as far as possible. Large-scale offline events should be held in accordance with the principle of "who holds it, who is responsible", control the number of people, and comply with epidemic prevention requirements.
Indoor public places in low-risk areas implement preventive and control measures such as appointments, peak shifting, temperature measurement, code verification, and wearing masks, and closed entertainment venues are temporarily closed.
In addition, Nanjing's roads, railways, civil aviation, ports and docks and other transportation stations are required to check passenger information, requiring passengers to wear masks, temperature detection, and code verification.
All types of public transportation, taxis, and online car-hailing must be implemented to wear masks, temperature tests, and code verifications. Persons with red and yellow codes are strictly prohibited from boarding.
In addition, Jiangsu Nantong, Yancheng, Xuzhou, Taizhou, Yangzhou and other places have issued emergency notices on the 20th, requesting those who have had a history of stopping at Nanjing Lukou International Airport since 7 July or have contact with the staff of Nanjing Lukou International Airport, the personnel take the initiative to report and accept nucleic acid testing.
News (4)
The number of people infected with the epidemic in Nanjing Airport surges, everyone wears isolation clothes to work
Reporter :Luo Tingting / Editor: Xia He / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/07/21/a103170587.html
Image : On 21 July, citizens of Jiangning District lined up for nucleic acid testing under the scorching sun. (Video screenshot)
On 21 July, Nanjing officials reported that a total of 17 people at Lukou Airport tested positive, all of them were airport cleaning staff. The source of the epidemic is currently being further investigated. Lukou Airport has upgraded its protection standards, and all employees wear isolation suits.
At 1 pm that day, the Nanjing Municipal Government held a press conference. Deputy Mayor Hu Wanjin said that after a compound and expert group diagnosis, a total of 17 positive patients were found at Lukou Airport, and 9 of them are currently confirmed cases. Among them, 4 were mild type, 5 were normal type, 5 were asymptomatic infections, and 3 cases were positive for nucleic acid testing and still await further diagnosis.
These 17 patients are all airport cleaning staff, the crowd is relatively concentrated, and the source is currently under further investigation.
As of 5 am on 21 July, 157 close contacts and 56 close contacts have been investigated. Other personnel are still in the process of further investigation. Since the CCP has consistently covered up the epidemic, the outside world questioned that the actual number of people infected with the epidemic may exceed the official figure.
Xu Yong, general manager of Eastern Airport Group, said that Lukou Airport has upgraded its protection standards and adopted the most stringent measures. All employees wear isolation suits to work. The airport disinfection operation has been completed. Only some convenience stores in the terminal are open for business, and other stores are temporarily closed.
In addition, passengers leaving Jiangning District, including the crew, need to provide a certificate of negative nucleic acid test within 48 hours. International passenger and all cargo flights operate normally.
Mainland netizens are extremely concerned about the Nanjing epidemic: "Can you tell me which terminal will be next? I am at the airport on the 18th, so panic!"
"The one who came back from Nanjing Airport on the 9th has been quarantined."
"Can Nanjing High Speed Rail go to Shanghai now? I came to travel and encountered this. I have done nucleic acid in the morning, and the results will be issued tomorrow. I bought a ticket for tomorrow morning to go to Shanghai. Seeing that there is a lady on the Internet, how about Wuxi Station not allowing me to leave Shanghai? Help! Help!"
On the morning of 20 July, 9 people were found to be positive at Lukou Airport in Jiangning District, Nanjing, and relevant personnel at the airport were immediately quarantined. All residents in Nanjing were tested overnight, and 4 areas of Xiecun Community, Baiyun Road Community, Shinian Village, Shiqiu Street, Lishui District, and Maojiaxu Natural Village of Jiutang Administrative Village, Lukou Street, Jiangning District, Nanjing City were upgraded from low-risk areas to medium-risk areas area.
Lukou Sub-district is a closed area, and personnel can only enter and cannot leave. People in high-risk areas and enclosed areas are required to stay home. Nanjing officials require local citizens not to leave Jiangning District unless it is necessary. Those who need to leave must hold a certificate of negative nucleic acid test within 48 hours, which will be implemented from 21 July.
News (5)
Myanmar epidemic spreads, military disguised to seek medical treatment and arrested volunteer medical staff
Editor : Lu Yongxin / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/07/21/a103170511.html
Image : On 11 July 2021, amid a surge in the number of cases of covid, people gathered outside a factory in Yangon with empty oxygen cylinders waiting for filling. (Ye Aung Thu /AFP via Getty Images)
The covid epidemic in Myanmar has rapidly worsened since July. However, due to the impact of the coup and insufficient medical energy, medical staff volunteered to join civil organizations to help treat patients. However, the military disguised as patients to seek medical treatment, arrested 5 volunteer doctors on 19 July and detained a large number of medical supplies.
Myanmar added 5,189 confirmed cases on the 19th, bringing a total of 234,710 cases and 5,281 deaths. According to statistics from volunteer groups, Yangon cremated an average of 600 corpses of people who died of the disease every day, and about 100 corpses every day before the outbreak.
After the military coup erupted in Myanmar in February this year, medical staff participated in a civil disobedience campaign, and medical energy was tight. Under the severe epidemic, residents of Yangon, the largest city, and Mandalay, the second largest city, have already It is difficult to buy oxygen cylinders. Many people refuse to go to military hospitals for treatment. Coupled with insufficient screening and testing capabilities, the actual number of diagnoses and deaths may be higher.
The Central News Agency reported that many medical and nurses set up volunteer groups to help the people diagnosed. The Irrawaddy and Myanmar Now reported that on the 19th, people from the military government called a volunteer group in North Rangoon, pretending to be patients. The office in Gong District said that it needed the assistance of doctors. When the three doctors arrived at the reporting location, they were arrested by the military.
The military then went to the office of the volunteer group and arrested two more doctors. The leader of the volunteer group, Ko Chan Lay, said that the status of the five doctors and where they are currently are unknown. It is unacceptable for the military to lure and arrest the volunteer medical staff.
He pointed out that the military also took oxygen cylinders, medicines and personal protective equipment from the office.
There are many medical volunteer groups like this in Yangon, but most of them do not disclose their contact information on the Internet. Instead, they use private Facebook groups to provide people in need to contact. Ke Changlei guessed that the military is transparent. Get contact information through these private associations.
Medical staff who work in a volunteer group pointed out that the military hospitals cannot provide the people with the treatment they need, and the civil organizations have to help each other.
After the five doctors were arrested by the military, many volunteer doctors and volunteer groups expressed on social media that they would first suspend their services to visit the government.
News (6)
Tzu Chi's purchase of BNT completes contract and will simultaneously supply 15 million doses with TSMC and Hon Hai
Reporter : Li Xinfang
Regarding the progress of the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation’s donation of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (Comirnaty), Executive Yuan spokesperson Luo Bingcheng announced this morning that the donor, Tzu Chi Foundation, will prepare relevant contracts at about 8 am. The delivery of legal documents is subject to the approval of the CDC of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the donating unit. After the colleagues of the agency immediately completed the relevant administrative procedures, at about 10 am on the same day, Director Zhou Zhihao of the CDC completed the signing of the donation contract. Special thanks to the Tzu Chi Foundation’s charitable deeds and the hard work of colleagues from the CDC. With the cooperation of public and private parties, this significant progress has been successfully achieved at this stage. Tzu Chi will provide supplies simultaneously with TSMC and Hon Hai.
It is understood that Tzu Chi signed a contract with Shanghai Fosun today. The Political Yuan will hold a press conference this afternoon to explain.
Luo Bingcheng pointed out that this project follows the model of the previous donation projects of TSMC and Hon Hai/Yingling Foundation. The donation principles, contract structure and conditions are the same. Tzu Chi, TSMC, Hon Hai/Yongling and other three donation units each donated 5 million doses. This total of 15 million doses of BNT vaccine will all be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for EUA project import permission by the Department of Disease Control. Minors aged 12-18 are included in the scope of use objects. In addition, after coordinating the three donors, the 15 million doses of vaccine will be included in the overall planning of the production process. In the future, the quantity of each batch of vaccines will be evenly distributed by the three donors, supplied simultaneously, and coordinated by the central government.
Luo Bingcheng pointed out that the Tzu Chi Foundation submitted an application to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on June 23. At that time, the TSMC and Hon Hai/Yingling Foundation projects had already been advanced and could not be processed at the same time. However, after review and evaluation, Therefore, on July 1st, it was decided to establish another Tzu Chi Donation Vaccine Project. In order to accelerate the progress of this project, the Department of Disease Control and Prevention signed the legal documents required for pre-procurement work on the 9th of this month to benefit Tzu Chi. Tzu Chi Foundation will follow-up to deal with purchase matters. Because of the experience and practice of the previous case, the signing process of the donation contract for this project can be completed in one month.
Luo Bingcheng said that the government would like to express its gratitude and admiration for the three donors' enthusiasm for public welfare and selfless dedication, and continue to cooperate together to ensure that the vaccine can be delivered to the people in the country and achieve the common goal of protecting the health of the people.
News (7)
Thanks to Tzu Chi for buying vaccines, Tsai Ing-wen: Rest assured that people will not vaccinate if domestic vaccines were not safe
Editor : Zhou Jiaru
Hon Hai Yongling Foundation and TSMC successfully negotiated with Shanghai Fosun for the purchase of 10 million doses of Comirnaty. For the 5 million doses of Comirnaty purchased by Fosun, a purchase contract has been successfully signed. President Tsai Ing-wen thanked the Central Standing Committee for this. The government will work with the private sector to obtain more vaccines for the country as soon as possible. She also emphasized domestic vaccines. Only if it is safe and effective, the people will be vaccinated.
Tsai Ing-wen said that in the past week, the number of vaccinations has increased significantly. Especially in the design of appointments, everyone feels very convenient. People can administer vaccinations near home and increase their willingness to vaccinate. The rate is expected to reach the 25% target at the end of July ahead of schedule, and continue to sprint towards a higher vaccination rate.
Recently, the supply of vaccines has gradually stabilized. At present, more than 8.9 million doses have been received in the Chinese Republic. Today, the government has signed a donation contract with Tzu Chi. Next, Taiwan will follow the project model of TSMC and Hon Hai/Yingling Foundation, and work together with the private sector.
Tsai said to speed up efforts to secure more vaccine supplies for the country, "I would also like to thank all the civil organizations and government team colleagues who have worked so hard for this."
Image : Tsai Ing-wen propagates that the MVC-COV1901 is a safe vaccine. (Composite picture/Review of MVC vaccine drug clinical trial information Facebook, TVBS)
In addition, domestic vaccines have new progress on the 19th. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has approved the production of high-end vaccine projects. After the command centre announces the plan, the public can register their wishes, follow up and make appointments for vaccination, and Tsai Ing-wen also emphasized once again that vaccines are scientific issues, not political issues.
Finally, Tsai Ing-wen said that from AZ, Moderna to domestic vaccines, there are many false rumours from the outside world. The government has clarified many times, but still hope that the party officials can help clarify, and work together to increase the coverage of vaccines, so that Taiwan can reach the targeted groups as soon as possible.
The goal of immunization: The domestic epidemic has slowed down recently, and the Taiwanese are very concerned about the downgrading plan. However, it seems that the epidemic fluctuates around the world, and it will escalate with the slightest carelessness. Regarding the moderate relaxation of some measures last week, some places have reopened because of if the footprint of the confirmed person appears, the business must be closed for disinfection, so the epidemic prevention must be cautious and remind the public not to be careless.
News (8)
The CCP’s surveillance makes people ignorant. Scholar: Like a German concentration camp in World War II
Reporter : Liu Minghuan / Editor : Wenhui / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/07/21/a103170660.html
The CCP has implemented network surveillance in recent years, which has caused people to be controlled and oppressed without knowing it, and they are always in a dangerous situation. Some independent commentators said that this is the same reason that German citizens were unaware of the existence of concentration camps after Germany surrendered in World War II.
According to a report by VOA, the CCP has extensively promoted the so-called grid-based community management model in recent years. The grid system subdivides the jurisdiction of urban and rural communities into several network units, and implements dynamic and all-round monitoring of each grid to ensure firm control of a large number of people. Grid management was first practiced in urban management in Dongcheng District, Beijing in 2004, and was later extended to more extensive urban and rural areas in China.
During the epidemic, the CCP implemented strict grid management in urban and rural areas. A report in the state media "People's Daily" in September last year described the management and control methods of the community during the epidemic: "Grass-roots cadres, community workers, grid members, volunteers, etc. use online and offline, telephone WeChat, door-to-door inquiries, and post announcements. Carrying out grid management, precise investigation, and carpet-style mapping, and doing a good job in epidemic monitoring, early warning, and information reporting "point-to-point".
The Voice of America reported that a "grid member" from the community where Yang Fan (pseudonym), a resident of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, recently visited, asked him to register his resident population in his mobile phone "WeChat" or "Alipay."
This form requires personal identification information, information about residential quarters or villages, information about residential houses, etc. In exchange, residents can get "online news reports" as well as "government services" and "convenience services".
Yang Fan didn't know if he would have trouble not filling in the form, but he decided not to fill it out now. He had always resisted the "health code" during the epidemic, and was worried about privacy leakage, and he is also worried now.
He said, "It's usually nothing, but once something happens, all your information is under control. It's very uncomfortable."
However, for the convenience of travel, Yang Fan finally had to fill in the "health code". Perhaps, he will eventually compromise for some reason, because the emergency control mode he experienced during the epidemic is likely to become a part of his future life.
Independent commentator Wu Qiang said that for the public, the biggest danger in the digital totalitarian era is being monitored without knowing it. He said that in China, some people will be "blacklisted" because of dissatisfaction and frustration in life, petitions, loans, and neighborhood disputes.
He said, "As long as you are on these lists, whether it is a list of petitioners, a list of fund-raising, or other criminal offences or family members with criminal offences, or other issues, you will be quietly entered into a separate list by the digital totalitarian. When walking on the street, the camera will mark you with a red dot after it has done face recognition."
Wu Qiang said that such surveillance is unaware of the monitored person, and the people walking next to the monitored person are also unaware of it. This kind of unaware monitoring and control made Wu Qiang, who once studied for a doctorate in political science in Germany, couldn't help but think of Germany in the 1930s.
He said: "Germany arrested dissidents in the 1930s and the Social Democratic Party was arrested in the middle of the night. It was also an effort to avoid disturbing neighbors and disturbing the public. 100% of this control method was achieved without the public noticing. Nothing. Be aware of any social control, so that more people are under control and oppression."
He said that this kind of unaware surveillance has allowed many Chinese people to live in a false sense of happiness and security. This is the same reason that many German citizens were unaware of the existence of concentration camps after Germany surrendered in World War II.
According to reports, before the epidemic, China was already a major surveillance country. According to the calculations of the research organization IHS Markit, there were about 350 million cameras in China in 2018, which is about one camera for every 4.1 people. The company also predicts that by 2021, there may be 1 billion cameras in China.
During the epidemic, the CCP government has used ubiquitous surveillance cameras to the extreme. In addition to using "health codes" to control people's travel, the CCP also uses dash cams, or "eyes of the sky" in train stations, airports, and streets to identify virus-infected people, contacts of patients, or people under quarantine travel freely.
In order to better monitor the quarantined people at home, some communities in China install cameras at the door of these people's homes, and some even install them in the living rooms of the quarantined people.
In addition, the CCP government also uses patrol robots to take to the streets to perform temperature measurement tasks; use drones equipped with cameras and speakers to discourage crowd gatherings, monitor isolation places, and even remind people to wear masks.
During the epidemic, Chinese artificial intelligence companies have further improved face recognition technology. Even if you wear a mask, you have nowhere to hide.
The "health code" and other monitoring methods have aroused widespread criticism for their serious violations of human rights and personal privacy. Someone pointed out that the "health code" under big data has turned China into a big prison. Everyone seems to be wearing an electronic fetter and will be monitored wherever they go.
News (9) to (10) / Source : 8world
News (9)
Expert: At least one or two weeks before the first case was detected in Jurong Fishery Port, the virus may have begun to spread
An infectious disease expert pointed out that the covid virus may have spread as early as at least one or two weeks before the first related cases in the Jurong Fishery Port infected group and the KTV nightclub infected group were discovered.
As of today (21st), the Jurong Fishing Port infected group has initially accumulated 451 related cases, making it the largest group of infections in the country. At least 35 market and food centres have cases.
Prior to the emergence and rapid expansion of the infection group at Jurong Fishery Port, the KTV nightclub infection group, which has initially accumulated 215 related cases, was most concerned. The day before yesterday (19th), the Minister of Health Wang Yikang confirmed that the two infection groups are related. It was also revealed at the press conference of the government's inter-departmental anti-epidemic working group yesterday that the infected group at Jurong Fishery Port may actually form earlier than the KTV nightclub infection group.
Mai Xiwei, Director of Medical Services of the Ministry of Health, pointed out that the virus may have been introduced into Jurong Fishing Port through Indonesian fishing boats, and at least one person in the fishing port had been to a KTV nightclub after being infected.
If there are no symptoms or the symptoms are mild, you won’t notice it if you are not cautious.
Leong Hoa Nam, a specialist in infectious diseases at Elizabeth Novena Hospital, said in an interview with "8world News" today (21 July) that, judging from the sudden increase in cases, the virus may have been infected in Jurong Fishery Port and KTV nightclubs as early as possible. At least a week or two before the first case was discovered, it had begun to spread in the fishery port.
The Ministry of Health confirmed the presence of an infected group in KTV nightclubs on the 13th of this month. It was only three days later that an infected group involving Jurong Fishery Port and Hong Lim Market and Food Centre was discovered. At that time, KTV nightclubs had accumulated 120 related cases.
After the authorities found cases in Jurong Fishery Port, they asked fishmongers across the island to undergo coronavirus tests. The total number of cases in Jurong Fishery Port has now doubled the number of infected groups in KTV nightclubs.
Leong Hoa Nam believes that perhaps it is because most of the patients have no symptoms or have mild symptoms, especially when they have been vaccinated against coronary disease, so it took so long to find someone infected. "For example, an infected pharmacist in Tan Tock Seng Hospital earlier had a runny nose for a long time. If a person was not cautious and did not follow the instructions for testing, we would not be able to detect this case."
Leong Hoa Nam believes that many cases are similar, and only by doing more tests can we find more cases. On the other hand, if people who have not been vaccinated become ill, they are more likely to have more symptoms, especially the elderly, where the "volcano" will erupt.
News (10)
Unrelated cases remained at double digits in the past four days
In recent days, not only the cases of these two major infection groups have continued to rise, but the unrelated cases in the past four days have been maintained at double digits, but Dr. Leong Hoa Nam thinks this is expected. "There are many asymptomatic patients. You don't know who infects others when the symptoms are mild. This is the iceberg effect."
He also reminded, "Even if you are vaccinated, you may still be infected with this disease. The good news is that for people who have been vaccinated, the symptoms are very, very mild, and the chance of needing oxygen is less than 1%. So far. In our country, no one has died after being vaccinated. Therefore, vaccination can turn a severe illness into a common cold. The common cold is something you and I experience every year, nothing terrible."
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