24 July,2021 07:50 AM IST | Washington DC | Agencies
A resident receives a nucleic acid test for the novel Coronavirus in Nanjing on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday slammed China for rejecting a fresh World Health Organisation (WHO) probe into the origins of Covid-19.
Speaking at a White House briefing, Psaki said the Biden administration is "deeply disappointed" by China's rejection. "Their position is irresponsible and frankly, dangerous. Alongside other member states around the world, we continue to call for China to provide the needed access for data and samples," she said.
Psaki further added, "This is critical, so we can understand, to prevent the next pandemic. This is about saving lives in the future and it is not a time to be stonewalling."
The WHO earlier this month proposed a second phase of studies into the origins of the coronavirus in China, including audits of laboratories and markets in Wuhan, calling for transparency from authorities.
Beijing reacted to the WHO proposal with Zeng Yixin, vice minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), telling reporters the WHO plan "disregards common sense and defies science." Zeng reiterated China's position that some data could not be completely shared due to privacy concerns.
Psaki said it was clear the country "isn't living up to their obligations" on investigating the pandemic and said Biden will shift focus to a global campaign to launch a "multilateral effort and support for putting pressure" on China to increase transparency. "It is not just the United States calling for this," the White House official warned. "As a part of our renewed engagement and our effort to build a coalition of support around the world with allies and partners, we are joined by the international community on this," Psaki concluded.
A new study suggests that a Sinopharm vaccine offers poor protection from Covid-19 among the elderly. A survey of blood samples taken from 450 people in Hungary at least two weeks after their second Sinopharm dose found that 90% under 50 years developed protective antibodies. But the percentage declined with age, and 50% of those over 80 had none.
Thailand shut parks and the few remaining public places available to residents Friday, as the country registered a new high of infections. The near-total restriction on movements in the capital came as the prime minister demanded officials find ways to get the sick into hospitals after people with Covid-19 were found dead in the streets of Bangkok.
An Australian state on Friday declared an emergency due to a Covid-19 outbreak in Sydney. The New South Wales government reported one fatality and 136 new infections in the latest 24-hour period, the biggest daily tally of new cases since the outbreak began in mid June.
5,12,231
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours
19,17,73,590
Total no. of cases worldwide
41,27,963
Total no. of deaths worldwide
Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins
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