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Egypt confirms first cases of new coronavirus variant EG.5

STORY: Egypt confirms first cases of new coronavirus variant EG.5 DATELINE: Aug. 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:55 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of Egypt's Health Ministry headquarters in Cairo 2. various of hospitals in Egypt STORYLINE: Egypt reported Tuesday the country's first two cases of new coronavirus variant EG.5. Both cases show slight symptoms, the Ministry of Health said in a statement, recommending a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine as a precaution. Test results from a monitoring system enrolled by 450 hospitals across Egypt for respiratory diseases confirmed the two cases, said the ministry. EG.5 is a sublineage of the omicron variant, and its first case was reported in February. On Aug. 9, the World Health Organization classified EG.5 as a "variant of interest." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo. (XHTV)

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Peru detects presence of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5

STORY: Peru detects presence of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 DATELINE: Jan. 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:54 LOCATION: Lima CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of medics working 2. various of street views in Peru 3. various of people receiving vaccines STORYLINE: The National Institute of Health in Peru detected three cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 this week in Lima through genomic surveillance, as was confirmed by the Ministry of Health on Sunday. Through a statement, the institution explained that the finding of the INS Genomic Surveillance Team "implies that there may be more related cases and there could be an increase of cases" of COVID-19 in the coming weeks. The new subvariant is a descendant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19, and it has been identified in 38 countries, the institute declared. The identification of the Omicron sublineage XBB.1.5 in the Peruvian capital comes at a time when the country is going through its fifth wave of infections, althou

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Travel restrictions against Chinese tourists "ridiculous": media

STORY: Travel restrictions against Chinese tourists "ridiculous": media reports DATELINE: Jan. 13, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:05 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of airplanes and Chinese tourists 2. various of screenshots of headlines STORYLINE: Travel restrictions imposed by a few countries on Chinese tourists are "ridiculous," said some media reports on the latest discriminatory entry requirements targeting China. On Saturday, an article published by the Atlantic agreed that these measures have "no scientific basis" and pointed out that "travel restrictions can't stop COVID from crossing borders." The story goes on to say that the vast majority of China's locally acquired cases are being caused by two Omicron lineages that are "old news elsewhere." And now, the article says, the most dangerous new variant is "from New York -- XBB.1.5 -- which the U.S. is now busy exporting to the rest of the world." TodayOnline, a Singaporean news website, quoted infectious disease experts as s

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Omicron variant XBB.3 feared to be dominant in India in a month: report

STORY: Omicron variant XBB.3 feared to be dominant in India in a month: report DATELINE: Oct. 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of crowded market areas 3. various of people receiving COVID-19 testing 4. various of the hospital area 5. various of street views STORYLINE: The Omicron sub-variant XBB, particularly XBB.3, is likely to be the dominant strain of the COVID-19 virus in India within a month, reported The Times of India newspaper on Tuesday citing scientists. According to the report, there were 71 confirmed cases of XBB-driven COVID-19 infection in India at the beginning of this month, and the number jumped to 136 by Oct. 23. "On Monday the case count was 235," it added. It quoted a senior scientist with the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) as saying that the XBB.3 strain is currently leading the pack in India "with maximum cases." According to the report, the eastern state of West Bengal has reported the hig

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Japan begins giving Omicron booster shots to stem 7th COVID wave

A man is vaccinated against the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus at a facility in Tokyo on Sept. 20, 2022. Japan began rolling out booster shots to protect against the variant the same day as part of efforts to stem the seventh wave of COVID-19 in the country.

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Japan begins giving Omicron booster shots to stem 7th COVID wave

A man is vaccinated against the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus at a facility in Tokyo on Sept. 20, 2022. Japan began rolling out booster shots to protect against the variant the same day as part of efforts to stem the seventh wave of COVID-19 in the country.

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Spain to start administering 4th dose of anti-COVID vaccine

STORY: Spain to start administering 4th dose of anti-COVID vaccine DATELINE: Sept. 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:38 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of vaccination campaign against COVID-19 2. various of medical investigation center in Madrid 3. various of vaccination campaign against COVID-19 4. various of hospital in Madrid STORYLINE: Spain will start to administer the fourth dose of vaccine against COVID-19 on Sept. 26, said the Ministry of Health on Thursday. The decision was made at a meeting of the Public Health Commission, which includes members from all 17 autonomous communities of the country. People aged over 80 and those who live in nursing homes will be the first to receive the second booster. The ministry said the first batch of vaccines against the Omicron variant will arrive on Friday and will be distributed next week. So far, more than 95 million doses of vaccine have been administered in Spain, with 40 million people having received two doses. Xinhua News Agency c

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Biden urges precautions as Omicron subvariant BA.5 spreads in U.S.

STORY: Biden urges precautions as Omicron subvariant BA.5 spreads in U.S. DATELINE: July 28, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:48 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: POLITICS/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOE BIDEN, U.S. President 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOE BIDEN, U.S. President 3. various of the White House STORYLINE: U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged precautions as the Omicron BA.5 subvariant of COVID-19 continues to spread in the country. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOE BIDEN, U.S. President "In fact, this new variant that infected me is getting a lot of people infected all around the world, not just here in the United States. We should take precautions to try to slow the spread of this virus." Biden said this in remarks from the White House's Rose Garden after ending isolation. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOE BIDEN, U.S. President "You should consider wearing a mask when you're in a crowded, indoor public place." COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations are rising in the United States, with BA

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Resurging COVID-19 cases in Tokyo

People wearing face masks walk in the rain in Tokyo's Shibuya district on July 14, 2022, as the Tokyo metropolitan government reports 16,662 COVID-19 cases the same day, doubling from a week earlier, amid a nationwide surge driven by the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant.

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Resurging COVID-19 cases in Tokyo

People wearing face masks walk in the rain in Tokyo's Shibuya district on July 14, 2022, as the Tokyo metropolitan government reports 16,662 COVID-19 cases the same day, doubling from a week earlier, amid a nationwide surge driven by the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant.

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Resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Japan

People wearing face masks walk near JR Tokyo Station on July 13, 2022. The Tokyo metropolitan government reported over 16,000 new COVID-19 cases the same day, roughly doubling from a week earlier, amid a nationwide surge spurred by the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant.

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Resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Japan

People wearing face masks walk near JR Tokyo Station on July 13, 2022. The Tokyo metropolitan government reported over 16,000 new COVID-19 cases the same day, roughly doubling from a week earlier, amid a nationwide surge spurred by the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant.

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Resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Japan

People wearing face masks walk near JR Tokyo Station on July 13, 2022. The Tokyo metropolitan government reported over 16,000 new COVID-19 cases the same day, roughly doubling from a week earlier, amid a nationwide surge spurred by the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant.

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Colombia enters 5th wave of COVID-19 pandemic

STORY: Colombia enters 5th wave of COVID-19 pandemic DATELINE: July 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:35 LOCATION: Bogota CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of vaccination in Bogota 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): FERNANDO RUIZ, Minister of Health and Social Protection STORYLINE: Colombia has entered the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, so citizens should reinforce self-care measures and get vaccinated against the virus, Minister of Health and Social Protection Fernando Ruiz said on Friday. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): FERNANDO RUIZ, Minister of Health and Social Protection "Evidently we are in the fifth peak. It has been spreading in different cities, especially in urban areas. The Cauca Valley is quite affected, as well as Bogota. At this peak, people older than 70 years old are more affected in terms of mortality. But in terms of hospitalizations, both the very young and elderly are affected." Ruiz also stressed the need to accelerate testing to identify new cases in time, emphasizing that although the Omicron variant

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China's economy keeps rising despite Omicron pressure: experts

STORY: China's economy keeps rising despite Omicron pressure: experts DATELINE: May 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:45 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RONNIE LINS, Director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ALESSANDRO GOLOMBIEWSKI TEIXEIRA, Former Chief Economic Advisor to President of Brazil 3. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, International relations lecturer, United States International University (USIU-Africa) STORYLINE: The surge of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has exerted downward pressure on the Chinese economy. However, international experts are confident in the Chinese economy as its fundamentals, including its strong resilience, enormous potential, vast room for maneuver and long-term sustainability, remain unchanged. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RONNIE LINS, Director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business "China has been the economic engine of the world for some time now. The normalization of mach

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U.S. discards pandemic to protect capitalist system, says Turkish specialist

STORY: U.S. discards pandemic to protect capitalist system, says Turkish specialist DATELINE: May 14, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:31 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Turkey CATEGORY: SOCIETY/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of Istanbul city in Turkey 2. various of Reyap Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey 3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): BULENT ERTUGRUL, Expert from Reyap Hospital STORYLINE: A leading Turkish specialist on infectious diseases said the pandemic in the U.S. has gone off the route, especially after Washington has left the disease unattended to protect the capitalist system and the economy. The COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. has recently surpassed 1 million, the highest for any country in the world. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): BULENT ERTUGRUL, Expert from Reyap Hospital in Turkey "The United States has become the worst country in the world for that matter. The pandemic went out of control as it quickly spreads to too many people with the Omicron variant. And the system - I call it capitalism or anything else - stopped working. So they fin

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Pandemic resurgence won't affect China's long-range development objectives: Cuban expert

STORY: Pandemic resurgence won't affect China's long-range development objectives: Cuban expert DATELINE: May 14, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:38 LOCATION: Havana CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1 various of China's anti-pandemic efforts 2 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): EDUARDO REGALADO, Senior researcher at International Policy Research Center of Cuba STORYLINE: The surge of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has exerted downward pressure on the Chinese economy. A Cuban expert says he is optimistic about China's ability to control and defeat the pandemic, adding that the resurgence will not affect the country's long-range objectives of its economic and social development. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): EDUARDO REGALADO, Senior researcher at International Policy Research Center of Cuba "I am optimistic about China's ability to control and defeat the pandemic. Why am I optimistic? Because of the political will of the country, because of the organizational structure that the country has, because of the resources that the country has, and

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DPRK leader calls for quick action to contain COVID-19

STORY: DPRK leader calls for quick action to contain COVID-19 DATELINE: May 13, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:48 LOCATION: Pyongyang CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (Chinese): JIANG YAPING, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of Pyongyang STORYLINE: STANDUP (Chinese): JIANG YAPING, Xinhua correspondent in Pyongyang "According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Thursday visited the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters. He called for quick action to contain the spread of COVID-19." A fever whose cause couldn't be identified explosively spread nationwide from late April, and more than 350,000 people got fever "in a short span of time" and at least 162,200 of them recovered completely. The Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday that samples taken from patients with fever in Pyongyang on Sunday were "consistent with" the virus' highly transmissible Omicron variant. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from

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N. Korea reports coronavirus case for 1st time

People wearing face masks walk in Pyongyang on May 6, 2022. North Korea's state-run media reported on May 12 that the country had detected the Omicron variant of the coronavirus from a sample collected in Pyongyang earlier in the month.

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N. Korea reports coronavirus case for 1st time

People wearing face masks walk by portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang on May 6, 2022. North Korea's state-run media reported on May 12 that the country had detected the Omicron variant of the coronavirus from a sample collected in Pyongyang earlier in the month.

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N. Korea reports coronavirus case for 1st time

People wearing face masks walk in Pyongyang on May 6, 2022. North Korea's state-run media reported on May 12 that the country had detected the Omicron variant of the coronavirus from a sample collected in Pyongyang earlier in the month.

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New Zealand reports 1st Omicron BA.5 variant

STORY: New Zealand reports 1st Omicron BA.5 variant DATELINE: May 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:47 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: HEALTH/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of airport and international arrivals (file) STORYLINE: New Zealand reported its first case of Omicron BA.5 variant at the border amid 12,392 community cases during the weekend, said the Ministry of Health in a statement on Sunday. A person who has traveled from South Africa to New Zealand has been confirmed as having the BA.5 variant of Omicron. This is the first known detection of the variant in New Zealand, said the ministry. According to the ministry, this follows the detection of BA.4 on May 1, also in a person who had traveled from South Africa. It can take weeks or months to assess the severity of each new variant or sub-variant, so the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the emerging evidence closely, it is said. Microbiologist Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles from the University of Auckland was worried about "all versions of Omi

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New Zealand reports 2nd case of Omicron BA.4 variant

STORY: New Zealand reports 2nd case of Omicron BA.4 variant DATELINE: May 3, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:46 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of the airport STORYLINE: New Zealand reported its second case of Omicron BA.4 variant at the border with 6,636 community cases recorded on Monday. The Ministry of Health said a second person who has travelled from overseas to New Zealand has been confirmed to be infected with the BA.4 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The first infection of the Omicron BA.4 variant in New Zealand was reported at the weekend. Both identified cases are currently isolated in their homes. At this stage, the public health settings already in place to manage other Omicron variants are assessed to be appropriate for managing BA.4 and no changes are required, according to the health ministry. Meanwhile, the country reported seven new COVID-19-related deaths on Monday. In addition, there were 90 new COVID-19 cases detected at the New Zealand

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China encourages local tourism amid Omicron epidemic

STORY: China encourages local tourism amid Omicron epidemic DATELINE: May 1, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:20 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: SOCIETY/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG LIYU, Resident in Taiyuan in Shanxi Province 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI HANBING, Student from Bayi Primary School in Taiyuan in Shanxi Province 3. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): DING JIANHUA, Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau 4. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI ANG, Beijing Municipal Health Commission 5. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): QIU ZIYANG, Staff member at Nanning Garden Expo Park STORYLINE: In face of COVID-19 outbreaks caused by the more infectious Omicron variant, China is encouraging local tourism during the five-day Labor Day holiday. Residents are advised to avoid traveling to risk areas or regions with confirmed cases, unless necessary. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG LIYU, Resident in Taiyuan in Shanxi Province "I'm a native in Taiyuan. In the past, I usually traveled outside the city with my family for the holiday. But this year and

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Dynamic zero-COVID approach helps save lives of elderly patients: ICU doctor

STORY: Dynamic zero-COVID approach helps save lives of elderly patients: ICU doctor DATELINE: April 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:13 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: various of treatment for patientsSOUNDBITE (Chinese): GAO YUAN, Director of ICU department, Renji Hospital STORYLINE: "If we don't stick to the dynamic zero-COVID approach, I think it would be disastrous. Shanghai, with a population of over 20 million, is rapidly aging. If we give up on the current epidemic control measures, it'll be a disaster to the elderly population, " says Gao Yuan, director of ICU department from Renji Hospital, east China's Shanghai. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): GAO YUAN, Director of ICU department, Renji Hospital "The number of severe and critical cases caused by the Omicron variant is relatively smaller than that in the past two years. One big distinction of this wave of new infections is that there are more people infected. The number of infections is bigger this time. Therefore there are more critical cases wi

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Omicron subvariants drive spike in COVID-19 cases in New York

STORY: Omicron subvariants drive spike in COVID-19 cases in New York DATELINE: April 21, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:04 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S. CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of press conference 2. SOUNDBITE (English): KATHY HOCHUL, New York Governor 3. various of the street view in New York City 4. various of the New York governor delivering a speech STORYLINE: New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday warned of a potential "rising tide" of COVID-19 cases, as two subvariants of Omicron are driving the current spike in infections in the state of New York. She cautioned the public about the uncertainty of subvariants during a press briefing in Syracuse. SOUNDBITE (English): KATHY HOCHUL, New York Governor "We did identify two subvariants of Omicron, which is driving the current spike in cases. But we have no evidence that this variant, these variants are more likely to have severe impacts than other subvariants. So we're not panicking about this. We're not changing, but we also want to make sure that we'

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A reveler participates in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Revelers participate in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Revelers participate in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Revelers participate in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A reveler participates in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A reveler participates in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A reveler participates in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Revelers participate in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A reveler participates in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Revelers participate in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A reveler participates in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A reveler participates in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Revelers participate in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CARNIVAL

(220421) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, April 21, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A reveler participates in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 20, 2022. The carnival parade, which was postponed from its original date in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant, kicked off here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

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Tunisian expert calls for vaccination of booster shot after new Omicron variant found

STORY: Tunisian expert calls for vaccination of booster shot after new Omicron variant found DATELINE: April 11, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:10 LOCATION: Tunis CATEGORY: SOCIETY/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views 2. various of people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine STORYLINE: A Tunisian virology expert Sunday called for strengthening vaccination after a new Omicron variant of COVID-19 was found. Mahjoub Al-Awni, a member of Tunisia's Scientific Committee for Fighting the COVID-19, said that recombination of Omicron's two sub-variants, BA.1 and BA.2, has been found in some countries, including the United Kingdom and India, among others, according to Tunisian official news agency TAP. He said people should continue to abide by relevant epidemic prevention measures. He emphasized that vaccination is still the most effective way to prevent COVID-19, especially the third booster shot, which will greatly reduce the proportion of critically ill patients. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tunis.

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China's dynamic zero-COVID approach crucial to world economy: expert

STORY: China's dynamic zero-COVID approach crucial to world economy: expert DATELINE: April 11, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:23 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S. CATEGORY: HEALTH/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: SOUNDBITE (English): JOHN PANG, Senior fellow at Bard College, New York STORYLINE: China is battling a COVID-19 resurgence attributable to the Omicron variant, with tens of thousands of new infections reported a day. Yet China has not relaxed its dynamic zero-COVID approach, making all-out efforts in containing the spread of the virus and ensuring supplies of daily necessities for those who stay put. John Pang, a senior fellow at New York-based Bard College, praised China's dynamic zero-COVID approach, saying "the global economy is still fortunate that China has the pandemic under control." SOUNDBITE (English): JOHN PANG, Senior fellow at Bard College, New York "The West is in no position, not in a position of strength to talk to China about zero-COVID (approach). They've basically lost all control of it. China's zero-COVID (app

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GLOBALink | Shanghai mobilizes resources to ensure supplies amid COVID-19 resurgence

STORY: GLOBALink | Shanghai mobilizes resources to ensure supplies amid COVID-19 resurgence DATELINE: April 10, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:57 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of couriers and staff members of supermarkets on work 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): GU JUN, Director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce STORYLINE: Some e-commerce storehouses and supermarkets in Shanghai have resumed business to meet residents' demand for daily necessities amid the COVID-19 resurgence. The megacity is under temporary closed-off management to battle the Omicron variant. It is establishing a white-list to restore the operation of the wholesale markets, distribution centers, e-commerce warehouses and other outlets that strictly implement epidemic prevention and control measures. Couriers from non-epidemic-hit communities have been allowed to return to work. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): GU JUN, Director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce "For the vulnerable groups such as the

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India reports 2nd case of Omicron XE variant of COVID-19

STORY: India reports 2nd case of Omicron XE variant of COVID-19 DATELINE: April 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:33 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of New Delhi STORYLINE: India has reported its second case of Omicron XE variant of COVID-19, this time from its western state of Gujarat, a minister in the state government said on Saturday. The 67-year-old patient had tested positive for COVID-19 last month. His sample was sent to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium for further testing, with the report coming back confirming the presence of the new variant. The patient reportedly has a travel history from Mumbai city, where the country's first Omicron XE case was reported a couple of days ago. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi. (XHTV)

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4th COVID-19 vaccine dose triples protection against severe illness in people over 60: Israeli study

STORY: 4th COVID-19 vaccine dose triples protection against severe illness in people over 60: Israeli study DATELINE: April 6, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: Jerusalem CATEGORY: HEALTH/MEDICINE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Jerusalem street view 2. Elderly getting vaccinated 3. various of Coronavirus hospital ward 4. various of Jerusalem street view STORYLINE: A new comprehensive Israeli study has found that a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose triples the protection against severe illness in people aged 60 and over, compared with a three-dose protection, the Israeli Health Ministry said Tuesday. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted by the ministry, three leading Israeli universities and the Sheba Medical Center, Israel's largest hospital. Using the ministry database, the researchers extracted data on 1,252,331 persons who were 60 years of age or older and eligible for a fourth dose. It was conducted during a period in which the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was predo

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COVID-19 cases rise in New York State

STORY: COVID-19 cases rise in New York State DATELINE: April 5, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:10 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S. CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Times Square, New York City 2. various of New York State Governor Kathy Hochul receiving her second booster of COVID-19 vaccine STORYLINE: COVID-19 cases are rebounding in New York State as the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron contributes to the majority of infections. The 7-day average of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people increased to 17.8 on Sunday, up from 8.2 three weeks ago, according to the latest data issued by the state's authorities on Monday. Meanwhile, the 7-day average of the positive rate of COVID-19 testing reached 3 percent on Sunday, up from 1.4 percent on March 13. In particular, the Central New York region looks to be a hotspot with the 7-day-average positive rate of COVID-19 testing at 9.64 percent. New York City reported a 2.21 percent of the 7-day average positive rate in COVID-19 testing on Sunday, with that

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AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY-COVID-19-CASES

(220330) -- SYDNEY, March 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People wait at a COVID-19 test centre in Sydney, Australia, March 30, 2022. Daily COVID-19 cases in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) surged on Wednesday as the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2 sub-variant continues to spread. NSW reported 25,235 new cases on Wednesday, its second highest daily increase in the month of March, the first highest being a result of a backlog of cases earlier in the month. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

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AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY-COVID-19-CASES

(220330) -- SYDNEY, March 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People wait for a tram in Sydney, Australia, March 30, 2022. Daily COVID-19 cases in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) surged on Wednesday as the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2 sub-variant continues to spread. NSW reported 25,235 new cases on Wednesday, its second highest daily increase in the month of March, the first highest being a result of a backlog of cases earlier in the month. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

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AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY-COVID-19-CASES

(220330) -- SYDNEY, March 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People take a ferry in Sydney, Australia, March 30, 2022. Daily COVID-19 cases in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) surged on Wednesday as the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2 sub-variant continues to spread. NSW reported 25,235 new cases on Wednesday, its second highest daily increase in the month of March, the first highest being a result of a backlog of cases earlier in the month. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

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AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY-COVID-19-CASES

(220330) -- SYDNEY, March 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People walk near a COVID-19 test centre in Sydney, Australia, March 30, 2022. Daily COVID-19 cases in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) surged on Wednesday as the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2 sub-variant continues to spread. NSW reported 25,235 new cases on Wednesday, its second highest daily increase in the month of March, the first highest being a result of a backlog of cases earlier in the month. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)