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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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TCM helps fight against COVID-19: expats living in China

STORY: TCM helps fight against COVID-19: expats living in China DATELINE: Dec. 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: MEDICINE SHOTLIST: 1. various of traditional Chinese medicine 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): YULIA TEMELIDI, Russian student at Tsinghua University 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MUHAMMAD WASIM ASIM, Pakistani expat living in Shenzhen STORYLINE: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been recognized by many for its unique effect on COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Some expats living in China have shared their coronavirus experience and spoken highly of the important role TCM has played in fighting the epidemic. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): YULIA TEMELIDI, Russian student at Tsinghua University "I think that TCM plays a really important role in fighting the virus. I stored a small health kit in my dormitory. This health kit helped me a lot when I had a headache or a stomachache or just a small fever. And during my recovery (from Omicron infection), it actually helped me a lot. So I saw th

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China optimizes COVID-19 response

STORY: China optimizes COVID-19 response DATELINE: Dec. 1, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:33 LOCATION: GUANGZHOU/Beijing, China CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of Guangzhou 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Mr. JIA, Guangzhou resident 3. various of Beijing 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): Ms. WU, Guangzhou resident STORYLINE: As the pathogenicity of the Omicron virus weakens, more people are vaccinated and experience in containing the virus is accumulated, China is optimizing its COVID-19 response. The districts of Haizhu, Tianhe, Panyu and Liwan in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, announced the lifting of all temporary control measures on Wednesday. All areas except for designated high-risk ones are classified as low-risk areas or implement regular control measures. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Mr. JIA, Guangzhou resident "I'm so glad that the closed management measures have been lifted. The epidemic is still not over. We need to protect ourselves well." SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): Ms. WU, Guangzhou resident "

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GLOBALink | China optimizes COVID-19 response

As the pathogenicity of the Omicron virus weakens, more people are vaccinated and experience in containing the virus is accumulated, China is optimizing its COVID-19 response. The districts of Haizhu, Tianhe, Panyu and Liwan in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, announced the lifting of all temporary control measures on Wednesday. All areas except for designated high-risk ones are classified as low-risk areas or implement regular control measures. Beijing has optimized its COVID-19 control measures to minimize their impact on people's livelihoods. It has ordered closed management measures to be lifted in a timely manner for eligible residential complexes, and it has allowed virus-hit supermarkets to reopen after being closed for one day. From Wednesday, Beijing residents who do not engage in social activities are no longer required to participate in community nucleic acid screenings if they do not need to leave their homes. This includes groups such as homebound seniors, children and peop

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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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Coronavirus vaccine

File photo taken in Tokyo on Oct. 14, 2022, shows vials containing coronavirus vaccine for the Omicron subvariant BA.5.

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Coronavirus vaccine

File photo taken in Tokyo on Oct. 14, 2022, shows vials containing coronavirus vaccine for the Omicron subvariant BA.5.

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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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Living with COVID-19 doesn't mean pretending pandemic is over: WHO chief

STORY: Living with COVID-19 doesn't mean pretending pandemic is over: WHO chief DATELINE: Sept. 4, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:42 LOCATION: GENEVA, Switzerland CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views of some countries 2. various of the WHO headquarters 3. SOUNDBITE (English): TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, WHO Director-General STORYLINE: Despite the severity of constant new waves and soaring number of new cases, some countries have chosen to loosen or even lift COVID-19 restrictions due to gloomy economic outlooks and general fatigue in fighting the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that living with COVID-19 doesn't mean pretending the pandemic is over. SOUNDBITE (English): TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, WHO Director-General "With colder weather approaching in the northern hemisphere, it's reasonable to expect an increase in hospitalizations and deaths in the coming months. Subvariants of Omicron are more transmissible than their predecessors, and the risk of even more tran

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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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Chairman of U.S. House committee investigating Capitol riot tests positive for COVID-19

STORY: Chairman of U.S. House committee investigating Capitol riot tests positive for COVID-19 DATELINE: July 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:10 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: POLITICS/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of Bennie Thompson at the hearing (file) 2. various of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 (file) STORYLINE: U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, said on Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Thompson tweeted that he received a positive diagnosis on Monday and is experiencing mild symptoms. The Mississippi Democrat said he has been fully vaccinated and boosted, and will isolate "for the next several days." COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising across the United States, as BA.5 - the newest Omicron subvariant - has become the predominant lineage circulating in the nation. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has exceeded 89.7 million, with over 1 million related deaths, accor

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Egypt confronts new Omicron mutant

STORY: Egypt confronts new Omicron mutant DATELINE: July 19, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:53 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: SOCIETY/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of people waiting outside the hospital 2. various of people receiving treatment 3. inside of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) 4. various of street views STORYLINE: Hossam Hosny, head of Egypt's Scientific Committee to Combat Coronavirus at the Ministry of Health and Population, confirmed on Monday that the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing, and the World Health Organization has not announced its end yet. He confirmed that there are new Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5, which led to an increase in the number. He advised everyone to continue implementing all precautionary and preventive measures to prevent infection. He added that the world is witnessing an increase in the number of coronavirus infection cases, noting that this increase does not require entering hospitals or intensive care. Hosny stated that the vaccine is the safe way to protect against infectio

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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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Roundup: Turkish health experts warn against rising COVID-19 cases

STORY: Roundup: Turkish health experts warn against rising COVID-19 cases DATELINE: July 9, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:20 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Turkey CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of people walking on the street in Istanbul, Turkey 2. various of healthcare workers working in the laboratory in Turkey 3. various of Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca STORYLINE: Turkish health specialists have warned against an increase in COVID-19 cases across Turkey, urging authorities to take immediate precautions. The BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of the Omicron strain have quickly increased the number of daily cases, said Mehmet Ceyhan, head of the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases of the Ankara-based Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine. Ceyhan called on health authorities to reinstate some of the COVID-19 measures which had been gradually lifted this spring. A polymerase chain reaction COVID-19 test should be requested again when entering Turkey, he said, adding masks should be worn when taking public tra

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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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Italy's new COVID-19 cases top 100,000 for second straight day

STORY: Italy's new COVID-19 cases top 100,000 for second straight day DATELINE: July 8, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:01 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of local hospital 2. interior view of a bar 3. various of people walking STORYLINE: Italy's new COVID-19 cases surpassed 100,000 on Wednesday for the second consecutive day as the Omicron BA.5 subvariant continued to spread, data from the health ministry showed. The ministry reported 107,786 new infections Wednesday, down from 132,274 reported on Tuesday and adding up to nearly 1.15 million active cases. On Tuesday, the country's new daily infections surpassed the 100,000 mark for the first time since early February. According to the latest data, the coronavirus transmission rate in Italy remains above 1.0, indicating that COVID-19 is in a phase of expansion. The country conducted fewer COVID-19 tests on Wednesday -- some 380,000 compared to nearly 465,000 a day earlier -- but the positivity rate, or the percentage of tests produc

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Indonesia predicts peak cases of COVID-19 Omicron BA.4, BA.5 in July: health minister

STORY: Indonesia predicts peak cases of COVID-19 Omicron BA.4, BA.5 in July: health minister DATELINE: June 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:54 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of booster vaccination 2. SOUNDBITE (Bahasa Indonesia): BUDI GUNADI SADIKIN, Indonesian Health Minister (Courtesy of BPMI) STORYLINE: The Indonesian government has predicted that peak cases of COVID-19 Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 in the country will take place in July, a month after the first case was detected, based on its experience in dealing with previous waves of transmission, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Monday. SOUNDBITE (Bahasa Indonesia): BUDI GUNADI SADIKIN, Indonesian Health Minister "Therefore, we may see the peak of the BA.4 and BA.5 cases in the second or third week of July. The peak may not be high if we are well-prepared, including with the boosters." The southeast Asian country has confirmed eight patients with these subvariants, including three imported cases. The other five were

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Medics leave Shanghai after completing aid mission

STORY: Medics leave Shanghai after completing aid mission DATELINE: May 30, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:02 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. Shanghai residents welcoming medics aiding Shanghai's fight against COVID-19 2. various of medics aiding Shanghai's fight against COVID-19 3. various of medics aiding Shanghai leaving STORYLINE: Tens of thousands of medics from across China have rushed to Shanghai to aid the anti-pandemic battle. So far, most of them have completed their mission. On Monday, two medical teams sent to Shanghai set out, heading for home in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Shanxi Province. In early March, Shanghai witnessed a new wave of infections caused by Omicron variants. By mid-April, the number of daily infections had leaped from single digits to over 27,000. So far, Shanghai has cut off the community transmission of COVID-19 in all its 16 districts as the megacity accelerates its business resumption. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shang

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World Health Assembly to focus on COVID-19, health and peace

STORY: World Health Assembly to focus on COVID-19, health and peace DATELINE: May 23, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: GENEVA, Switzerland CATEGORY: POLITICS/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of WHO headquarters 2. SOUNDBITE (English): TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, WHO Director-General STORYLINE: The 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday to focus on major issues including response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the global health for peace initiative. COVID-19 remains one of the top priorities of this year's WHA, which has been the first of its kind held in Geneva and attended by delegates in person since the outbreak of the pandemic more than two years ago. Although WHO data show that reported COVID-19 cases have declined significantly from the peak of the Omicron wave in January of this year and deaths are at the lowest since March 2020, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed in his address to the opening of the WHA that the pandemic is

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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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Tunisian expert warns of possible 6th wave of COVID-19 after ease of restrictions

STORY: Tunisian expert warns of possible 6th wave of COVID-19 after ease of restrictions DATELINE: May 6, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:07 LOCATION: Tunis CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tunis 2. various of vaccination site in Tunis 3. various of medical unit for COVID-19 patients STORYLINE: Mahjoub Al-Awni, a member of Tunisia's Scientific Committee for Fighting the COVID-19, told local media on Thursday that due to the rapid spread of Omicron's sub-variants, a new wave of COVID-19 in Tunisia may appear. Al-Awni said that although Tunisia has lifted almost all lockdown measures for COVID-19, people still need to be vigilant about the epidemic. He warned that large gatherings and celebrations during the Eid al-Fitr last week may lead to a sixth wave of the epidemic in the country. He emphasized that according to the current analysis, the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines will decline after four months of vaccination and it is necessary to regularly inject booster shots. Tunisian Health

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CHINA-COVID-19-OMICRON-VACCINE-CLINICAL TRIAL (CN)

(220503) -- BEIJING, May 3, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on April 22, 2022 shows the inactivated vaccine against Omicron variants developed by the China National Biotec Group affiliated with Sinopharm. The inactivated vaccine against Omicron variants developed by the China National Biotec Group affiliated with Sinopharm was approved for clinical trials by the National Medical Products Administration on April 26. The clinical trials are expected to conclude in three to four months and will be gradually put into use. (Xinhua)

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CHINA-COVID-19-OMICRON-VACCINE-CLINICAL TRIAL (CN)

(220503) -- BEIJING, May 3, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A clinical trial volunteer receives a dose of China's inactivated vaccine against Omicron variants in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 1, 2022. The inactivated vaccine against Omicron variants developed by the China National Biotec Group affiliated with Sinopharm was approved for clinical trials by the National Medical Products Administration on April 26. The clinical trials are expected to conclude in three to four months and will be gradually put into use. (Xinhua)

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CHINA-COVID-19-OMICRON-VACCINE-CLINICAL TRIAL (CN)

(220503) -- BEIJING, May 3, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A clinical trial volunteer receives a dose of China's inactivated vaccine against Omicron variants in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 2, 2022. The inactivated vaccine against Omicron variants developed by the China National Biotec Group affiliated with Sinopharm was approved for clinical trials by the National Medical Products Administration on April 26. The clinical trials are expected to conclude in three to four months and will be gradually put into use. (Xinhua)

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CHINA-COVID-19-OMICRON-VACCINE-CLINICAL TRIAL (CN)

(220503) -- BEIJING, May 3, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A clinical trial volunteer receives a dose of China's inactivated vaccine against Omicron variants in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 1, 2022. The inactivated vaccine against Omicron variants developed by the China National Biotec Group affiliated with Sinopharm was approved for clinical trials by the National Medical Products Administration on April 26. The clinical trials are expected to conclude in three to four months and will be gradually put into use. (Xinhua)

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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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U.S.-WASHINGTON, D.C.-ECONOMY-FIRST QUARTER-CONTRACTION

(220428) -- WASHINGTON, April 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on April 28, 2022 shows the Commerce Department building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter as effects of the Omicron surge start to show up, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

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U.S.-WASHINGTON, D.C.-ECONOMY-FIRST QUARTER-CONTRACTION

(220428) -- WASHINGTON, April 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on April 28, 2022 shows the Commerce Department building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter as effects of the Omicron surge start to show up, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

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U.S.-WASHINGTON, D.C.-ECONOMY-FIRST QUARTER-CONTRACTION

(220428) -- WASHINGTON, April 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on April 28, 2022 shows the Commerce Department building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter as effects of the Omicron surge start to show up, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

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U.S.-WASHINGTON, D.C.-ECONOMY-FIRST QUARTER-CONTRACTION

(220428) -- WASHINGTON, April 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on April 28, 2022 shows the Commerce Department building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter as effects of the Omicron surge start to show up, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

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U.S.-WASHINGTON, D.C.-ECONOMY-FIRST QUARTER-CONTRACTION

(220428) -- WASHINGTON, April 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on April 28, 2022 shows the Commerce Department building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter as effects of the Omicron surge start to show up, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

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Xinhua Headlines: China's resolute measures against Omicron pay dividends

(220428) -- BEIJING, April 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A citizen selects vegetables at a supermarket in Haidian District, Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

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Xinhua Headlines: China's resolute measures against Omicron pay dividends

(220428) -- BEIJING, April 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid test in Chaoyang District, Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

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Xinhua Headlines: China's resolute measures against Omicron pay dividends

(220428) -- BEIJING, April 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Staff members transport green onions at a distribution center of a supermarket in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)