SINGAPORE: A novel COVID- 19 variant gaining ground worldwide is doubtful to induce a new infection wave in China as it accounts for a fraction of native cases, which are already at reduced levels, say the country’s health authorities.
An outgrowth of the Omicron pressure, KP. 2 was first detected in India in early January. It has since spread globally and has become the main stress in the US, a sign that the COVID- 19 pandemic has continued to persist, four years after it was first declared.
China found a regional KP. 2 event in March in Guangdong state. As of May 12, there have been 25 reported cases global.
” The percentage of KP. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( China CDC ) stated in an article published on its official WeChat account on Tuesday ( May 14 that the number of cases in local weekly reports ranges from 0.05 per cent to 0.3 %, which is a very low level.
combined with the increases in JN. 1 circumstances in China, authorities believe the possibility of KP. China CDC noted that 2 becoming the strong COVID- 19 strain directly or evoking a new wave of infections is low. JN. 1 is the latest dominant strain in the country.
China CDC also made the point that no reports have indicated considerable changes to KP’s “pathogenicity or immune evasion abilities.” 2 compared to JN. 1.
Always Evolving
Since May 3, KP. 2 has been included in the World Health Organization’s ( WHO ) list of “COVID- 19 variations under monitoring”. This phrase is used to inform public health authorities that a COVID- 19 version does require prioritized focus and surveillance, according to the WHO website.