BEIJING: China on Thursday reported one new COVID-19 death in the mainland bringing its official death toll to 5,259. Beijing authorities have reported to have run out of beds as COVID surges. Elder patients have been seen lying on stretchers in hallways and taking oxygen while sitting on wheelchairs. The Chuiyangliu hospital in the city’s east was packed with newly arrived patients on Thursday. By midmorning, beds had run out, even as ambulances continued to bring those in need.
Meanwhile, European Union (EU) officials are “strongly” recommending that all member states insist on negative Covid-19 tests from Chinese arrivals before they travel. Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, in response to a surge of infections has declared to toughen its COVID-19 border control measures for travelers from China from Sunday.
Shanghai on Wednesday released its first official definition of COVID-19 serious and critical conditions on Wednesday to ensure such patients are treated earlier and more effectively. The city’s COVID-19 experts’ team released the COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment standard as an official reference and guidance, mainly for grassroots medical institutes and doctors.