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Health Check: China's Covid-19 lockdown: What happened next?

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2023/06/07 GMT

China's Covid-19 lockdown: What happened next?

BBC World Service - Health Check, China's Covid-19 lockdown: What happened next?

Covid-19 cases could rise to 65 million in China, but lockdowns look unlikely

China’s latest Covid-19 wave could rise to 65 million but lockdowns look unlikely. Low cost meningitis vaccine are being trialled in Mali and Gambia.

When China abruptly ended its tough lockdown policy in December 2022, Covid cases in the country rose rapidly. The Government’s official death toll was 121,000, but medical epidemiologist Ray Yip is one of several experts estimating it could have been much higher. Now China is experiencing another wave of Covid-19 fuelled by the Omicron variant, but this time the nation seems determined to continue with normal life. Claudia Hammond speaks to journalist Cindy Sui who has interviewed Chinese people about how authorities are handling the virus.

Claudia investigates the rise of medical journals and events, which might not be what they first appear. So called ‘pseudo-journals' have even been known to accept complete fiction.

She is also joined by professor of Epidemiology at Boston University Matt Fox to discuss recent trials of a new low cost meningitis vaccine in Mali and The Gambia. If rolled out it could protect against the five main meningococcal strains found in Africa. And a new way of detecting dangerous blood loss after birth. A randomised trial shows a plastic drape, costing between 1 and 2 US dollars might significantly lower the number of deaths by post-partum haemorrhage. 

Image Credit: Getty Images

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Clare Salisbury
Assistant producer: Jonathan Blackwell

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