• chevron_right

      Over a million could die as China’s COVID wave crashes into huge holiday

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Thursday, 5 January, 2023 - 18:14 · 1 minute

    An elderly female patient with COVID-19 is treated at No. 2 People's Hospital of Fuyang City in China.

    Enlarge / An elderly female patient with COVID-19 is treated at No. 2 People's Hospital of Fuyang City in China. (credit: Getty | Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocke )

    With China's zero-COVID policy abruptly scrapped last month, the pandemic virus is now ripping through the country's population, and health experts are bracing for a wave of devastation as peak transmission shifts from urban centers to more vulnerable rural communities. The dire situation is expected to be "dramatically enhanced" by mass travel later this month for celebrations of the Lunar New Year on January 22.

    Multiple modeling studies have suggested that China could see around 1 million deaths in the coming weeks as the country reopens amid a raging outbreak. Last month, modeling by The Economist estimated that 96 percent of China's 1.4 billion people could catch the virus within the next three months, resulting in 1.5 million deaths . Of those deaths, 90 percent would be among people aged 60 and over.  Another modeling study, partly funded by China's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also estimated that 957,600 would die in the coming weeks if the country doesn't swiftly roll out fourth-dose COVID-19 vaccines.

    Because China was previously able to keep COVID-19 waves at bay with its zero-tolerance policies, most of the country's immune protection derives from vaccination rather than prior infection or hybrid protection. Around 90 percent of China's population has had two shots of COVID-19 vaccines, but fewer than 60 percent have received a third shot as a booster dose. And even for those who have gotten a third dose, many of those doses were taken months ago, and peak protection has passed. Vaccination coverage among the elderly is particularly worrying. About 30 percent of people aged 60 and over have not gotten a third dose, and for people aged 80 and over, a startling 60 percent have not gotten a third dose.

    Read 15 remaining paragraphs | Comments

    • chevron_right

      What the 2021 Lunar New Year Has in Store for You

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / LifehackerAustralia · Thursday, 11 February, 2021 - 21:50 · 1 minute

    Well, friends. As you may already be aware, a Lunar new year is just around the corner. The event, which is celebrated in East Asian countries like China and Singapore, recognises the arrival of the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar.

    On February 12, 2021 we will officially enter into a new Lunar year. This marks the start of Chinese New Year, where we will step into the Year of the Ox.

    What does that mean?

    First of all, the Ox is one of 12 zodiac signs that appear in Chinese culture. Every year has a sign that is associated with different traits – just like the astrological sign attached to your birth month.

    I, for one, was born in the Year of the Snake. Apparently, that makes me “deep and complex” which I suppose could be a good thing? I’m not sure.

    Those born in the Year of the Ox are described by ChineseNewYear.net as “hard workers in the background, intelligent and reliable, but never demanding praise”.

    How will the New Year impact 2021?

    Readers Digest reports that 2021’s zodiac suggests it will be a year filled with hard work (great). Susan Levitt, a professional astrologer told the outlet that the Year of the Ox is connected to “…hard work, duty, discipline”.

    But it’s not all bad (I hope).

    Levitt continued, telling RD:

    “In agricultural societies, oxen are reliable and strong work animals. They were responsible for the survival of humanity. So what was happening in this Rat year continues over into the Ox year to complete it, ground it, bring it to its resolution.”

    In any case, we want 2021 to run as smoothly as possible, so let’s tread lightly, yeah? Maybe make note of these Chinese New Year taboos so we can ensure a drama-free year going forward.

    This article has been updated since its original publication.

    The post What the 2021 Lunar New Year Has in Store for You appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

    GettyImages-640145214-e1610693958635.jpg?ar=16%3A9&auto=format&fit=crop&q=65&w=1280