China's Covid Variants Do Not Pose Any Threat

My previous post "A Mild Case of Covid" published on Monday refers. In case, you don't believe me, then listen to this Malaysian virologist!

 

Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das (left) of Universiti Sains Malaysia has come out to say there is no need to hit the panic button on the government’s decision to keep Malaysia’s borders open amid supposed concerns over a surge of Covid-19 cases in China. 

 

She says the two main Covid-19 subvariants, BA.5.2 and BF.7, which account for almost 80% of the variants found in China currently, are not newcomers to Malaysian shores. Meaning, they have been in Malaysia for quite some time already! 

 

She informs that it is “highly likely” that most Malaysians have developed immunity against BA.5.2, which was first detected in Malaysia around March 2022. As for BF.7, it first turned up in Malaysia around August and September last year in Selangor, Pahang and Melaka. 

 

“As we did not see an exponential increase in cases then, it is unlikely that the same subvariants would pose a threat to us now”, she reiterates. 

 

She adds that since BF.7 has been reported in more than 90 countries, China’s reopening should not be any different. 

 

I agree. Stop picking on China!

 

In case, anybody needs reminding, Covid is still around everywhere! And if the rest of the world is already living with Covid, why not China? Why should we treat China differently? Why single out China?