WHO Experts Visit Market in Wuhan to Trace the Pandemic’s Origin, Reporters Shut Out by Chinese Authorities
As the Wuhan virus pandemic enters its second year, a group of specialists sent by the WHO arrived in Wuhan on 14 January to investigate the pandemic’s origin. During their visit to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market on 31 January, local authorities cordoned off the market with water-filled barriers with officers standing in front of reporters to keep them out.
Footage by Reuters show that a number of officers stopped reporters and other people from following vehicles that carried the WHO specialists into the market and set up barriers on the perimeter. The specialists, wearing visitor badges, did not respond to questions from reporters when they got out of their cars. They also visited the Jinyintan Hospital, where early Wuhan disease patients had been treated, and exhibitions showcasing efforts to combat the pandemic that day.
Source: Stand News #Jan31
#China #WHO #Wuhan #WuhanVirus #WuhanPneumonia #COVID19 #Pandemic
https://bit.ly/3oR2D6V
As the Wuhan virus pandemic enters its second year, a group of specialists sent by the WHO arrived in Wuhan on 14 January to investigate the pandemic’s origin. During their visit to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market on 31 January, local authorities cordoned off the market with water-filled barriers with officers standing in front of reporters to keep them out.
Footage by Reuters show that a number of officers stopped reporters and other people from following vehicles that carried the WHO specialists into the market and set up barriers on the perimeter. The specialists, wearing visitor badges, did not respond to questions from reporters when they got out of their cars. They also visited the Jinyintan Hospital, where early Wuhan disease patients had been treated, and exhibitions showcasing efforts to combat the pandemic that day.
Source: Stand News #Jan31
#China #WHO #Wuhan #WuhanVirus #WuhanPneumonia #COVID19 #Pandemic
https://bit.ly/3oR2D6V
The World Deserves Answers From China
The terrible ravages of the coronavirus pandemic are evident in every corner of the world, so it should seem self-evident that every effort must be made to find out where and when the virus made its fateful leap from animal to human. That is why a team from the World Health Organization last week arrived in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus was first identified. Just getting into China has taken the W.H.O.’s international team of scientists more than a year.
Without cooperation and transparency in China, W.H.O. can learn a little. The sprawling Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, which peddled game meat and live animals and to which many of the first infections were traced, has been closed and disinfected. The samples and information gathered there are locked away at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and no researchers will dare speak with the international team without explicit permission from the government.
Whether that first germ came from a bat or a pangolin or a civet or a neighboring country is likely to remain a mystery, and the search for ways to stop such transmission will remain handicapped.
Source: NYT #Jan20
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/opinion/china-covid-who.html#click=https://t.co/4tWik7R5kQ
#Covid19 #China #WHO #CovidInvestigationInChina
The terrible ravages of the coronavirus pandemic are evident in every corner of the world, so it should seem self-evident that every effort must be made to find out where and when the virus made its fateful leap from animal to human. That is why a team from the World Health Organization last week arrived in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus was first identified. Just getting into China has taken the W.H.O.’s international team of scientists more than a year.
Without cooperation and transparency in China, W.H.O. can learn a little. The sprawling Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, which peddled game meat and live animals and to which many of the first infections were traced, has been closed and disinfected. The samples and information gathered there are locked away at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and no researchers will dare speak with the international team without explicit permission from the government.
Whether that first germ came from a bat or a pangolin or a civet or a neighboring country is likely to remain a mystery, and the search for ways to stop such transmission will remain handicapped.
Source: NYT #Jan20
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/opinion/china-covid-who.html#click=https://t.co/4tWik7R5kQ
#Covid19 #China #WHO #CovidInvestigationInChina
NY Times
Opinion | The World Deserves Answers From China
Hampering the work of the W.H.O. puts lives at risk.
Australia insists WHO inquiry into Covid origin must be robust, despite China tensions
Australia, whose early call for inquiry sparked furious Chinese response, says it expects ‘robust, independent and comprehensive’ report
When asked whether Australia was satisfied with China’s level of cooperation, a health department spokesperson told Guardian Australia: “Australia encourages all countries to engage openly and constructively with the evaluation process.”
Australia government’s public calls in April 2020 for a global inquiry into the origins and early handling of coronavirus triggered a furious backlash from Beijing, which argued it was a political manoeuvre against China.
Source: The Guardian #Dec28
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/australia-insists-who-inquiry-into-covid-origin-must-be-robust-despite-china-tensions
#Australia #WHO #CovidProbe #CovidOrginate #China
Australia, whose early call for inquiry sparked furious Chinese response, says it expects ‘robust, independent and comprehensive’ report
When asked whether Australia was satisfied with China’s level of cooperation, a health department spokesperson told Guardian Australia: “Australia encourages all countries to engage openly and constructively with the evaluation process.”
Australia government’s public calls in April 2020 for a global inquiry into the origins and early handling of coronavirus triggered a furious backlash from Beijing, which argued it was a political manoeuvre against China.
Source: The Guardian #Dec28
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/australia-insists-who-inquiry-into-covid-origin-must-be-robust-despite-china-tensions
#Australia #WHO #CovidProbe #CovidOrginate #China
#Smearing #Harrassement
HK Journalist Leaves Post After Being Attacked by Pro-China Group for Filming Documentary on Xinjiang’s 'Education Camp'
A number of RTHK programs and journalists in Hong Kong have been repeatedly attacked by pro-China groups.
Among them is Yvonne Tong Yeuk-wun who hosts the English-language radio program "The Pulse" .
During her interview with #BruceAylward, the assistant director general of the #WHO in 2020, Tong raised a question of whether the management of WHO would reconsider the membership status of Taiwan.
Since then, she has been repeatedly targeted by pro-China activists. The #AppleDaily reporters have received information from sources at RTHK saying that Tong is suspected to have resigned from the ongoing pressure and will leave within this week.
A pro-China group went to RTHK earlier this month, accusing Tong of "using public money" to produce "anti-China fake news" by claiming that over a million people are being imprisoned in Xinjiang.
They demanded the station to have her fired. This is not the first time that pro-China groups have come to RTHK to protest against Tong.
Since the end of March in 2020, Tong was accused of violating the "#One China" policy by pro-China groups and even by The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau
after interviewing the WHO representative on "whether Taiwan's membership would be reconsidered".
Amen Ng Man-yee, the former head of Corporate Communications & Standards at RTHK, responded that Tong was carrying her job as a journalist and asked the question in a very matter-of-fact manner without any special meaning.
Source: Apple Daily #April12
https://bit.ly/3g311G9
#Journalist #FreedomOfSpeech #XinjiangCamp #BlueRibboners #ProChina
HK Journalist Leaves Post After Being Attacked by Pro-China Group for Filming Documentary on Xinjiang’s 'Education Camp'
A number of RTHK programs and journalists in Hong Kong have been repeatedly attacked by pro-China groups.
Among them is Yvonne Tong Yeuk-wun who hosts the English-language radio program "The Pulse" .
During her interview with #BruceAylward, the assistant director general of the #WHO in 2020, Tong raised a question of whether the management of WHO would reconsider the membership status of Taiwan.
Since then, she has been repeatedly targeted by pro-China activists. The #AppleDaily reporters have received information from sources at RTHK saying that Tong is suspected to have resigned from the ongoing pressure and will leave within this week.
A pro-China group went to RTHK earlier this month, accusing Tong of "using public money" to produce "anti-China fake news" by claiming that over a million people are being imprisoned in Xinjiang.
They demanded the station to have her fired. This is not the first time that pro-China groups have come to RTHK to protest against Tong.
Since the end of March in 2020, Tong was accused of violating the "#One China" policy by pro-China groups and even by The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau
after interviewing the WHO representative on "whether Taiwan's membership would be reconsidered".
Amen Ng Man-yee, the former head of Corporate Communications & Standards at RTHK, responded that Tong was carrying her job as a journalist and asked the question in a very matter-of-fact manner without any special meaning.
Source: Apple Daily #April12
https://bit.ly/3g311G9
#Journalist #FreedomOfSpeech #XinjiangCamp #BlueRibboners #ProChina
US Urges China to Publicise the Virus Information and Suggests Taiwan to Participate WHO as an Observer
The US and China were tit-for-tat in a WHO meeting about expert group investigation on Monday (Jan 18). The US called on China to allow the expert group of the WHO to interview carers, recovered patients, laboratory staffs in Wuhan, and also checking the medical data and examining samples. However, China believed that was a political suppression.
Head of the global affairs office at the US Department of Health and Human Services, Garrett Grigsby, publicly confirmed Taiwan at the WHO Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday (Jan 19) for their anti-pandemic experience and contribution, emphasising that Taiwan should participate in the WHO organisation as an observer. He said that the US encouraged the WHO and all country members should cooperate on fighting against the pandemic, and preparing for the future pandemic or other sudden public health issues. He urged every country to learn the lesson from this pandemic in order to rebuild the economy.
Source: Apple Daily #Jan19
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210119/QKGRNRW74RFELKZIH6KHLBTUMA/
#China #US #Taiwan #WHO #COvID19 #GarrettGrigsby
The US and China were tit-for-tat in a WHO meeting about expert group investigation on Monday (Jan 18). The US called on China to allow the expert group of the WHO to interview carers, recovered patients, laboratory staffs in Wuhan, and also checking the medical data and examining samples. However, China believed that was a political suppression.
Head of the global affairs office at the US Department of Health and Human Services, Garrett Grigsby, publicly confirmed Taiwan at the WHO Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday (Jan 19) for their anti-pandemic experience and contribution, emphasising that Taiwan should participate in the WHO organisation as an observer. He said that the US encouraged the WHO and all country members should cooperate on fighting against the pandemic, and preparing for the future pandemic or other sudden public health issues. He urged every country to learn the lesson from this pandemic in order to rebuild the economy.
Source: Apple Daily #Jan19
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210119/QKGRNRW74RFELKZIH6KHLBTUMA/
#China #US #Taiwan #WHO #COvID19 #GarrettGrigsby
4 cities including in Australia and Taiwan rally “promoting Taiwan’s entry into World Health Service”, attendees: learn from Hong Kong to gain international attention
There were meeting in multiple cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane in Australia and Taiwan, to urge the international community to support Taiwan formally join into World Health Organisation, which enable the world to effectively respond to the next global pandemic.
The event was held by Australian Association for Taiwan Public Affairs and Australia Taiwanese Association, meeting in Sydney had around 50-60 people, some of them were families. A banner of “Sydney overseas Chinese Support Taiwan’s Joining the WHO”, people who participated the meeting also raised the slogan of “Taiwan Can Help”, and yelled “Health for All, Taiwan can help. Who Needs Taiwan? WHO”. There were also “packages of pandemic” had been distributed to people who participated the meeting. A package has dozens of disposable masks, disinfectant syrup bottles, handmade soap, and a small box of soap silk.
Kevin Dong, who initiated the rally, stated in the press release, “Disease is not racially divided, it does not take into account politics…we urge all the Australian be responsible international citizens, put politics aside, join our meeting for the world”. Another member Jeffrey Wang also stated, “If Taiwan can participate affairs of WHO, the death number globally and the economic trauma are totally can be avoidable”.
Source: Stand News #May01
https://bit.ly/3nLS5qJ
#Australia #Taiwan #WHO #Pandemic #Sydney #Melbourne #Canberra #Brisbane #Economic #InternationalCommunity #meeting
There were meeting in multiple cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane in Australia and Taiwan, to urge the international community to support Taiwan formally join into World Health Organisation, which enable the world to effectively respond to the next global pandemic.
The event was held by Australian Association for Taiwan Public Affairs and Australia Taiwanese Association, meeting in Sydney had around 50-60 people, some of them were families. A banner of “Sydney overseas Chinese Support Taiwan’s Joining the WHO”, people who participated the meeting also raised the slogan of “Taiwan Can Help”, and yelled “Health for All, Taiwan can help. Who Needs Taiwan? WHO”. There were also “packages of pandemic” had been distributed to people who participated the meeting. A package has dozens of disposable masks, disinfectant syrup bottles, handmade soap, and a small box of soap silk.
Kevin Dong, who initiated the rally, stated in the press release, “Disease is not racially divided, it does not take into account politics…we urge all the Australian be responsible international citizens, put politics aside, join our meeting for the world”. Another member Jeffrey Wang also stated, “If Taiwan can participate affairs of WHO, the death number globally and the economic trauma are totally can be avoidable”.
Source: Stand News #May01
https://bit.ly/3nLS5qJ
#Australia #Taiwan #WHO #Pandemic #Sydney #Melbourne #Canberra #Brisbane #Economic #InternationalCommunity #meeting
立場新聞 Stand News
澳洲台灣人 4 城市集會 促讓台灣入世衛 出席者：從香港學懂爭取國際關注 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
在澳台灣組織今日（1 日）於悉尼、墨爾本、坎培拉及布里斯本多個城市舉行集會，促請各界支持台灣正式加入世界衛生組...
UK and US criticise WHO's Covid report and accuse China of withholding data
The US and the UK have sharply criticised a World Health Organization report into the beginnings of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, implicitly accusing China of “withholding access to complete, original data and samples”.
The statement, also signed by 12 other countries including Australia and Canada, came hard on the heels of an admission on Tuesday by the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, that the investigation was “not extensive enough” and experts had struggled to access raw information during their four-week visit to Wuhan in January.
Source: The Guardians #Mar30
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/30/who-criticises-chinas-data-sharing-as-it-releases-covid-origins-report?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#UK #US #WHO #Covid #China
The US and the UK have sharply criticised a World Health Organization report into the beginnings of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, implicitly accusing China of “withholding access to complete, original data and samples”.
The statement, also signed by 12 other countries including Australia and Canada, came hard on the heels of an admission on Tuesday by the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, that the investigation was “not extensive enough” and experts had struggled to access raw information during their four-week visit to Wuhan in January.
Source: The Guardians #Mar30
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/30/who-criticises-chinas-data-sharing-as-it-releases-covid-origins-report?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#UK #US #WHO #Covid #China
G7 Foreign Minister’s joint statement focuses on criticizing China and Beijing: group politics that drive history
The Foreign Ministers of the G7 member states met in London, England this week, they issued a joint statement which discussing China in the most paragraphs and concerned about the destruction of Hong Kong’s electoral system and human rights violations in Xinjiang. Also, it mentioned supporting in Taiwan’s participation in the WHO Forum. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded on Thursday (6May) that the Foreign Ministers of the Group of Seven Countries made “non-factual accusations” against China and openly intervened in China’s internal affairs. The brutal interference of sovereignty, China strongly condemns.
Wang Wenbin stated, issues in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong all are the China’s internal affairs, said that China has sufficient factual and legal basis for the sovereignty and rights of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands, the South China Sea Shudao and its adjacent waters. Regarding Taiwan’s participation in international organisations, including the World Health Organisation, Wang Wenbin pointed out that it must be handled in accordance with one-China principle.
Source: Stand News #May07
https://bit.ly/2Qj8R3Z
#G7 #JointStatement #Australia #China #Beijing #Politics #England #London #HongKong #Xinjiang #Elections #HumanRights #Taiwan #WHO
The Foreign Ministers of the G7 member states met in London, England this week, they issued a joint statement which discussing China in the most paragraphs and concerned about the destruction of Hong Kong’s electoral system and human rights violations in Xinjiang. Also, it mentioned supporting in Taiwan’s participation in the WHO Forum. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded on Thursday (6May) that the Foreign Ministers of the Group of Seven Countries made “non-factual accusations” against China and openly intervened in China’s internal affairs. The brutal interference of sovereignty, China strongly condemns.
Wang Wenbin stated, issues in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong all are the China’s internal affairs, said that China has sufficient factual and legal basis for the sovereignty and rights of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands, the South China Sea Shudao and its adjacent waters. Regarding Taiwan’s participation in international organisations, including the World Health Organisation, Wang Wenbin pointed out that it must be handled in accordance with one-China principle.
Source: Stand News #May07
https://bit.ly/2Qj8R3Z
#G7 #JointStatement #Australia #China #Beijing #Politics #England #London #HongKong #Xinjiang #Elections #HumanRights #Taiwan #WHO
WHO Experts Review the Severe Side Effects Data of Sinovac, Commented "Low Credibility" for Elderly
WHO experts indicated 5 May that the Chinese Sinovac for COVID-19 has protection to adults who are under 60. However, there is a lack of data on the risk of serious side effects from vaccines, with “low credibility” for patients over aged 60 and with chronic illnesses. The expert group even referred to the severe side effect data of Sinovac on the elderly and patients with chronic illness as “very low” credibility.
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) in WHO evaluated the Phase 3 clinical test data of Sinovac in China, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile. They are very confident about the effectiveness of two doses of Sinovac in preventing adults aged 18-59, moderately confident about the severe side effect data on adults aged 59 years or younger. However, for those aged 60 years or older and patients with chronic diseases, the risk data of patients with severe side effects after vaccination is classified as “low credibility”, which means that the test data of Sinovac cannot determine the risks of serious side effects of Sinovac on the elderly and patients.
Source: Stand News #May06
https://bit.ly/3tKkLl3
#WHO #Vaccine #SAGE #COVID19 #China #Sinovac #Brazil #Indonesia #Turkey #Chile #Credibility #Phase3ClinicalTest
WHO experts indicated 5 May that the Chinese Sinovac for COVID-19 has protection to adults who are under 60. However, there is a lack of data on the risk of serious side effects from vaccines, with “low credibility” for patients over aged 60 and with chronic illnesses. The expert group even referred to the severe side effect data of Sinovac on the elderly and patients with chronic illness as “very low” credibility.
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) in WHO evaluated the Phase 3 clinical test data of Sinovac in China, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile. They are very confident about the effectiveness of two doses of Sinovac in preventing adults aged 18-59, moderately confident about the severe side effect data on adults aged 59 years or younger. However, for those aged 60 years or older and patients with chronic diseases, the risk data of patients with severe side effects after vaccination is classified as “low credibility”, which means that the test data of Sinovac cannot determine the risks of serious side effects of Sinovac on the elderly and patients.
Source: Stand News #May06
https://bit.ly/3tKkLl3
#WHO #Vaccine #SAGE #COVID19 #China #Sinovac #Brazil #Indonesia #Turkey #Chile #Credibility #Phase3ClinicalTest
Urged to invite Taiwan to participate World Health Assembly; US Secretary of State: Taiwan is a reliable partner
US Secretary of State Brinken announced statement, urged WHO director general invites Taiwan as an observer and participates the 74th WHA which hold on 24May. Representative of Taiwan to United States accepted interview from Voice of America and thanked Brinken for urging, believed that the statement highlights Taiwan as a good force in the world, “Taiwan citizens will remember this support in heart”.
Brinken issued a statement through the State Department on Friday, issues such as global public health security are not restriction by national boundaries and political disputes. Taiwan provided valuable contribution and experiences when dealing with COVID-19, WHO leaders and those responsible countries should be realised, if they continue to exclude Taiwan’s 24 million people from the World Health Assembly will only threaten rather than promote global health goals.
Source: Stand News #May08
https://bit.ly/3ffKcXY
#Taiwan #WHO #WHA #UnitedStates #Brinken #VoiceOfAmerica #COVID19 #WuhanVirus #GlobalHealth
US Secretary of State Brinken announced statement, urged WHO director general invites Taiwan as an observer and participates the 74th WHA which hold on 24May. Representative of Taiwan to United States accepted interview from Voice of America and thanked Brinken for urging, believed that the statement highlights Taiwan as a good force in the world, “Taiwan citizens will remember this support in heart”.
Brinken issued a statement through the State Department on Friday, issues such as global public health security are not restriction by national boundaries and political disputes. Taiwan provided valuable contribution and experiences when dealing with COVID-19, WHO leaders and those responsible countries should be realised, if they continue to exclude Taiwan’s 24 million people from the World Health Assembly will only threaten rather than promote global health goals.
Source: Stand News #May08
https://bit.ly/3ffKcXY
#Taiwan #WHO #WHA #UnitedStates #Brinken #VoiceOfAmerica #COVID19 #WuhanVirus #GlobalHealth