China's hospitals overwhelmed by sudden spike in respiratory cases
8:02 AM EST, November 30, 2023
Respiratory illnesses are causing havoc in China. Hospitals are packed, and healthcare workers clad in protective suits are engaged in school disinfection to prevent viral spread.
China is currently struggling with a sudden surge in the number of respiratory illnesses that affect both children and adults. The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that this surge is not related to a new pathogen's emergence, but the situation remains grave; hospitals are overflowing, and there are increasing instances of patient deaths.
In light of the uncertainties in China, Europe is on the edge, and Taiwan is advising seniors, young children, and individuals with compromised immune systems to reconsider travel plans to the Middle Kingdom.
Scenes from the COVID-19 era
A video has surfaced online demonstrating Chinese healthcare workers disinfecting a school building in Sanhe district, an hour away from Beijing. The intention is to prevent viral spread among children. The video was posted on social media by New York blogger Jennifer Zeng.
In the haunting video, employees donned in protective suits, gloves, and masks traverse the classrooms and corridors, dispersing sterilizing fluid. These scenes echo the darkest months of the COVID-19 pandemic - comments the Daily Express US.
Rise in disease incidence in Europe
An unsettling upswing in childhood pneumonia cases, mirroring the situation in China, has been reported in several European countries. There is a notable rise in the Netherlands, where pneumonia largely affects children aged 5 to 14. The numbers continue to rise.
