Top Chinese epidemiologist issues COVID warning

A top Chinese epidemiologist issued a warning on Thursday over a spread in COVID-19 cases throughout the country during the upcoming new year holiday.

The chief epidemiologist at China's Center for Disease Control, told reporters at a briefing that infected cases in Beijing, Tianjin and central China’s metropolis Chengdu have passed peaks. But he said the rural areas surrounding the big cities may experience a surge, especially during the Lunar New Year holiday when a great number of people will travel back to their hometowns for family reunions.

Chinese health officials have said the current outbreak is being driven by versions of the omicron variant that have also been detected elsewhere, and a surveillance system has been set up to identify any potentially threatening new versions of the virus.